They could see Mr. Huntington sitting in the library, reading, as they came up the snowy walk. The room looked warm and peaceful and there was a contented expression on his face as his white head bowed over the book.
The wind was howling around them and it slapped the tattered remnants of vines against the porch as it had done on that first day Peggy worked her daring heart into a state courageous enough to carry her to the very door of Gloomy House. Inside, in contrast to the bluster without, the library looked as cozy and homelike as a room could well be when only one person lives in it.
"Peggy," said Katherine, "we may be going to disturb his peace for nothing."
"Pshaw," said Peggy, the light of high adventure shining in her eyes, "I'd rather have all sorts of surprises and disappointments and hurts and aches and shocks in my life than just have it all a kind of dull monotony, and I always give other people credit for feeling the same way. I guess Mr. Huntington would rather have a _chance_ of everything's coming out right than never know about it at all."
"I agree with Peggy, whatever her wise little meaning is," laughed Jim. "I think he would, too."
They were on the porch by this time, and Peggy saw Mr. Huntington's head lifted inquiringly as the sound of their footsteps reached his ears. Then as the old bell jangled through the house he rose hastily and laying his book face downward on the table came slowly to the door.
For some seconds he fumbled with the lock and then threw back the door, while a sudden look of glad surprise went across his face at the sight of Peggy and Katherine. At first he did not notice their companion. The three entered the hall and then Peggy said, "Mr. Huntington, this is Mr. Smith, and I wanted you to meet him for a very special reason."
"Yes?" the old man said, shaking the other's hand, "I'm very glad, I'm sure. Come into the library, all of you, and tell me all about it. Now, what can I do for the young man?"
For Mr. Huntington had no thought in his head but that here was some young football player who needed funds, or the representative of some charitable organization that wanted a contribution. And, since Peggy brought him, he should have it.