The things we do!

The
committee meeting was adjourned, and I toiled along hour after hour with
my ridiculous burden--three bottles of wine and a sewing-machine. It was
mild and slightly foggy; I could not see the lights of a farm till quite
close up, and then mostly the dogs would come dashing out on me and hinder
me from stealing into a barn. Later and later it grew; I was tired and
discouraged, and plagued myself too with anxiety about the future. Had I
not already wasted a heap of money on the most useless trash? I must sell
that sewing-machine again now, and get some of it back.
At long last I came to a place where there was no dog. There was still a
light in the window, and, without more ado, I walked up and asked shelter
for the night.


XXVIII

A young girl sat at a table sewing; there was no one else in the room.
When I asked for shelter, she answered brightly and trustingly that she
would see, and went into a little room at the side. I called after her as
she went that I would be glad only to sit here by the stove till daylight.


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