6.  “Who’s that?” A rough voice asked the question; and now a heavy-looking man took the dog’s place in the door.

7.  “How far is it to G—?” I asked, not deeming it best to say, in the beginning, that I sought a resting place for the night.

8.  “To G—!” growled the man, but not so harshly as at first.  “It’s good six miles from here.”

9.  “A long distance; and I’m a stranger and on foot,” said I.  “If you can make room for me until morning, I will be very thankful.”

10.  I saw the girl’s hand move quickly up his arm, until it rested on his shoulder, and now she leaned to him still closer.

11.  “Come in.  We’ll try what can be done for you.”  There was a change in the man’s voice that made me wonder.  I entered a large room, in which blazed a brisk fire.  Before the fire sat two stout lads, who turned upon me their heavy eyes, with no very welcome greeting.  A middle-aged woman was standing at a table, and two children were amusing themselves with a kitten on the floor.

12.  “A stranger, mother,” said the man who had given me so rude a greeting at the door; “and he wants us to let him stay all night.”

13.  The woman looked at me doubtingly for a few moments, and then replied coldly, “We don’t keep a public house.”

14.  “I’m aware of that, ma’am,” said I; “but night has overtaken me, and it’s a long way yet to G—.”

15.  “Too far for a tired man to go on foot,” said the master of the house, kindly, “so it’s no use talking about it, mother; we must give him a bed.”

16.  So unobtrusively that I scarce noticed the movement, the girl had drawn to her mother’s side.  What she said to her I did not hear, for the brief words were uttered in a low voice; but I noticed, as she spoke, one small, fair hand rested on the woman’s hand.

17.  Was there magic in that touch?  The woman’s repulsive aspect changed into one of kindly welcome, and she said, “Yes, it’s a long way to G—.  I guess we can find a place for him.”

18.  Many times more during that evening, did I observe the magic power of that hand and voice—­the one gentle yet potent as the other.  On the next morning, breakfast being over, I was preparing to take my departure when my host informed me that if I would wait for half an hour he would give me a ride in his wagon to G—­, as business required him to go there.  I was very well pleased to accept of the invitation.

19.  In due time, the farmer’s wagon was driven into the road before the house, and I was invited to get in.  I noticed the horse as a rough-looking Canadian pony, with a certain air of stubborn endurance.  As the farmer took his seat by my side, the family came to the door to see us off.

20.  “Dick!” said the farmer in a peremptory voice, giving the rein a quick jerk as he spoke.  But Dick moved not a step.  “Dick! you vagabond! get up.”  And the farmer’s whip cracked sharply by the pony’s ear.