The last half mile of their walk seemed almost interminable both to Rosa and grandpa.

As the darkness began to gather, every shadow to her excited imagination was transformed into a policeman coming to lock them up.

After the trying experiences of the day, it was a relief to be back once more in the dingy rooms which they had expected never to see again.

Rosa soon had a fire feebly burning in the little stove, then prepared a scanty supper, offset by another cup of tea for grandpa.

The shabby couch she pulled up by the stove for him, and did all within her power to make him warm and comfortable.

Sitting by his side and watching him solicitously, she was beginning to fear that he might not be able for the journey tomorrow, for without a doubt he was much exhausted.  At last the tears began rolling down his face and fell upon her hand.

“Oh, grandpa, what is it?” she asked, the tears coming to her own eyes.  “You ain’t sick, are you?”

“No, no, dearie, but mighty dis’p’inted.  I thought we’d be there tonight sure, and I’m so homesick!  Too bad, too bad, ain’t it, when the fare’s all paid, and they’re a-looking fer us?  We wouldn’t git hungry nor cold there, neither, nor tired.”

“Yes, but, grandpa dear, the p’liceman said we could find the way tomorrow in that great big building.  Of course he must know, don’t you think so?”

“Say, Rosa,” he asked excitedly, not noticing her question, and rising partly up, while his eyes sparkled with new hope, “I can’t remember, but did it have a steeple a-p’intin’ straight up?”

“Yes, such a big one, grandpa.  It must go pretty nearly to the sky.”

“Then it’ll be all right, I’m mighty sure of that, but it ’pears like it’d ought to have green vines a-runnin’ all over it, and with roses a-growin’ ’round.  Wuz there any?”

“No, grandpa, for this is winter, you know.  The roses won’t be blooming outdoors now, but sometimes I see them in the stores.”

“And so we’ll git there tomorrow, Rosa,” he added dreamily, “and not be dis’p’inted no more!  I’m so mighty glad, so mighty glad.”

Grandpa was asleep, but becoming more and more restless.  His hands no longer were cold, but felt hot to Rosa, as she vainly endeavored to keep them covered.  The flushed cheeks and rapid breathing convinced his faithful and experienced young nurse that it would be wise for her to sit by his side till morning.  The hours were long and dreary, and at every sound her overtaxed nerves would cause her to start.  Sometimes she was sure that a policeman was coming after them; and again Mrs. Gray was about to enter the room with a cruel whip in her hand.  So certain was she once of hearing her mother call that she jumped to her feet to obey the summons.  Then before her vision would stand a lovely girl dressed in blue, smiling down upon her and saying: 

“Jesus paid all the fare long ago.”