We stayed out longer than usual, and Milly had stopped once or twice to make a hasty sketch, when the sky grew suddenly dark, and big drops of rain began to fall slowly.  There were speedily succeeded by a pelting storm of rain and hail, and we felt that we were caught, and must be drenched to the skin before we could get back to Thornleigh.  The weather had been temptingly fine when we left home, and we had neither umbrellas nor any other kind of protection against the rain.

‘We had better scamper off as fast as we can,’ said Milly.

’But we can’t run four miles.  Hadn’t we better go on to Cumber, and wait in the village till the weather changes, or try to get some kind of conveyance there?’

’Well, I suppose that would be best.  There must be such a thing as a fly at Cumber, I should think, small as the place is.  But it’s nearly a mile from here to the village.’

’Anything seems better than going back through the wood in such a weather,’ I said.

We were close to the outskirts of the wood at this time, and within a very short distance of the Priory gates.  While we were still pausing in an undecided way, with the rain pelting down upon us, a figure came towards us from among the leafless trees—­the figure of a man, a gentleman, as we could see by his dress and bearing, and a stranger.  We had never met any one but country-people, farm-labourers, and so on, in the wood before, and were a little startled by his apparition.

He came up to us quickly, lifting his hat as he approached us.

‘Caught in the storm, ladies,’ he said, ’and without umbrellas I see, too.  Have you far to go?’

‘Yes, we have to go as far as Thornleigh,’ Milly answered.

’Quite impossible in such weather.  Will you come into the Priory and wait till the storm is over?’

‘The Priory!  To be sure!’ cried Milly.  ’I never thought of that.  I know the housekeeper very well, and I am sure she would let us stop there.’

We walked towards the Priory gates, the stranger accompanying us.  I had no opportunity of looking at him under that pelting rain, but I was wondering all the time who he was, and how he came to speak of Cumber Priory in that familiar tone.

One of the gates stood open, and we went in.

‘A desolate-looking place, isn’t it?’ said the stranger.  ’Dismal enough, without the embellishment of such weather as this.’

He led the way to the hall-door, and opened it unceremoniously, standing aside for us to pass in before him.  There was a fire burning in the wide old-fashioned fireplace, and the place had an air of occupation that was new to it.

’I’ll send for Mrs. Mills, and she shall take your wet shawls away to be dried,’ said the stranger, ringing a bell; and I think we both began to understand by this time that he must be the master of the house.

‘You are very kind,’ Milly answered, taking off her dripping shawl.  ’I did not know that the Priory was occupied except by the old servants.  I fear you must have thought me very impertinent just now when I talked so coolly of taking shelter here.’