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 son," she said, "with a letter from father; but I ran into a cart at the bottom of the hill. I'm really only a beginner," she added by way of excuse.

"Then you ought not to ride down steep hills," said Anthony, "especially not in a town."

"I'll get off at The Three Carpenters next time," she said, "if you promise not to tell."

Anthony took the letter and promised to deliver it. "You've come back for good, haven't you?" he asked.

"Tell me," she said. "You do know all about it, don't you? Do you think we shall be able to? I do love it."

Anthony was silent for a moment. She was evidently hanging on his answer.

"It's possible," he said, "with strict economy."

She laughed as though relieved.

"Oh, that!" she said. "We're used enough to that."

Matthew was blowing the furnace. The light from the glowing embers flickered round them.

"You were born here, weren't you?" she asked.

"In the house adjoining, to be exact," he answered with a laugh. "But this was my nursery. I used to sit on that very stool with my leg tucked underneath me watching my father work. I loved it when he blew the bellows and made the shadows