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Drear and lone upon the window pane sounded the ceaseless patter of the rain, as two little naked feet shivered on the door step, and two sad, but piercing eyes, peered through the casement into the cheerfully lighted drawing room, ere the puny hand ventured to raise the knocker that would admit the little mendicant into the rich man's mansion. Scarcely had she produced a sound when the dog set up a loud bark, which frightened the little homeless wanderer into the desolate street again, until the watchman should provide a scarcely more inviting shelter.

"What is the matter with Ponto?" said Walter, looking up from his task.

"I thought I saw a glimpse of somebody as I passed the window just then, but it was so faint, if there was any one, I could not tell whether it was man, woman or child," answered Rosalind, and resumed her reading.

"There's no one at the door, Milly? "inquired Mrs. Claremont, as she entered.