"Where from?"
"From our native village."
"You have ridden here?" I said.
"No," she replied, faintly, "I walked."
"Walked!" I exclaimed. " Why, it is fifty miles!"
"Yes," she murmured, "it is fifty miles. What a long, long road! But I am here at last, thank God!"
I divined that it was no light errand that had brought her to me, and it was evident that her strength was spent. It was as much as she could do to prevent herself from sinking to the ground. I hastily summoned Anna from her kitchen, and bade her attend to my visitor. A heart of quick sympathy beat in my old Anna's breast, and without asking who the woman was she administered to her wants. It was not without difficulty that this was accomplished, for Louisa was so eager to disclose her errand that, had she been allowed to have her way, she would not have tasted food until she had acquainted me with her mission. But Anna insisted, and so did I, and she had not the strength to reject the kindly offices which were forced upon her. When she had drank a basin of nourishing soup which Anna prepared--I never really knew what soup was till Anna made it for me; what a treasure that woman was!--I told her I was ready to listen to her.
"I have come to you for help," she said.
"I will give it to you," I replied, "if it is in my power."
She bent her head humbly and gratefully.