"Yes! I do not know how you can breathe under such a suspicion! It would smother me!"
"I can bear it because I know it to be false, Hannah; and soon to be proved so! Only one day more, Hannah! only one day!" exclaimed Nora, gleefully clapping her hands.
They finished their supper, set the room in order, lighted the candle, and sat down to the knitting that was their usual evening occupation.
Their needles were clicking merrily, when suddenly, in the midst of their work, footsteps were heard outside.
"There he is now!" exclaimed Nora gayly, starting up to open the door.
But she was mistaken; there he was not, but an old woman, covered with snow. .
"Law, Mrs. Jones, is this you?" exclaimed Nora, in a tone of disappointment and vexation.
"Yes, child—don't ye see it's me? Le'me come in out'n the snow," replied the dame, shaking herself and bustling in.
"Why, law, Mrs. Jones, you don't mean it's snowing!" said Hannah, mending the fire, and setting a chair for her visitor.
"Why, child, can't you see it's a-snowing—fast as ever it can? been snowing ever since dark—soft and fine and thick too, which is a sure sign it is agoing to be a deep fall; I shouldn't wonder if the snow was three or four feet deep to-morrow morning!" said Mrs. Jones, as she seated herself in the warmest corner of the chimney and drew up the front of her skirt to toast her shins.