A dim light in the distance presently guided her steps, and she soon found herself standing, out of breath and a good deal blown, in the presence of Molly and Jane Macalister. They were both clothed from head to foot in long brown-holland aprons. Jane was vigorously dusting and brushing a heap of dilapidated books, which Molly was arranging in orderly piles on the floor. Jane looked up when she saw Annie and uttered a little scream.
"Now, what have you come about?" she said; "you see we are quite up to our eyes in work."
"Delightful," said Annie; "I'll help. Toss me an apron, Molly, do."
Off went Annie's hat, on went the brown-holland apron, and Jane found that she had secured a valuable assistant in the matter of dusting and brushing.
The work went on for two or three minutes in silence, then Molly said, "I hope there's nothing the matter with Nora, Annie? It seems so very late for you to come to pay us a visit."
"I have come here to stay for the night, if I may," replied Annie.
"Hoots! I don't know if that will be possible," interrupted Jane.