"I—we—we are very sorry to trouble you," said Betty hesitatingly, as the musician made no effort to break the silence. "But it is raining hard, as you see, and we thought——"
The man started and frowned.
"Ah yes, of course," he said, moving aside and motioning them into the room. "You will find shelter here, but very little else, I fear."
As the girls entered rather hesitantly the man turned from them abruptly and, lifting the violin that lay upon the rough board table, he began with the utmost gentleness to put it in its case. The girls had the rather uncomfortable impression that the man was forcing himself to be polite to them—that if he had been any other than a gentleman he would have refused them admittance.
They looked uneasily at each other and then toward the one window in the room, and one thought was in the minds of all of them—to escape from the enforced hospitality of this man.
"I think the rain is letting up a little," said Grace softly.
"I reckon we won't have to stay more than a few minutes," agreed Betty, then, as their long-haired host put down his case and turned toward them, she ventured a shy compliment.
"We heard you playing as we came along," she said. "It was very wonderful."
"Thank you," said the man gruffly, and turned away so abruptly that Betty felt as if some one had struck her.
Mollie looked indignant and Amy put an arm about Betty as she whispered: