"What are we to do now?" asked Herbert.
"Don't be discouraged!" said the old lady. "My people are expecting me, and I presume some of them will be down before long. We will see what can be done."
At that moment a great jingling of bells was heard, and Ned rushed in to say that some one had come with a big lumber sleigh. He was closely followed by an elderly gentleman well wrapped up and well covered with snow, who, after shaking himself well, and looking round, took possession of the old lady, saluting her with the title of "Mother."
"So you did get here!" said he, giving her a hearty kiss. "We have been in a thousand worries about you, end John drove down once before to-day. I came myself this time, for the road is drifted as badly as ever I saw it. How have you got through?"
"Pretty well, pretty well, considering!" replied the old lady. "But just step this way, father, I want to speak to you."
A whispered consultation went on for two or three minutes, during which time the rest of the party, clustered round the stove, were trying to get warm. Presently the old gentleman spoke:
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, as soon as you are warmed a little, we will all pile into the lumber sleigh and go over to Cedar Hill to supper. Now, I will take no excuses!" he added, as the gentlemen looked at each other. "It is two miles to the nearest village, and the roads are nearly impassable; but the track to Cedar Hill is not so bad, and besides it, is only half as long. We have got a big house, plenty of beds, and no end of mince pies and chickens; and if we can't make you comfortable, at least we will do our best—and that will be better than camping out in this place all night."
"It will, indeed!" said the clergyman. "You are very kind indeed, sir, and I advise my young friends here to accept your invitation at once. But I fear if we all go, we shall put you to great inconvenience."
"Not a bit, not a bit!" returned the old gentlemen. "Mrs. Hardy is not easily put out—are you, mother?"
"No, indeed!" replied the old lady. "It is what I have been calculating upon ever since the conductor said we could not get through, but I thought I would not say anything, till I saw whether our folks came to meet me or not."