She got out and paid her fare, as the man set down her box on the step, and then, after violently ringing the bell, climbed back to his seat.
"Seems pretty lonely," he remarked, as he gathered up the reins; "not much of a place for a young lady like you."
The girl shivered at his words.
"Look here," he continued, "if you want to get away whoam any time, yew jest write to Mr. Cramp, Cab Driver, Steynham, and I'll come for yer, miss—see?"
Tears rose in the back of Margaret's eyes at the mention of the word home. She thanked the kindly old man, who was always liked by his "fares," but she did not explain her destitute condition to him.
He waited, after setting her box on the step, until the door opened, and looked backward as he drove away to see she had entered. Then he vanished into the darkness.
As the door opened, Margaret was agreeably impressed by the bright glow of the hall into which she entered. The man-servant who appeared was civilly polite; the dark oak furniture and rich red carpet and walls, artistically decorated, gave a sense of warmth and comfort to the tired girl. Then she was startled by hearing a shrill voice screaming over the banisters:
"So you are here at last, and I can't even come and look at you, because I'm supposed to be in bed. It is a shame! I want——"
"Go back, Miss Ellice, now," said James reprovingly; "the master will hear you."
"Who cares!" said the elf, leaning still further over the balustrade until she was in danger of falling.