Together they entered, and a moment afterwards, just as Miss Hetty was preparing to lay the cloth for dinner, a knock sounded through the house.
"Goodness!" said Miss Hetty, fluttered, "who can it be that wants to see me at this hour?"
Smoothing down her apron, and giving a look at the glass to make sure that her hair was in order, she hastened to the door.
"Will it be asking too much, madam, to request a seat by your fire for myself and little girl for a few moments? It is very cold."
Miss Hetty could feel that it was cold. Somehow, too, the appealing expression of the little girl's face touched her, so she threw the door wide open, and bade them enter.
Miss Hetty went on preparing the table for dinner. A most delightful odor issued from the oven, one door of which was open, lest the turkey should overdo. Miss Hetty could not help observing the wistful glance cast by that little girl towards the tempting dish as she placed it on the table.
"Poor little creature," thought she, "I suppose it is a long time since she has had a good dinner."
Then the thought struck her: "Here I am alone to eat all this. There is plenty enough for half a dozen. How much these poor people would relish it."
By this time the table was arranged.
"Sir," said she, turning to the traveller, "you look as if you were hungry as well as cold. If you and your little daughter would like to sit up, I should be happy to have you."