"Sent?"
Rotha nodded. "Yes."
"Not brought?"
"O no!"
"Did you come alone?"
A sudden spasm seemed to catch the girl's heart; she stopped and covered her face with her hands; and for a minute or two there came a rush of hot tears, irrepressible and unmanageable. Why they came Rotha did not know, and was surprised at them; but there was a quiver and a glitter in her face when she took her hands down, which shewed to her companion that the clouds and the sunshine were at strife somewhere. They walked on a few paces more, and then, coming full in sight of the house, Rotha's steps stayed.
"Where are we going?" she said. "I have no place to take you to, in there."
Mr. Digby's eyes made a survey of the building before him.
"O it is large enough—there is room, and rooms, enough," said Rotha; "but it is all unused and unopened. I have one corner, at the top of the house; and down in another corner Mr. and Mrs. Purcell have their kitchen and a little sleeping place off it; all the rest is desert."
"Who are Mr. and Mrs. Purcell?"