"Which?"
"Both."
"Ay, Mistress; but which do you pity most?" asked the shrewd lawyer.
"Whichever shall come to harm for my sake," replied the simple girl.
"You could not go to them to-night, and bring them to reason?" asked she, piteously.
She went to the window to see what sort of a night it was. She drew the heavy crimson curtains and opened the window. In rushed a bitter blast laden with flying snow. The window-ledges, too, were clogged with snow, and all the ground was white.
Houseman shuddered, and drew nearer to the blazing logs. Kate closed the window with a groan.
"It is not to be thought of," said she, "at your age, and not a road to be seen for snow. What shall I do?"
"Wait till to-morrow," said Mr. Houseman.
(Procrastination was his daily work, being an attorney.)