I thanked her, and presently found myself before a large stove, onwhich it was evident, from the odors, that supper was preparing. In acertain way the heat was grateful, but in less than a minute I wasbound to admit to myself that I felt as if I were enveloped in a vastwarm poultice. The little man and his wife--if wife she were, for shelooked huge enough to be his mother, and young enough to be hisdaughter--stood talking in the hall, and I could hear every word theysaid.

[Illustration: "0N MY RIGHT A LIGHTED D00RWAY"]

"It's of no use for him to try to dry himself," she exclaimed, "for he'swet to the bone. He must change his clothes, and hang those he's goton before the fire."

"Change his clothes!" exclaimed the man. "How ever can he do that?I've nothing that'll fit him, and of course he has brought nothingalong with him."

"Never you mind," said she. "Something's got to be got. Take him intothe little chamber. And don't consider the floor; that can be wipedup."