Meanwhile Harold Corbett had been warning Rance Belmont that the weatherwas unfit for anyone to be abroad, and the fact that George Sims, thehorse trader from Millford, and Dan Lonsbury, had put in for the evening,made a splendid argument in favor of his doing the same. Rance Belmonthad no desire to face a blizzard unnecessarily, particularly at evening,and the storm was growing thicker every minute. So after consultingwith Evelyn, who had yielded to Mrs. Corbett's many entreaties, heagreed to remain where he was for the evening. Evelyn went at once to thesmall room over the kitchen, which Mrs. Corbett kept for specialguests, and as she busied herself about the kitchen Mrs. Corbett couldhear her pacing up and down inside her excitement.

Mrs. Corbett hastily baked biscuits and "buttermilk cheese" to feed herlarge family, who, according to the state of the weather and thesubsequent state of the roads, might be with her for several days, andwhile her hands were busy, her mind was busier still, and being apraying woman, Maggie Corbett was looking for help in the directionfrom which help comes.

The roaring of the storm as it swept past the home, incessantlymourning in the mud chimney and sifting the snow against the frostedwindows, brought comfort to her anxious heart, for it reminded her thatdominion and majesty and power belong to the God whomm she served.

When she put the two pans of biscuits in the oven she looked throughthe open door into the "Room," where her unusual number of guests werelounging about variously engaged.

Rance Belmont smoked cigarettes constantly and shuffled the cards as ifto read his fate therein. He would dearly have loved a game with someone, for he had the soul of a gambler, but Mrs. Corbett's decreeagainst card-playing was well known.