"Listen to the sound of the rain and the water as it runs into the milk-cooler. It's like low music, isn't it?" Poor Holcroft could make no better answer than a sneeze. "Oh-h," she exclaimed, "you're catching cold? Come, you must go right upstairs. You can't stay here another minute. I'm nearly through." "I was never more contented in my life." "You've no right to worry me. What would I do if you got sick? Come, I'll stop work till you go." "Well then, little boss, goodbye." With a half suppressed smile at his obedience Alida watched his reluctant departure. She kept on diligently at work, but one might have fancied that her thoughts rather than her exertions were flushing her cheeks. It seemed to her that but a few moments elapsed before she followed him, but he had gone. Then she saw that the rain had ceased and that the clouds were breaking. His cheerful whistle sounded reassuringly from the barn, and a little later he drove up the lane with a cart. She sat down in the kitchen and began sewing on the fine linen they had jested about. Before long she heard a light step. Glancing up, she saw the most peculiar and uncanny-looking child that had ever crossed her vision, and with dismal presentiment knew it was Jane. Chapter XXVIII. Another Waif It was indeed poor, forlorn little Jane that had appeared like a specter in the kitchen door. She was as wet and bedraggled as a chicken caught in a shower. A little felt hat hung limp over her ears; her pigtail braid had lost its string and was unraveling at the end, and her torn, sodden shoes were ready to drop from her feet. She looked both curiously and apprehensively at Alida with her little blinking eyes, and then asked in a sort of breathless voice, "Where's him?" "Mr. Holcroft?" Jane nodded. "He's gone out to the fields. You are Jane, aren't you?" Another nod. "Oh, DEAR!" groaned Alida mentally; "I wish she hadn't come." Then with a flush of shame the thought crossed her mind, "She perhaps is a friendless and homeless as I was, and, and 'him' is also her only hope." "Come in, Jane," she said kindly, "and tell me everything." "Be you his new girl?" "I'm his wife," said Alida, smiling. Jane stopped; her mouth opened and her eyes twinkled with dismay. "Then he is married, after all?" she gasped. "Yes, why not?" "Mother said he'd never get anyone to take him." "Well, you see she was mistaken." "She's wrong about everything. Well, it's no use then," and the child turned and sat down on the doorstep. Alida was perplexed. From the way Jane wiped her eyes with her wet sleeve, she was evidently crying. Coming to her, Alida said, "What is no use, Jane? Why are you crying?" "I thought--he--might--p'raps--let me stay and work for him."