This last query, pretty sharply spoken, was in answer to a light touch of that gentleman's hand upon Miss Nancy's ear, which came rather as a surprise. He deigned no reply. "You're a fine gentleman!" said Nancy tartly. "Have you done what I gave you to do?" said Mr. Van Brunt coolly. "Yes--there!" said Nancy, holding up Ellen's bare feet on one hand, while the fingers of the other, secretly applied in ticklish fashion to the soles of them, caused Ellen suddenly to start and scream. "Get up!" said Mr. Van Brunt; Nancy didn't think best to disobey. "Mother, ha'n't you got nothing you want Nancy to do?" "Sally," said Mrs. Van Brunt, "you and Nancy go and fetch here a couple of pails of hot water, right away." "Go, and mind what you are about," said Mr. Van Brunt, "and after that keep out of this room, and don't whisper again till I give you leave. Now, Miss Ellen, dear, how do you feel?" Ellen said in words that she felt "nicely." But the eyes and the smile said a great deal more; Ellen's heart was running over. "Oh, she'll feel nicely, I'll be bound," said Mrs. Van Brunt; "wait till she gets her feet soaked, and then----!" "I do feel nicely now," said Ellen. And Alice smiled in answer to their inquiries, and said if she only knew her father was easy there would be nothing wanting to her happiness. The bathing of their feet was a great refreshment, and their kind hostess had got ready a plentiful supply of hot herb tea, with which both Alice and Ellen were well dosed. While they sat sipping this, toasting their feet before the fire, Mrs. Van Brunt and the girls meanwhile preparing their room, Mr. Van Brunt suddenly entered. He was cloaked and hatted, and had a riding whip in his hand. "Is there any word you'd like to get home, Miss Alice? I'm going to ride a good piece that way, and I can stop as good as not." "To-night, Mr. Van Brunt!" exclaimed Alice in astonishment. Mr. Van Brunt's silence seemed to say that to-night was the time and no other. "But the storm is too bad," urged Alice. "Pray don't go till to-morrow." "Pray don't, Mr. Van Brunt!" said Ellen. "Can't help it--I've got business; must go. What shall I say, ma'am?" "I should be _very_ glad," said Alice, "to have my father know where I am. Are you going very near the Nose?" "Very near." "Then I shall be greatly obliged if you will be so kind as to stop and relieve my father's anxiety. But how can you go in such weather? and so dark as it is." "Never fear," said Mr. Van Brunt. "We'll be back in half-an-hour, if 'Brahm and me don't come across a snow-drift a _leetle_ too deep. Good-night, ma'am." And out he went. "'Back in half-an-hour,'" said Alice, musing. "Why, he said he had been to untie his horse for the night! He must be going on our account, I am sure, Ellen!" "On _your_ account," said Ellen, smiling. "Oh, I knew that all the time, Miss Alice. I don't think he'll stop to relieve Aunt Fortune's anxiety."