Andy was not able to persuade Tess to talk with him, but obeying Professor Young, he stayed very near her. The blizzard howled and banged outside, adding by its noisy commotion an element of dread to the grief within. About nine in the evening footsteps sounded on the porch; the dwarf got up and went to the door. Jake Brewer entered and closed the door against the storm. The squatter took off his hat and shook the snow from the top of it. He looked, alternately, from the girl in the chair near the window to the little man staring up at him. "I come to speak to the brat," he said. "She ain't very well," answered Andy. Tessibel looked around. "Sit down, Jake," she invited. "The night's dreadful, isn't it?" Brewer coughed and remained silent. "Can I do anything, Jake?" inquired the dwarf, softly. "Nope, it air only Tess can do it," replied the squatter. Tessibel heard but remained in the same position. "Tess air the only one can help," repeated Brewer. The girl sank back in her chair, allowing her hands to drop in her lap. "What is it?" she asked listlessly. "Ma Brewer air sick," said the squatter. "She air knowin' ye air in trouble, but--but--" It seemed to the girl as if this Christmas-tide had brought sorrow to everyone. She rose to her feet, stiff from sitting in the same position for so long a time. "I'll get her something, Jake," she said quickly. "Ma an' me know ye got a lot of sorrow, brat," choked the man, "but Ma were a wonderin' if ye'd run to the shack fer a minute." Noticing the girl's hesitation, "She's awful sick an' mebbe if ye'd come, she'd feel better.'" "I'll get your wraps, brat," Andy offered. Both men helped Tessibel into her things. She stood very quiet until Andy held out her mittens. "I'll only be gone a few minutes," she promised the dwarf. "Come on, Jake!" And together they went out into the storm. CHAPTER L TESSIBEL'S VISION