"See," said her unknown questioner, "here are a couple of sovereigns.
You need not wander into the open country to look for an empty barn.
You can procure shelter at some respectable inn. Or stay, it is close
upon midnight: you might find it difficult to get admitted to any
respectable house at such an hour. You had better come with me to my
hotel yonder, the 'Star'--the landlady is a kind-hearted creature, and
will see you comfortably lodged. Come!"
The girl stood before Sir Oswald, shivering in the bleak wind, with a
thin black shawl wrapped tightly around her, and her dark brown hair
blown away from her face by that bitter March wind. She looked at him
with unutterable surprise in her countenance.
"You are very good," she said; "no one of your class ever before
stepped out of his way to help me. Poor people have been kind to me--
often--very often. You are very good."
There was more of astonishment than pleasure in the girl's tone. It
seemed as if she cared very little about her own fate, and that her
chief feeling was surprise at the goodness of this fine gentleman.
"Do not speak of that," said Sir Oswald, gently; "I am anxious to get
you a decent shelter for the night, but that is a very small favour. I
happen to be something of a musician, and I have been much struck by
the beauty of your voice. I may be able to put you in the way of making
good use of your voice.
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