The Burglar and the Blizzard: A Christmas Story

into a den of thieves he would think himself such an ass to have come. Indeed, there seemed a fair chance that he might think this even if nothing wo

hat few people would think it wise to leave a burglar locked in a

pedition was to be more difficult than he had imagined. To make headway against the wind was a constant struggle, and he seemed to slip back in the snow at every step. Still the natural o

ot only because he had been in half a dozen drifts, but be

tch of forest and snow. A shutter blowing in the wind gave an impression of deser

nemy an opportunity to prepare himself, and so did not knock, but, putting his shoulder agains

must have been made, as McVay had boasted, of "fixing it up"; there were books in the shelves on the walls, and a black iron stove on which the snow now lay fearlessly. As Geoffrey took in the situation, something in a huge chair, which he had taken for a heap of rugs, stirred and mov

e a shawl under her chin, had slipped sideways, and fell like a Hussar's jacket from one shoulder. Her hair stood like a dark halo about her little face, making it seem smaller

er women he had admired-well-fed, well-clothed, well-cared-for young creatures-had always signally failed to arouse. He had seen it in other men, had seen their hearts wrung because an able-bodied girl must

night you have had. How wicked

ried "what a nig

night," said the girl, "

ust be. Do you mean to tell me no one is to blame when I hav

rdinarily wide, sweet smile, "I coul

e yearned to bear the sufferings of another. He had often seen that it was advis

rl, "but I'm afraid ther

nees before the black monster of a stove,

think, for shelte

before that she looked up

ide for no other reason. As I came along I said at every blast, 'that poor, poor girl

r coming at all is so strange t

u I did not particularly want to come. I started out at dawn very

ou did know that you were

s have I seen in my life? Is that a thought to turn a man's

ith the chimney strewn on t

you do change the subject." He turned his attention to the fire. Where is th

to shove a piece of wood into place. In the process her numbed fingers touch

, holding them tightly, and thanking Fat

scientious," she said. "That is not

offrey violently. "It i

man

rse, if you wi

eason for the resc

ht to be

ey

ve taken all the trouble to be born and gr

tefuller if there were

Geoffrey rising from his

d very

reaction in me. There's no telling what I might not do under the stress. Come away fro

," she said, loo

t do anyt

out somewhere in this storm, and i

"I forgot all about him. He's at my

d then added maliciously: "then my plig

on is wit

f allowing her mind to drift awa

ok poor Billy

. "Well, in a se

go at once," she

it is going t

d, then as he saw her struggling to undo the knot that held the comforter about her, he forgot everything but the pleasure of doing her

was a

u looking at

ce warm coat

he high collar with a tenderness trying to

hat more inevitable than that she should make an effort to deceive a casual stranger? She had the most evident motives for behaving exactly as she did. Just so, however, he had reasoned about McVay, and yet McVay had been sincere. There had been a girl in distress exactly as he had said. It was contrary to all reason, but it was true. Might not the girl be true to

take some things with me. Is it

ut not

a small Russia leather affair legib

id Geoffrey. His fai

ing things and packing,

right, why didn't he

itated an instant, and her

keeping it from me.

passion, and looked at her to find some answer to t

nderstand. "Then why di

he storm already. I t

st a reflective glance at his shoulders, and he w

ly safe at

id my best," he

. "You have been very kin

dvantageous time could be found for telling her the truth, in case of course she did not know it already. He felt that he himself would be better able to dea

stranger to me. We wer

ends at the most opportune times. He never wants anything but what a friend tur

n the house at the time. He felt h

he had a friend in

et since we we

at school, and yet he felt he knew

d in, and then I wo

a spice of admiration in it, under which Geoffrey writhed. He w

o be starti

hings," she said. "Billy is so fond of them. There is some w

said Geoff

ot take one bottle as a surprise to Billy. He would like to contribute someth

olen." He looked d

he

a favour to le

anner of yielding, sweet and quick like a caress

o smooth her way. The bond of difficulties to overcome united them. They felt the intimacy of a single absorbing interest. They had nothing to think of but accomplis

l her spirit she made no attempt to assert her independence. She turned to him at every point. He

ntaneously. She asked for neither help nor encouragement, but plunged along as steadily as she was able. Her skirts, however, wet and heavy, hampered her desperately,

ne half yet

nce that he had failed,-that she had had a hope that they were nearer their destinatio

ad, she would use to the end. No hysterical despair would exhaust her beforehand. She would not fail through lack of determination. Whether or no

silently took it. This was to Geoffrey the explanati

backs the entire trip, hurled her against him, where she remained an in

step had he not virtually lifted her up. He took her directly to the library and laid her on the sofa. The fire, owing to the absence of McVay,

cting that McVay was either gone or still safe, he stre