&winterIwasattheMorrises，IhadawasaweekbeforeChristmas，andwewerehavingcold，frostyweather。Onthatday，Iwaslyihefire，gettingtired。
&hedooropened，andayounggirlcalledBessieDrury。
Shehadadashawlthrownoverhershoulders，arunacrossthestreetfromherfather'shouse。"Oh，Mrs。Morris，"shesaid，"willyouletLauraeoverandstaywithmetonight？Mammahasjustgottenatelegramfrthatheraunt，Mrs。Cole，isveryill，aoseeher，andpapaisgoiherebytonight'strain，andsheisafraidIwillbelonelyifIdon'thaveLaura。"
"Verywell，"saidMrs。Morris，"IthinkLaurawouldliketogo。"
"Yes，i;saidMissLaura，smilingatherfriend。"Iwilleoverinhalfanhour。"
"Thankyou，somuissBessie。Andshehurrieda>
Aftersheleft，Mr。Morrislookedupfromhispaper。"Therewillbesomeohehousebesidesthosetwogirls？"
"Oh，yes，"saidMrs。Morris，"Mrs。Druryhasheroldnurse，whohasbeewentyyears，awomaidsbesides，andDonald，thean，whosleepsoverthestable。Sotheyarewellprotected。"
&quood，"saidMr。Morris。Aohispaper。
WhenMisslaurastairswithherlittlesat，Igotupandstoodbesideher。"Dear，oldJoe，"shesaid，"youmusthehedoora。
Ihadtostepba，butIdwhidreadfully。Ianddownthefloorandrantotheled。
"Mother，"Mr。morrissaid，turningtohiswife，"letthedoggo。"
"Verywell，"shesaid，inapuzzledway。"Jack，justruhhim。"
JadIweresoodoor，ahebellandgavemeihemaidwhoope。Iwalkedsoftlyintoafrontroom，andthereIfoundmydearMissLaura。
"Hadn'twebettergotobed？"saidMissLaura，whenthehallclockstru。
"Yes，Isupposewehad，"saidMissBessie。
"Whereisthisanimaltosleep？"
"Idon'tknow，"saidMissLaura，"hesleepsiableathome，orihJim。"
"SupposeSusanmakeshimahekitstove？"saidMissBessie。
SusaIwasnotwilli。Ibarkedsoloudlywhemeupaloheyhadtoletmegoupstairswiththem。
MissLaurawasalmostangrywithme，butIothelpit。IhadeovertheretoprotedIwasn'tgoingtoleaveher，ifIcouldhelpit。
&wogirlstalkedftime，aheyfellasleep。JustbeforeMissLauradroppedoff，shefaveme，andputdownherhaolickasIlayclosebyherbed。
Iwasverytired，andIhadaverysoftabed，soIsoooaheavysleep。ButIattheslightestnoise。OnceMissLauraturnedinbed，aimeMissBessielaughedinhersleep，andagain，therewerequeerghefrostylimbsofthetreesoutside，thatmademestartupquiysleep。
Therewasabigthehall，aimeitstruckI。Oafterithadstrupedupoutofasoundnap。Ihadbeendreamingaboutmyearlyhome。Jenkinswasafterme，andmylimbswerequiveringandtremblingasifIhadbeentryiawayfromhim。
Isprangupandshookmyself。ThenItookaturnarouhetwogirlswerebreathily；Icouldscarcelyhearthem。Iwalkedtothedooraothehall。Therewasadimlightburhedoorofthenurse'sroomstoodopelytoitandlookedin。Shewasbreathingheavilyandmutteringinhersleep。
&aosleep，butIot。SueasyfeelingoIhadtokeepwalkingabout。Iwentoutintothehallagainandstoodattheheadofthestaircase。IthoughtIwouldtakeawalkthroughthelowerhall，aobedagain。
TheDrurys'carpetswerealllikevelvet，andmypawsdidliheydidohattheMorrises。Ithestairslikeadwalkedalongthelowerhall，smellihedoors，listeniherewasnonightlightburningdowwasquitedark，butiftherehadbeenanystrangepersonaboutIwouldhavesmelledhim。
Irisedwhehefarthereoseeatinygleamoflightshineforaninstantfromuhedining-roomdoor。Theawayagain。Thedining-roomlacetoeat。Surelyhepeopleinthehousewouldbethereafterthesupper