The house seemed very quiet with all the windows closed against the rain. Kate stood at the parlor window and watched the wind tossing the tree branches. Thick, dark clouds hung low in the sky. Aunt Prim came back from the Hall after lunch, bringing Hugh Roberts with her. They hurried up the steps together as large drops began to fall, and in another moment the rain cascaded down in silvery sheets.

Hugh Roberts came into the parlor and warmed up at the fire. He hadn’t seen much of his charges in the last couple of weeks, and he was surprised at the change he found in Kate. Prim was right. The girl looked really ill. The big man rubbed his plump hands together as he toasted them in the heat.

“Your aunt has told me quite a tale of adventure,” he announced to them. “Do you have any idea how far you were from here? What land you crossed last night?”

“Em, you were on the horse,” Kate said. “Did you see any lights or landmarks? I was too busy trying to keep my footing,” she added resentfully.

“I couldn’t see anything at all,” Emily said. “It was as black as a pot out there. I don’t know how the horse kept from tripping over his own feet.”

Her guardian frowned at her critically. “If it was as dark as that,” he observed, “I don’t see how anyone could have possibly brought you home. Didn’t you carry a light?”

The two girls looked at each other, surprised. Neither had thought about this. “No,” answered Kate, “he didn’t carry any light at all. I was walking right by the horse, and I kept tripping because I couldn’t see. I don’t know how he knew where he was going.”

Hugh Roberts looked from one to the other of them. “Your great-aunts didn’t see this gypsy,” he remarked.

“He stopped just past the orchard and said he wouldn’t come in,” Emily said carelessly.

“And he rode back the direction he came,” said Kate with a shudder.