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s was lucky for me； for as it happened I was ten minutes older before I heard two patrolmen on the outside； wondering what frightened old cove had been at the pains to spring a rattle。
The moonlight shone in at the western window of the kitchen； so that as I came in I could just make out the figure of my mother and of the girl； lying； rather than sitting； in her lap and her arms。 I was not afraid to speak now； and I told my mother we were quite safe again； and she told the poor girl so。 I struck a match and lighted the lamp as soon as I could。 The poor； frightened creature started as I did so； and then fell on her knees at my mother's feet； took both her hands in her own； and seemed like one who begs for mercy； or； indeed； for life。
My poor； dear mother was all amazed； and her eyes were running with tears at the sight of the poor thing's terror。 She kissed her again and again； she stroked her beautiful golden hair with her soft hands； she said in every word that she could think of that she was quite safe now； and must not think of being frightened any more。
But it was clear in a moment that the girl could not understand any language that we could speak。 My mother tried her with a few words of German； and she smiled then； but she shook her head prettily； as if to say that she thanked her； but could not speak to her in that way either。 Then she spoke eagerly in some language that we could not understand。 But had it been the language of Hottentots； we should have known that she was begging my mother not to forsake her； so full of entreaty was every word and every gesture。
My dear； sweet mother lifted her at last into the easy…chair and made her lie there while she dipped some hot water from her boiler and filled a large basin in her sink。 Then she led the pretty creature to it； and washed from her arms； hands； and face the blood that had hardened upon them； and looked carefully to find what her wounds were。 None of them were deep； though there were ugly scratches on her beautiful arms； they were cut by glass； as I guessed then； and as we learned from her afterward。 My mother was wholly prepared for all such surgery as was needed here； she put on two bandages where she thought they were needed； she plastered up the other scratches with court…plaster； and then； as if the girl understood her； she said to her； 〃And now； my dear child； you must come to bed； there is no danger for you more。〃
The poor girl had grown somewhat reassured in the comfortable little kitchen； but her terror seemed to come back at any sign of removal； she started to her feet； almost as if she were a wild creature。 But I would defy any one to be afraid of my dear mother； or indeed to refuse to do what she bade； when she smiled so in her inviting way and put out her hand； and so the girl went with her； bowing to me； or dropping a sort of courtesy in her foreign fashion； as she went out of the door； and I was left to see what damage had been done to my castle by the savages； as I called them。
I had sprung the rattle none too soon； for one of these rascals； as it provedI suppose it was the same who swore that she had not gone into the churchwith some tool or other he had in his hand； had split out a bit of the fence and had pried out a part of a plank。 I had done my work too well for any large piece to give way。 But the moment I looked into my coal…bin I saw that something was amiss。 I did not like very well to go to the outside； but I must risk something； so I took out a dark lantern which I always kept ready。 Sure enough； as I say； the fellow had struck so hard and so well that he had split out a piece of board； and a little coal even had fallen upon the passage…way。 I was not much displeased at this； for if he thought no nearer the truth than that he had broken into a coal…bin of the church； why； he was far enough from his mark for me。 After finding this； however； I was anxious enough； lest any of them should return； not to go to bed again that night； but all was still as death； and； to tell the truth； I fell asleep in my chair。 I doubt whether my mother slept； or her frightened charge。
I was at work in the passage early the next morning with some weather…stained boards I had； and before nine o'clock I had doubled all that piece of fence； from my wing where my hand…cart was to the church； and I had spiked the new boards on； which looked like old boards； as I said； with tenpenny nails； so that he would be a stout burglar who would cut through them unless he had tools for his purpose and daylight to work by。 As I was gathering up my tools to go in； a coarse； brutal…looking Irishman came walking up the alley and looked round。 My work was so well done； and I had been so careful to leave no chips； that even then he could not have guessed that I had been building the fence anew； though I fancied he looked at it。 He seemed to want to excuse himself for being there at all； and asked me； with an oath and in a broad Irish brogue； if there were no other passage through。 I had the presence of mind to say in German； 〃Wollen sie sprechen Deutsch？〃 and so made as if I could not understand him； and then； kneeling on the cellar…door of the church； pretended to put a key into the lock； as if I were making sure that I had made it firm。
And with that； he turned round with another oath； as if he had come out of his way； and went out of the alley； closely followed by me。 I watched him as long as I dared； but as he showed no sign of going back to the alley； I at last walked round a square with my tools； and so came back to my mother and the pretty stranger。
My mother had been trying to get at her story。 She made her understand a few words of German； but they talked by signs and smiles and tears and kisses much more than by words； and by this time they understood each other so well that my mother had persuaded her not to go away that day。
Nor did she go out for many days after； I will go before my story far enough to say that。 She had； indeed； been horribly frightened that night； and she was as loath to go out again into the streets of New York as I should be to plunge from a safe shore into some terrible； howling ocean； or； indeed； as one who found himself safe at home would be to trust himself to the tender mercies of a tribe of cannibals。
Two such loving women as they were were not long in building up a language； especially as my mother had learned from my father and his friends； in her early life； some of the common words of Germanwhat she called a bread…and…butter German。 For our new inmate was a Swedish girl。 Her story； in short； was this：
She had been in New York but two days。 On the voyage over； they had had some terrible sickness on the vessel； and the poor child's mother had died very suddenly and had been buried in the sea。 Her father had died long before。
This was； as you may think； a terrible shock to her。 But she had hoped and hoped for the voyage to come to an end； because there was a certain brother of hers in America whom they were to meet at their landing； and though she was very lonely on the packet…ship； in which she and her mother and a certain family of the name of Hantsenof whom she had much to saywe