She must seek shelter somewhere , and Heartsease Farm was the nearest . She pushed open the gate and ran up the slope of the yard between the hedges of sweetbriar . She was spared the trouble of knocking , for as she came to a breathless halt on the big red sandstone doorstep , the door was flung open , and the white-haired , happy-faced little woman standing on the threshold had seized her hand and drawn her in bodily before she could speak a word . `` I saw you coming from upstairs , '' said Aunt Flora gleefully , `` and I just ran down as fast as I could . Dear , dear , you are a little wet . But we 'll soon dry you . Come right in -- I 've a bit of a fire in the grate , for the evening is chilly . They laughed at me for loving a fire so , but there 's nothing like its snap and sparkle . You 're rained in for the night , and I 'm as glad as I can be . I know who you are -- you are Miss Foster . I 'm Aunt Flora , and this is Uncle Charles . '' Constance let herself be put into a cushiony chair and fussed over with an unaccustomed sense of pleasure . The rain was coming down in torrents , and she certainly was domiciled at Heartsease Farm for the night . Somehow , she felt glad of it . Mrs. Hewitt was right in calling Aunt Flora sweet , and Uncle Charles was a big , jolly , ruddy-faced old man with a hearty manner . He shook Constance 's hand until it ached , threw more pine knots in the fire and told her he wished it would rain every night if it rained down a nice little girl like her . She found herself strangely attracted to the old couple . The name of their farm was in perfect keeping with their atmosphere . Constance 's frozen soul expanded in it . She chatted merrily and girlishly , feeling as if she had known them all her life .
When bedtime came , Aunt XXXXX took her upstairs to a little gable room .
Charles Constance Farm Flora Heartsease Hewitt evening fire right sandstone