`` I 'm sure I did . Come on -- over in this direction . '' Inspired with fresh hope we hurried after him . Soon we all saw the light -- and never shone a fairer beacon . A few more steps and , coming into the shelter of the woodland on the further side , we realized where we were . `` That 's Peg Bowen 's house , '' exclaimed Peter , stopping short in dismay . `` I do n't care whose house it is , '' declared Dan . `` We 've got to go to it . '' `` I s ` pose so , '' acquiesced Peter ruefully . `` We ca n't freeze to death even if she is a witch . '' `` For goodness ' sake do n't say anything about witches so close to her house , '' gasped Felicity . `` I 'll be thankful to get in anywhere . '' We reached the house , climbed the flight of steps that led to that mysterious second story door , and Dan rapped . The door opened promptly and Peg Bowen stood before us , in what seemed exactly the same costume she had worn on the memorable day when we had come , bearing gifts , to propitiate her in the matter of Paddy . `` Behind her was a dim room scantly illumined by the one small candle that had guided us through the storm ; but the old Waterloo stove was colouring the gloom with tremulous , rose-red whorls of light , and warm and cosy indeed seemed Peg 's retreat to us snow-covered , frost-chilled , benighted wanderers . `` Gracious goodness , where did yez all come from ? '' exclaimed Peg . `` Did they turn yez out ? '' `` We 've been over to Baywater , and we got lost in the storm coming back , '' explained Dan . `` We did n't know where we were till we saw your light .
I guess we 'll have to stay here till the storm is over -- XXXXX you do n't mind . ''
Behind For about after before by if in into till