As young readers like to know ' how people look ' , we will take take this moment to give give them a little sketch of the four sisters , who sat knitting knit away in the twilight , while the December snow snow fell quietly without , and the fire fire crackled crackle cheerfully within .

CHAPTER I THE STRANGE MAN 'S ARRIVAL arrival The stranger came come early in February , one wintry day , through a biting wind wind and a driving snow snow , the last snowfall snowfall of the year , over the down , walking walk from Bramblehurst railway station , and carrying a little black portmanteau in his thickly gloved hand .

Although the fire fire was burning up briskly , she was surprised surprise to see see that her visitor still wore his hat and coat , standing with his back to her and staring stare out of the window at the falling snow snow in the yard .