iously, quieted down until it seemed scarcely to beat at all. Save for the good-night calls of

ugh," thought Huldah, "or whoeve

t here she might find help. So, after waiting a little longer, she screwed up her courage again, and rapped once more, this time more loudly; and this time, at any rate, her k

ate," her hearer would not know who Huldah Bate was. However, she had to say something, so she called back pleadingly, "I am

and pleading, and tired. So the bolts were drawn back, and the door was opened. It was only opened a few inches, but wide enough to let out a str

anybody with you?" asked the

m, no one

ly pushing the door

me miles and miles. I don't want to come in, ma'am," she pleaded, more and more eagerly, as the door remained rigidly closed, except for about three inches. "If only you'll give us a bit of bread. I haven't got any money, but I

mself in front of her, as though to protect her from the ogress who made her cry. Something in the ogress's face, though, told Dick tha

all come in;" and the narrow stream of light became a wide river, which broke over the pair and surrounding t

s a palace. It was spotlessly clean, and as neat as a new pin, and to a child who had spent the g

he most luxurious thing he had ever seen in the whole of his life, and he stretched h

while stood in the middle of t

id Martha, at last, "

usquely but

rched herself, with a long-drawn breath of exciteme

sit in the arm-chai

like a c

ind words to answer with. There was more pleasure, though

was just going to have a cup

Huldah, feebly, but again with

hen, as her eyes fell on the baskets the child had been carr

" answered H

are worth more than a bit of bread. They ought to sell

rown, and then comes down to two shillings

Aunt

eal aunt, though I calls her so. She and Uncle Tom ain't any relation to me r

you got a

oo little to remember, and mother earned her living by m

mother die?" asked Mr

ma and Uncle Tom said I was to go and live w

ther think so mu

r mother, they drinks a lot, and-and swe

leaving you to such peo

into bitter sobs; "but there wasn't anybody else there, and they told the parish orf'cer that

ey kind

horse that draws the van,-and I'd sooner be beaten myself than see them being knoc

u had never had enough to eat in yo

them in as much as a pound a week sometimes, and oh!" and she gasped at the thought, "Uncle Tom will be

tiny bit of butter. The bone she had, earlier in the day, decided would make her some pea-soup for to-morrow's dinner, but she thought of poor Dick and his hollow sides, and came to the conclusion that her soup would tas

you eat

m, but I don't want anything so-so good as that." She could have eaten anything, no matter how plain, or poor, or unappetizing. But

n't ever have to buy one," said the old

eep a far

a farm. I had a cow at one time, but all that's left is the hous

remembered enough of her mother's teaching to know how shocking to ordinary eyes Mr. and Mrs. Smith's behaviour would have seemed. To-night, though, she was

ul, glorious meal was at last ended, "whe

here perticler. I daresay there's a rick or a hedge we can lay down

her alone in the kitchen, while she herself went to bed and to sleep. To her mind all gipsies, and all gipsy children, were thieves, and though she was interested in Huldah, and felt very s

istrust, and it hurt her. Her eyes filled, but s

n I've got Dick with me, and-and thank you, ma'am, for all you've given us; but I wish you'd 'ave on

he could see that the child's feelings were hurt, and that her

clean as can be, and there's plenty of nice straw there, to make a comfortable bed for you. You'd

resisted. To be safe from her uncle! She felt she could bear anything, if she could only for a few hours feel quite safe. She was so

d, and Mrs. Perry, lantern in hand, was conducting her two

ing her lantern over the door of the little bui

ell of the straw which was scattered about one end of it. There were some bundles and some loose straw lying on the groun

be afraid,

u, not with Dick," s

in that great empty strange place. She did wish that Mrs. Perry had seen fit to leave them the lantern. Rats loved straw, Huldah knew, so did mice, and she

was so tired, or, perhaps, because she was overtired, sleep when it did come was not sound or pleasant. Every time Dick rustled the straw, she awoke. Every time a bird called or an owl hooted, she started up wide awake.

d, and sat up on her straw bed, to see

to lie wearily down again, when a real, not a dream sound, caught h

self, and her mouth and throat grew dry with terror, and her heart beat suffocatingly

ce, for her uncle would recognise Dick's growl in a moment. She laid her hand on his collar firmly. "Quiet!" she commanded, firmly, and knew that

r, and Huldah never knew afterwards whether she was most frightened or relieved-frigh

sack?" the voice

ou had it. I've cut my knee on that there wal

Bill got. "We've got to 'ave the sack, so you'd better find

e going to steal the fowls. Oh, they shan't! The lady'll think it's

ot know her way, nor where to turn for help; and if she screamed, they would only find her out, and knock her about. They would steal the fowls a

tch with the other. Bill had evidently found the sack, for the thieves were together again; she hea

"Go for them, Dick! bring them down!" With one fierce

of the darkness came a large dog bounding upon them, growling savagely. For a second they were too frightened to move; then, with an oath, they dashed across the garden, making for the wall they had come over. Fast though they went, Dick was after them and

ite frightened face stared out. Huldah caught sight of it, and coming o

's all right, ma'am, some fellows come st

was two to one. A heavy kick sent him rolling over, just as the thieves reached the wall,

ck to the spot whence the sound came. "Oh, Dick,

Limping heavily, but mightily pleased with his fray, he came running up to her. Huldah knelt down in the path beside him, and hugged him to her. "O

All that really troubled him was that his enem

am terrified to be left alone! Come in, both of you, and shut the door;" and at the sound of her voice Dick gave up his frantic