could find your wa

to remove the cup and plate, and ask what more she could do. She was longing to make her

I could," she a

d her, and I feel I want her now, but I don't kno

ncle and aunt, her heart sank. "I-I don't suppose I'd meet uncle that way, but-but ther

so far by this time, even if he came this way. You see, he'd ha

't take Dick, though, if you'll keep him, ma'am. If I did see them coming, I could hide behind

se him-so far from

em and Charlie, and he'd be sure

tter start before the day gets any hotter. Tell Miss Rose, that if she can spare the time, and it isn't v

ll tell her you

ng over the shabby little maiden standing by her bedside. "

and hands is clean," she said, shyly, "and

e by the looking-glass; but 'twas your frock I was thinking about, and your apron is too ragged an

ld, ma'am, but I'l

by the door; hold it up against

ng far below her frock, and reached the top of her foot, but it

She was very anxious to be a credit to her new friend, and she was even more

ingly, and Huldah, quite unconscious of the fu

ght, and keep straight on till you come to the church and the vicarage. Go to

do anything more fo

s much as you can; it is going to b

igh road, for though the glare of the sun was blinding, and there was no shade, it was less stifling there; but it was not the discomfort that she minded so much, her great desire was to look her best when she had to face Miss Rose. So she walked on the grass by the road-sid

no one heard her, and she was about to knock for the third time, when

with such shining golden hair that it made Hul

kindly as she spoke, and her eyes were so gentle and pretty that Huldah scarcely heard what

e Miss Rose," she stammered out

did you know my name? You don't

"No, ma'am, I-I don't live anywhere. I'm come from Mrs. Perry, in Woodend Lane. She's ill in bed, and if it wouldn'

ck sympathy was

I am so sorry! What h

n out in the hot sun.

and tried to steal her fowls, and she was reg'larly frightened she wa

iss Rose's cheeks flushed with indignation, and her s

pen the door, and he bit their legs too. I'll be bound they're lame enough to-day!" and Hulda

o was this funny little maid with the brown skin, brown hair,

ative of Mrs. Perry?

, and the laughter d

dy's relative, I haven

k your

dog; but he's ever su

's nothing he can't do

company while I'm gon

last n

re of her. Tell her I will come to see her this morning, will you? and wait a m

e. After the glare and heat outside, the slates looked cool and restful to the eye. At the other end of the passage a door stood open, and through it Huldah c

ing nice for a brave

a bone with so

ought of Dick's delight. Two bones in two days! He had never before known such a wonderful

l with a joy she did

ost her shyness. "Oh,

here to see Dick when

i

t don't keep him wa

had brought with her to sell, and which she had been holding all this time. Now, though, when she did remember

he exclaimed. She had noticed it in Huldah's hands, and been attracted by its pr

made it," stamme

girl! Do you make them to sell?" She

iss; bu

ery much like to have one; I am alway

ew; I-I brought it out to-to sell, if I could. I do want to get some money to give to Mrs. Perry-she's been so good to Dick and me, and-and I hadn't got anything to give her." Then,

and, she asked gently, "Will you tell me your story, dear, presently, when I come to see Mrs. Perry? I should so like to know it. Then I shall

xcited she scarcely knew how to get her words out. A great sense of relief and happiness filled

nd to give to Mrs. Perry, and she had a feast for Dick. Life seemed beautiful, and happy, and hopeful. Could it have been only ye

hedge, bending low, almost like an animal. At the corner of the field she paused. "If I can get over this hedge, I shall be in the lane," she thought; but the sound of wheels made her crouch low again; the horse was just passing. Fascinated, yet terrified, Huldah peeped through the hedge, and saw- a quiet old farm-horse drawing a hay-cart, and the driver sound asleep o

f, half-amused, half-sad. "I ain't nobody's relative, I haven't got nobody but Dick! She seemed so cheerful about it, too, it makes one feel that she did not mi

in the garden gnawing his bone, and Martha Perry lying in bed with eighteenpence on the table beside her, and a bunch of flowers in a jug. Huldah had t

Please to walk in, miss," she said, shyly. She had hoped to have had the kitchen washed and made

r in pretty, clean, dainty things, a blue, or pink, or green cotton frock, with big white apron and white collar. She sa

the chairs and mantelpiece, and was sitting down to rest her hot and weary little body, before

brownie," said Miss Rose, "not onl

t her hands up to her cheeks. "My hands is bro

so great. In spite of your red cheeks, you are

f her head. "I haven't ever been anythi

help and protect poor, helpless old people, and sell their baskets to giv

d again, with a puzz

, m

and ill and poor, and those who were good and kind. They would come when folks were asleep, and tidy their kitchen for them, or chop their wood, and spin their flax. Sometimes, for the very poor, they would bake a batch of bread or cakes, and have all ready for them; and when the poor people came down in the morning, cold a

and how I'd love to be abl

nly you don't vanish by day,

Never in her sad, hard li

y easily offended. Such a little thing would rouse their anger, and when they were angry

uldah, lookin

our friend. I want you to tell me all about yourself and your past life, and where you came from, and why you and Dick are quit

o, but if you send us back to Uncle Tom, he'll pretty nigh beat us to death, me and Dick, I know he will!" And at the mere thought of it she brok

nt filled the child; and her heart ached as she realised what she must have endured to bring her t

at the thought of the blows and abuse and hunger which would be her lot. The hunger for love and kindness, too, which, now she had had a glimpse of both, would be even greater than her hunger for food, and even less likely to be gratified. No-oh no!-Huldah should nev

comfort, owed some share of her blessings to those who had n