oo late. The noise of her gown over the
he'th was of a whistling sort that nothing but silk will make."

"It wasn't I, then. My dress is not silk, you see... Are we anywhere
in a line between Mistover and the inn?"

"Well, yes; not far out."

"Ah, I wonder if it was she! Diggory, I must go at once!"

She jumped down from the van before he was aware, when Venn unhooked
the lantern and leaped down after her. "I'll take the baby, ma'am,"
he said. "You must be tired out by the weight."

Thomasin hesitated a moment, and then delivered the baby into Venn's
hands. "Don't squeeze her, Diggory," she said, "or hurt her little
arm; and keep the cloak close over her like this, so that the rain may
not drop in her face."

"I will," said Venn earnestly. "As if I could hurt anything belonging
to you!"

"I only meant accidentally," said Thomasin.

"The baby is dry enough, but you are pretty wet," said the reddleman
when, in closing the door of his cart to padlock it, he noticed on the
floor a ring of water drops where her cloak had hung from her.

Thomasin followed him as he wound right and left to avoid the larger
bushes, stopping occasionally and covering the lantern, while he
looked over his shoulder to gain some idea of the position of
Rainbarrow above them, which it was necessary to keep directly behind
their backs to preserve a proper course.

"You are sure the rain does not fall upon baby?"

"Quite sure. May I ask how old he is, ma'am?"

"He!" said Thomasin reproachfully. "Anybody can see better than that
in a moment. She is nearly two months old. How far is it now to the
inn?"

"A little over a quarter of a mile."

"Will you walk a little faster?"

"I was afraid you could not keep up."

"I am very anxious to get there. Ah, there is a light from the
window!"

"'Tis not from the window. That's a gig-lamp, to the best of my
belief."

"O!" said Thomasin in despair. "I wish I had been there sooner--give
me the baby, Diggory--you can go back now."

"I must go all the way," said Venn. "There is a quag between us and
that light, and you will walk into it up to your neck unless I take
you round."

"But the light is at the inn, and there is no quag in front of that."

"No, the light is below the inn some two or three hundred yards."

"Never mind," said Thomasin hurriedly. "Go towards the light, and not
towards the inn."

"Yes," answered Venn, swerving round in obedience; and, after a pause,
"I wish you wou