achel, who,
for some reasons of her own, had refused to stir.

Here the girl drew herself up short, and colored under her dark skin. But
Annie's tact never failed. She even yawned a little, and seemed scarcely
to hear the girl's words.

Now, in the distance, she followed these people.

In her disguise, uncomfortable as it was, she felt tolerably safe. Should
any of the people in Lavender House happen to pass her on the way, they
would never recognize Annie Forest in this small gypsy maiden. When she
did approach the gypsies' dwelling she might have some hope of passing as
one of themselves. The only one whom she had really to fear was the girl
with whom she had changed clothes, and she trusted to her wits to keep
out of this young person's way.

When Zillah, her old gypsy nurse, had charmed her long ago with gypsy
legends and stories, Annie had always begged to hear about the fair
English children whom the gypsies stole, and Zillah had let her into some
secrets which partly accounted for the fact that so few of these children
are ever recovered.

She walked very fast now; her depression was gone, a great excitement, a
great longing, a great hope, keeping her up. She forgot that she had
eaten nothing since breakfast; she forgot everything in all the world now
but her great love for little Nan, and her desire to lay down her very
life, if necessary, to rescue Nan from the terrible fate which awaited
her if she was brought up as a gypsy's child.

Annie, however, was unaccustomed to such long walks, and besides, recent
events had weakened her, and by the time she reached Sefton--for her road
lay straight through this little town--she was so hot and thirsty that
she looked around her anxiously to find some place of refreshment.

In an unconscious manner she paused before a restaurant, where she and
several other girls of Lavender House had more than once been regaled
with buns and milk.

The remembrance of the fresh milk and the nice buns came gratefully
before the memory of the tired child now. Forgetting her queer attire,
she went into the shop, and walked boldly up to the counter.

Annie's disguise, however, was good, and the young woman who was serving,
instead of bending forward with the usual gracious "What can I get for
you, miss?" said very sharply:

"Go away at once, little girl; we don't allow beggars here; leave the
shop instantly. No, I have nothing for you."

Annie was about to reply rather hotly, f