ooking straight at his questioner. How
could he tell this dreadful man the truth? and it did not occur to him
to trump up a story or put him off with a half-truth, as some children
might have done.

"We're going on a journey, my sister and I," said the lad simply.

Then he closed his lips tightly, and his sweet little mouth was set in a
new resolute curve. He would not speak of the Happy Land to this odd
pair, who had thrust themselves so unexpectedly and so rudely where they
were not wanted. They might laugh at him, and who enjoys being laughed
at, or having their plans and dreams ridiculed and scattered in shreds
before their very eyes?

"It's late for ye to be out by yerselves," continued Joe. "Aren't ye
frightened for the dark?"

"Oh no," replied Darby readily; "_that_ never frightens us. God is in
the dark as well as in the light, and He always takes care of us."

"Ahem!" and Joe coughed awkwardly, not knowing what to say. He was not
used to replying to such remarks.

By this time Joan had hushed her sobs to listen to the conversation. She
wriggled uneasily under the confining shawl; and hearing that she was
quiet, Moll allowed the little thing to sit up in her arms and look
about her.

At this point Joe made a movement of impatience, which Moll understood.
He was in haste to push on, for it would soon be dark, and he was hungry
for his supper.

Moll frowned at him. She wanted to work things in her own way, and she
understood that little people don't like to be hurried.

"Aren't you afeard to be out on this lonesome place so late, my pretty?"
she asked in a sugar-sweet voice, turning a beaming face upon Joan.

"No--I's never f'ightened of dark, or dogs, or fings," she said, drawing
somewhat back from the bold face so near her own; "but I's sometimes
f'ightened for peoples. I's f'ightened for you, some, and I's awful
f'ightened for _him_," added Joan in a whisper, pointing her tiny
finger in the direction of Mr. Harris, who was busily engaged in
lighting his pipe.

Moll scowled, and gave the little girl a slight shake.

"You're frightened, are you?" and she laughed wickedly. "All the same,
the pair o' ye'll have to come along o' us. We'll see ye safe to yer
journey's end. Ye might meet tramps or gipsies, or--oh, I don't know
what all! They'd pop ye into a bag an' carry ye away wi' them."

"Isn't you tramps an' gipsies--you an' _him_?" asked Joan innocently.
"Will you put us in a bag an' carry us away