s I
know, so there!"

CHAPTER XXI.

THE HIDING-PLACE.

Jane did not feel the least shade of regret or fear when she took Maud
home.

There was no one there, of course, for Jim was at work still and Harry
and the baby were at the Nursery. Jane gave Maud some bread and jam
and a mug of milk and sat down to think over the situation.

Harry had made his appearance in the house and street without
occasioning the least remark or surprise. They made no apologies for
him, no explanations beyond the one that he was Jim's nephew.

This was her niece. That was all the difference. With no mystery and
no explanations she felt perfectly secure. She would act exactly as
she had done when Harry came. There was only one thing necessary for
protection. The colour of the child's hair should be brown and her
white dress and sun hat should be pink!

"What's your name, child?" she said abruptly.

Maud looked up startled.

"I'm Maudie," she said piteously, her blue eyes filling with tears, "I
don't like being here. I want to go home to my mother."

She struggled out of her chair, and prepared to depart, but Jane
lifted her back rather roughly and spoke sharply.

"Look here," she said, "you've got to be a good girl and do what Aunt
Jane tells you, and if you are a good girl and don't cry, you shall go
home to-morrow; but if you cry, you shan't!"

She bustled over to a cupboard and began rummaging, bringing out
presently a ball of pink Dolly dye and a little bottle of deep-red
crystals, while poor little Maud choked back her tears as best she
could. Her short experience of life had brought prompt fulfilment of
promises, and she watched Jane quite interestedly, as she threw a few
crystals into a basin, poured boiling water on them, and produced a
lovely crimson liquid.

Jane then tied a towel round the child's neck.

"I'm going to make you some lovely curls," she announced,
unconsciously using one of Denys's constant formulas, and in a moment
Maud's golden head was sopped all over with the crimson liquid, and
after it was dried on the towel, she emerged with fluffy brown curls
and streaks of brown upon her face. That defect was soon remedied, and
the brown stain travelled all over her face and neck till the clear
white skin had disappeared, and she looked like all the other little
sun-browned children who ran about in the street below.

Jane surveyed her handiwork with satisfaction; then she rapidly
undressed her new