wouldn't tell, you may be sure they'll soon be sending after her. I
could take her home on my way to Greenoaks if I knew where it was. Can't
be far off--maybe it's one of the clergyman's children down by
Springley."

"They've none so little," said Mrs. David. "But there's Squire
Caryll's--I heard say there's a sight o' little ones there. 'Twill be
there."

"Likely enough," said David. "But I'd like a cup o' tea, Liz, if the
young lady'll excuse my being rather rough like."

Lizzie laughed.

"She's but a baby," she said; and so David came forward and sat down at
the table.

Hoodie looked up from her tea and stopped half way through a "bicsit" to
take a good stare at the new comer.

"Who is zou, please?" she said at last.

[Illustration: "Who is zou, please?"]

David looked rather awkward. It was somewhat embarrassing to be calmly
challenged in this way at his own table, poor man, by a mite of a
creature like this! He relieved his feelings by a glance at his wife and
a faint whistle.

"Well, to be sure!" he exclaimed.

Lizzie understood the small questioner better.

"Why, Missy," she said, "'Tis David. He's baby's father, and this is his
house, and he's very pleased to see you here."

Hoodie looked again at David; this time he seemed to find more favour in
her eyes.

"At the grandmother's cottage there wouldn't have been no Davids," she
remarked. "His hands is rather dirty, isn't they, little baby's mother?"

This was too much for David--he went off into a roar. Hoodie looked up
doubtfully--was he laughing at _her_?--in her opinion, an unpardonable
crime--but David's funny, good-natured face gained the day, and after a
moment's hesitation Hoodie joined in the fun and laughed too, though at
what she certainly didn't know.

Friendly feeling thus established, David thought it time to begin his
inquiries.

"Hope you've enjoyed your tea, Miss," he said. "You must a been hungry
after such a long walk. Round by Springley way was it?"

"_What_ did you say?" said Hoodie, opening her eyes. David's tone and
accent were puzzling to her.

"He says, was it round by Springley way you came, Missy--the way the
church is?"

"Oh no, not the church way. I comed srough the wood and past Farmer
Bright's. Home is not the church way," said Hoodie unsuspiciously.

David and his wife nodded at each other. "Squire Caryll's," whispered
Lizzie.

"I'll be passing that way in the cart," said David. "Would you like a
ride,