for it
very soon, so have no hesitation in delivering it." The man bowed and
obeyed, and Laura, with her mother's hand in hers, plunged into the
forest.

CHAPTER II

It was a new thing for Laura to find her self on foot in the woods, to
push her way through the brambles, and assist her mother in finding a
path, and she fretted considerably at the necessity; but her mother,
taking no notice of the child's complaints, went resolutely on, as if
determined not to listen to anything that would make her unwilling to
complete her errand. So, clambering over fallen trees green with moss,
and slipping upon the pine needles, and occasionally getting a scratch
from a brier, went Lady Idleways and Laura, until they came to an
opening in the forest where the blue sky again was visible; but so,
also, was a great rock before them, too high for them to climb, and no
way to get around it. Pausing a moment, Laura's mother picked up a
little stick and rapped with it upon the rock. Instantly from under the
hanging vines a door, which no one could have supposed was there, flew
open, and from it came forth a neat little old lady in black gown and
white cap, leaning upon a gold-headed cane.

She courtesied pleasantly and bade Lady Idleways enter; but Lady
Idleways declined, saying, "I have brought my little daughter to you, my
friend, as I promised. Do all you can for me and for her. I have bidden
her obey you, and I prefer leaving her now, lest my heart fail me.
Farewell, little Laura, for a short time. You are in excellent hands,
and must not be sad at parting. Give me a pleasant smile and a nice
good-bye kiss." And, clasping her in a close embrace, the mother
whispered more tender words in her ears, bade the old lady take good
care of her, and then turned hastily away, as if she feared to linger.

Laura beheld all this in quiet astonishment; then, as her mother left
her, she flung herself upon the ground and wept passionately. But she
was not allowed to do this very long, for the old lady, rapping her cane
upon the rock, summoned to her assistance a funny old servant, as quaint
and as curious as herself, a dwarf of kindly, smiling face, dressed in a
gray blouse, with wooden shoes upon his feet, and a scarlet cap with a
long tassel on his head.

"Hey, little missy!" said the old lady, "this will not do at all. Grim,
pick her up and take her to her own little bedroom in my cottage. If she
wishes to, she may lie there, but not