't be angry, will you?"

"No, I won't be angry," Elsie said impatiently. "What is it?"

"I feel so tired. Couldn't we go home?"

"Do you think you could find the way back?" Elsie asked.

"Oh! but we could ask for Dunster," Duncan said, eagerly. "People would
tell us. I'd try to run very fast, Elsie."

"We should have to get back to that other road, where the cottages are,
first," Elsie said, contemplatively. "Would you like to do that,
Duncan?"

"Oh, no!" the child cried, in _terror_. "They'd catch us, Elsie, they'd
catch us: I'm sure they would."

"We won't go there," Elsie said, trying to comfort him, for it was
pitiful to see his fright. "Wait till I see a nice tidy person, and I'll
ask all about it."

"There might be another way," Duncan suggested.

Just then they heard the sound of distant wheels. Duncan caught hold of
Elsie's shoulder in an agony of fright. "It's the man!" he cried,
trembling from head to foot, and turning as white as death. "He's
coming, Elsie! he's coming to fetch us back!"

CHAPTER IX.--A FAIRY VISITOR.

With what indescribable torments of dread the two children stood waiting
it is difficult to express. Elsie's feeling of fright for herself was
merged in care for Duncan. She had never seen him look like this before,
and it startled her. His white face was drawn into an expression that
changed it altogether. His eyes were wide and staring, looking along the
road in a sort of fascination of terror.

Elsie held him close to her, drawing him round so that he should not see
the approaching vehicle, still far distant, for on that still, lonely
road the sound of hoofs could be heard at a great distance. Elsie
listened, with her heart standing still.

"Duncan, Duncan, it is two horses!" she cried, presently. "And they are
coming quickly. It is a carriage, not a cart."

But Duncan was so terrified that he had no reasoning power left in him.
Even when the carriage came in sight he would not have been a bit
surprised to have seen the crofter and his shrewish wife jump out of it.

Instead of that, however, the carriage contained a very
fashionably-dressed, rich-looking lady and gentleman. Elsie could see
directly that they were gentlefolk, who would never think of hurting two
little children. She resolved to speak to them.

They were certainly in fortune's way. The carriage drew up close by
them, and a dainty voice asked--

"Children, can you tell us if we are on the right road to Ki