wistful eyes, for
he saw that she was in trouble, but why she should be was more than
he could understand,--for were they not away together, and on their
way home?

He gave a little whine, and Huldah looked up at him. "Oh, Dick, what
can I do? Mrs. Perry will be so frightened there alone, and she'll
be troubling about us so, and--and there's Miss Rose too"--more tears
trickled down Huldah's cheeks,--"yet I can't go and leave Aunt Emma
all alone now, with the van and Charlie to look after, and Uncle Tom
in jail. Oh, what can I do? what can I do!"

Dick was puzzled too, but at that moment a fresh burst of screams
burst on her ears, terrible, noisy screams, and bitter cries and
shoutings. Tom Smith was being led away by the constable, and his
wife had flung herself on the ground in hysterics, real or feigned.

Huldah crept back to the hedge and peered through. Her heart was
heavy as lead. Her body ached with the blows she had received the
night before, and her head throbbed painfully too, but these were as
nothing compared with the pain of her poor little aching disappointed
heart. On the other side of the hedge she saw her aunt lying on the
ground, sobbing, screaming, and beating the ground with her fists.

Huldah crept back through the hedge, and up to her side. "Aunt Emma,
don't take on like that," she said, gently, trying to comfort her.
"He'll be back soon. They won't do anything to him, for certain."
She little dreamed how black the case was against him.

But the sight of the girl seemed to change her aunt's overwhelming
grief to sudden and violent anger against herself. Springing to her
feet, she snatched the heavy whip from the van, and brought it down
with all the force of which she was capable across Huldah's
shoulders.

"It's all your fault!" she screamed, "it's all your fault! It was
only to get hold of you that he offered the fellow the money, and if
you hadn't run away he'd never have had to do it. 'Tis all your
fault he's took, and I'll make you smart for it, my lady!" and
seizing the poor shrinking, frightened child, she beat her until her
arm dropped to her side exhausted.

"Stop that!" cried a stern voice, loudly. Huldah and her aunt fell
back, shocked and startled by the sight of another policeman close to
them. In the noise and excitement they had not heard anyone
approaching. "Give me that whip."

Huldah gave one terrified glance at the man in blue, and fell
fainting at his