ot help pitying her.

"I--I've got half-a-crown in my purse. I'll give you that," said
Huldah, gently. "It's all I have now, but it will get you a bed and
some food."

Mrs. Perry came towards them. "Huldah," she said, kindly, "if your--
if Mrs. Smith will come in and rest, I'll make her a cup of tea.
She looks fit to drop."

The poor tramp turned to her gratefully. "I feels like it too.
I haven't tasted anything since yesterday," she added, feebly; and,
now that the eagerness and excitement had died out of her face, she
looked almost like a dying woman.

They led the way into the cottage, and gave her the most comfortable
chair. She dropped into it with almost a groan of relief, and then,
as though the kindness overcame her, she began to weep weakly.
"I couldn't help coming to Huldah," she sobbed. "I couldn't keep
away. I haven't a friend or relation in the world but her, nor
nowhere to go,--but the workhouse, and I can't go there. I'd rather
die under a hedge. I've always been so used to the open, and my
freedom, and I couldn't bear it. But I haven't got a penny, nor no
means of getting one. Whatever I'm going to do I don't know.
Tom's put away for three years, and I shan't ever live to see him
come out, I know,--but nobody cares! It don't matter to nobody
whether I'm alive or dead."

The storm had broken by this time, and the crashing of the thunder
seemed to add horror to the hopeless misery of her sobs and
complainings. Huldah could scarcely bear it.

"Aunt Emma, don't say such things," she cried. "I care, I do really.
You shan't starve,--not while I can work. I'll work harder, and help
you. I'll ask Miss Rose about it."

But the half-starved, miserable woman could not check her sobs, once
they had begun. The hunger and want and loneliness had worn her
health and spirit until a little kindness was more than she could
bear. She broke down entirely under it.

Huldah sat with a very grave face all the time they were taking their
tea. Things had suddenly become so perplexing, she did not know what
to do or think.

"Oh dear," she sighed, "it all seemed so lovely only an hour ago.
I thought it was going to last like it for ever and ever."
She was so lost in perplexity about Aunt Emma's future, that Mrs.
Perry was left to entertain their guest,--to listen, at least, to the
tale of her wanderings and sufferings, and the hardships she had
endured all her life.

"I've never 'ad nobody to car