she answered, readily.

"Miss Rose said she'd come to me any time I wanted her, and I feel I
want her now, but I don't know how to let her know, unless you will
go for me."

"I'll go," said Huldah, eagerly. "I'd like to." Then, with sudden
recollection of her uncle and aunt, her heart sank. "I--I don't
suppose I'd meet uncle that way, but--but there'd be the chance of
that, any way I went," she added, trying to be brave and sensible.

Mrs. Perry looked anxious too. "I don't s'pose he could have got so
far by this time, even if he came this way. You see, he'd have to
keep to the road with the van, and you cut across country."

"Oh, it's sure to be all right," said Huldah, more bravely,
determined not to be afraid. "I won't take Dick, though, if you'll
keep him, ma'am. If I did see them coming, I could hide behind a
hedge or somewhere, but Dick, he's racing everywhere, and I'd never
be able to hide him too."

"Would they recognise him--so far from where they lost him?"

"Oh yes, ma'am, and he'd know them and Charlie, and he'd be sure to
run up to speak to Charlie."

"Very well; you leave Dick here with me. I'll be glad to have him
for company while you're gone; you'd better start before the day gets
any hotter. Tell Miss Rose, that if she can spare the time, and it
isn't very inconvenient I'd be very much obliged if she could come to
see me to-day. You'll remember, won't you?"

"Yes, ma'am, I'll tell her you'm bad in bed."

"I wish," began Mrs. Perry, then hesitated, her eyes glancing over
the shabby little maiden standing by her bedside. "I wish you
weren't quite so--I wish you were a little tidier."

Huldah flushed under her glance. "My face and hands is clean," she
said, shyly, "and I'll put the sweeping-brush over my hair--"

Mrs. Perry smiled, in spite of herself. "No, don't do that, child;
take and use that one over there by the looking-glass; but 'twas your
frock I was thinking about, and your apron is too ragged and dirty to
see a lady in. I don't suppose you could wear one of mine--it'd be
too long, wouldn't it?"

"I'm 'fraid it would, ma'am, but I'll try, if you like."

"There's one there on the chair by the door; hold it up against you,
and let me see how it looks."

Huldah took the apron shyly, and held it round her waist. It hung
far below her frock, and reached the top of her foot, but it hid her
shabby old frock, and certainly gave her a cleaner look.

"P'raps if I tied it