round under my arms it would look better," she
suggested. She was very anxious to be a credit to her new friend,
and she was even more anxious not to shock Miss Rose, at first sight,
by her disreputable appearance.

"Yes, that will do," agreed Mrs. Perry, approvingly, and Huldah,
quite unconscious of the funny figure she cut, started off in high
spirits.

"Go to the top of the lane till you reach the high road, then turn to
your right, and keep straight on till you come to the church and the
vicarage. Go to the back door and knock gently, and ask to see Miss
Rose. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am. Can I do anything more for you before I go?"

"No, thank you. Keep in the shade as much as you can; it is going to
be dreadfully hot again, I b'lieve."

In the lane, in spite of the shade, the heat was already stifling,
the high hedges seemed to shut it in, and to keep out the air.
Huldah, hurrying along over the rough ground, felt her face growing
scarlet, and her breath coming quick. She was almost glad to get out
on the high road, for though the glare of the sun was blinding, and
there was no shade, it was less stifling there; but it was not the
discomfort that she minded so much, her great desire was to look her
best when she had to face Miss Rose. So she walked on the grass by
the road-side, to keep her from getting dusty, and every now and then
her hands went up to her cheeks, to feel if they were very, very hot;
and indeed, between nervousness, and the heat, her cheeks were very,
very scarlet by the time she reached the vicarage, and had found the
back door.

Obedient to her orders, she knocked gently, so gently that for a time
no one heard her, and she was about to knock for the third time, when
a lady came round from the front of the house and caught sight of
her.

She was a young lady, tall and thin and pretty, with such shining
golden hair that it made Huldah wink to look at it gleaming in the
sunshine.

"Can't you make anyone hear? I expect cook is busy; you must knock
more loudly." She smiled kindly as she spoke, and her eyes were so
gentle and pretty that Huldah scarcely heard what she was saying, for
looking at them. "It must be Miss Rose herself," she thought to
herself.

"Please, ma'am, I--I wanted to see Miss Rose," she stammered out at
last. "Please, ma'am, are you--"

"I am Miss Rose Carew, yes. How did you know my name? You don't
live anywhere hereabouts, do you?"

"No, miss."