on the alert for the slightest
noise, eyes glancing in every direction.

She reached the main road, then hurried off. The stars in the skies
above were disappearing, and from the east a faint streak of light lit
the shadows of the night and announced the approach of day.

CHAPTER V

STORMS AND FEARS

She had not walked far before she saw in the distance a black mass
silhouetted against the dawning light to the grey sky. Chimneys, houses
and steeples rose up in the coming dawn, leaving the rest of the
landscape obscure in the shadows.

She reached the first straggling cottages of the village. Instinctively
she trod more softly on the paved road. This was a useless precaution,
for with the exception of the cats which ran about the streets, everyone
slept, and her little footsteps only awoke a few dogs who barked at her
behind closed gates.

She was famished; she was weak and faint with hunger.

What would become of her if she dropped unconscious? She was afraid she
might soon. So that this would not happen, she thought it better to rest
a minute, and as she was now passing before a barn full of hay, she went
in quietly and threw herself down on the soft bed. The rest, the warmth,
and also the sweet smell of the hay, soothed her and soon she slept.

When she awoke the sun was already high in the heavens and was casting
its rays over the fields where men and women were busily at work.

The pangs of hunger were now more acute than ever. Her head whirled; she
was so giddy that she could scarcely see where she went as she staggered
on. She had just reached the top of a hill, and before her, close by,
was the village with its shops. She would spend her last sou for a piece
of bread! She had heard of people finding money on the road; perhaps she
would find a coin tomorrow; anyhow, she must have a piece of bread now.

She looked carefully at the last sou she possessed. Poor little girl,
she did not know the difference between real money and false, and
although she thought this sou looked real, she was very nervous when she
entered the first baker shop that she came across.

"Will you cut me a sou's worth of bread?" she asked, timidly.

The man behind the counter took from the basket a little penny roll and
handed it to her. Instead of stretching out her hand, she hesitated.

"If you'll cut a piece for me," she said, "it doesn't matter if it is
not today's bread."

The baker gave her a large piece of bread