ds for my life. I expect when
she came down again and didn't see me she thought I had gone home.
I don't think anybody went to look for me, and I think it was very
unkind of them, for I might have been eaten up, for all they knew, by
wild beasts--"

"Oh no," said Kitty, rousing for the first time from the shock and
distress Betty's revelations had thrown her into. "There is nothing in
the woods more savage than rabbits and squirrels."

Betty looked hurt. "Oh yes, there is," she protested, "or I shouldn't
have gone up and kept close to the railway lines. I saw something,
quite large, staring at me with great savage eyes, and if it wasn't a
wolf, I am sure it was a badger or--or a wild-cat."

"Did it fly at you?"

"No, but it looked at me as if it wanted to, and I ran until I came to
the railway; and after a long time, when it was nearly dark, I saw some
red lights coming and heard a noise, and that was the 'Rover.' I--I
didn't like the woods at night, so I went up and shouted and signalled
to Dumble, and asked him if he knew anybody who wanted a servant, 'cause
I'd left home for good, and wanted a 'place.' I didn't tell him who I
was, and I thought he wouldn't know me. After he had thought for a
minute or two, he said yes, he reckoned he could put me in a good
'place,' if I'd come along of him. So I got up in the carriage--I had
it all to myself--and oh it was lovely going along in the dark and
seeing the fire come out of the funnel! But," growing very serious and
dignified again, "I consider Dumble the _most_ dishonourable man I
_ever_ met, and I'll _never_ speak to him again--_never_; and I'll
_have_ to leave Gorlay 'cause I can't never meet him again, for he
ackshally took me up in his arms when the 'Rover' stopped at the wharf,
and--well, I was rather sleepy and I didn't see where I was going, but
of course I _trusted_ him, and when I opened my eyes--why, I was home!
Oh, I was _so_ angry I didn't know what to do, and I'm never going to
speak to Dumble again. I hope I never see him."

The corners of Kitty's mouth twitched, but she did not dare to laugh.
"I expect he thought he was doing right," she said excusingly.
"He couldn't have helped you to run away; he would have been sent to
jail. And oh, Betty, I am so glad you did come home; there is trouble
enough without losing you too. I was so frightened about you all the
way down in the train--"

"Did you get my letter?"

"Yes; it was that that brou