bulls, or lost in the woods, or drowned in ponds,'
Douglas went on thoughtfully.

'I'm not going to do any of those.'

And Betty's tone was very determined.

'What are you going to do, then?'

'I shall be busy all by myself. I'm going out to look for some one.'

'Who?' asked Molly curiously.

'Some one Mr. Roper told me about. He sent his love to her and a kiss.
It's a secret between me and Mr. Roper, I shan't tell you any more.'

And Betty rolled over in the grass with a delighted chuckle at the
puzzled faces round her.

'It's only one of her make-ups,' Douglas said, recovering his
composure. 'Let me tell you of my plans. Do you see those thick trees
at the top of that hill? That's a real wood. Now, if nurse sends us
out tomorrow afternoon while she takes a nap, I'm going there, and you
girls must come after me.'

'And us, too,' put in Bobby, listening attentively.

'If you can walk so far, and don't go telling nurse about it.'

'How far is it? Six miles?' asked Molly, who would have been willing
to walk ten, had her brother so ordained.

'It is only through three fields, Sam told me.'

Sam was one of the carters, who had already become one of Douglas's
greatest friends.

'He be the pluckiest, knowingest little chap that ever oi see wi' such
a baby face!' was the carter's opinion of him.

'If it's a very nice wood perhaps I'll come,' said Betty.

'You must save something from dinner to take with us, for we will have
a feast when we get there.'

This sounded delightful, and all spent the rest of the day in busy
confabulation as to how they could get there without being stopped by
any one, and what provisions they must take.

But, alas! when the next day came, nurse announced her intention of
taking Douglas and Molly with her to tea with a friend, a little
distance off, and so the visit to the wood was postponed.

Betty pleaded to be allowed to go with them, but nurse refused.

'I can't have more than two; and I'm taking them more to keep them out
of mischief than anything. Mrs. Giles is going to look after the
little ones, so you must amuse yourself.'

Betty felt rather disconsolate after they had gone. She wandered into
the farm kitchen, where Mrs. Giles, a good-natured, smiling woman, was
busy making bread. The twins were in a corner playing with some
kittens. Betty stood at the table watching. At last she looked up a
little shyly and said,--

'Mrs. Giles, do you know a very nic