down under. I don't mind where I go, so long as Uncle Tom don't find
us."

"Well, I can't give you a bed here. I've only this room and my
bedroom, and--and--" Mrs. Perry did not like to explain that she was
too nervous, and too doubtful of Huldah's honesty to leave her alone
in the kitchen, while she herself went to bed and to sleep.
To her mind all gipsies, and all gipsy children, were thieves, and
though she was interested in Huldah, and felt very sorry for her, she
had, after all, only known her about an hour, and knew nothing of her
past history. In her heart she could not as yet believe all her
story, or bring herself to trust her.

The child instinctively felt something of this distrust, and it hurt
her. Her eyes filled, but she forced back the tears, and spoke out
bravely.

"I shall do all right, thank you, ma'am. We'll be going on again,
now. I ain't afraid of nothing when I've got Dick with me, and--and
thank you, ma'am, for all you've given us; but I wish you'd 'ave one
of my baskets, ma'am, please! I can easy make another, and I'd be
glad if you would, please, ma'am."

Mrs. Perry felt a prick of conscience, and her heart melted.
She could see that the child's feelings were hurt, and that her
self-respect made her anxious to pay for all they had received.

"If you wouldn't mind sleeping in the barn in the garden, you and
your dog, you're welcome. It's as clean as can be, and there's
plenty of nice straw there, to make a comfortable bed for you.