Mrs. Perry bent down, and patted Dick's head gratefully. It was the
first time she had actually touched him. "Good dog," she said,
warmly. "Oh, you good doggie, to protect a strange old woman and her
belongings!" and Dick was overcome with pride and gratitude for her
condescension.

"Oh, I am glad it has all ended so well," she exclaimed, with a deep
sigh of thankfulness. "What with the shouting and the barking and
confusion, I couldn't make out anything, or hear what you said, and I
thought for certain they'd got away with the poor things;" and she
patted Dick's head again, to his great delight and Huldah's.
"I must sit down, I am that shaken," and she crept over to a chair
and dropped into it wearily, "and I am sure you must be too, child.
I wish the fire hadn't gone out; it seems chilly now, for all 'twas
such a hot day,--at least, I am chilly."

"Let me light up the fire for you?" asked Huldah, eagerly. "You do
look cold, ma'am. Shall I make you a cup of tea, or get you some
milk or something?"

The scene they had just passed through seemed to have broken down
some barrier, and drawn them as close together as though they had
known each other a long time.

Martha Perry hesitated a moment, though not now because she
distrusted Huldah. She was thinking, ought she to afford it?"
Yes, child," she answered, at last. "I don't believe I could sleep
if I went to bed as I am, I feel all unstrung and chilled." Then her
mind went back to the thought which troubled her most--"I wonder if
the fowls will be really all right," she mused, anxiously.