contentedly, he knew by instinct why she was happy, and his senses
told him that she had been very happy ever since they started for
that beautiful walk that morning.

"I am going to begin the work to-morrow morning," Huldah said,
eagerly, to Mrs. Perry that evening, as they sat over their supper
before the fire. "I expect Miss Rose would like to have the baskets
soon, and they will take a little while to make."

Alas, though, when morning came, Huldah's eagerness received a sharp
check. She had only the least little bit of raffia left, and to get
more she would have to go into Belmouth.

"What a pity!" she cried, disappointedly; "it will take hours to
walk there and back, and I meant to have done such a lot to-day!"
She could have wept with vexation. Belmouth was four miles off, and
one of the hilliest four miles imaginable. But it was not this that
daunted her, it was the length of time that she would be kept from
her work. However, there was no good done by worrying over it, or by
delaying, so, as soon as she had done her housework, and dinner was
over and the dishes put away, she put on her new brown cloak, and
with Dick for company she started.

They stepped out briskly, for the days were short now, and Mrs. Perry
grew anxious if they were long away, and nervous if she were left
alone when the light began to fade. They stepped along so briskly
that by half-past two they were in the town, and making their way to
the shop where Miss Rose had bought the raffia before. The purchase
took a little time, for the shopman had not enough out, and had to
send to the stock-room to get some. But, now that she was there,