to hurry on more quickly, and once within sight of their own lane
relief gave her strength to run. In the lane the twilight was
deeper, and already Mrs. Perry, growing nervous, had lighted the lamp
in the kitchen. The warm glow streamed out on poor frightened
Huldah, and welcomed her. At the sound of her footsteps the house
door flew open, and Mrs. Perry came out on the step to meet her; but
instead of her usual smile and greeting, Huldah fell exhausted into
her arms and burst into a passion of bitter sobs.



CHAPTER VIII.


TRACKED DOWN.

"I tell you that there's my dog! He was stolen from me, and I'm
going to 'ave the law of whoever's got 'im."

Tom Smith went blustering back into the public-house, almost
speechless with anger. To have been so near Dick and then to have
missed him, was almost more than he could bear. If he had known he
had missed Huldah too, he would have been even more angry.

"You can't have the law of people for taking in a stray," remarked
one man, quietly. They none of them liked Tom Smith, and most of
them wished he would go on his way and leave them to their quiet
gossip.

"Perhaps he ran away," suggested another, drily.