and once within that cosy kitchen felt herself safe from all danger.
She little dreamed that at that moment the three persons she feared
most in the world were starting out from Belmouth in search of her.
Poor Huldah!

It was six o'clock and quite dark by the time the trio, and Charlie
and the van, reached Wood End; and many a time before they got there
Bob Thorp would have thrown up the job, if he had not wanted the
money so badly. For the whole of the four miles Tom Smith grumbled,
bullied his wife, beat Charlie, and snapped and snarled at everyone
and everything.

"I don't wonder at anybody's running away from you," remarked Bob at
last, losing all patience. "If I was your wife I'd do the same."

Whereupon Tom snarled again with rage, "She'd better let me catch her
trying it on, that's all," he said, threateningly, and glared at his
wife, as though she had threatened to do so.

A little way beyond the village they drew up, and without troubling
to ask anyone's leave Tom drove the van into a field,--where they had
no possible right to be, and poor tired Charlie and his tired
mistress were left to themselves for, at any rate, a few minutes'
peace.

The two men walked on again in silence until they reached the top of
Woodend Lane, There Bob Thorp drew up, and showed a decided
disinclination to go any further.

"'Tis down there they live, the first cottage you come to; you can't