sharp blow on the side of the head.

Mrs. Perry screamed, and fell fainting into the chair, and with the
same Tom Smith picked up Huldah in his arms and made for the door.

The sound of footsteps and bitter cries died away in the lane, and a
deep oppressive silence followed. The kettle sang and boiled and
bubbled over, the supper burnt in the pan, the fire died down, and
still that senseless form lay huddled up in her chair, her white face
turned upwards to the ceiling, as though beseeching help.

Minutes passed before any sign of life came back to her, and with a
shuddering sigh she opened her eyes again. At first she was dazed,
and her mind a blank, then the open door, the empty room, the
stillness, brought all back to her in a sudden overwhelming rush of
sorrow.

For a few moments she sat, weak, white, and trembling, trying to
think; then rising stumblingly to her feet she picked up her shawl,
and wrapping it over her head and shoulders, she groped her way out
of the house, down the garden, and out into the darkness of the
night.

Stumbling, tottering, having to pause every few minutes, to rest her
shaking limbs and gasp for breath, she made her way up the lane.
She must find Miss Rose. Miss Rose must know, Miss Rose would help
them! Oh it _must_ come right! She could not lose her child and
Dick. She could not live without them now!

Tears welled up, and poured down her ashy face, as she thought of