Hannah's eyes looked like two solemn moons. "Where are you going,
Ann?"

"I'm going to Boston to find my own mother." She said nothing about
the indentures to Hannah--somehow she could not.

Hannah could not say much, she was so astonished, but as soon as Ann
had gone, scudding across the fields, she went in with the poppet and
told her mother.

Deacon Thomas Wales was very sick. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel remained at
his house all night, but Ann was not left alone, for Mr. Wales had an
apprentice who slept in the house.

Ann did not sleep any that night. She got up very early, before any
one was stirring, and dressed herself in her Sunday clothes. Then she
tied up her working clothes in a bundle, crept softly down stairs,
and out doors.

It was bright moonlight and quite cold. She ran along as fast as she
could on the Boston road. Deacon Thomas Wales' house was on the way.
The windows were lit up. She thought of grandma and poor grandpa,
with a sob in her heart, but she sped along. Past the schoolhouse,
and meeting-house, too, she had to go, with big qualms of grief and
remorse. But she kept on. She was a fast traveller.

She had reached the North Precinct of Braintree by daylight. So far,
she had not encountered a single person. Now, she heard horse's hoofs
behind her. She began to run faster, but it was of no use. Soon