to see the danger--"

"You trust to your Uncle Launcelot, next time, little girl, and don't
get fussy," was the big boy's way of stopping her thanks.

"I will," she promised, and the smile she gave him meant more than the
words.

"It has stopped raining," said Anne from the door.

The cool spring air blew across the fields softly, bringing with it the
fresh smell of the sodden earth and the scent of the wet pines.

"The Judge will be here in a minute," said Launcelot; "he stayed in the
carriage, and Perkins put up the curtains, so that they managed to keep
pretty dry.

"I wonder if there will be room for me to ride home?" Tommy asked. "I
am dead tired."

"I guess so. The Judge has the big wagon with the three seats. Pretty
long tramp you had, didn't you?" and Launcelot looked at the boy's
dusty shoes.

"Awful," said Tommy, with a quiver in his voice at the remembrance.

"Hungry?" questioned Launcelot, briefly.

"Awful," said Tommy again. "I haven't had a square meal for a week,"
and now the quiver was intensified.