"Well, are you not? I think you are the most respectable people in the
world."

She led the way through to the next barn as she spoke. "You are going
here, too, I suppose?" she said.

"I will just look round," he answered.

They went on together until they came to the last barn of all; while
they paused there a moment they heard a rustling and movement in the
dark, far corner. Joost started violently, then he said, "It is a rat,
you must not be afraid; it will not run this way."

"I am not afraid," Julia said with amusement. "Do you think I am
afraid of rats?"

"Girls often are."

"Well, I am not," and it was clear from her manner that she spoke the
truth.

"Would you be afraid to come out here alone?" he asked curiously.

"No," she said; "any night that you like I will come here alone, go
through the barns and fasten the doors."

"I do not believe there are many girls who would do that," he said; he
was thinking of Denah and Anna.