to the other, 'Sit still here, my dear; we are going to the house, and
Clare shall bring you something to eat before you try to walk back; it
must be a quarter of a mile at least.' So they went away, and Molly
sate upright, waiting for the promised messenger. She did not know who
Clare might be, and she did not care much for food now; but she felt as
if she could not walk without some help. At length she saw the pretty
lady coming back, followed by a footman with a small tray.

'Look how kind Lady Cuxhaven is,' said she who was called Clare. 'She
chose out this little lunch herself; and now you must try and eat it,
and you'll be quite right when you've had some food, darling--You need
not stop, Edwards; I will bring the tray back with me.'

There was some bread, and some cold chicken, and some jelly, and a
glass of wine, and a bottle of sparkling water, and a bunch of grapes;
Molly put out her trembling little hand for the water; but she was too
faint to hold it. Clare put it to her mouth, and she took a long
draught and was refreshed. But she could not eat; she tried, but she
could not; her headache was too bad. Clare looked bewildered. 'Take
some grapes, they will be the best for you; you must try and eat
something, or I don't know how I shall get you to the house.'

'My head aches so,' said Molly, lifting her heavy eyes wistfully.

'Oh, dear, how tiresome!' said Clare, still in her sweet gentle voice,
not at all as if she was angry, only expressing an obvious truth. Molly
felt very guilty and very unhappy. Clare went on, with a shade of
asperity in her tone: 'You see, I don't know what to do with you here
if you don't eat enough to enable you to walk home. And I've been out
for these three hours trapesing about the grounds till I'm as tired as