but often went long distances in the wrong direction. I knew that
Tottenham was quite in the country, and my idea was to find a
sleeping-place in some field, then to begin my search on the next
day. It was summer, but still I began to feel cold, and this drew me
away out of my straight road to a fire which I saw burning a little
way off. I thought it would be nice to sit down by it and rest. I
found that the road was being mended, and by the fire lay a watchman
in a big tub. Just as I came up he was eating his supper. He was a
great, rough man, but I looked in his face and thought it seemed
good, so I asked him if he'd let me rest a little. Of course he was
surprised at seeing me there, for it must have been midnight, and
when he asked me about myself I told him the truth, because he spoke
in a kind way. Then he stopped eating and gave me what was left; it
was a bit of fat bacon and some cold potatoes; but how good it was,
and how good _he_ was! To this moment I can see that man's face. He
got out of his tub and made me take his place, and he wrapped me up
in something he had there. Then he sat by the fire, and kept looking
at me, I thought, in a sad sort of way; and he said, over and over
again, 'Ay, it's bad to be born a little girl; it's bad to be born a
little girl; pity you wasn't a boy.' Oh, how well I can hear his
voice this moment! And as he kept saying this, I went off to sleep."

She stopped, and played with the pebbles.

"And in the morning?" asked Waymark.

"Well, when I woke up, it was light, and there were a lot of other
men about, beginning their work on the road. I crept out of the tub,
and when they saw me, they laughed in a kind sort of way, and gave
me some breakfast. I supose I thanked them, I hope I did; the