STARTING ON THE GREAT JOURNEY.


Cecile and Maurice ran quickly upstairs, pulled the rope with a
will, and got into the Moseleys' attic.

"We are safe now," said the little boy, who had not seen Lydia
watching them from the street corner.

Cecile, panting after her rapid run, and with her hand pressed to
her heart, stood quiet for a moment, then she darted into their snug
little attic bedroom, shut the door, and fell on her knees.

"Lord Jesus," she said aloud, "wicked Aunt Lydia Purcell has seen
us, and we must go away at once. Don't forget to guide me and Maurice
and Toby."

She said this little prayer in a trembling voice. She felt there was
not a moment to lose; any instant Aunt Lydia might arrive. She flung
the bedclothes off the bed, and thrusting her hand into a hole in the
mattress, pulled out the Russia-leather purse. Joined to its former
contents was now six shillings and sixpence in silver. This money was
the change over from Maurice's half sovereign.

Cecile felt that it was a very little sum to take them to France,
but there was no help for it. She and Maurice and Toby must manage on
this sum to walk to Dover. She knew enough of geography now to be
sure that Dover was the right place to go to.

She slipped the change from the half sovereign into a sixpenny purse