intelligence, ran on in front. He sniffed the air, he smelt the
ground. Presently he seemed to know all about it, for he set off
soberly in a direct line; and after half an hour's walking, brought
the children to a little hamlet, of about a dozen poor-looking
houses. In front of a tiny inn he drew up and sat down on his
haunches, tired, but well pleased.

The door of the little wayside inn stood open. Cecile and Maurice
entered at once. A woman in a tall peasant's cap and white apron came
forward and demanded in French what she could serve the little dears
with. Cecile, looking helpless, asked in English for bread and milk.
Of course the woman could not understand a word. She held up her
hands and proclaimed the stupendous fact that the children were
undoubtedly English to her neighbors, then burst into a fresh volley
of French.

And here first broke upon poor little Cecile the stupendous fact
that they were in a land where they could not speak a word of the
language. She stood helpless, tears filling her sweet blue eyes. A
group gathered speedily round the children, but all were powerless to
assist. It never occurred to anyone that the helpless little
wanderers might be hungry. It was Maurice at last who saw a way out
of the difficulty. He felt starving, and he saw rolls of bread within
his reach.

"Stupid people!" said the little boy. He got on a stool, and helped
himself to the longest of the fresh rolls. This he broke into three
parts, keeping one himself, giving one to Cecile, and the other to
Toby.