"But red means danger," Mollie objected, "and we aren't dangerous."

"Mamma is when we break rules," Prudence replied, "and it will
remind Grizzel to hurry up."

"Good gracious!" Mollie ejaculated, as she climbed down on her
errand, "I am glad we don't hang a red lantern out of the nursery
window when we see Mother coming along. How she would laugh if we
did!"

"It won't burn long," Prue said, as she shut the lantern door, "but
it will do. Now we'll go down the lane; I am almost sure Grizzel
will come that way."

They crossed the garden and slipped into the lane through a narrow
back gate. It seemed to Mollie that the darkness fell like a
curtain, so quickly did it come dropping down. High up above the
trees they could see the red lantern shining in the dusk like a
glowing ruby; the air was growing chilly, and all the warm bright
colours were fading into a dull uniform grey, when suddenly out of
the shadowy dimness there leapt a dark form--a form with a bushy
tail and a friendly bark.

"Laddie!" exclaimed Prudence, and a moment after Grizzel appeared,
running along and swinging her basket.

"Am I late?" she asked breathlessly. "I didn't mean to be so long; I
stopped to look at the shop windows."