Dick and Brownie

latter fate she had dreaded even more than the former, for if she had been sent to the workhouse she certainly would have had to part with Dick; wh

ha Perry in the cottage. Since the night of the attempted robbery Mrs. Perry had been very ailing and nervous. She could not bear Dick to leave the house, when once twilight began to fall, and she would not have st

tay on, to keep the cottage tidy, and run the erran

ent down from the vicarage, and sheets and blankets, a chair, and even a little square looking-glass to hang on the wall. Huldah was in a perfect turmoil of glad exc

said Mrs. Perry, thoughtfully; "you ought to have somethin

she said, cheerfully; "you s

ldah did not understand. "If I can sell some baskets, I'll be able to get an apron or t

er. If I could get you a nice big box,

em," she added, in her old-fashioned thoughtful way. "Wouldn't it be lovely, ma'am," she added, a moment later, "to have a new frock, a whole real new one?" It took a moment for such a possibility to even enter her head. "A blue o

and her eyes lighted up almost as eagerly as Huldah's had, a moment before. Miss Carew

ut Mrs. Perry was at it first. "I will go," she

, and longed to pat him; she saw Miss Rose smiling and talking, and longed to be there to receive one of her

d she felt forlorn and left out. Then she saw Miss Carew fasten the pony to the railing

, and her voice and smile drove the "left o

good fairy to-day, but I am to

onderingly, no

w clothes, brownie, so I wave

eathed in glad smiles. "But I never have any, miss, I was telling Mrs. Perry so as you drove up. Ol

't be a brownie any longer, nor yet a fairy dressed in green"; and with the same she whisked the cover off the big box

in her life. Underneath the frocks were some plain holland aprons. Huldah beg

was a neat sun-hat, with a black ribbon bow on it, and beneath the hat were two li

last of the parcels was opened, and disclosed a pair of good boots and a pair of slippers, the tears which had gradually

an't do anything for anybody, and I can't pay for nothing.

y them, but you have given them both to us all this time, asking no return. And you know, dear, brownies are always repaid in this way. You can soon pay for these things, by taking care of Mrs. Perry, doing all you can to help her, and making her happy

es, yes, so I can. I'll be able to help by-and-by! Oh, Miss Rose, you are so kind to me,

autiful as any dream, even more so. It all depends

almost passionate determination, as she arrayed herself in some of her new clothes; and he

nt frock and holland apron, her hair well brushed and shining, her face full of sober gl

e make of it for each other." As she stood looking away from the garden to the quiet sunny stretch of

they were when I was living with Uncle Tom and Aunt Emma. 'Tis Miss Rose and Mrs. Perry who have made it all seem so beautiful. Just fa

d to be so quiet. A little whimper of distress broke from him, he could bear the silence no longer. The sound roused Huldah from her reverie. "Why, Dick, what's the matter?" she cried, throwing her arm round him, and kissing the top of his head. "Why, there's nothing

yful assent, and barked loudly, to show

were there. "Huldah," she called, "Huldah! I want you to go into the

art of hearts she always shrank a little from going into the village; the people stare

t, of course, people wanting to know who they are, and where they come from, and why they came, and

not really believe she was so, and, having very little to do or think about, they we

t lay, and questions and curiosity did not trouble him at all. He looked wistfully

g alone in broad daylight like this." So Huldah, not a little pleased with her appearance in her pretty bl

zed her, and reluctance to go on and meet their looks of surprise, and their open remarks. The feeling grew and grew with every step she took, until she

as walking more and more slowly, and drawing in closer and clos

deep-set in the hedge, two young men. To her they seemed harmless enough, just two ordinary-looking strangers, and if it had not been for Dick's behaviour, she would hav

ened people, they lost their tempers. "Hold in your dog, can't

prise, and Dick's anger increased alarmingly. Where had sh

her hand on Dick's collar

nd tell 'em you've got a savage dog that ought to be shot, 'ca

n't hurt anybody unless they was up to no good, and-and deserved it." She

doing anything but just standing here, and

rdinary. All she could do was to clutch his collar with all her strength, and hurry away as fast as she could go. All thoughts of the village people

head, her one idea being to hurry home as quickly as possible, and get herself and Dick into safe

r, much to his surprise and annoyance, for there was much to interest him on a walk

the dreaded gateway, Huldah'

and all the road ahead

a sigh of relief, "and don't go getting

dah, free at last to attend to other things, looked over her parcels anxiously, to see if she had

rt seeming to stand still with terror. It was Dick's voice, and Dick was in

e flew to his side; but before she could reach him a big stone came whizzing from t

imploringly, and licked her hand, as she put her arm under him to raise him, and the pain and helplessness in his loving eyes made her tears overflow. What was she to do? He was too big and heavy for her to carry all the way

How long, she wondered miserably, would it be before help came? Would those cowards throw more stones? It was horrible to stay there alone with that cowardly heartl

d her there; and to think how frightened Mrs. Perry must be getting already, the sound of wheel

sh. No wonder Dick had been angry when he saw them again,- and she, in her stupidity, had blamed him for showing temper. Dear clever, wise, brave Dick! He, too, recognised the voice now, and growled again with all his former spirit. Huldah's indignation rose beyond control. "Oh, you cowards!" she called out in a shrill angry voice, "I know

ill ever know. Probably they did not stay to hear much, for the last t

ed at the group in the middle of the road, the little blue-clad girl, the yellow dog, and the basket of groceries all

e cried, alarmed. "Dick, oh, poor old

a lump on his head, and a cut on his shoulder, and he could no

rom time to time. Now that the strain was over, and relief had come, Huldah broke down completely for a time. She was trembling in

iage. Then she put Dick in across her lap, and he

ownie, or you will frighten Mrs. Perry, and we mustn't do that on any account, must we? Dick is going to be very brave-he always is-and you are go

ned his head and smiled up at her, to assure her he was better; and so, on the whole, it wa