Littlebourne Lock

e. The chest of drawers had lost most of its handles; the looking-glass which stood on the drawers swung round the wrong way unless it was propped up by a book or by a bo

ere more like those of some fierce and raging animal than the features of a young girl in a Christian land. She stopped short

s with its lips, though it made no sound. The

tand being jawed, you know. And your aunt just looks at you in a way that is more piercing than if she was to talk for weeks! And your uncle, he's your own mother's own brother; but there! he'd be glad enough if you was to take yourself off. And that's about the best thing you can do. Take yourself off a

e country, girls go off and engage themselves as servants or in some other capacity, and so start alone in the world like little boats putting out on a stormy sea without sail or oar, rudde

ed itself in her mind. It was the resolve to go away from Littlebourne Lock, on that side of the river which she knew least-away from her relations, from

egan to flicker over her features; and when she next looked in the glass s

or roused her. Mr

eat danger which she had run, and the extreme naughtiness of flat disobedience; and all the while Juliet stood with a calm face and silent manner, so that her aunt thought she was penitent. But this quietne

rnt a little more, we will get you a nice situation-and Mrs. Webster knows all the good situations that are going,-and you shall have a st

d coldly,

aking one for you out of a gown of my own; and here are two new print aprons,

nking her aunt, "that them things ar

ould happen to hear of a little plac

ght enough,"

so young a girl should be so hard, and totally unsuspi

en came a letter from her mother saying that if Juliet could find a situation in the country it would be better than coming back to overcrowded London, where yo

her mother to do what she wished to do. She thought she could d

ful momen

e lodgers who were expected shortly. Mr. Rowles was busy at the lock; Ph

her re-trimmed hat, and carried a parcel containing the print

boat, Phil," she

had enough of the

ll be in it

want you,"

set me down on t

you may have to wait a long ti

uliet; "I don't car

ip rowed her to the far-off bank. Then she got out very gr

med by cows and horses coming down to drink. In the field there were now no animals; had there been she would have hesitated about remaining in it. But as soon as Phil had disa

eld when she saw at the further side of it about a dozen cows. Her heart fell. Like most London girls she was horribly afraid of cows

et I must get on out of this field. If I creep

he hedge, keeping her eyes on the cows, which presently resumed their feeding. B

frock, the parcel fell out of her hand, and probably the black stains o

t spray of bramble caught a bow of ribbon on her hat and lifted the whole thing off her head. It flew up in the a

and a calf being young and inquisitive thought he would like to have a nearer

as fast as she could, the calf walking faster and gaining on her. She stumbled and tripped and panted, and fixed her eyes on a gate, hopi

e great, warm, wet lips of the calf playing with her left ankle. She gave one screech of horror and threw herself head-for

cool. A pathway went curving in and out among the trees. At a sharp turn she came suddenly

er fourth

e would shoot her dead in half a minute. She gave a scream and turned to run back, but the man s

man, "stop that row! Wh

go away!" c

But answer my q

that he was laughing. All her fears

oing here?" ask

id Juliet, recovering her courage. "The

be prosecuted with the utmost rigour

," and Juliet po

here are y

and she poin

ot a Londoner, I'm a Dutchman.

that stupid and awkward that I can't do not

it, miss. Well, now, look here. Go right on and get out of the wood as quick as ten

is heavy hand and ran right ahead

te in the day; the sun was getting low, and the shadows grew longer and the air sweeter. She walked on quietly, thinking herself safe from pursuit. How surprise

ust find one pretty sharp or I shall have nowhere to sleep

e. They had green doors, and shutters outsi

to herself, her courage all the while sinking lower and

f the first cottage and rap

lderly woman in a high black bon

want a place; gen

of her hat to the heels of her boots. "

ere," sa

r wh

ebourn

med to be thi

rate characte

ot been in a regular situation, as the s

her," said the woman. "Wh

have no regular wages. They kep' me, a

they send

leave and come away when it suit

try you. My name is Bosher

e poor, foolish girl grew more and more unhappy, and more cut off from all hope and all happiness. Mrs

vice you will do precisely everything that I tell you. I have a brother who has a gun; sometimes he shoots rooks, sometimes he shoots-o

and Juliet stood trembling beside her dreadful mistress. Oh, if only it were possible to be back once more at the lock! Oh, if only she could escape from this new situation! Locked doors, and windows shuttered on the outside, made th

And woe betide you if you break one of them!" said Mrs. Bosher, her bonnet n

did this at a side table, Mrs. Bosher was ironing linen at the table in the middle of the room. From time to time the sharp, sens

osher said, "Now, you shall have bread-a

k," returned Juliet, "and i

or supper? And at what hour

we went to bed at ten o'cloc

odded faster

ng, and if your aunt let you sit up t

ore her. She was very hungry, but having refused it already

o'clock. Now you go

she did not dare to do so. In fact, she thought the wisest plan would be to go quietly up to the bed-room, and, as soon as Mrs. Bosher herself wa

tly, thinking that the cruel woman had done the very thing her prisoner wished her to do. Mrs. Bosher's heavy steps went down the wooden stairs;

t in a trap! One or two large stars stared down through the small panes, and the diffused light of the moon was enough to show the girl how hopeless was her condition. S

d bed and wept bitterly. Not a sound c

a little, and waken with fresh courage and fresh plans. Like many other people Juliet made her most earnest prayers when she was in trouble. She turned