Two Little Travellers / A Story for Girls

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rby Dene one day, after he had watched Aunt Catharine s

trees in the garden, and up at Copsley Farm Mrs. Grey's turkeys wandered at will over t

boy-"a message or anything. We are so tired of the garden, and

he always did agree with everything that Darby said. He was

ce, smiling down into the eager upturned faces beside her knee. "Would you not run away and have a

ne small brown and not over-clean hand. Across the back of it ran a long, straight scratch from which the blood w

rance towards base treachery, that his aunt laughed outright. Yet she

guessed correctly that pussy-who was in general a long-suffering animal-must have been

hen suddenly he cried, while his face beamed with the happiness of the thought that had

atharine thinks. Still, I suppose you might," decided Auntie Ali

heir aunt. She, however, did not like to have her delicate ribbons crumpled by smudgy, sticky little hands; so she g

o long or tease Mrs.

promised Darby; "and Mrs. Gr

why she likes Darby and me to go and talk to her whiles," explained Joan sagely, lo

Mrs. Grey promised us. Your aunt Catharine was speaking about them a little ago. Wait a minute, and

tay her steps. "She'll be sure not to let us. She'll ask if we've learned our Catechism, and send

little way very well indeed, and because o

had won their way. "Off with you both, then, quick! Take my white basket out of the breakfast

s head. "May we go through the fields, Auntie Alice? The ground is quite dry

return the field way; there are so many stiles to climb. And listen to me, chickabiddies," continued Au

ment, for he had little or no fea

y that there are sometimes rough people about who might think i

heaps of drefful fings!" explained Joan, as glibly as if she had in person penetrated the man

u know that there aren't any bears, or lions, or tigers, or elephants in this country? If we were in a lonely part of Africa, we

d Joan stoutly.-"Sure

red her aunt gravely. "And now, if you want to go to the farm to-

wever, for in another instant

one to another of the guilty-looking group.-

ee Mrs. Grey," faltered Darby. "And please, plea

g your Cochin eggs,

r soft, timid voice, "but I gave them leave to go. And I thoug

ring accents. "Is it that boy you expect to carry a basket of eggs? Those fidge

y shall sit on them, and they'll turn into dear, s

y, but she looked as if she did not f

promised Darby earnestly; and Joan ec

event you, and I must admit I am in a hurry for the eggs. Jetty is making a terri

yet her listeners perfectly u

aid to you about Copsley Wood. You are not to go

've promised Auntie Alice al

obedient, but you are both old enough to do as you are told. And I should not be doing my duty if I did n

y to Joan, as they clambered over the stile at the foot of Mr. Grey's turnip field. "Well, I

urse or Aunt Catharine! They seem to know 'zactly when we're in the middle of so

at Darby clapped his hands in delight and admiration. Then they raced each other along the breezy headland, across the sweet-smelling stubble field

away from the prim precision of his aunts' establishment, and come rushing up the hill to count the calves, tease the turkey-cock, ride the donkey, plague the maids, and generally enjoy himself to his heart's c

one, had frolicked enough, that day, at any rate. But there were other things. They played hide-and-seek round the stacks with Scott the huge collie, who was so gentle that he would allow Joan to put her fingers in his eyes or pull his big bushy tail. They gathered apples in the orchar

ed to their complete satisfaction on all the dainties that their h

s on the top for themselves that had been laid by Specky, the lovely black-and-buff bantam. The

their bantam eggs, not much bigger than marbles, and the others which held t

ere still only half-way down the road, just passing b

is basket's so heavy. Can't we res

rom his sister's hand, placed it carefully on the roadside, and, with a deep breath of satisfaction,

getting what you promised Auntie Alice, and that

I don't believe there's any bad people in it. They only want to frighten us," he continued, in a grown-up sort of tone; an

f the robins in the hedges, watching the snowy sea-gulls that hovered about the tail of Mr.

of a big beech tree growing close beside the children a whole party of squirrels

afraid to breathe almost, lest they

ke, for she could not keep s

How sweet and soft it would be to love and stroke! far nicer than puss

h one for you," replied her brother under his breath, only too willing, alas! to gr

What ever will she say? Dar

furry little fellow. Joan starts to her feet in excitement. Darby does exactly as he had planned-makes a sudden clutch at the coveted prize. The object of her desire is really within her reach, Joan believes, and she shouts aloud in her delight. There is a flash of bead-like eyes, a waving of plumy tails, a scurry of flying feet, a chorus of queer, chattering cries, and, lo, the

rown carpet over the ground. And away, too, Darby and Joan raced after it, as quickly as they could thread their way through the trees, following where in front the rabbit led the way, its stumpy whitish tail turned up like a beckoning signal-flag. Still they struggled and stumbled on and on, in and out, until they stopped for want of breath in

ay was played out, of what had been, what was, and what might be.

to speak lightly, although his lips were quivering. He had sought up and down, backwards, forwards, and roundabout, but s

adly belied his brave words, and she began to sob weakly. She always cried e

to dinner, or-or-something when we arrive. If she sees us like this, she'll be certain sure to put us to bed at once," continued Darby, with sad conviction, glancing anxiously at his soiled sailor suit, which a few hours before

till s

any one will have taken it away. And when we get it, we shan't be hardly any time going down the hill. We'll slip in softly, softly, and find Auntie Alice first. We'll ask her to coax Aunt Cathar

ore until they smiled like violets new washed with dew; she wiped the trick

ir margin twilight had fallen, it was indeed a dark and lonesome spot. All around the pines rose straight and tall, like gaunt giant forms flinging out long, skeleton arms eager to infold them in a cruel clasp. Strange and stealthy sounds from bird and beast came to their ears at intervals, while the unfamiliar mu

oor little shoeless foot, and she was limping painfully. She sank down on a smooth tree-st

' to die here like the babes in the wood? And will the

ump in his throat. "When you are rested a bit we will go on again. If you can't walk, perhaps I could carry you-a short distance, anyway. Surely we shall

Joan, in a choked, weak voice. "Wh

fully. "Maybe the moon will shine soon; then we'll find our way,"

the creatures of the wild were near them; only the sounds of the night were in the air-those soft, mysteriou

usly over the tell-tale twigs and withered bracken? What figures are they that crouch and slide from tree to tree,

loom, yet failed to see the ugly, red-haired man, the bold, black-browed woman who glared at them from behind a screen of hazel bushes

s nearly over himself, when sudde

y the Sunday before he goed away-there's somefin' about bein' 'guided by a star'? P'raps if w

hesi

y it," he yielded. "Yes, we'll do a verse, anyway. It'll be cheerier than praying-not so much like as if we were going to

which they had heard in fairy tale or nursery rhyme, they raised their clear, tremulous voices in pathetic

eastern

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urneyin

by a