when a collie
dog flew from the barn behind, barking furiously, showing his teeth,
and threatening to catch hold of her skirt. Much to her relief, he was
called off by a slatternly, hard-featured woman, who, hearing the
noise, came out of the house with a pail in her hand, and stood looking
at her visitor in much amazement.

"I want to know," said Honor, "if you can let me have a glass of milk
and some bread and butter, and how much you would charge for it."

"We don't sell milk here," replied the woman, shaking her head. "I've
just put it all down in the butter-pot, so I'm afraid I can't oblige
you."

"Oh!" said Honor blankly. Then, "I should be so glad of a little bread
and butter, if you can let me have it."

"Are you out on a picnic?" asked the woman. "Where are the rest of
you?"

"No, I'm by myself," answered Honor. "I'm walking across the moors to
Westhaven."

"To Westhaven? You're on the wrong road, then. That path will lead you
out at Windover, if you follow it."

Poor Honor was almost dumbfounded at such unexpected bad news.

"Have I gone very far wrong?" she faltered. "I must get on to Westhaven
as fast as I can. Perhaps you can tell me the right way?"

"Aye, I can put you on the path, if you want," replied the woman; "but
you'll have a good long bit to go."

"Is there any village where I could buy something to eat? I've had
nothing since breakfast," said Honor, returning again to her first and
most pressing need.

"No, there ain't," said the woman; then, apparently softening a little,
"Look here, I don't mind making you a cup of tea, if you care to pay
for it. The kettle's boiling. You can step in if you like."

Glad to get a meal in any circumstances, Honor entered the squalid
kitchen, and tried not to notice the general untidiness of her
surroundings, while the woman hastily cleared the table and set out a
teacup and saucer, a huge loaf, butter, and a pot of tea. The dog had
made friends, and crept up to Honor, snuggling his nose into her hand;
and a tabby cat, interested in the preparations, came purring eagerly
to join the feast. Honor did not know whether to call it late
breakfast, dinner, or tea, but she told Janie afterwards she thought
she must have eaten enough to combine the three, though she only paid
sixpence for it all. She finished at last, and got up to go; then,
remembering the long walk still in store for her, she gave the farmer's
wife her remaining twopence for some extra s