that she had had to come.

"I feel almost too happy," she was saying to herself, as she stepped
out into the street, where the setting sun was flooding the place
with radiance, a dazzling, rosy radiance that shone right in Huldah's
eyes, and blinded her to all about her.

"It is all so lovely," she added, "it seems as if it can't be true,
as if I can't be really me"--a sudden sharp, excited barking on the
part of Dick made her turn quickly. She turned her back to the sun,
and the dazzle went out of her eyes, and with it the sunshine from
her life,--or so it seemed to her,--for there, drawn up by the
opposite pavement was her uncle's van, and old Charlie! and, as
Huldah knew, the owners themselves would not be far off!

Dick had recognised Charlie--that was the meaning of his excitement,
and therein lay the greatest danger, for he was barking and leaping
about the old horse in such delight that everyone's attention was
attracted, and it was only a question as to how soon he would attract
Uncle Tom's attention too. Huldah's own heart yearned to go over and
speak to the dear old horse, but her fears were stronger. She felt
half paralysed with terror, and for a moment her wits so forsook her
that she did not know what to do. Then inspiration came to her, and
she turned and hurried away as fast as her feet could carry her.
She did not run, she was trembling too much for that, she dared not
whistle for Dick, for that would have called attention to them both.
She could only walk away, and trust to his following her; but even as
she went she heard a dreaded voice shout out excitedly, "Why there's
our Dick! Dick, Dick, come here"--but at the sound of it Dick felt
the old fear in his heart leap to life, and with his old instinct to
fly from his master, he dashed along the street as swiftly as his
long legs could carry him, and was very quickly out of sight.
So swiftly did he race that he shot past Huldah without recognising
her, and her heart beat faster with thankfulness, for the further
away he got the better, and it was better for both of them that they
should not be seen together.

How she got over those four long miles home Huldah never knew.
Her head swam, her legs trembled, indeed, her whole body shook with
nervous dread, so that, in spite of her anxiety to get home quickly,
she had to stand still many times, to quiet the beating of her heart,
and get breath to go on again.

Half a mile out of the town she foun