ot far away, the silence
remained unbroken.

"Perhaps I didn't knock loud enough," thought Huldah, "or whoever's
inside may be gone to sleep."

If her plight had been less desperate, she would never have had the
courage to knock again, but she felt ill and exhausted and
frightened, and something seemed to tell her that here she might find
help. So, after waiting a little longer, she screwed up her courage
again, and rapped once more, this time more loudly; and this time, at
any rate, her knock called forth response. There were sounds of
hasty shuffling steps across the floor, and then a voice, old and
evidently trembling, called through the door, "Who is there?"

Huldah was puzzled how to answer. If she were to say "me," it would
be only foolish, while if she called back, "I am Huldah Bate," her
hearer would not know who Huldah Bate was. However, she had to say
something, so she called back pleadingly, "I am a little girl, Huldah
Bate, and please, ma'am, I'm starving, and--and please open the door.
I can't hurt you, I am too little."

It was her voice even more than her words which induced Martha Perry
to open her door to the suppliant. It was such a childish voice, and
so weak, and pleading, and tired. So the bolts were drawn back, and
the door was opened. It was only opened a few inches, but wide
enough to let out a stream of light, which brought some comfort and
hope to the child's heart and the dog's heart. Huldah stepped
forward into the light to show herself.

"You are sure you 'aven't got anybody with you?" asked the woman,
with nervous suspicion.

"No, ma'am, no one but Dick."

"Who's Dick?" hastily pushing the door close, in her alarm.

"Dick's my dog. He--he followed me. He's starving, too," and a sob
broke from Huldah's throat. "We wouldn't hurt you, ma'am, for
anything; we couldn't, we're dead-beat. I haven't had anything to
eat since yesterday, and we've come miles and miles. I don't want to
come in, ma'am," she pleaded, more and more eagerly, as the door
remained rigidly closed, except for about three inches. "If only
you'll give us a bit of bread. I haven't got any money, but I'll
give you one of my baskets for it. Oh, please, ma'am, don't turn us
away!" The tears began to rain down her thin white cheeks. She had
borne all that she could bear, and she had not the strength to keep
them back any longer.

Dick, who could never bear to see his little mistress crying, pushed
hims