d their best to spoil him. She could not
read herself, but she knew most of the Bible stories, and Godfrey
learnt them from hearing her tell them, and imagined all kinds of
things about them afterwards. And she told him, too, endless fairy
stories about witches and enchanters, and the good folk who danced at
night on the greenswards at home. One of the soldiers taught him a
little reading and writing, and another taught him to talk some French,
and though he was small and delicate he had plenty of true English
pluck and spirit, and would ride or climb against a boy twice his age.

It was Biddy who had awakened him one night when his papa was away from
home, and had dressed him in a hurry, and told him that he was to be
quiet and come away with her at once, for there were rascals about that
hadn't a bit of pity in the black hearts of them for old or young. And
Godfrey, half asleep and not understanding, was hurried away in the
dark and found himself presently on board ship. And when, next day, he
asked where his papa was, Biddy cried over him and told him in her
simple way that the angels had taken him. And Godfrey had been a
little sorry, but had supposed he would just stay on with Biddy, and
by-and-bye they got to a great place full of houses where she had
friends, and he thought it was America. And, not long afterwards, she
mended his clothes and knitted some stockings for him, and told him
that he was going to England, to some grand relations whose name was in
his papa's pocket book, and that her heart was just breaking with joy
for him being made a lovely gentleman, as indeed he should be, if it
wasn't just broken entirely with sorrow to think how would she ever get
on and the seas between them.

He had learnt among his soldier friends that it was unmanly to cry or
make a fuss before people, and so his fellow travellers, who might have
petted the delicate-looking little boy, set him down as rather sulky
and stupid. He arrived in England on a dull rainy day, which seemed
terrible to the little West Indian boy, and then came Cousin Crayshaw
with his grave disapproving face and stiff manner, and Godfrey felt as
if he must die if he could not get away and back to Biddy directly.
That was what had made him so disobedient on the journey down from
London, and when he arrived, tired and cold and bewildered, at Oakfield
Cottage, he felt as if he must get away now or never. It was then that
the sight of Angel, and t