did not penetrate beyond thirty
feet into the sand rock, or if it had done so formerly, it was
choked when known to Mehetabel, with the falling in of the roof.
These sandstone caves are very dry, and the temperature within
agreeable.

Here Mehetabel resolved to bide for a while, till she had found
some place of greater security for herself and the child.

She did not leave Mrs. Chivers without having arranged with her for
the conveyance of food to a place agreed on between them.

With the shawl so kindly given her by the gardener, Mehetabel
could exclude all wintry air from her habitation, and abundance of
fuel was at hand in the gully, so that she could make and maintain
a fire that would be unnoticed, because invisible except to such as
happened to enter the ravine.

Mehetabel left the village and emerged on the path bearing that
precious but woeful burden, her little babe, in her arms folded
about it. Then, all at once, before her she saw that same young
lawyer who had insulted her at the Hammer Pond. He recognized her
at once, as she did him. She drew back and her heart beat furiously.

"What, Queen of the heath?" said he, "still about with your baby?"

She would not answer him. She stepped back.

"Do not be afraid; I wish you well--you and your little one. Come,
for the sake of that mite, accept my offer. What will you say to
yourself--how excuse yourself if it die through exposure, and
because of your silly scruples?"

She would not listen to him. She darted past, and fled over the
down.

She roamed about, lost, distracted. In her confusion she missed
the way to the cave, and the darkness was gathering. The moaning
little morsel of her flesh could not be comforted. She rocked it
violently, then gently. In neither way could she give it relief.
She knew not which direction she had taken, on what part of the
heath she was straying.

And now rain began to fall, and Mehetabel had to protect her child
from being drenched. For herself she had no thought. The rain came
down first in a slight sprinkle, and then in large drops, and a cold
wind swashed the drops into her face, blinding her.

All at once, in the uncertain light, she saw some dark gap open
before her as a grave. She would have fallen headlong into it had
she not arrested her foot in time. Then, with a gasp of relief she
recognized where she was.

She stood at the edge of the old mining ravine. This trench, cut in
the sandy down, had looked li