"
Huldah took the apron shyly, and held it round her waist. It hung
far below her frock, and reached the top of her foot, but it hid her
shabby old frock, and certainly gave her a cleaner look.
"P'raps if I tied it round under my arms it would look better," she
suggested. She was very anxious to be a credit to her new friend,
and she was even more anxious not to shock Miss Rose, at first sight,
by her disreputable appearance.
"Yes, that will do," agreed Mrs. Perry, approvingly, and Huldah,
quite unconscious of the funny figure she cut, started off in high
spirits.
"Go to the top of the lane till you reach the high road, then turn to
your right, and keep straight on till you come to the church and the
vicarage. Go to the back door and knock gently, and ask to see Miss
Rose. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am. Can I do anything more for you before I go?"
"No, thank you. Keep in the shade as much as you can; it is going to
be dreadfully hot again, I b'lieve."
In the lane, in spite of the shade, the heat was already stifling,
the high hedges seemed to shut it in, and to keep out the air.
Huldah, hurrying along over the rough ground, felt her face growing
scarlet, and her breath coming quick. She was almost glad to get out
on the high road, for though the glare of the sun was blinding, and
there was no shade, it was less stifling there; but it was not the
discomfort that she minded so much, her great desire was to look her
best when she had to face Miss Rose.
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