She was quite ready to
go, but in her heart of hearts she always shrank a little from going
into the village; the people stared at her so, and asked all manner
of questions, which she found it difficult to answer.
A little girl and a dog cannot arrive in a village as though they had
dropped out of the sky, without, of course, people wanting to know
who they are, and where they come from, and why they came, and with
whom they lived before, and with whom they are staying now, and how
long they are going to stay.
Mrs. Perry had adopted Huldah as her niece, but a number of people in
the village did not really believe she was so, and, having very
little to do or think about, they were anxious to find out, and
Huldah, when she did go amongst them, found it very trying.
Dick did not find it trying, though, he loved a walk, no matter in
what direction it lay, and questions and curiosity did not trouble
him at all. He looked wistfully from Huldah to Mrs. Perry, begging
with his eyes that he might be allowed to go too.
"Yes, take him," said Mrs. Perry; "it is only three o'clock, and
you'll be back by four. I don't mind being alone in broad daylight
like this." So Huldah, not a little pleased with her appearance in
her pretty blue frock and new hat, started off, basket in hand, and
Dick, very proud and pleased, trotted off beside her.
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