"Oh yes, I don't mind that, but I am a little frightened
now, for I have lost my road."

"And what made you ask it of me? Suppose I should
tell you wrong."

"I am sure you will not do that," said the little crea-
ture, "you are such a very old gentleman, and walk so
slow yourself."

I cannot describe how much I was impressed by this
appeal and the energy with which it was made, which
brought a tear into the child's clear eye, and made her
slight figure tremble as she looked up into my face.

"Come," said I, "I'll take you there."

She put her hand in mine as confidingly as if she had
known me from her cradle, and we trudged away together:
the little creature accommodating her pace to mine, and
rather seeming to lead and take care of me than I to be
protecting her. I observed that every now and then she
stole a curious look at my face as if to make quite sure
that I was not deceiving her, and that these glances (very
sharp and keen they were too) seemed to increase her con-
fidence at every repetition.

For my part, my curiosity and interest were at least
equal to the child's, for child she certainly was, although
I thought it probable from what I could make out, that her
very small and delicate frame imparted a peculiar youth-
fulness to her appearance. Though more scantily attired
than she might have been she was dressed with perfect
neatness, and betrayed no marks of poverty or neglect.

"Who has sent you so far by yourself?" said I.

"Somebody who is very kind to me, sir."

"And what have you been doing?"

"That, I must not tell," said the child firmly.

There was something in the manner of this reply which
caused me to look at the little creature with an involun-
tary expression of surprise; for I wondered what kind of
errand it might be that occasioned her to be prepared for
questioning. Her quick eye seemed to read my thoughts,
for as it met mine she added that there was no harm in
what she had been doing, but it was a great secret--a
secret which she did not even know herself.

This was said with no appearance of cunning or deceit,
but with an unsuspicious frankness that bore the impress
of truth. She walked on as before, growing more familiar
with me as we proceeded and talking cheerfully by the

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