"Ah, Miss Emmeline!" she exclaimed. "Where is it now that cheeld has gone? Away with a beggar? What a life I lead!"
She ran after her little charge, and Freda and Daffy were following, when Jane stopped them, and insisted upon going another way.
"'Tisn't time to be turning back to the village yet. Come, Miss Freda, we're going to the wood where the nuts are. You let them go and fight their own battles. We'll go on where we meant to go."
Jane gained her point after some disputing; but Daffy whispered:
"We'll go and see Dreamikins this afternoon when we're playing in the garden, and we'll go through the little door."
FREDA AND DAFFY POUNCED UPON HIM IMMEDIATELY
"I mean to be first next time," said Freda. "Dreamikins will take every one away from us if we don't take care."
For the first time they felt rather angry with their little friend; but they were very curious to know whether she had given the strange man a drink or not.
"The thing for us to do is to be ready for everything out of doors," said Freda, with decision. "We must have food and drink in our pockets, and give them to the very first beggar we see."