The little girl was horrified at what she had overheard. She shuddered at the thought that the unsuspecting caretaker would most probably open the door to two desperate characters, and, it might be, meet his death at their hands. What should she do? If she returned to the schoolroom with her tale, perhaps Jeffry would be dead before help could be sent to him. No, she must save him herself. She knew the short cut to Westhill, through the fields, and could reach the farm long before any one could do so by road.
To think was to act with Lilian; so, without waiting to consider the matter further, she scrambled over the gate into the field beyond, and ran as fast as she possibly could along the path, heedless alike of the driving snow and the cutting wind. Panting and almost exhausted, ten minutes later, she was hurrying through the orchard into the yard at Westhill. A low growl greeted her ears as she neared the house, and she called softly: "Wolf, Wolf," whereupon the sheep-dog, recognising her voice, changed his tone to a whine of pleasure, and, coming to her side, licked her hand.
Lilian rang the door-bell violently, and almost immediately she heard shuffling footsteps inside the door; and her heart beat with thankfulness as a voice inquired who was there.
"It is I—Lilian Coker. Let me in at once. Be quick, oh, please be quick!"
The door was opened then, and Lilian, followed by the sheep-dog, stumbled, almost done up with running so fast, across the threshold.
"Shut the door again, Jeffry!" she cried, as the old man began to utter exclamations of amazement. "Bolt it! Mind you bolt it! There are thieves about—coming here! Have you put up the chain? Yes. Oh, Jeffry, thank God I am in time!" And she burst into a flood of tears.
When she was somewhat more composed, she repeated to the old man the scraps of conversation she had overheard, and explained how she had run all the way to Westhill through the pathfields on his account. He listened with growing wonderment; and when the little girl had finished her tale, he made her sit down by the kitchen fire and take off her wet shoes, whilst he bustled about and lit all the lamps and candles he could lay hands on, placing them in the various rooms.
"They won't find us in darkness now," he chuckled. "It'll be a bit of a disappointment to them to see the house lit up—they'll hardly dare break in. You're a brave little maid, Miss Lilian!"
Lilian, followed by the sheep-dog, stumbled . . .
across the threshold.