There were a few tall trees, and here and there, there were wild roots and grass. She took some string, and bound them to trees, and left them.
No more has been known of the Strange One, nor of the man, from that day to this.
Now when Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd came home and found no Paul, nor Charles, nor Grace, they were in great grief. They then thought what would be the best to be done. At last Mrs. Lloyd went to ask her friend, Mrs. Wood, who told her that she had seen them at the fair.
Mrs. Lloyd, when she heard this, had more hope, and she thought that they might soon come home. But no! the clock struck one, two, and three, and still they did not come!
When this Strange One went, Paul, and Charles, and Grace were left on the wild heath. Think what a fright they must have been in—no one near them: and no one knew where they were but this Strange One who had left them there.
At last Paul broke his string, and then he cut the strings of Charles and Grace. He took hold of their hands and led them up and down.
This heath was large and wild. Just as it was dark, great was their joy when they saw a house. It was a farm house; they went in the barn and slept all night on some straw. When day light came they got up, and went on till they came to a town.
They had not gone down the first street, when they saw their own milk-man. They ran to him at once: "Take us home," said they, "do take us home."
The milk-man did take them home.
When Mrs. Lloyd saw them—when she knew that they were safe, she could not speak a word, but her look told a great deal—they felt that look, and they all said, "We have done wrong, but we will try not to do wrong more."