"If we can find a big town," said Violet, "won't it be better to stay in than a little town?"
"Why?" asked Henry, puffing up the hill.
"Well, you see, there are so many people in a big town, nobody will notice us—"
"And in a little village everyone would be talking about us," finished Henry admiringly. "You've got brains, Violet!"
He had hardly said this, when a wagon was heard behind them in the distance. It was coming from Middlesex. Without a word, the four children sank down behind the bushes like frightened rabbits. They could plainly hear their hearts beat. The horse trotted nearer, and then began to walk up the hill.
"If we hear nothing in Townsend," they heard a man say, "we have plainly done our duty."
It was the baker's voice!
"More than our duty," said the baker's wife, "tiring out a horse with going a full day, from morning until night!"
There was silence as the horse pulled the creaky wagon.
"At least we will go on to Townsend tonight," continued the baker, "and tell them to watch out. We need not go to Intervale, for they never could walk so far."