“Stay here,” she whispered. Then, turning to survey the place, she almost froze with fright. Over in under a very low tree she saw something move—it was like a bundle of rags and it—yes, it had a head!
“Oh, mercy!” she gasped. “What’s that?”
The black bundle rolled over and sat up. Two big, brown eyes glared at her! The head was covered with a shawl. Was it a woman?
Frozen now with genuine fright Nora tried to move, but felt more like sinking down.
“Oh!” she breathed. Then she saw how small it was. There! It was humping up. Like a queer sort of animal the bundle took shape on huddled shoulders, and from the outline eyes glared.
It was not more than twenty feet from where Nora stood, but the almost night darkness of the grove helped make illusions terrifying.
Now it was on knees and now it stood up!
“Oh,” cried Nora. “Who are you?”
A little girl—a poor little ragged girl, evidently more frightened than Nora herself.
“Oh, do come here,” cried Nora, as soon as she saw how she had been deceived. “I won’t hurt you.”