Part 6 (1/2)

”It don't matter,” said the child; ”I'm 'most always tired.”

They went through some pasture-fields where cows lay about quiet and happy, and through corn-fields where green wheat and barley rustled in the evening breeze.

”You're right,” muttered Juliet; ”it ain't all churchyard, 'cause they don't have cows and green flowers in churchyards.”

”Do you like the country, my dear?”

”I don't know yet. I ain't seen any shops, nor any mutton-chops.”

”Well, you shall see them all by and by. Now we are going through a farmyard, where you will see c.o.c.ks and hens, and perhaps some little pigs.”

But before they had time to look for either pigs or poultry they heard a succession of alternate fierce growls and short shrieks, and both Mrs. Rowles and Juliet stopped short.

The growls seemed to be those of a big dog, and the shrieks those of a little girl. Both sounds came from an inner yard of the farm, through which there was a public right of way. Something in the shrieks made Mrs. Rowles's cheek turn pale, and something in the growls made Juliet's face flush red.

”Oh, dear!” cried Mrs. Rowles, ”it is some child in danger!”

[Ill.u.s.tration: JULIET SEIZED THE DOG BY HIS COLLAR.]

”It is some horrid cruel dog!” said Juliet.

The aunt went cautiously through the gate into the inner yard, and the niece rushed through it boldly. What they saw was indeed alarming.

Little Emily Rowles was in a corner of the wall, shut in there on one side by a great high kennel, and on the other side by the huge mastiff who belonged to the kennel. He lay on the ground, his head on his paws, and his eyes fixed on the child; and whenever she made the slightest movement he growled in the fiercest manner. No wonder she uttered cries of dread and despair.

Before Mrs. Rowles could think what was best to do, Juliet had done it.

Fearless, because she did not understand the danger, Juliet rushed at the dog, seized him by his collar, and with all her strength pulled him away from the corner. He was so astonished at finding himself thus handled that all his fierceness, half of which was pretended, died out of him, and he looked up wildly at the new-comer, and forgot the other girl whom he had been bullying with such pleasure.

Emily had leaped into her mother's arms, and was sobbing with excitement and relief.

”My child! my darling! how did it happen? How came you to get caught by that brute? How came you to be here at all?”

Emily was still unable to reply. Her mother carried her to a bench at the other side of the yard, and soothed her until she was calm again.

But Juliet stood beside the dog; he was ashamed of himself, and he bowed to a will stronger than his own. He felt that she was not afraid of him, and he was afraid of her. Not that he had had any intention of really hurting Emily; but it had seemed to him great fun, after doing nothing all day but doze in the shade, to keep a child in custody, and hear her cries for help.

”What made you come here, Emily?” said Mrs. Rowles again.

”Oh, father said Philip and I might come and meet you. And we did not know which way you would come, so Philip went by the road and I came by the fields.”

”But how did you get over by the dog's kennel?”

”Oh, he was inside it, and I thought he was asleep. So I just went up to look in at him, and he bounced out and shut me into the corner; and he growled horribly, and would not let me come out.”

”Poor child! And all the folks in the hay-field, I suppose, and not a creature within call. I've often told you, Emily, not to go near strange dogs.”

”Yes, mother, I know. It was my own fault.”

”And if I had not happened to come this way--”