Page:Through the woods; a little tale in which there is more than meets the eye (IA throughwoodslitt00yate).pdf/31

 and looked hard and bitter, and there were soiled streaks upon the cheeks where tears had been wiped away with grimy hands. Marjorie shrank back a little; but the girl did not speak nor make any motion of coming nearer; only turned away her head again, holding it quite high now, and with her lips pressed tightly together.

Marjorie walked along slowly for a little way, then she stopped. "I'm going over there," she said to the Dream, and quietly crossing the road, she approached the little girl. "May I walk with you?" she asked.

The little girl did not turn her head or reply, but kept on her way, looking straight before her.

Marjorie caught step and walked beside her, silently. Presently she noticed that the tears were again running down the cheeks of her companion; but still she did not speak or turn her head.

Marjorie made a movement to come nearer, and then hesitated, for the soiled garments and hands made her dread closer contact; but she hesitated for only a moment, and then slipped her hand into that of the little girl. Still the child did not turn her face; but her fingers