EFFIE'S BUSINESS 215 



The uphill path to the village went between a 

 double row of poplar trees and debouched on the 

 Roman road just by the village pump. 



" Are you going to the post-office? " asked 

 Effie, as they drew near the road. 



" No. I haven't anything to do there." 



" I heard papa say he wanted some post-cards." 



'• Well, I've forgotten my purse, so I must get 

 them to-morrow." 



" Couldn't you put them down in the bill? " 



" No; post-offices don't give credit." 



Effie hung lovingly on her companion's arm. 

 They passed into the village street and, just as they 

 made the turning, the thin, insignificant sound of 

 a hunting horn came on the wind. 



" There's the hounds," said Effie, and scarcely 

 had she spoken the words than, topping the crest 

 of the hill, came the scarlet-clad figures of the 

 master and whips, the hounds, and after the hounds 

 the hunt. 



The fox had run to earth in Blankney Woods, 

 and they were going now to drawFairholts spinney. 



" Come on," said Effie. 



The child made a bolt across the road, and ^ 

 swiftly that Miss Grimshaw had no time to follow. 

 Hounds and horses blocked the road, but not so 

 densely as to prevent her from seeing Effie run to 

 the post-office letter-box and pop something in. 

 When the press had gone by and the road was 

 clear Miss Grimshaw crossed. 



*' What was that you put in the letter-box, 

 Effie? " 



