THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 133 



the muffled figure was able to find its way. Down by the 

 stone wall it encountered a black figure crouching among 

 the wet vines. As the walking figure approached, the 

 other started up and stood erect in the chilly moonlight. 



" Why, Kate, is it you? How you frightened me ! " 



" Yes, I've come to help you. Give me a box.'' 



" Haven't got but one." 



"That won't do. What could you do with one box of 

 berries? They would laugh at you at the market. I'll 

 get something." 



Kate flitted silently away in the gloom, and soon re- 

 turned with an empty basket. 



"You don't think we can fill that ? " 



"Why not? We have two good hours before anybody 

 will be up. We can do it in an hour, if we work like fun." 



And they did, in silence and with speed. Busy with 

 their work they did not notice the coming dawn, and 

 almost before they knew it the tall chimneys of the next 

 house stood black against the gray sky. The light crept 

 upward and the moon hung low in the west. 



*When the basket was nearly full they paused to take 

 breath. 



" They don't look very nice. Do they ? " 



"No, Johnny. They are very wet, and oh! we 

 haven't hulled them." 



" Then we ought to do it." 



