164 PEARLS AND PEBBLES. 



the rude couch which her ingenuity and resource had 

 manufactured to supply the place of the furniture seized 

 by the sheriff's officers. She looked very pale, and her 

 beautiful fair hair hung all dishevelled about her neck 

 and shoulders, as if she were too weary to gather it up. 



I expressed my fear that she had taken the ague or 

 lake fever, but she said, "No, it is only fatigue, not 

 illness ; for do you know, I was out wandering, lost for 

 awhile in the woods last night." 



" On what errand ? " I asked in surprise, for I knew 

 she rarely left the clearing. 



" I had reason to expect letters from Scotland," she 

 replied, " and I could trust no one about the place to go 

 for them — indeed the business could only be done by 

 myself — so leaving my boy with his father and the 

 servant, I set off to walk to the town, with my good 

 old dog Nelson for company and protection. I got my 

 letters all right, made such purchases as were needed, 

 and with my bundle was preparing to return— for the 

 day was advancing to dusk — but Nelson was missing. 

 I went to every place I had been to during the day 

 without finding him, and, weary and anxious, I was 

 obliged to turn my steps homeward alone. 



" The moon was young, and I feared the light would 

 fail me before I could make my way through the dark 

 forest. You know what a cowardly dread I have of 

 wolves and bears, and I do not love these lonely, gloomy 

 woods. 



