THE FARM SUPPER. 75

were flinging the hay at her. ‘They looked all round,
she was nowhere to be seen.

They ran about peeping into every bush and behind
every hedge. They asked the haymakers if they had seen
her; but nobody had. They met the empty waggon coming
down the field, and asked the carter ; but he = not seem
to hear, and went whistling on.

While they were wandering about in this way, their
mother called them in to get ready for supper.

“‘Oh, mother !” cried Dick, almost crying, ‘we have
smothered Nancy, and we can’t find her anywhere.”

‘‘Here’s a pretty piece of business,” said she; ‘but it
cannot be helped. You must come in and get ready. See
what figures you are! hay stuck all over your hair, and
such dirty faces !”’

They went up and put on their best clothes, washed
their faces and hands, and smoothed their hair; con- .
stantly looking out of the window to see if Nancy was
coming.

Presently they saw the strangest looking old woman
hobbling up to the house. She came leaning on her stick,
and muttering to herself. She had a very brown face and
long black hair hanging down on each side, and wore a red