14 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

“We must walk on until we find a little shelter,’ said Clover.
“Tf we sit under a tree we shall be all right; but it is not sate
to rest here with this burning sun beating on our heads.”

“There’s a cottage over yonder,” said Cowslip. ‘“ Please look
in your letter, Clover, and find out if it is one of the King’s Inns
where we may rest. Oh, I should be glad of a nice comfortable
breakfast, for I am both tired and hungry.”

“But I have something in my pocket that we can eat,’ said
her brother.

“We will keep that for the present. Let’s hurry on to the
cottage, and try to find out if it is really one of the King’s Inns.”

Clover stood still at these words, and opened his letter, to which
was fastened a map of the roads. He traced the line of red which ran
through it, and which carefully pointed out the path on which the
children were to walk.

The next moment he gave a glad exclamation.

“That cottage is one of the King’s Inns,” he said. ‘“ We will go
to it as quickly as we can, Cowslip. I am sure they will give us
breakfast, and anyhow we can rest there for a little.”

The children were not long coming to the door of the pretty
cottage. It stood back in a little corner, which was full of gay
lores and in the centre of which was a tiny path with a box-edge
on each side.

“What dear old-fashioned flowers!” exclaimed Cowslip. “There
are marigolds, and heaps of daisies, and Canterbury bells, and a

But Clover scarcely heard her. He walked quickly up the box-
lined path and knocked at the door.

The next moment it was opened by a tall woman dressed in grey.

“T think,” said Clover, “that this must be one of the King’s Inns.”

“Certainly, my dear,’ she said—a smile broke out over her face as
the boy spoke the words. “If you two are going to the country
beyond the Blue Mountains, you are right welcome,” she exclaimed.
“Come in, I have breakfast waiting for you both.”

The children ertered the cottage, which was extremely small
and: very neat. They were taken into a tiny little parlour which