But she had escaped from the calf. The copse or wood into which she had entered was dark and cool. A pathway went curving in and out among the trees. At a sharp turn she came suddenly upon a big man with a beard, who pointed a gun full at her, and said, "Stand, or I'll fire!" This was her fourth misfortune. Here was a dreadful, cruel robber such as she had read about in badly-printed penny books, and he would shoot her dead in half a minute. She gave a scream and turned to run back, but the man strode after her and laid a huge hand on her shoulder. At this she screamed and danced with terror. "Now, now," roared the man, "stop that row! What are you doing here?" "I want to go away!" cried Juliet. "So you shall. But answer my questions first." Glancing up at him Juliet perceived that he was laughing. All her fears vanished and she began to laugh too. "What are you doing here?" asked the man again. "I'm only walking through the wood," said Juliet, recovering her courage. "There ain't no law against that, I suppose." "Yes, but there is. 'Trespassers will be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law.' Where do you come from?" "From over there," and Juliet pointed behind her. "Oh! And where are you going?" "Over there," and she pointed before her. The man whistled. "If you're not a Londoner, I'm a Dutchman. You're pretty sharp, you are." "No, I ain't," said Juliet, stolidly; "I'm that stupid and awkward that I can't do nothing right. So I want a general place, I do." "Oh!" said the big man, laughing; "awkward and stupid wants a place. Hope you'll get it, miss. Well, now, look here. Go right on and get out of the wood as quick as ten thousand lightnings, or else you'll be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law." Juliet wriggled away from under his heavy hand and ran right ahead, thankful to escape from the gun. She came soon to the edge of the wood and found a fence easy to climb. On the other side of this she came into a lane which led out on a highroad. It was now late in the day; the sun was getting low, and the shadows grew longer and the air sweeter. She walked on quietly, thinking herself safe from pursuit. How surprised every one would be when they discovered that she had started in life by herself! Perhaps they would see that she was not so stupid and awkward as they thought. "But I've got no place yet," said the girl to herself. "I must find one pretty sharp or I shall have nowhere to sleep to-night. Here's two houses; either on 'em would do for me." Two small brick houses stood by the roadside. They had green doors, and shutters outside the windows, and little gardens in front. "There ain't not a bit of use in being shy," said Juliet to herself, her courage all the while sinking lower and lower. "I'm as bold as brass, I always was. Here goes!" She walked up to the door of the first cottage and rapped on it with her knuckles.