"I wouldn't _let_ it slip! And here I am safe and sound, so it's really absurd for you to be frightened now, my dear!" "Why in the name of the airthly didn't ye wait till I kem home, and let me go down for ye ?" demanded the farmer, who was secretly delighted with the exploit, though he tried to look very grave.
"Oh! I--I never thought of it!" said Hildegarde.

"My only thought was to get down there as quickly as possible.

So I waited till I heard you coming, for I didn't want to leave Nurse Lucy alone; and then--I went! And I will not be scolded," she added quickly, "for I think I have made a great discovery." She held one hand behind her as she spoke, and her eyes sparkled as she fixed them on the farmer.

"Dear Farmer Hartley," she said, "is it true, as Bubble told me, that your father used to go down often into the vault of the old mill ?" "Why, yes, he did, frequent!" said the farmer, wondering.

"'Twas a fancy of his, pokin' about thar.