urling
hair; and then she asked her if she had any pretty flowers to give her.

"Margot immediately offered her nosegay, but she refused it, saying she
did not want such flowers as those, but such curious ones as she
sometimes found near the waterfall.

"'I have got none now,' answered Margot.

"'But you found a very curious one the other day, did you not, my
pretty little damsel?' said Heister.

"'Yes, madame,' said Margot, brightening up; 'yes, madame, I did.'

"'Ay, I have it now,' thought Heister; and she patted the little one as
she said, 'Was it not bright and shining like gold, and was there not
something about it like moons?'

"'Oh, no, madame,' replied the child; 'it was some pretty blue flowers
that come every year. Jacques said they are called gentians; but I call
them fairies' eyes, for they are just the very colour I always fancy
the fairy of the Hartsfell's eyes must be--they are so very blue.'

"'Well, well!' exclaimed Heister, hastily, 'I dare say they were
very pretty; but did you not find something more curious on the
mountains than flowers? What was it you found, that Monique praised you
for finding, and told you you were a good child for giving it up to
her?'

"'Oh! it was the wild strawberries,' cried Margot; 'the pretty mountain
strawberries. Grandmother thanked me for bringing her home the
strawberries, for she said she had not tasted them since she was a
girl.'

"'Pshaw, child,' said Heister Kamp impatiently; 'it is not that I want
to know. What was it you called a golden fish and moons?'

"'Moons!' repeated Margot, colouring up to her very brow, 'moons,
madame?'

"'Ay, moons, child. What do you mean by moons?'

"Poor little Margot! she was sadly put to for an answer, for she
remembered what her grandmother had told her about keeping the secret
of the purse; and not being old enough to evade a direct reply, she
burst into tears, taking up her apron to her face.

"'So you will not tell me what you call moons?' said Heister angrily;
then, softening her tone, she added, 'Here, my pretty Margot, is a sou
(or penny) for you, if you will tell me what you mean by moons and
golden fish.' But seeing the child irresolute, she added, 'If you do
not choose to tell, get out of my way, you little sulky thing.'

"Margot waited no more, but the next moment the prudent little girl was
up the bank and in the cottage, where she found her grandmother alone,
to whom she told her troubles. Monique ki