nning girl! but I am not deceived; I can trust Father St.
Goar better than any one of those Stolbergs.'

"About an hour before Ella had passed the _Lion d'Or_, a wild dark
woman had come to the house to sell horn and wooden spoons. Heister had
taken a few, and in return had given her a handful of broken victuals
and a cup of wine; she had not carried these things away to eat and
drink them, but had merely gone round the corner of the house, and sat
herself down there in the dust. She was so near that she could hear
all that had passed between Ella and Heister; above all, that Ella had
said her father was decidedly short of money.

"Ella had hardly turned into the gate of the pastor's house when Meeta
appeared, going along after her. Monique had forgotten to send by Ella
a pot of honey which she meant as a present to the pastor; and Meeta
had offered to carry it, saying that she would have great pleasure in
the errand, and would return with Ella. Monique gave permission; and
Meeta appeared opposite to the _Golden Lion_ not five minutes after
Ella was gone.

"'A very good evening to you, Meeta,' cried Heister from the porch;
'whither away in such haste? Stop a bit, I beseech you, and give a few
minutes of your company to a neighbour. And how are all at home on the
hill? I have been telling Ella, your cousin Ella, that she looked like
the saint of the May. But you, Meeta, why, you might be painted for our
Lady herself--so fresh and blooming, with your bright eyes and ruddy
cheeks. But Ella tells me that things go hard with poor good Martin
Stolberg--that he is short of money; and I am sorry, for I hoped that
he had met with some good luck lately, and I fear that what I heard is
not true.'

"'What luck?' asked Meeta.

"'Someone told me,' said Heister, 'that the little one had found a
purse.'

"'A purse?' repeated Meeta.

"'What is a net,' answered Heister, 'with gold fish in it but a purse
with gold pieces inside?'

"'Where--where,' cried Meeta, 'could you have heard that? for
grandmother was so very particular in making us promise not to mention
it.'

"'Heard it!' repeated the cunning widow; 'why, is not everything known
that is done in the valley?'

"'But how?' asked Meeta; 'yet I can guess: Margot has told you. I said
I thought Margot would tell all about it. But do tell me, how came you
to hear it?'

"'Oh! there are a thousand ways of getting at the truth,' replied
Heister; 'for if anything does happen o