asant, for, as
soon as she was left to herself, she felt how very imprudent she had
been. She tried, however, to comfort herself with thinking that she had
done no harm. 'For what can it signify,' she said to herself, 'if
Heister does know the truth?' But she would take care not to mention at
home what she had said to Madame Kamp; and in this Meeta found, to her
cost, that she could keep a secret."

* * * * *

"There now!" cried Henry, as Emily was turning over a leaf, "papa was
right; he told me who would betray the secret."

"We all guessed," said Lucy; "but, Emily, do go on."

* * * * *

"The gipsy, or zingara (as they call such people in Switzerland and
Germany), for such she was, had heard every word which had passed
between Madame Kamp and Meeta; and as the coast was quite clear, she
put the remains of her broken victuals into her bag and skulked away,
like a thief as she was; and nobody thought of her, nor saw her go.

"Three or four days passed quietly after the evening in which Meeta and
Ella went to the village; but on the fourth morning a message came from
Madame Eversil to Monique, to tell her that she had just heard of a
party of persons of great consequence who were coming from a distance
to dine at her house; she sent to beg her to come down immediately to
help in getting the dinner, and, if she had no objection, to bring Ella
with her to wait on the ladies and at table.

"Martin Stolberg had gone off early that morning to market, at the
nearest town, three leagues off; Jacques had gone up on the higher
pastures with the flocks; and when Monique and Ella went down to the
pastor's, only Meeta and Margot were left at the cottage.

"Ella dressed herself in her Sunday clothes, and carried the basket,
which her grandmother had packed, down the hill. Monique had filled the
basket with everything she thought might be useful--a bottle of cream,
new-laid eggs, and fresh flowers. She bade Margot and Meeta be good
girls, and keep close at home, when she parted from them, with a kiss
to each; and the next minute she and Ella were going down the hill."

* * * * *

"I know what is coming next," cried Henry, as Emily turned over a leaf;
"but do make haste, Emily."

* * * * *

"Nothing could be more still and quiet than the cottage and all about
it seemed to be when Meeta and Margot we