is in your hair, Bessy. Do you
know it makes you quite smart. But it wants just a little bow like
this--there, there."

The guileless child blushed and smiled, and sidled slyly up to where
she could catch a sidelong glance at herself in a scratched mirror
that hung against the wall.

"Tut, Bessy, you should go and kneel on the river bank just below, and
look at yourself in the still water. Go, lass, and come back and tell
me what you think now."

The little maiden's vanity prompted her to go, but her pride urged her
to remain, lest Rotha should think her too vain. Pride conquered, and
Bessy hung down her pretty head and smiled. Rotha turned wearily about
and said, "I'm very thirsty, and I can't bear that well water of Mrs.
Garth's."

"Why, she's not got a well, Rotha."

"Hasn't she? Now, do you know, I thought she had, but it must be
'Becca Rudd's well I'm thinking of."

Bessy stepped outside for a moment, and came back with a basin of
water in her hand.

"What sort of water is this, Bessy--river water?" said Rotha
languidly, with eyes riveted on an oak chest that stood at one side of
the kitchen.

"Oh, no; spring water," said the little one, with many protestations
of her shaking head.

"Now, do you know, Bessy--you'll think it strange, won't you?--do you
know, I never care for spring water."

"I'll get you a cup of milk," said Bessy.

"No, no; it's river water _I_ like. Just slip away and get me a cup of
it, there's a fine lass, and I'll show you how to tie the ribbon for
yourself."

The little one tripped off. Vanity reminded her that she could kill
two birds with one stone. Instantly she had gone Rotha rose to her
feet and drew out the keys. Taking the one with the tape on it, she
stepped to the oak chest and tried it on the padlock that hung in
front of it. No; that was not the lock it fitted. There was a corner
cupboard that hung above the chest. But, no; neither had the cupboard
the lock which fitted the key in Rotha's hand.

There was a bedroom leading out of the kitchen. Rotha entered it and
looked around. A linen trunk, a bed, and a chair were all that it
contained. She went upstairs. There were two bedrooms there, but no
chest, box, cabinet, cupboard, not anything having a lock which a key
like this might fit.

Bessy would be back soon. Rotha returned to the kitchen. She went
again into the adjoining bedroom. Yes, under the bed was a trunk, a
massive plated trunk. She tried to move it, bu