you think ought to be weak. But I was trying to
find out whether your private collation of air could have
taken away your appetite.'

'I think not--I haven't inquired after it, but now that you
speak of the matter, I think it must have been bread and
cheese.'

'And I suppose you tried the strawberries--just to see if they
were ripe.'

'No, I didn't, but I will now.' And coming to Wych Hazel's
side he proceeded to help her carefully and to put a bowl of
milk in suggestive proximity to her right hand; then taking a
handful himself he stood up and went on talking to Mr.
Falkirk.

'What is your plan of proceeding, sir?'

'I don't know,' said Mr. Falkirk. 'I am puzzled. The coach
goes back to-morrow morning to the foot of the mountain; there
is no object in our making such a circuit, if we could get on
from here,--besides the fact that none of us want to go over
the ground again; but to get on from here seems out of the
question.

'It seems to me, to stay here is out of the question,'
observed Rollo.

'I don't see how to help it--for one night. The only sole
vehicle here is Mr. Miller's little wagon, and that will hold
but two.'

'So I understand.--Those strawberries are not bad,' he said,
appealing to Wych Hazel.

'A very mild form of praise, Mr. Rollo. Harmless and
inoffensive--to berries. What will you do, then, Mr. Falkirk?
seeing there are five of us.'

'I am in a strait. Could you spend the night here in any
tolerable comfort, Wych, do you suppose?'

'I am at a loss to understand your system of arithmetic,'
observed Rollo.

'Simple addition. I suppose, sir, I could spend the night here
where other human creatures can. And as I shall take Phoebe
with me when I go, will you please arrange with her father? I
told her she could have what wages she liked.'

'What shall I arrange with her father, Miss Hazel?'

'Why--anything he wants arranged, sir. What the wages shall
be.'

'Your scheme of travel may be continued to any extent, Miss
Hazel, if you continue to do business on an equally logical
plan.'

She laughed, a good, honest, merry little laugh, but further
direct reply made none.

'That puff of displeasure blows me fairly away!' she said,
jumping up and floating off to the mill door like any thistle
down, on the tips of her toes.

'Is it possible to make any comfortable arrangement for her at
the miller's house?' Mr. Falkirk asked in a low tone.

'Not if she be "true princess," ' said Rol