count of the whole affair; for
although she had already heard it told a dozen times, it had always been
among other people, who were continually interrupting and asking
questions, and were too anxious to hear the end, to wait for the full
account of the beginning. So she decided to apply to Blasi, who, as he had
been on the spot, must know all about it. But she had to hunt him up; for
since that unlucky evening he had kept himself out of sight. She placed
her bucket under the spout at the well, and then took a turn about the
kitchen garden behind the sexton's cottage. Blasi stood in the back
doorway, just as he was in the habit of standing in the front doorway,
only instead of holding his face up as if to catch any agreeable odors
that might be floating about, he stood to-day with drooping head, gazing
sadly at the uncared-for garden.

"What's amiss, Blasi?" asked Judith, sharply, coming upon him before he
was aware of her approach.

"Nothing; if you know of anything we will share it," said Blasi sullenly.

"Well, perhaps I know something that it would not be a bad thing for you
to share with me. Perhaps it's worth while for some one who has learned it
by the sweat of her brow, to tell you that vegetables can be made to grow
in a garden, instead of nettles, which you seem to cultivate."

"I don't care what grows anywhere; one thing is as good as another to me,
now that Dietrich has gone. There's nothing to do in the evening now. I've
half a mind to go after him."

"Go where? do you know where he is?"

"I don't, myself, but Jost does, and I know that Jost is expecting to hear
from him. Though he does call me stupid, I have my eye on him," said
Blasi, with angry emphasis. "And I know it was Jost who advised Dietrich
to run away and hide, though he didn't mean to let me know. Oh, I'm no
fool!"

Judith nodded assentingly, as if Blasi's information confirmed her own
suspicions.

"Here, Blasi, here's a little something for you. Now I want you to tell me
exactly how this thing happened, from the very beginning; and don't leave
out a single thing. I want to hear the whole story, connectedly."

"You may be sure I will," said Blasi, weighing the silver piece which
Judith had given him affectionately in his hand. "You see they were all
together in the little back room at first; the red-haired man and Jost and
Dietrich, and when I went in I noticed at once that something had happened
that our two didn't like; for Dietrich