But at first, the shilling could not be found, and the child was almost in despair, when Roger's keen eyes caught a glimmer from something bright, and with a shout, he pounced upon the coin. The child set up a joyful cry, whereupon a voice from above called aloud,—
"Mary! That's certainly Mary's voice—Where are you, child?"
"That's father. Oh, look, what fun! He's walking over our heads! Father, father—I'm here in this hole."
"Why, how on earth did you get there?" exclaimed the man on the pavement, gazing down at his little daughter in great amazement.
"Wait one moment, and I'll come to you," said the child.
Roger let her go, but he stayed to close up the door and window, and then followed. He found her at the door, telling her story as fast as her little tongue could wag, to a well-dressed man without a hat, who seemed greatly relieved at having found her.
"And I should never, never, have seen my shilling again, only for him. He said he'd find it, and he did find it; and he was so kind, father, and I was just mis'able."
"Why, Read! Is it you?" and Roger recognised Mr. Wilson, who kept the Post Office and had a fine shop, where he carried on business as a bookseller and stationer.
"I am greatly obliged to you. It was very kind of you to waste your time helping my careless little woman here. Her mother missed her from the door, and was so frightened that I had to be off without my hat to search for her. She can't pay me visits in the shop, if she runs off like this."
"I didn't want to run off, indeed! I wanted to look in the window at the spades and pails."