“The son went into the yard, and found that an old man had fallen not far from their gate and was unable to rise. The woman went to help her son bring the old man in, and while they were gone the peddler took his leave without so much as saying good-by.
“With a good deal of trouble the old man was brought into the house, and made comfortable, but no sooner had he been placed upon the woman’s bed than he leaped to his feet and stood on the floor, laughing.
“‘I have fallen at a dozen doors to-day,’ he cried, ‘and this is the first that has been opened to me.’
“‘Well,’ replied the woman, ‘if we had known you were playing pranks on us I don’t think this door would have opened to you. We are having too much trouble ourselves to pester with other people’s troubles.’
“Then she went on to tell of the disappearance of the little girl she used to nurse. The old man tried to get in a word of consolation, now and then, but the woman talked too fast for that. But presently she had told about all she had to tell.
“‘See how it turns out!’ cried the old man. ‘How can it be accident that brings to your door the only person in the world that can give you any tidings of the little girl? I saw a child to-day some miles from here who asked me to show her her nurse’s house.’
“‘Bless her dear little heart!’ exclaimed the woman.
“‘But she was in great danger,’ said the old man. ‘She was just about to enter the domain of Rimrak.’
“‘Ah, why didn’t you bring her away with you?’ cried the woman.
“‘It is not permitted,’ replied the old man. ‘I did what I could. I warned her not to drink of the waters of the spring nor to eat of the pomegranate-seed. I could do no more.’