"What 'a' you bin doin' now, you bad girl?" said Mrs. Davy. "Hold on, missy," she called up to Bernadine. "We'll soon 'ave ye down. You're all right! You'll not take no 'arm."
Harriet now came running out, wringing her hands, and uttering hysterical exclamations.
"Shut up, you fool," said Mrs. Davy.
Doors opened all the way down the street, and a considerable crowd had soon collected. Beth, quite detached from herself, leant against the orchard-wall and watched the people with interest.
How to get the child down was the difficulty, as there was no ladder at hand long enough to reach up to the roof.
"I'll go and fetch her down if you like," said Beth.
"I should think so! and then there'd be two of you," said Mrs. Davy.
"I don't see how you'll manage it then," said Beth. "There isn't foothold for a man to get out of the attic-window." Having spoken, she strolled off with an air of indifference, and disappeared. She was a heroine of romance now, going to do a great deed; and before she was missed, the horrified spectators saw her climbing out of the front attic-window smiling serenely. The people held their breath as they watched her go up the roof on the slippery tiles at a reckless rate to her sister.
"Come along, Bernadine," she whispered. "Such fun! There's a whole crowd down there watching us. Just let them see you're not afraid."
Bernadine peeped. It was gratifying to be an object of such interest.