"I reckon you're the gal that's come to stay at Mr.Hartley's ?" he said in an interrogative tone.
Hilda's brow darkened for a moment at the word "gal," which came with innocent frankness from the lips of the ragged urchin before her.

But the next moment she remembered that it was only the old Hilda who cared about such trifles; so she answered pleasantly enough: "Yes, I am staying at Mr.Hartley's.

I only came yesterday, but I am to stay some time." "And what mought _your_ name be ?" inquired Master Chirk.
"Hildegardis Graham." It was gently said, in a very different voice from that which had answered Farmer Hartley in the same words the night before; but it made a startling impression on Bubble Chirk.
"Hildy--" he began; and then, giving it up, he said simply: "Well, I swan! Do ye kerry all that round with ye all the time ?" Hilda laughed outright at this.
"Oh, no!" she said; "I am called Hilda generally." "But you kin spell the hull of it ?" asked the boy anxiously.
"Yes, certainly!" Bubble's eager look subsided into one of mingled awe and admiration.
"Reckon ye must know a heap," he said, rather wistfully.

"Wish't I did!" Hilda looked at him for a moment without speaking.

Her old self was whispering to her.