Once in the barn, she would bury herself like a mole in the straw, and listen to the unfailing metronome of the flails, till she would fall so fast asleep as to awake only when her uncomfortable aunt, believing that at last the awful something or other _had_ happened to the _royt_ lassie, dragged her out ignominiously by the heels.

But the _royt_ lassie was one of the gentlest of girls, what adventurousness she had being the result of faith, and not of hardihood.
And then came the delights of the harvest-field--soon to become great golden splendours to the memory.

With the reapers she would remain from morning till night, sharing in their meals, and lightening their labour with her gentle frolic.

Every day, after the noon-tide meal, she would go to sleep on the shady side of a _stook_, upon two or three sheaves which Dowie would lay down for her in a choice spot.

Indeed the little mistress was very fond of sleep, and would go to sleep anywhere; this habit being indeed one of her aunt's chief grounds of complaint.