"Well, that's just what I've suspicioned all along. I didn't believe much in all that blow-pipe work. I'm out about a hundred dollars,--that's all,--not counting my time any thing. It's the time I grudge more'n the money. Much obliged to ye, sir." And the philosophical old fellow handed out his three dollars to pay for the assay, and walked off as composedly as if he had had good news instead of bad. Nelly looked very grave. She was thinking of what her father had said about Mr. Scholfield's blow-pipe. "Perhaps Mr. Scholfield was all wrong too, just like this other man. Perhaps our mine isn't good for any thing." Nelly's face was so long that kind-hearted Mr. Kleesman noticed it, and said:-- "You haf tired: it are too long that you look at too many t'ings. You shall sit here and be quiet." "Oh, no, thank you," said Nelly: "I am not tired. I was only thinking." Mr. Kleesman really loved Nelly, and it distressed him to see her look troubled. He wanted to know what troubled her; but he did not like to ask. He looked at her very sympathizingly, and did not say any thing. "Is not a blow-pipe good for any thing to tell about silver?" said Nelly, presently. "Oh, ho!" thought Mr. Kleesman to himself: "now I know what the little wise maiden is thinking: it is her father's mine. It did not escape her one word which this man said." But he replied to her question as if he had not thought any thing farther. "Not very much: the blow-pipe cannot tell true. It tell part true; not all true." Nelly sighed, and said:-- "Come, Rob: it is time for us to go. We are very much obliged to you for letting us see the assay. It is the most wonderful thing I ever saw. It is just like a fairy story. Come, Rob." Rob also thanked Mr. Kleesman; and they went slowly down the steps. "Stay! stay!" said Mr. Kleesman. "Little one, vill you not ask your father that he send me some of the ore from the Goot Luck mine? I shall assay it for you, and I vill tell you true how much silver there should come from each ton, that you are not cheated at the mill vere dey take your ore to make in de silver brick." Nelly ran back to Mr. Kleesman, and took his hand in hers. "Oh, thank you! thank you!" she said: "that was what I was thinking about. I was thinking what if our mine should turn out like that man's that was here this morning." "Oh, no: I t'ink not. Every von say it iss goot, very goot," said Mr. Kleesman. "But I like to make assay. You tell your father I make it for nothing: I make it for you." "I will tell him," said Nelly; "and I am sure he will be very glad to have you do it. I will bring some of the ore next time. Good-by!" And she and Rob ran off very fast, for it was past Ulrica's dinner-time.