THE SPIRIT OF SECRET VALLEY 33 



are small and short, had already fallen, and in 

 their places were left only little stems where 

 round berries were forming. But neither they 

 nor the Baneberries' beautiful pointed leaflets 

 made this strange girl look at them, and she didn't 

 mind a bit that a darning needle was close by her 

 hand. 



She never spoke to Tommy, although she must 

 have seen him sitting there watching for white 

 crows ; and she looked so much like a statue on the 

 tree's stump that he didn't speak to her. After 

 awhile he crept away very softly, and forgot all 

 about bringing home a bit of Marsh Marigold. 



Since then he has been wondering who this girl 

 could be. He had never seen her before, although 

 he knows every one who lives near here and in the 

 village. He says she looked as though she never 

 intended to leave that stump, or Secret Valley. 



He has told Philip Todd nothing about all this 

 because he doesn't want him to know he ever be- 

 lieved there were white crows in the valley. Be- 

 sides, he says he will go again in a few days to see 

 if the girl is still standing on the old tree's stump. 



Grandmother called out to him: " Keep well 

 awake. Tommy, if you do; for surely you were 

 half asleep and dreamed that you saw the girl 

 spirit of Secret Valley." 



Then Tommy declared that he was wide awake 

 every minute, and that he had seen a real girl with 

 straight hair. 



