vague
smile.

"I think it is," nodding humorously. "The babies have been rather too
much for you this hot weather. Were you very fond of them?"

"Well, they were not bad and very funny. You can't love bad people."

"Oh, can't you?"

"No, you can't," with an emphasis. "You may like them and think
they're pretty and sweet sometimes, but you don't truly love them I
mean you wouldn't choose them if you had you choice."

"Which you don't often have in this world. Now what would be your
choice?"

"Oh, I'd like to stay here. I don't know what I'd do if I was Miss
Armitage's bound-out girl. Jane does everything and--cook does the
meals. She might let me wipe the dishes. But--maybe you don't know I'm
bound-out to Mrs. Borden until I'm eighteen, so I shall have to go
back. And the babies need me. I'm teaching them to talk. I'm almost
Cinderella, not the kitchen kind, though I wouldn't mind that with
Bridget."

"I heard you went to the King's ball with a fairy godmother. Would you
mind telling me?"

Marilla colored. Yes, she would be quite pretty if she wasn't so
thin.

"Why it was just a dream. And I was asleep by the kitchen stove. I
hadn't any belief in her at first. Oh, do you know anything about that
curious part of your brain that dreams?"

"No, I do not. I think no one really does. I suppose you had been
reading about Cinderella."

"I used to read it over to the babies, or tell them. But there was Red
Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk and Hop o' My Thumb. Jack had
them all, but I never dreamed of them. And the babies seemed to
understand them all. They laughed at the funny places and they looked
so shocked at the dreadful things, and were so pleased when the old
wolf fell down the chimney, dead. Why it was just delightful to me,
only sometimes I did get tired talking so much and had to wait for my
breath."

"Are you tired now?" and he listened a moment to her heart.

"Oh, no. I feel all good and rested, and Jane said I ate a nice
breakfast. I'm almost well, though I wouldn't mind being ill a long,
long while if I could stay here. There was a little girl once who died
and went to heaven. Miss Florence had the book. That wasn't any fairy
story, and I think this must be a good deal like heaven. It's so quiet
with no one troubling you, and when Miss Armitage plays----"

Her soft eyes were like wind-blown lakes and the far-away sight moved
him inexpressibly.

"Suppose you tell me about the dream?"