e
water to encourage her. The little mer-maidens flashed their mirrors
at her. The little mer-boys played wonderful music on their harps.
The mer-king gave her a jolly smile and the mer-queen blew her a
kiss. All the little mer-princesses and all the little mer-princes
held up their pets to her. Even the mer-baby clapped her dimpled
hands.

"And farther on all the little sea horses with the sea urchins on
their backs assembled in bobbing groups. And farther on all the
little rainbow fishes gathered in shining files. As she ran all the
scratches and gashes in her flesh healed up.

"After a while she reached her own window. Opening it, she jumped
in. Turning to pull it down she saw the old lady disappear from the
doorway of the moon, saw the door close upon her, saw the Wake of
Gold melt and fall into the sea where it lay in a million gleaming
spangles, saw the moon float up into the sky, growing smaller and
smaller and paler and paler until it was no larger than a silver
plate. And now it was the moon no longer--it was the sun. Its rays
were shining hot on her face. She was back in her little bed. Her
mother's arms were about her and Klara was saying, 'I'm SORRY. I
WILL NEVER DO SO AGAIN.'"

----------------------

For a long time after Billy finished the room was very quiet. Then
suddenly Rosie jumped to her feet. "That was a lovely story, Billy,"
she said. "But I guess I don't want to hear any more now. I think
I'll go home."

CHAPTER IX: WORK

It was still raining when Maida got up the next day. It rained all
the morning. She listened carefully at a quarter to twelve for the
one-session bell but it did not ring. Just before school began in
the afternoon Rosie came into the shop. Maida saw at once that
something had happened to her. Rosie's face looked strange and she
dragged across the room instead of pattering with her usual quick,
light step.

"What do you think's happened, Maida?" Rosie asked.

"I don't know. Oh, what?" Maida asked affrighted.

"When I came home from school this noon mother wasn't there. But
Aunt Theresa was there--she'd cooked the dinner. She said that mother
had gone away for a visit and that she wouldn't be back for some
time. She said she was going to keep house for father and me while
mother was gone. I feel dreadfully homesick and lonesome without
mother."

"Oh Rosie, I am sorry," Maida said. "But perhaps your mother