bed, while Hermione, soft-voiced and tender, bent above the invalid,
who, having obediently swallowed her medicine, leaned back on her pillow
and smiled from one to the other.

"And now," said she, drawing Hermione down at her other side and
snuggling between, "now please let's all tell some more fairy tale; an'
please, you begin, Hermy, just where you had t' leave off last time."

"Why, I--I'm afraid I've forgotten, dear," said Hermione, bending to
smooth the child's pillow.

"Forgotten--oh, Hermy! But I 'member quite well; you got where poor
Princess Nobody was climbing the mountain very tired an' sad an'
carrying her heavy pack, an' all at once--along came the Prince an'
took her heavy bundle and said he'd love to carry it for her always if
she'd let him. An' poor Nobody knew he was the real Prince at last--the
Prince she'd dreamed of an' waited for all her life, 'cos he'd got grey
eyes so brave an' true--an' he was so big an' strong an' noble. So he
helped her to the top of the mountain, an' then she thought at last she
could see the beautiful City of Perhaps. That's where you got to--don't
you 'member, Hermy dear?"

Now why should Hermione's shapely head have drooped and drooped until
at last her face was hidden on the pillow? And why should Geoffrey
Ravenslee reach to touch the child's hair with hand so light and tender?

"The beautiful City of Perhaps," said he gently, "why, Princess, where
did you learn about that?"

"From dear Princess Nobody, oh, Prince!"

"And who is she?"

"Why, she's Hermy, Prince--and I'm Princess Somebody. And oh, Hermy
dear, you do 'member where you left off now, don't you?"

"Yes, I remember; but I--don't feel like telling fairy stories now,
dear."

"Oh! are y' sick?" cried the child anxiously, touching Hermione's golden
hair with loving fingers, "is it a headache like my mumsey gets?"

"N-no, dear, only I--I don't feel like telling any more of our
story--to-night--somehow, dear."

"Princess," said Ravenslee, "do you know much about the wonderful City
of Perhaps?"

"Oh, yes--an' I dream about it sometimes, Prince--such beautiful dreams!"

"Why, of course," nodded Ravenslee, "because it is the most beautiful
City that ever happened, I guess!"

"Oh, it is!" cried the child, "shall I tell you?"

"Please do, Princess."

"Well, it's all made of crystal an' gold, an' every one's happy there
and never sick--oh, never! An' all the children can have ices an' cream
sodas whe