of her skin, the pink nails glittered brilliantly.

"And think of your own feet, Julia," Lulu exclaimed. "They're like
alabaster. Pete says that from the artist's point of view, they're
absolutely perfect. You don't imagine for an instant that you could take
a step on them, unsupported?"

"No?" said Julia. "No?" With a swift leap of her body, she stood on the
feet in question. And as the other stared, stupefied, she walked with
the splendid, swinging gait of an Amazon once, twice, thrice around the
Playground.

"Come, Angela!" Peachy called. "Come, baby!"

Angela started to spread her pinions. "Don't fly, baby," Peachy called.
"Walk!"

Obediently, Angela dropped her wings, sank. Her feet, shell-like,
pinky-soft, padded the ground. She tried to balance, but she swayed and
fell.

"No matter, darling!" Peachy called cheerily, "Try again!"

Angela heroically pulled herself up. She made a few uncertain steps, but
she stumbled with every move.

Honey-Boy and Peterkin came running up to her side; Junior, grinning
happily, waddled behind a long way in the rear. "Angela's trying to
walk!" the boys cried. "Angela's trying to walk!" They capered with
amusement. "Oh, isn't she funny? Look at the girl trying to walk!"

The tears spurted from Angela's eyes. Her lips quivered. Her wings shot
up straight.

"Don't mind what the boys say, Angela!" Peachy called. "Put your wings
down! Keep right on walking!"

Again Angela's pinions dropped. Again she took a few steps. This time
she fell to her knees. But she pulled herself up, sped onward, fell
again, and again. She had reached the stones that bounded the sand. When
she arose this last time, her foot was, bleeding.

"Keep on walking, baby!" Peachy commanded inflexibly. But there was a
rain of tears on her check.

Angela staggered forward a rod or two; and now both feet left a trail of
blood. Then suddenly again she struggled for balance, fell headlong.

"Keep on walking, mother's heart's treasure," Peachy commanded.
She dropped to her knees and held out her arms; her face worked
uncontrollably.

Angela pulled herself up with a determined settling of her little
rose-petal mouth. Swaying, stumbling, staggering, she ran on in one
final spurt until she collapsed in her mother's arms.

VIII

"And as soon as we finish the New Camp," Honey said eagerly, "we must
make another on the rocks at the north. That will be our summer place."

"And as soon as we've finishe