hat the old
gentleman said, that a mother who had to go travelling around all over
Europe, giving her time and attention to society and a miserable poodle,
had better put her children in an orphan asylum before she started. She
was so indignant that I could hear her talking away down in the office.
She said that she would leave the instant that Fanchette could get the
trunks packed. So there they go."

Mrs. Sattawhite had sailed back to the office during the telling of
Eugenia's story, so their departure was delayed a moment. When she came
out again, Fidelia followed her sulkily. Just as they drove off, she
looked up at the open window, and saw the girls, who were waving good-bye.
Then a smile flickered across her sorry little face, for, moved by some
sudden impulse, the Little Colonel leaned out and threw her a kiss.

"I suppose I'll nevah see her again," she said, thoughtfully, as the
carriage rolled around a corner, out of sight. "I wish now that I had been
niceah to her. We may both change evah so much by the time we are grown,
yet if I live to be a hundred I'll always think of her as the girl who was
so quarrelsome that the English lady groaned, 'Oh, those dreadful American
children!' And I suppose she'll remembah me for the high and mighty way I
tried to snub her whenevah I had a chance."

As she spoke there was a knock at the door, and a maid brought in a
package for Lloyd. "Oh, look, girls!" she exclaimed, holding up a tiny
pair of silver embroidery scissors, Fidelia's parting gift They were
evidently something that had been given her, for the little silver sheath
into which they were thrust was beautifully engraved in old English
letters with the name "_Fidelia_." Around them was wrapped a strip of
rumpled paper on which was scrawled: "For you to remember me by. That day
you took me to the Gate of the Giant Scissors was the best time I ever
had."

"Poor little thing!" exclaimed Betty. "To think that she was afraid to go
in, for fear that she didn't belong to the kingdom, and that the scissors
might leap down and drive her back."

"Oh, if I had only known!" sighed Lloyd, remorsefully. "I feel too mean
for anything! If I'd only believed that it was because she hadn't been
brought up to know any bettah that she acted so horrid, and that all the
time she really wanted to be liked! Mothah told me I ought to put myself
in her place, and make allowances for her, but I didn't want to even try,
and I nevah was nice