her eyes for a
long time to catch the last glimpse of the little magic, toy City of
Zinariola. She was still lost in memories when the boat scraped on the
beach; and then they climbed the little path among the cliffs through
the sunset. As soon as they reached the house Pirlaps sat emphatically
down on his step, remarking, "My, but it's good to be at home!" But
Avrillia hurried off to her balcony, murmuring absent-mindedly, "I
must write a poem about streets!"

As for Sara, she sped along the little curly path in the dusk toward
the ivory doors. And there, in front of the dimple-holder, stood the
Gunkus in livery, still bowing low, holding his left shoe in his right
hand over his faithful heart.

Sara was much ashamed of having forgotten him, and she had no money
with her; but she had a postage stamp in her pocket, from which the
puppy had licked the mucilage. This she gave him.

It was, in all other respects, a perfectly good stamp. And the
faithful Gunkus seemed much pleased.

Chapter VIII
The Vale of Tears

Such a thing had never happened before, and how it happened this time
I am at a loss to understand: but when Sara entered the Garden on this
particular morning her eyes were full of tears. She had to fumble
blindly around for her dimples, and when she did find them they were
buried quite deep in her little wet cheeks. She would have strayed
right on into the Garden without removing them, except that as soon as
she saw the Snimmy's wife, absorbed in some simple domestic task, and
sitting on her own toadstool at the door of the prose-bush with her
tail wrapped so tightly around the base, she felt that she might smile
after a while, and then it might be too late to save the dimples from
the Snimmy. But before they had touched the whipped cream cushion in
the bottom of the holder, two Gunki rushed forward in great excitement,
and seizing her by the arms, began to hurry her through the Garden,
crying hoarsely,

"She's crying! She's crying! She mustn't cry here!"

Sara had never had a Gunkus touch her before; but, though they hurried
her so fast that she was breathless, and the tears hung where they
were on her lashes without having time to fall, they were as gentle
with her as possible, and she understood that their anxiety was all on
her account. She was further reassured when she saw the Teacup
fluttering and hopping along--now on one s