ys always had a wonderfully calming
effect upon Avrillia. "I'm going right in now to change; and then I
have a plan that will straighten things out and please everybody."

"What is it?" asked Avrillia, looking more hopeful.

"It's too soon to tell yet," said Pirlaps, with a delightfully wise
air, and he went on up the steps, with Yassuh tumbling after him,
leaving them all feeling very much relieved.

Avrillia, making a brave effort to recover her composure, began
playing with the children again, and they were having almost as
delightful a time as if nothing distressing had occurred, when Pirlaps
reappeared, all fresh-shaven and immaculate.

"Put the step out in the sun where it will keep soft, Yassuh," he
said. "I shan't need it this afternoon."

They all stopped playing and looked at him in wonder.

"I'm going to take Sara to see my relations, as I promised her I would,"
he explained, taking Sara kindly by the hand.

"Oh, that's lovely," said Avrillia, looking at Pirlaps gratefully out
of her speaking eyes. "There's nobody like you, Pirlaps."

Pirlaps looked wonderfully pleased with himself; and, since there was
not a bit of chocolate on his trousers, he looked unusually spruce and
handsome, too. Sara skipped along beside him delightedly; only,
sometimes when she looked back, she wished she could stay with
Avrillia while she was in such a lovely mood, and all those
interesting children. Still, Sara's dear, self-willed mother had
taught her to be a considerate little girl, and she reflected that she
really ought not to bother Avrillia with another child, when she
already had seventy to look after. The thoughts of Pirlaps also seemed
to be running in the same channel (indeed, Sara could catch glimpses
of them, trickling along under that thin, funny cap he always wore),
and he presently said,

"It's too bad to bring you away when the children are at home, Sara,
but you know they are a great deal of care to Avrillia, and when
they're at home I try to do everything I can to relieve her. Now, you
see, she won't have to bother about my trousers for the whole
afternoon."

"But how can you get along without your step?" asked Sara. She knew
this was a personal question, but she felt, somehow, that Pirlaps
would not think her impolite.

He looked down at her and smiled, just as her own father did when she
asked questions which showed her youth and inexperience.

"I'm not a step-man, Sara," he said, his eyes twinkl