lt that she couldn't tell me anything about frail little girls, but I
kept my knowledge to myself. The Seraph said--

"Was you ever a fwail little gel, Mrs. Handsomebody?" Our governess fixed
him with her eye.

"I was a most decorous and obedient little girl, Alexander, and asked no
impertinent questions of my elders."

"Was Mary Ellen a fwail little gel?" persisted The Seraph.

"No," snapped Mrs. Handsomebody, "judging from her characteristics as a
servant, I should say that she was a very riotous, rude little girl. Now
drink your milk."

"I yike wiotous wude people," said The Seraph with his face in the tumbler;
the milk trickled down his chin.

"Leave the table, Alexander," commanded Mrs. Handsomebody, "your conduct is
quite inexcusable." The Seraph departed, weeping.

All that evening I thought about Jane. I had no heart for a pillow fight.
At night I dreamed of her, and saw her weekly washing, suspended from a
line, fluttering in the wind that raced along my canyon.

I strained toward the hour when I should meet her at tea. I had never felt
like this before. True, I had once conceived a violent fancy for a fat
young woman in the pastry shop, but she had been replaced by a thin young
woman who did not appeal to me, and the episode was forgotten.

But, oh, this bitter-sweetness of my love for Jane! My despair when I found
that she was to sit next Angel at tea, till I discovered that, seated
opposite, I could stare at her, and admire how she nibbled her almond cake
and sipped tea from an apple-green cup.

After tea we played musical chairs, in the library, with Margery at the
piano. First marched The Seraph with his brown curls bobbing; and after
him, the stout Bishop in his gaiters; next Angel; then Jane on tiptoes; and
lastly myself in squeaky new boots.

Seraph and the Bishop were soon out of it. They were invariably beaten in
our games, though afterward they always seemed to think they had won. So
Angel, Jane, and I were left, prancing around two solemn carved chairs. The
music ceased with a crash. Jane leaped to one chair while Angel and I fell
simultaneously upon the other. We both clung to it desperately, but he
dislodged me, inch by inch, and I, furious at being balked in my pursuit of
Jane, struck him twice in the ribs, then ran into the dim hall and hid
myself.

There Jane found me, and there her tender lips kissed my hot cheek, and she
squeezed me in her arms. For a moment we did not speak, the