ue dangling through the door, and the Patchwork Woman pale
with dismay, in their midst, on one side of the door, and on the other
side was the terror-stricken Mayor, and the poor Chinese Ambassador.

"Can't anything be done?" shouted the Mayor through the keyhole--there
was a very large keyhole.

"No," the Patchwork Woman said. "The door won't open till six o'clock
to-morrow morning."

"Oh, try!" groaned the Mayor. "Say the formula."

She said the formula, to satisfy them, but the door staid firmly shut.
Evidently the Chinese Ambassador would have to stay where he was until
morning, unless he had the Mayor snip his queue off, which was not to
be thought of.

So the Mayor, who was something of a philosopher, set about
accommodating himself, or rather his friend, to the situation.

"It is inevitable," said he to the Ambassador. "I am very sorry, but
everybody has to conform to the customs of the institutions of the
countries which they visit. I will go and get you some dinner, and an
extra coat. I will keep you company through the night, and morning
will come before you know it."

"Well," sighed the Chinese Ambassador, standing on tiptoe so his queue
should not pull so hard. He was a patient man, but after he had eaten
his dinner the time seemed terrible long.

"Why don't you talk?" said he to the Mayor, who was dozing beside him
in an easy-chair. "Can't you tell me a story?"

"I never did such a thing in my life," replied the Mayor, rousing
himself; "but I am very sorry for you, dear sir; perhaps the Patchwork
Woman can."

So he asked the Patchwork Woman through the keyhole.

"I never told a story in my life," said she; "but there's a boy here
that I heard telling a beautiful one the other day. Here, Julia,"
called she, "come and tell a story to the Chinese Ambassador."

Julia really knew a great many stories which his Grandmothers had
taught him, and he sat on a little stool and told them through the
keyhole all night to the Chinese Ambassador.

He and the Mayor were so interested that morning came and the door
swung open before they knew it. The poor Ambassador drew a long
breath, and put his hand around to his queue to see if it was safe.
Then he wanted to thank and reward the boy who had made the long night
hours pass so pleasantly.

"What is he in here for?" asked the Mayor, patting Julia, who could
hardly keep his eyes open.

[Illustration: THE GRANDMOTHERS ENJOY THE CHINESE TOYS.]

"He grumble