come along home with me and you'll git
what is comin' to you, you good-for-nothin' little imp."

"Is she your mother?" asked Madge doubtfully, gazing at the brutal woman
and the strange child.

Tania shook her black head scornfully. "Oh, dear, no," she answered. "It
is only that I have to live with her now, while I am under the
enchantment. Some day, when the wicked spell is broken, I shall go away,
perhaps to a wonderful castle. My name is Titania. I think it means that
I am the Queen of the Fairies."

The woman laughed brutishly. "Queen of gutter, you are, Miss Tania. I'll
tan you," she jeered, as she dragged the little girl from Madge's arms.

The little captain looked despairingly about her. There, a calm witness
of the entire scene, was a big New York policeman. "Officer," commanded
Madge indignantly, "make that woman leave that child alone."

The big policeman looked sheepish. "I can't do nothing with Sal," he
protested. "If I make her stop beating Tania now, she'll only be meaner
to her when she gets her indoors. Best leave 'em alone, I think. I have
interfered, but the child says she don't mind. I don't think she does,
somehow; she's such a queer young 'un'."

Sal was now engaged in shaking Tania as she pushed her along in front of
her. Madge and Eleanor were in despair.

Suddenly a well-dressed young man appeared in the crowd. There was
something oddly familiar in his appearance to Eleanor, but she failed to
remember where she had seen him before. "Sal!" he called out sharply,
"leave Tania alone!"

Instantly the woman obeyed him. She slunk back into her open doorway. The
crowd melted as though by magic; they also recognized the young man's
authority. A moment later he was gone. Madge, Eleanor, and the strange
little girl stood on the street corner almost alone.

CHAPTER IV

THE UNINVITED GUEST

"Are you good fairies who have strayed away from home?" inquired Tania,
calmly gazing first at Madge and then at Eleanor. She was perfectly
self-possessed and asked her question as though it were the most natural
one in the world.

The two girls stared hard at the child. Was her mind affected, or was she
playing a game with them? Tania seemed not in the least disturbed. "Do go
away now," she urged. "I am all right, but something may happen to you."

"You odd little thing!" laughed Madge. "We are not fairies. We are girls
and we are lost. We are on our way to visit a friend, Mrs. Curtis, who
lives