at she was going to separate us, and sell us as
ordinary Toys. She said there was so little demand for Marionettes
nowadays.... But you heard that as well as I, didn't you?"

"Yes, I heard," he answered. "And more, too. She said she was going to
send me away with some other Toys to a Christmas-tree. So that it will
be good-bye for a long while."

The little lady Marionette patted the paniers of her pretty brocade
dress and remained silent.

"You don't mind that, do you?" her partner said. "I thought you
wouldn't."

"I do mind," she answered at last.

"Yes; very much I am sure," he said.

"You hurt my feelings," she replied.

"I wouldn't do that for the whole world--not for ten worlds," he
answered.

She smiled.

"Oh, you smile!" he said. "Then you do not mind very much after all."

"I smile because it makes me happy to hear you speak kindly to me
again," she answered.

But her answer did not please him.

"You smile at everything," he said "Nothing troubles you much."

"It troubles me that you should be going away; away from me into the
wide world," she said.

"It will trouble you for half an hour, not longer," said he. "Only half
an hour, that's all. I must leave you now."

"Don't," said she. "_Stay._"

"I can't," said he. "Good-bye."

And he went straight away without another word.

"He does not know how dear he is to my heart or he would not leave me
so," said the little Marionette to herself after he had left.

Then she threw herself down on the counter and cried as if her heart
were breaking. She threw herself down so violently that she broke her
nose and knocked her eyes awry. But she was too miserable to care. She
lay still and cried on.

At last a friend of hers came along--a friend who was a Doll of common
sense and practical ways.

"What is all this about?" she asked. "Why are you crying?"

"Because half an hour may last for so long," wept the little Marionette.

"You are talking nonsense," she replied contemptuously. "Everybody knows
that half an hour can only last thirty minutes."

"Not always. It may sometimes last a whole year--many years."

"Tut, tut!" replied the common-sense Doll; "you have no reasoning power.
That I can see by your face. Still, if I can help you I will. What would
you have me do?"

"Give me back my dream," said the Marionette. Then she covered her face
with her hands and gave a great sigh.

The common-sense Doll looked even more practical than before.