a secret."

You should have seen the light flame in her eyes, the red deepen on her
cheeks, and the little curl of laughter that curved her lips.

"How interesting!" she cried. "I wonder now if you are not Little
Sister."

"I am to Laddie and our folks," I said. "You are a stranger."

All the dancing lights went from her face. She looked as if she were
going to cry unless she hurried up and swallowed it down hard and fast.

"That is quite true," she said. "I am a stranger. Do you know that
being a stranger is the hardest thing that can happen to any one in all
this world?"

"Then why don't you open your doors, invite your neighbours in, go to
see them, and stop your father from saying such dreadful things?"

"They are not my doors," she said, "and could you keep your father from
saying anything he chooses?"

I stood and blinked at her. Of course I wouldn't even dare try that.

"I'm so sorry," was all I could think to say.

I couldn't ask her to come to our house. I knew no one wanted her.
But if I couldn't speak for the others, surely I might for myself. I
let go the willows and went to the door. The Princess arose and sat on
the seat Laddie had made for the Queen's daughter. It was an awful
pity to tell her she shouldn't sit there, for I had my doubts if the
real, true Princess would be half as lovely when she came--if she ever
did. Some way the Princess, who was not a Princess, appeared so real,
I couldn't keep from becoming confused and forgetting that she was only
just Pamela Pryor. Already the lovely lights had gone from her face
until it made me so sad I wanted to cry, and I was no easy cry-baby
either. If I couldn't offer friendship for my family I would for
myself.

"You may call me Little Sister, if you like," I said. "I won't be a
stranger."

"Why how lovely!" cried the Princess.

You should have seen the dancing lights fly back to her eyes. Probably
you won't believe this, but the first thing I knew I was beside her on
the throne, her arm was around me, and it's the gospel truth that she
hugged me tight. I just had sense enough to reach over and pick
Laddie's letter from her fingers, and then I was on her side. I don't
know what she did to me, but all at once I knew that she was dreadfully
lonely; that she hated being a stranger; that she was sorry enough to
cry because their house was one of mystery, and that she would open the
door if she could.

"I like you," I said, rea