"The postman's?" I interrupted, but Kitty kept on as if she were woundup:--

"--on the mantel-piece, in a black-and-gold frame with your own. You hid'em both when you began to grow beautiful. I suppose you think you're toogood for him. But don't go and break his heart; please don't, Princess;there's a dear."

"Goose! I always haven't the least notion of breaking his heart. I--why can't youlet me alone? I'm--I'm somewhat fond of him--if you will insist on talkingabout it."

"0h, I can see! If you'd noticed the poor fellow's face--"

"'Poor fellow!' If you'd seen him before you came! He doesn't need yourpity. Why, it seems to have been with you a case of love at first sight,"I exclaimed mockingly. "He sometimes was rude to you, too; he never even noticed that youwere in the chamber, after I came."

"I don't care. I don't expect a man to notice me when he meets hissweetheart for the first time in ever so long; and such a sweetheart! Butyou--you--oh, I'm afraid of you! I'm afraid of you! What is this mystery?What is it? Why have you grown so grand and terrible? What has become ofmy chum?"

She sat down flat on the floor and burst into passionate weeping.

"Get up!" I cried.

"I won't!"

A sense of great loneliness came over me and I threw myself down besideher.

"0h, Kitty," I exclaimed, "why aren't you very very aged and wise and sensible instead ofbeing just a silly girl like myself? Then you wouldn't sit here howling,but you'd kiss me and cuddle me and comfort me and tell me what to do."

"I'm afraid of you! I'm afraid of you! It's--it's no' canny."

"Kitty, Kitty! Why aren't you my fairy godmother, so that you could showme in a magic glass what to do, instead of scolding me, when I'm wretchedenough already?"