e sun went down, and the shadows came
creeping stealthily about her, and the moon began to rise, big and
yellow, over the up-land; but Anthea still sat there with her head, once
more resting wearily against "King Arthur," watching the deepening
shadows until she was roused by Small Porges' hand upon hers and his
voice saying:

"Why,--I do believe you're crying, Auntie Anthea, an' why are you
here--all alone, an' by yourself?"

"I was listening to the Black-bird, dear,--I never heard him sing quite
so--beautifully, before."

"But black-birds don't make people cry,--an' I know you've been
crying--'cause you sound--all quivery, you know."

"Do I, Georgy?"

"Yes,--is it 'cause you feel--lonely?"

"Yes dear."

"You've cried an awful lot, lately, Auntie Anthea."

"Have I, dear?"

"Yes,--an' it--worries me, you know."

"I'm afraid I've been a great responsibility to you, Georgy dear," said
she with a rueful little laugh.

"'Fraid you have; but I don' mind the 'sponsibility,--'I'll always take
care of you, you know!" nodded Small Porges, sitting down, the better to
get his arm protectingly about her, while Anthea stooped to kiss the top
of his curly head. "I promised my Uncle Porges I'd always take care of
you, an' so I will!"

"Yes, dear."

"Uncle Porges told me--"

"Never mind, dear,--don' let's talk of--him."

"Do you still--hate him, then, Auntie Anthea?"

"Hush, dear!--it's very wrong to--hate people."

"Yes, a course it is! Then--perhaps, if you don't hate him any more--you
like him a bit,--jest a--teeny bit, you know?"

"Why--there's the clock striking half-past eight, Georgy!"

"Yes, I hear it,--but--do you,--the teeniest bit? Oh! can't you like him
jest a bit--for my sake, Auntie Anthea? I'm always trying to please
you,--an' I found you the fortune, you know, so now I want you to please
me,--an' tell me you like him--for my sake."

"But--Oh Georgy dear!--you don't understand."

"--'cause you see," Small Porges, continued, "after all, I found him for
you--under a hedge, you know--"

"Ah!--why did you, Georgy dear? We were so happy--before--he came--"

"But you couldn't have been, you know; you weren't married--even then,
so you couldn't have been really happy, you know;" said Small Porges
shaking his head.

"Why Georgy--what do you mean?"

"Well, Uncle Porges told me that nobody can live happy--ever after,
unless they're married--first. So that was why I 'ranged for him to
marry you, s