o you could _both_ be happy, an' all revelry an' joy,--like
the fairy tale, you know."

"But, you see, we aren't in a fairy tale, dear, so I'm afraid we must
make the best of things as they are!" and here she sighed again, and
rose. "Come, Georgy, it's much later than I thought, and quite time you
were in bed, dear."

"All right, Auntie Anthea,--only--don't you think it's jest a bit--cruel
to send a boy to bed so very early, an' when the moon's so big, an'
everything looks so--frightfully fine? 'sides--"

"Well, what now?" she asked, a little wearily as, obedient to his
pleading gesture, she sat down again.

"Why, you haven't answered my question yet, you know."

"What question?" said she, not looking at him.

"'Bout my--Uncle Porges."

"But Georgy--I--"

"You do like him--jest a bit--don't you?--please?" Small Porges was
standing before her as he waited for her answer, but now, seeing how she
hesitated, and avoided his eyes, he put one small hand beneath the
dimple in her chin, so that she was forced to look at him.

"You do, please,--don't you?" he pleaded.

Anthea hesitated; but, after all,--_He_ was gone, and nobody could hear;
and Small Porges was so very small; and who could resist the entreaty in
his big, wistful eyes? surely not Anthea. Therefore, with a sudden
gesture of abandonment, she leaned forward in his embrace, and rested
her weary head against his manly, small shoulder:

"Yes!" she whispered.

"Jest as much as you like--Mr. Cassilis?" he whispered back.

"Yes!"

"A--bit more--jest a teeny bit more?"

"Yes!"

"A--lot more,--lots an' lots,--oceans more?"

"Yes!"

The word was spoken, and, having uttered it, Anthea grew suddenly hot
with shame, and mightily angry with herself, and would, straightway,
have given the world to have it unsaid; the more so, as she felt Small
Porges' clasp tighten joyfully, and, looking up, fancied she read
something like triumph in his look.

She drew away from him, rather hastily, and rose to her feet.

"Come!" said she, speaking now in a vastly different tone, "it must be
getting very late--"

"Yes, I s'pecks it'll soon be nine o'clock, now!" he nodded.

"Then you ought to be in bed, fast asleep instead of talking
such--nonsense, out here. So--come along--at once, sir!"

"But, can't I stay up--jest a little while? You see--"

"No!"

"You see, it's such a--magnif'cent night! It feels as though--things
might happen!"

"Don't be so silly!"