rion went on, in an undertone, "what
does she want here?"

"She came by stealth, in the boat," whispered the child. "She sent Anubis
from the treasurer's office to ask me if she might not come, she could
not do without me any longer, and she never did me any harm and so I said
yes--and then, when I knew it was your knock, whisk--off she went into
the bedroom."

"And if your grandmother were to come across her?"

"Then--well, then I do not know what would become of me! But oh! Orion,
if you only knew how--how. . . ." Two big tears rolled down her cheeks and
Orion understood her; he stroked her hair lovingly and said in a whisper,
glancing now and again at the door of the next room.

"But I came up on purpose to tell you something more about Paula. She
sends you her love, and she invites you to go to her and stay with her,
always. But you must keep it quite a secret and tell no one, not even
Eudoxia and Katharina; for I do not know myself how we can contrive to
get your grandmother's consent. At any rate we must set to work very
prudently and cautiously, do you understand? I have only taken you into
our confidence that you may look forward to it and have something to be
glad of at night, when you are such a silly little thing as to keep your
eyes open like the hares, instead of sleeping like a good child. If
things go well, you may be with Paula to-morrow perhaps--think of that! I
had quite given up all hope of managing it at all; but now, just now--is
it not odd--just within these two minutes I suddenly said to myself: 'It
will come all right!'--So it must be done somehow."

A flood of tears streamed down Mary's burning cheeks but, freely as they
flowed, she did not sob and her bosom did not heave. Nor did she speak,
but such pure and fervent gratitude and joy shone from her glistening
eyes that Orion felt his own grow moist. He was glad to find some way of
concealing his emotion when Mary seized his hand and, pressing a long
kiss on it, wetted it with her tears.

"See!" he exclaimed. "All wet! as if I had just taken it out of the
fountain."

But he said no more, for the bedroom door was suddenly thrown open and
Eudoxia's high, thin voice was heard saying:

"But why make any fuss? Mary will be enchanted! Here, Child, here is your
long-lost friend! Such a surprise!" And the water-wagtail, pushed forward
by no gentle hand, appeared within the doorway. Eudoxia was as radiant as
though she had achieved some heroic d