shut down with a snap.
He was staring into the face of an utter stranger, about whom he knew
nothing and had no feelings particularly one way or another.

"I thought I knew you," he gasped, "but I've forgotten you again--and I
thought you were going to be a man, too."

"Jimbo!" cried the other, and in her voice was such unmistakable
tenderness and yearning that the boy knew at once beyond doubt that she
was his friend, "Jimbo!"

She knelt down on the floor beside him, so that her face was on a level
with his, and then opened both her arms to him. But though Jimbo was
glad to have found a friend who was going to help him, he felt no
particular desire to be embraced, and he stood obstinately where he was
with his back to the window.

The morning sunshine fell upon her features and touched the thick coils
of her hair with glory. It was not, strictly speaking, a pretty face,
but the look of real human tenderness there was very welcome and
comforting, and in the kind brown eyes there shone a strange light that
was not merely the reflection of the sunlight. The boy felt his heart
warm to her as he looked, but her expression puzzled him, and he would
not accept the invitation of her arms.

"Won't you come to me?" she said, her arms still outstretched.

"I want to know who you are, and what I'm doing here," he said. "I feel
so funny--so old and so young--and all mixed up. I can't make out who I
am a bit. What's that funny name you call me?"

"Jimbo is your name," she said softly.

"Then what's _your_ name?" he asked quickly.

"My name," she repeated slowly after a pause, "is not--as nice as yours.
Besides, you need not know my name--you might dislike it."

"But I must have something to call you," he persisted.

"But if I told you, and you disliked the name, you might dislike _me_
too," she said, still hesitating.

Jimbo saw the expression of sadness in her eyes, and it won his
confidence though he hardly knew why. He came up closer to her and put
his puzzled little face next to hers.

"I like you very much already," he whispered, "and if your name is a
horrid one I'll change it for you at once. Please tell me what it is."

She drew the boy to her and gave him a little hug, and he did not
resist. For a long time she did not answer. He felt vaguely that
something of dreadful importance hung about this revelation of her name.
He repeated his question, and at length she replied, speaking in a very
low voice, and wi