doing. On a low stand at David's side she had placed books and
pictures, and for a time she talked of those. Then very abruptly she
asked:--

"David, when will you see--Mr. Jack again--do you suppose?"

"Tomorrow. I'm going up to the House that Jack Built to tea, and I'm to
stay all night. It's Halloween--that is, it isn't really Halloween,
because it's too late. I lost that, being sick, you know. So we're
going to pretend, and Mr. Jack is going to show me what it is like.
That is what Mr. Jack and Jill always do; when something ails the real
thing, they just pretend with the make-believe one. He's planned lots
of things for Jill and me to do; with nuts and apples and candles, you
know. It's to-morrow night, so I'll see him then."

"To-morrow? So--so soon?" faltered Miss Holbrook. And to David, gazing
at her with wondering eyes, it seemed for a moment almost as if she
were looking about for a place to which she might run and hide. Then
determinedly, as if she were taking hold of something with both hands,
she leaned forward, looked David squarely in the eyes, and began to
talk hurriedly, yet very distinctly.

"David, listen. I've something I want you to say to Mr. Jack, and I
want you to be sure and get it just right. It's about the--the story,
'The Princess and the Pauper,' you know. You can remember, I think, for
you remembered that so well. Will you say it to him--what I'm going to
tell you--just as I say it?"

"Why, of course I will!" David's promise was unhesitating, though his
eyes were still puzzled.

"It's about the--the ending," stammered Miss Holbrook. "That is, it
may--it may have something to do with the ending--perhaps," she
finished lamely. And again David noticed that odd shifting of Miss
Holbrook's gaze as if she were searching for some means of escape.
Then, as before, he saw her chin lift determinedly, as she began to
talk faster than ever.

"Now, listen," she admonished him, earnestly.

And David listened.

CHAPTER XXIV

A STORY REMODELED

The pretended Halloween was a great success. So very excited, indeed,
did David become over the swinging apples and popping nuts that he
quite forgot to tell Mr. Jack what the Lady of the Roses had said until
Jill had gone up to bed and he himself was about to take from Mr.
Jack's hand the little lighted lamp.

"Oh, Mr. Jack, I forgot," he cried then. "There was something I was
going to tell you."

"Never mind to-night, David; it's so late. Sup