"an' they look so red an'--"

"Of course you believe in fairies, don't you, Princess?" enquired
Ravenslee rather hurriedly.

"Oh, yes, Prince, I often see them in my dreams. They just wait till I'm
asleep, an' then they come an' show themselves. Do you ever see any?"

"Well, your highness, I fancy I have lately, and when fairies are
around, things are sure to happen; wishes get the habit of coming true.
So, little Princess, just go on wishing and dreaming and--watch out!"

Then Ravenslee turned and followed Hermione out upon the dingy landing;
but as he climbed the stair, there went with him the memory of a little
face, very thin and pale, but radiant and all aglow with rapturous hope.
Silently as they had come they mounted the stairs, until, reaching the
topmost landing, they paused as by mutual consent.

"Poor little Hazel!" said Hermione very gently, "if only there were real
fairies to spirit her away to where the air is sweet and pure and
flowers grow for little hands to gather--the doctor told me it was her
only chance."

"Why, then of course she must have her chance!" said Ravenslee with a
sleepy nod.

"But, Mr. Geoffrey--how?"

"Well--er--the fairies--you said something about fairies spiriting--"

"The fairies!" said Hermione a little bitterly, "I guess they are too
busy over their own affairs to trouble about a poor, little, sick child;
besides, what fairy could possibly live five minutes in--Mulligan's?"

"Which leaves us," said Ravenslee thoughtfully, "which leaves us the
beautiful City of Perhaps. It is a wonderful thought, that!"

"But only a thought!" she sighed.

"Is it? Are you quite sure?"

"Well, isn't it?" she questioned wistfully.

"No!" he answered gravely, "the City of Perhaps is very, very real."

"What do you mean?"

Once again their hands touched in the shadow, but this time his fingers
closed upon her hand, the hand that held the medicine bottle, drawing
her nearer in the dimness of that dingy landing.

"I mean," he answered, "that for every one of us there is a City of
Perhaps waiting to open its gates to our coming, and I am sure we shall
reach it sooner or later, all three of us--the Princess and you and
I--yes, even I, when I have done something worth while. And then,
Hermione, then--nothing shall keep me from--my heart's delight--nothing,
Hermione!" As he ended, she felt an arm about her in the dimness; an arm
fierce and strong that gripped and swept her close--then, as