ll us."

"Who knows?" said Karen. "He isn't just like other people."

"Pooh! When there are four of us together----" No, they didn't want
to--so I suddenly threw the shop door wide open and then we had to go
in. Mr. Nibb came towards us bowing and bowing. We pushed Munda forward
again.

"Have you any white----" began Munda in a shaking voice. And then our
courage suddenly gave way and Karen, Mina, and I sprang to the door as
quick as lightning, slamming the door after us, and not stopping until
we were at the farther corner of the street. And then we saw that Munda
wasn't with us! Why in the world hadn't she come out? What was happening
to her? We rushed back and listened outside the shop door. Not a sound
was to be heard. Karen and Mina were both as white as chalk.

"It's all your fault," they whispered to me. "Who knows what danger
Munda is in?"

At that I was so frightened that I didn't know what I was doing, and I
threw the door open at once.

There sat Munda on a chair in the middle of the shop, holding a big
apple, and Mr. Nibb stood with his legs crossed, leaning against the
counter in a jaunty attitude and talking to her.

"Are there many dances in the town nowadays--young ladies?" asked Mr.
Nibb, turning to us, as we, pale as death, entered the shop.

No answer.

"Or engagements among the young people perhaps," he continued--polite to
the last degree.

"People live so quietly in this town;--one might call himself buried
alive here, so that a visit from four promising young beauties
is--ahem--an adventure!"

Dear me! how comical he was! None of us said a word. Suddenly Munda got
up.

"A thousand thanks," she said and curtsied--the apple in her hand.

"Thank you," we echoed, all curtseying; though really I haven't the
least idea what we were thanking him for!

"Ah--bah!" said Mr. Nibb waving his hand. "It is I who must thank you. I
am much indebted to the young ladies for this delightful call."

With this he opened the door, and came away out on the steps and bowed.

Oh, how we laughed when he had gone in and the door was shut again. We
laughed so we could scarcely stand.

"What did he do when you were alone, Munda?"

"He sprang after a chair," said Munda. "And then he sprang after an
apple--and then he stood himself there by the counter just as you saw
him and began to talk--oh! how frightened I was!"

"What did he say?"

"Ha ha! he--ha ha!--he asked me if I were engaged!"

"Ha ha ha!