"Cos, you're too long--and slim--an'"--

"Go on!" said she.

"--And tall!" said I.

"Ah, ha!" said she,--"and that's it, hey?"

And then she began to grow shorter and thicker, and fatter and
squattier.

"And how do I suit you now?" she wheezed at length, when she had
wilted down to about the size of a large loaf of bread.

I shook more violently than ever at the fearful spectacle.

"How do you like me now?" she yelped again,--"And don't you lie to me
neither, or I'll swaller you whole!"

I writhed and hid my face.

"Do you like me?"

"No-o-oh!" I moaned.

She made another snatch at my hair. I felt her jagged claws sink into
my very brain. I struggled and she laughed hideously.

"You don't, hey?"

"Yes, yes, I do. I love you!" said I.

"You lie! You lie!" She shrieked derisively. "You know you lie!" and
as I felt the iron talons sinking and gritting in my very brain, with
one wild, despairing effort, I awoke.

I saw the fire gleaming in the grate, and by the light it made I dimly
saw the outline of the old mantelpiece that straddled it, holding the
old clock high upon its shoulders. I was awake then, and the little
squatty woman with her iron talons was a dream! I felt an oily
gladness stealing over me, and yet I shuddered to be all alone.

If only some one were awake, I thought, whose blessed company would
drown all recollections of that fearful dream; but I dared not stir or
make a noise. I could only hear the ticking of the clock, and my
father's sullen snore. I tried to compose my thoughts to pleasant
themes, but that telescopic old woman in white would rise up and mock
my vain appeals, until in fancy I again saw her altitudinous
proportions dwindling into that repulsive and revengeful figure with
the iron claws, and I grew restless and attempted to sit up. Heavens!
something yet held me by the hair. The chill sweat that betokens
speedy dissolution gathered on my brow. I made another effort and
arose, that deadly clutch yet fastened in my hair. Could it be
possible! The short, white woman still held me in her vengeful grasp!
I could see her white dress showing from behind either of my ears. She
still clung to me, and with one wild, unearthly cry of "Pap!" I
started round the room.

I remember nothing further, until as the glowing morn sifted through
the maple at the window, powdering with gold the drear old room, and
baptizing with its radiance the anxious group of old home-faces
leaning ov