to go too."

"How come dat?" exclaimed Drusilla.

"It would take me too long to tell you," replied Mrs. Meadows. "Why
does your shadow in a looking-glass make every motion that you make?
Because it's obliged to--that's all. That's just the reason the other
black girl would follow you."

"Don't mind Drusilla," said Buster John. "She just talks to hear
herself talk. Her mouth flies open before she knows it."

"Well, the poor things won't trouble you long," said Mrs. Meadows.
"They'll want to go back home presently."

"Do they have to stay in the looking-glass?" inquired Buster John,
repeating a question he had already asked.

"Well, they were born and raised there," replied Mrs. Meadows. "It is
their home, and, although they are glad to get out for a little while,
they wouldn't be very happy if they had to stay out."

[Illustration: THEY ALL PLUNGED INTO THE LOOKING-GLASS]

The children and the Looking-Glass children played together a little
while, or made believe to play, but they didn't seem to enjoy
themselves. Mrs. Meadows noticed this and asked Mr. Rabbit the reason.

"Simple enough, simple enough," Mr. Rabbit answered. "They are so much
alike in their looks and ways and so different in their raising that
they can't get on together. How would I feel if my double were to walk
out of the side of the house and sit here facing me and mimicking my
every motion? I wouldn't feel very comfortable, I can tell you."

"I reckon not," said Mrs. Meadows. Presently she called the children,
brought out the looking-glass and told them it was time to bid the
others good-by. At this the other children seemed to be very well
pleased. The other Buster John and the other Sweetest Susan shook
hands all round, and the other Drusilla made a curtsey to the company.
Then, with a run and a jump, they plunged into the big looking-glass
as you have seen youngsters plunge into a pond of water.

"Ho!" cried Mr. Thimblefinger, "they jumped in with a splash, but they
never made a ripple."

"They haven't room enough in there to turn around," said Sweetest
Susan.

"Why not?" inquired Mr. Thimblefinger. "To them the world is a
looking-glass, and a mighty little one at that. If you were to peep in
their glass now they'd peep back at you; but, as they look at it, you
are in a looking-glass and they are out of it. And I wouldn't be
surprised if they are a great deal sorrier for you than you are for
them."

"When are we to go home?" asked