, for Miss Massey at the end of the room turned
her head and looked toward Suzanna's place. In a second her eyes might
fall on the white toes! Quickly Suzanna sank into a large velvet
armchair and drew her foot beneath her. Just in time, for Miss Massey
said: "Shall we play the game of 'Answers?' You know the game, Suzanna,
don't you?"

Suzanna moistened her lips: "I know it, Miss Massey, but I don't care to
play games, thank you." How could she move, since doing so would
necessitate putting confidence in Miss Massey? Telling her that once
discarded slippers too small even for Maizie had been made to do duty by
cutting the toes and lengthening with black ribbon, ribbon which in a
miserable moment failed in its work? But how eventually to extricate
herself from the miserable predicament? She could not sit forever on her
foot!

Other games were suggested and played by the children, but Suzanna
still sat in the big armchair, one long thin leg dangling, the other
bent under her. She grew fertile in excuses when asked to join the
others. She like to "watch," then she felt a little tired, until Miss
Massey at last sensing that something was wrong did no more urging.

Once little Maizie sought her sister. Why wouldn't Suzanna play? Was she
mad at something?

Suzanna gulped hard, then with manifest effort she whispered: "You know
where mother put the ribbon bag so my slippers would be long enough?
Well, my toe's stuck through the ribbon, and I mustn't move."

"Oh!" Maizie was sorry. "Can't you tell Miss Massey and let her fix it?"

Suzanna shrank back. "No, no," she cried. "You mustn't say anything, do
you hear, Maizie? Promise me."

Maizie solemnly promised. "Will the other one hold?" she asked then.

Thus the little Job's Comforter gave Suzanna food for unpleasant
questionings. Would, indeed, the other slipper hold?

Then said Miss Massey: "We are going into the garden, Suzanna. Would you
rather stay here till we return?" Her question was very gentle, her
understanding would have been very sure had Suzanna told her trouble.
But Suzanna only answered eagerly:

"Yes, I'd like to stay here." She was almost happy in the moment's
relief.

"If you wish to come later you can find us. Just ring this bell and Mrs.
Russell, the housekeeper, will take you to the South Garden," said Miss
Massey. She leaned down and touched Suzanna's face with her soft lips.
And then Suzanna was left alone.

Now what to do! Suzanna set her