standing, with arms outstretched, and, without a
second's hesitation the child leaped off into space. She showed no
fright, for there was no cause for it, since she was caught fairly and
securely. Inasmuch as she had been fondled by every one, and the
parson had had her longer than anyone else, he set her down on the
floor and she began running here and there, displaying a childish
curiosity to understand everything in sight. Going to the half-opened
door, communicating with the darkened apartment at the rear, she
peeped timidly in.

"Who lives in dere?" she asked, turning around and addressing the
whole group who were laughingly watching her.

"That's where I live," replied Ortigies.

"Do you live all alone?"

"Yes, my child."

"Haven't you got any little girl like me?"

"No; I'd give all I have in the world if I had."

"Wouldn't you like to have me for your little girl?"

"Indeed I would; will you be my little girl?"

The baby face became thoughtful. She thrust one finger in the corner
of her mouth and looked down at the floor.

"What would papa do and those other folks? I will be the little girl
for all of you."

This struck the party as the brightest and wittiest expression ever
made by a mortal. They laughed, clapped their hands and striking each
other on the shoulder wanted to know whether anything of the like had
ever before been heard. Certainly not. Without paying any heed to
them, Nellie was peering into the room again.

"It's dark and cold," she said in an awed voice, turning her face
around, the better to communicate the information; "but I ain't
afraid."

Before she could fairly enter the place, her father, who was
affectionately watching her, said:

"I guess you would better not go in there, Nellie; it's growing late
and is time you prepared for bed."

"I'll fix a place for her," said Ortigies; "we ain't much on style
here, but I can manage to make her comfortable."

"But will it not discommode you?"

"That little gal can't discommode any one in New Constantinople; if
she would prefer to have me go out and sleep in the snow, I'll be glad
to do it."

"I've just the place for her," interposed Wade Ruggles; "couldn't be
better if I had taken a week to get it ready."

"Can't begin with my quarters," Felix Brush hastened to say, and there
would have been a general wrangle for the privilege of accommodating
the little one, had not her father, seeing how matters were going,
smilingly r