Everychild

o him that he had gone a very great distance when he heard voices by the roadside. The

t bounded, because he recognized them. He had ofte

id they are all gone, Grettel, and we sha

to seem really friendly. "You are Hansel and Grettel. Your parents lost you

"You are Hansel

yes. "It is true," they replied in unison. "But to t

et and trousers of the same stuff, the trousers being very floppy about the ankles. "I am Everychild," he said.

I'd like to go home until

evere rebuke. "Our poor father and mother!" she exclaimed. "No doubt they thought we should

You're looking for the crumbs you dropped, so you'd find the way hom

eyes more round than ever. "

he night before. Anyway, it's no use your trying to go back. Even if you found the way, the same thing would happen again. Your father made a great mistake when he agreed

uriosity at once. "

d seemed to him that he knew very well where he was going. Even now he felt that the a

him. "He has set forth on a q

She seemed to be smiling to herself, as if she had thought of something wh

r. The mask she wore really did give her a very strange appearance. Sti

el somewhere. Now she carried the crook of a shepherdess. One hand rested lightly on the limb of a tree. And there were sheep not far away. Some were lying on t

to see you here,"

queer smile about her lips, "I am very

hes. He was looking at nothing whatever save a note-book which he carried in his hand, and he was scribbling intently. Occasionally he lifted

aid Everychild. "Is he som

ith the note-book. Then she replied lightly-"Oh-him! That's Mr. Literal. No, he doesn't

. Literal. "I don't like his looks at all," h

ind of boy who is forever tagging along-when you want to go anywhere, I mean? Who is forever disagreeing with you,

is head. "You mean

hat the word?" she asked. "Well, I've no doubt it's as good as

ith a smug smile. "That word snitch," he said. "It's entirely out of place, you know-after you've once introduced Aladdin and

lmly: "The race of giants

he began to scribble again, and while he did so he wandered away. You'd have said

hat he had asked Hansel and Grettel to go along with him. Then he heard Grettel s

It would sound more interesting to me if he

a linen cap shaped somewhat like a sunbonnet. She turned to her brother and spoke with a good deal of emphasis. "Anyway, it's plain you'll not find any sausages growing on the trees. For my part, I'd rather go somewhere. Especially since we've

ed. "That's just like a girl. The only noise that bo

s were really too much. She seeme

ou. Only, you'll have to let Grettel go along too and you

ild. "As for something happening, it migh

r hands in ecstacy. "What

en't seen him do anything great," he said. "N

turning back. I think he speaks very sensibly." And she came forward with

nsive voice, exclaimed-"Grettel! Don't you know you'r

w! Don't you see that if we're not going back we'll have to make rules for ourselves from now on? I'v

Females!" he said. "That's why you have to sit on them. They're like kites.

y she began to pluck at her skirt and pat her hair and look at him out of a corner of her eye. He said

ould have thought it very m

to what she had said, "And you'll notice they didn't put any b

well be going," she said. "Hansel never has a decent word to say. When he's hungry he growls; and when he