Everychild

t house of the lighted window, that we

ense, old-fashioned

and creating ghostly shadows. Under the mantel, in the deepest shadows of

a grandfather's clock, ticking severely, as if it were dissatisfied with the way things were going in the house. There were a numb

in it. Moreover, there was a figure seated at the wooden table: the figure of a woman, who silently polished the spoons

strange hap

se and whiskers, and then it scrambled down the leg of the table and crossed the floor in the direction

e mouse disappeared amid the works of the cl

, slipping down across the face o

filling the room as with a gr

on the door opening to the highway. The door opened rather abr

ng there on the threshold. She glanced swiftly about the room and then she entered and clos

he was weary and frightened, and clad in the shabbiest old

ut coming home before one o'clock; and as a result her coach-and-four and her coachman had been

she advanced into the room, thrusting her arms upward and forward as if s

s. It was plain that in imagination she was seeing something far

er of it, the

ood craning her neck so that she could look into the room. She stood so an inst

on the skirt of one the ruffles had been bunched clum

Cinderella

to hear what Cinderella said; and now she rather

r of it!' The w

ng a glorious vision. Then, lowering her gaze and observing her

voice as she said to the first sister, "As if she had the sli

ster replied with a s

own before the fireplace, and the two sisters seated themselves on either side of her. None of

y overflowing with excitement. They glanced at each other across Cinderel

t is we who have seen the truly

nderella dream

not the half. You know we've been to the ba

ks in her hands. Her sisters could not see

ll," said the first sister. "Quite a strang

rcely wait to add, "The lov

after the other. Her eyes seemed to care

o-night. She came late, from nobody knew where in an equipage the

f a little. "Yes, I know

w?" demanded the se

to say, "I mean-tell

never describe her," she said. "Her eyes-they were

y!" cried Cin

"And her form-it was like a yo

you to tell me!"

y wait to say, "And her dress-

ds together with rapture.

air and cheeks-they were-they were like yours, poo

lasped. "Oh, much more beautifu

r knees and gazed dreamily into the fireplace. Her sisters stole pitying glance

, Cinderella, we should be very glad to have you go p

, "If it were the custom for the younger si

she said. "Maybe my turn will come when you've both g

her lips with her finger tips, changing the yawn into a smile. She advanced toward the door by

of us, Cinderella," she said. "I hope

amy mood. "Good-night," she called. And she

t. She fixed her gaze upon the door opening to the hi

imidly knockin

one had knocked. It was very late, and the house was in a lonely spot. Then s

tly and Everychild s