Marion Cook Stow

“ The Child waited to hear no more. “What makes you ‘sigh like a furnace’?” she said. She had heard the Storyist quote Shakespeare with good effect.
The voice answered her; its tones were very sweet. “O, I didn’t know you were awake!” it said. “Is this where you always sleep?”
“Yes,” answered the Child. “Do you like it?”
[12]
“It’s very pretty,” said the voice. “It must be a relief to have a room small enough for convenience. Why, even this foot-board—”
“O, is that where you are?” asked the Child. “I’ve been looking all over but I couldn’t see you. Why, you’re Lady Arabella!” ”

“ As a matter of fact, you’re writing this story for yourself and not for Lady-Mother. And, candidly,” she added, “it’s nothing to be proud of. We’re not much of a success!”
It was blunt but the Child knew that it was true. She was silent for a time, then she said, “It would be a good deal of trouble to make you all over again and, anyway, I guess I don’t know enough—yet. You won’t mind if I don’t?” she inquired anxiously.
“Not a bit,” Arabella assured her.
The Child was getting sleepy and Arabella saw it. “Come,” she said to Sir Marmaduke. “We’re staying too long.” ”

“ She had heard Lady-Mother say at breakfast that it lacked but two weeks of Christmas, and she had not yet selected her Gift for Lady-Mother. She was so extremely particular about what it should be that it was difficult to decide upon anything.
[8]
Presently the Child had an idea; and the more she thought of it, the more splendid it seemed as a surprise for Lady-Mother. You see, little Dear-My-Love, she wasn’t old enough to be very wise and so sometimes she did rather queer things.
A few moments later she knocked at the door of the Storyist. ”