Tania shook her black head scornfully. “Oh, dear, no,” she answered. “It is only that I have to live with her now, while I am under the enchantment. Some day, when the wicked spell is broken, I shall go away, perhaps to a wonderful castle. My name is Titania. I think it means that I am the Queen of the Fairies.”
The woman laughed brutishly. “Queen of gutter, you are, Miss Tania. I’ll tan you,” she jeered, as she dragged the little girl from Madge’s arms.
The little captain looked despairingly about her. There, a calm witness of the entire scene, was a big New York policeman. “Officer,” commanded Madge indignantly, “make that woman leave that child alone.”
The big policeman looked sheepish. “I can’t do nothing with Sal,” he protested. “If I make her stop beating Tania now, she’ll only be meaner to her when she gets her indoors. Best leave ’em alone, I think. I have interfered, but the child says she don’t mind. I don’t think she does, somehow; she’s such a queer young ’un’.”
Sal was now engaged in shaking Tania as she pushed her along in front of her. Madge and Eleanor were in despair.
Suddenly a well-dressed young man appeared in the crowd. There was something oddly familiar in his appearance to Eleanor, but she failed to remember where she had seen him before. “Sal!” he called out sharply, “leave Tania alone!”
Instantly the woman obeyed him. She slunk back into her open doorway. The crowd melted as though by magic; they also recognized the young man’s authority. A moment later he was gone. Madge, Eleanor, and the strange little girl stood on the street corner almost alone.