"My slippers," said the child, and Nan could see that she had been crying.
"She has lost her slippers," said Nan to Mercedes. "Let us help her look for them. I wonder if that is why she has been crying."
Mercedes put some questions. "It is not that," she told Nan, "but she had to walk the tight rope, which is really a wire, without them, and it cut her poor little feet badly."
"Dear me!" Nan was all sympathy and rushed off to tell the tale to Mr. Pinckney, who, as usual, was moved to a better condition by a poultice of money. He slipped a gold piece into the child's hand and she went off happily, since she had now more than enough to make good the loss of the slippers.
"Rather an expensive performance for you, grandfather," said Miss Dolores smiling.
"Not so very," he replied, "when you consider what we pay for opera in New York, and this was much more of a novelty."
"That is just like you, Mr. St. Nick," said Mary Lee. "You play Santa Claus all the year round."
The time flew by till there were but three days left. One of these was given to Covadonga which all were eager to see.
"I love the story of Pelayo," Miss Dolores told the girls.
"Who was Pelayo, anyhow?" asked Mary Lee.