"Then the new hat must go to him by all means," said Mallard. "We can't afford to start off with our sampan man in the pouts."
"No, indeed," assented Helen.
So the next day they sent Mr. Kit-ze a new hat, with expressions of regret at what had happened, and with the assurance that the other hat had been destroyed.
"For that is what he expects of us," Mr. Reid had said. "He drew the red chalk mark so as to confine the spirit within the hat, then left the hat for us to destroy, together with the spirit. All pure foolishness," he concluded, a little emphatically. "We'll just throw the hat aside."
"No, father," said Helen decisively, "we will burn it."
"And thus encourage Mr. Kit-ze in his silliness?" asked Clarence.
"In his superstition," corrected Mr. Reid.
"But it is all so real to him, poor man!" said Helen. And she continued, her eyes softening: "If it will make him feel better to know it is destroyed, isn't it worth while?"
"Yes," assented Mallard heartily, "it is. We'll burn the hat, my Helen. I'm sure uncle won't object."
"Oh, no," assented Mr. Reid. "If Helen wants to take the trouble, let her do it."