'Good-night.'
'Jessie!' she called out archly.
'Good-night, Jessie. Now go to bed, like a good--little girl.'
And then the house was quiet, and I fell asleep, and dreamt the strangest and sweetest dreams about our new friend.
The following morning when I rose I moved about very quietly, and I debated with myself whether I ought to bid my mother good-morning as usual. I stole softly upstairs, and put my ear to the door.
'Good-morning, mother.'
I almost whispered the words, but the reply came instantly, in clear sweet tones,
'Good-morning, dear child.'
She must have been listening for my step.
Is that you, Chris?' inquired a voice which, if I had not known the speaker, I should have imagined had proceeded from a little child.