“I think I must go now,” said the little girl. “I promised my little cousin to have a game of nine-pins with her before bed-time.”
“Wait,” said the Marionette. “I have something to tell you. I think to-morrow evening will be the last time I shall be able to speak with you. My power of talking to a Mortal is going; it will not last after our next meeting.”
“Oh, I am sorry!” exclaimed the little girl. “I do not leave till two days after to-morrow, and I thought that you would be able to go on telling me stories up to the very last evening.”
The little Marionette shook her head.
“It will be impossible,” said she.
“And after to-morrow we shall not be able to talk to each other any more,” exclaimed the little girl. “Oh, how sad!”
“Never mind, even if we cannot talk we can remain good friends. The deepest friendship is often the quietest.”
“Then we can be very great friends indeed,” said the little girl with much affection. “I am so glad, dear!”
“I am going out to-morrow afternoon to see the pantomime, but I shall come here as early as I can,” she added as she went away. “Don’t you be late.”
“No, I won’t,” answered the Marionette.