Klaus looked at me in astonishment.
"Well, but why in the world----" he began.
"Why am I here? Is that what you mean? Why, because I am a fool and an ass."
"Oh, no," remonstrated Klaus.
"Yes, I am--a complete ass. I wish all my friends were as good as you are, Klaus." Here I gave a glance towards the perfidious Arthur, who was strutting about among the guests with the parasol of the perfidious Emilie, while she had set his little straw-hat in a coquettish fashion on her curls.
"I am wanted below," said Klaus, with a friendly grin; "Good-by." And down the ladder he went.
"Was that a chimney-sweep?" asked a clear voice behind me.
I turned hastily round, rising from my seat. There stood a charming little lady of eight, in a little white frock with ribbons of cornflower blue at the shoulders and streaming from her straw-hat, whose great cornflower blue eyes first stared with intense curiosity at the hatchway through which my black friend had vanished, and then turned inquiringly to me.
At this moment the hatch was raised again, and Klaus's head emerged--"Shall I really get you a slice?"
"Oh, mercy!" cried the little lady. Klaus vanished instantaneously, and the hatch shut down with a bang.