* * * * *
"Silly thing!" said a little wisehead.
"What a horrid story!" said one small girl with great eyes, who sat staring into the fire.
"I don't think it at all a nice story for supper, with those horrid spiders, too," said an older girl.
"Well, let us have a game and forget it," I said.
"No; that we shan't, I am sure," said one.
"I will tell our Amy. Won't it be fun?"
"She'll scream," said another.
"I'll tell her all the more."
"No, no; you mustn't be unkind," said I; "else you will never help little children against wicked giants. The giants will eat you too, then."