The more she pondered, the more sad she became, for it seemed to her that all her plans had gone astray, and that she was no nearer finding the precious December day for which she had now searched the wide world over. The South Wind had helped her but little, the West Wind she had missed, the East Wind was enraged with them. Now there was only the North Wind left, and she was not at all certain where she could find him.
“I’m simply too miserable for words!” sighed the poor child. “Whatever can I do all alone, without Tibbs, or Kiddiwee, or even Miss Smiler to help me?”
“Wherever are they?” she cried aloud. “I do love them so! And perhaps I shall never see them again!” And the tears rolled down her cheeks at the very thought.
CHAPTER XXII.
TIBBS AND KIDDIWEE TO THE RESCUE.
“I DO wish you’d go away, or—or—move—or do something!” sobbed Coppertop. “You make me feel terrifikly nervous, standing there and saying nothing; just staring and staring, and leaning on that horrid, sharp sword!”
These words were addressed to a strange-looking person, who had been standing beside the Japanese Lantern for some time, silent, motionless, and mysterious.
He was dressed in the armour of a Samurai of old Japan, and leant upon a long and very sharp two-handed sword. His face was so stern and still that Coppertop could not decide if it really were his face or only a mask. And it made her feel most uncomfortable and nervous.
She had spoken to him several times, but he took not a bit of notice, which was extremely impolite, to say the least.