"No, they are not meant to," said Laura, in some haste, fearing he might be disposed to cut one.
"I was in China once, and saw all the men with pigtails—how do you think I would look with one?"
"Queer," answered Laura, still fearing he might covet Kathie's beautiful hair.
"Not at all queer," said the elf, angrily, stamping his foot and hitching his rabbit-skin from shoulder to shoulder.
A bright thought just then came to Kathie, but fearing to speak to the Herb Elf, she whispered it to Laura.
"Oh, Mr. Elf," said Laura, "Kathie thinks you would be grand with a great long Chinese queue, and she says she is sure she could make one for you."
At this the elf looked greatly pleased, and cut a very curious caper.
"But," continued Laura, "she needs some flax to make it of, for her dark brown hair would not be at all becoming to you."
The elf frowned at this, and asked, "Why not?"
"Oh, it would be really ridiculous; instead of looking like a Chinese mandarin, a splendid, elegant Chinese, you would be exactly like an ugly old Indian who had scalped somebody—indeed, it would not be nice," said Laura, very earnestly, so afraid was she that the elf would insist upon having one of Kathie's beautiful braids. "But if you would get us some lovely yellow flax, Kathie would plait it, and we would fasten it on for you, and then you would find my staff for me, and we would be your friends forever."