“And they couldn’t hunt for her when it was clear,” said Phyllisy.
“No. They could only stand still and brood over it for two endless nights.
“The third night came, cloudless still. The daylight grew dim until it was nearly gone, and one after another, each star glimmered in its place. When——
“Who was it?—coming—far down the Sky?
“The Star People neither spoke nor stirred while Merope came swiftly and slipped into her place just as the last gleam of daylight faded away. And if that didn’t show how faithful and obedient they were, what could?”
“They had to keep all their questions in them,” said Pat.
“Yes, for a while. But about midnight thick clouds spread across the sky; and then Merope might have answered twenty questions at once, if she had had so many mouths.
“‘Where have you been?’ and ‘Why did you go?’
“‘Has anything hurt you?’
“‘Didn’t you know we would worry?’ That was Cassiopeia.