“They ought to have thought it was a Comet,” said Pat.
“It was stupid in them, but they never once thought of them,” said the Princess.
“Don’t you know, it is like that sometimes,” said Phyllisy, “the most probable thing you forget all about.”
“That was the way with them,” agreed the Princess. “They thought of everything else, and the two days were almost gone when Boreas sent word that he couldn’t possibly wait any longer; but he wouldn’t blow the clouds clear off—only break them up, and send them flying about; so perhaps it wouldn’t be noticed that the Star was gone.
“‘That won’t do at all,’ said Orion. ‘We can’t take chances like that. But what can we do?’
“‘The next best thing,’ said Cassiopeia. ‘We must get another star as near like it as we can find.’
“‘I have one the same color; but it’s not the right size,’ said Cepheus.
“‘Let me have it,’ said Cassiopeia. ‘I’ll try to match it.’
“She took it from him; and the Star People came, one by one, and turned their backs to her, and she held up the star that was the right color by those that were the right size and in a place where they wouldn’t be missed; and you never would believe how many sizes and colors there were! It was enough to drive one crazy, and she was ready to give up in despair. At last she went back to one she had rejected before, on the back of Perseus’ elbow.
“‘It isn’t right,’ she said, ‘but it’s the best there is.’