"It's a strange name. Some parents have queer fancies. You are the first moon child who has ever come back. How you have grown, to be sure; I shouldn't have known you!" When she heard Monica's errand and had refreshed her memory as to where she lived, she remarked with surprise, "We've had an order for one to be sent to your address to-day. We always forward to customers' houses. But people never come and fetch them. It's a most unheard-of proceeding!" added the little lady with a toss of her pretty head. "Where's your check?"
A tiny figure, no bigger than Monica's doll
"Cheque? Have I got to buy it? I've just spent all my money on a new doll," said Monica, her eyes filling with tears, "and now I might have bought the new baby instead!"
"We're on the check system here," said the little lady, smiling. "Come with me and I'll show you round, then you'll see what nonsense you're talking."
Monica brightened up, and they proceeded down a trim gravel path that had a moonstone wall on either side and a big door at the end.
"Who are you, please?" asked Monica as they went along.
"Where you come from, clever people call me Selene. Here, I am the Gardeness.—Your pass check," she added in a business-like way. "To Order or Bearer—which do you want?" The child hesitated. "You want to order a baby, I suppose?" The Gardeness was becoming rather impatient.
"Oh yes, I've come to fetch it."