All of the children chorussed assent.

“Very well. Now it’s a long, long story, and if any of you go to sleep in the telling—”

“Oh, how could we?” breathed Marion.

“Very well, then. Come close, all of you.”

They drew in about him, their small, eager faces entranced at once. He smiled about the circle, touched a little head here and there, and then began his tale:

“Once upon a time—”

THE END