"Like me?" said Pussy.
"Like you—"
"And St. Nicholas said, 'Will you keep your pink slippers clean and your nice pink frock clean if I give you to a poor little girl?' and the Fluffy Ruffles doll said 'Yes,' so St. Nicholas looked and looked for a poor little girl, and at last he came to a window—with a red candle—"
The fat little hand was still and Pussy was breathing hard.
"With a red candle, and there was a little girl who—didn't have any doll—"
Pussy threw herself on him bodily. "Is it true? Is it true?" she shrieked.
Milly, a little flushed and excited by the story, tried to say sedately: "Of course it isn't true. It couldn't be—true—"
"Let's wish it to be true—" Ostrander said, "all three of us, with our eyes shut—"
With this ceremony completed the little girls were advised gravely to go to bed. "If Fluffy Ruffles and old St. Nick come by and find you up they won't stop—"
"Won't they?"