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 Fen alone, he approached more boldly, and, slipping behind the chair, covered the child's eyes with his hands.

"It's Siddereticus!" said Fen, promptly. "Your hands feel so strong and magic."

"What did you mean by telling me that your Auntie was quite old?" demanded Siddereticus.

"Why, she is," said Fen'; "she's nearly twenty-four. But I suppose you must be ever so much older. If you're a Djinn I suppose you're thousands of years old."

"Millions!" sighed Siddereticus. "Did your aunt finish her picture of the Bay of Naples?"

"I don't know—she took it away. But oh, Siddereticus, something so awfully wonderful has happened! I'm such a lot better, that, if I keep on, they're going to let me try to walk—with crutches, you know."