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 “Now come with me to the children. We shall see if they can notice any change,” she said, and taking the little girl’s hand, she led her away. Cornelli was extremely glad to enter the room at the mother’s side, for she would not have dared to go alone. When the door opened, she looked shyly at the floor.

Mux had already been waiting for his companion and now ran to meet her. “What have you done, Cornelli?” he cried out in sudden surprise. “Your forehead looks quite clean and neat, and you have shiny eyes like a canary bird, and you don’t look like an owl any more.”

“Why Cornelli! You are transformed!” Agnes exclaimed. “Just let me see you. Make a little room, Mux! No, I don’t know you anymore. It is fortunate you did it, for it is a pleasure to look at you now.”

“Your mother has done it,” Cornelli explained confusedly, for she was quite overcome at all these manifestations of joy.

Nika also glanced up at her. “You are a different child, Cornelli, and I do not see how you could ever have gotten the way you were.”

These words were said in such a charming