Page:On the Hill-top (1919).pdf/29

 it sounds very nice to make believe that if I tried to get her to acknowledge it, it would be because I wanted the acknowledgement to do her good; but if I looked clear down inside of me, I'm pretty sure I'd find that it was really because I wanted my own vanity flattered, and wasn't worried about her being made better by it, at all."

The Dream laughed. "You seem to be using a spot-light on the inner side of yourself now and then, don't you? That's a good sign. Most folks think that spot-lights are just to light up other people, or else their own show-windows, and never think about turning them on the little dark personal cellars, and attics, and cubby-holes that they keep all shut up tight. I wonder why."

"I think it's because we're afraid of our cellars and attics and the things that may be shut up there," said Marjorie. "I've found a lot of ugly little objects lurking around in those places, and plenty of them wearing masks that you don't notice until you turn on the light. A spot-light gives you lots of surprises when once you learn to use it on yourself."

Just then the child, who had been walking with her head down and her lips very close together, looked up, first at the girl and then at Marjorie; and when she dropped her head again, her mouth was quivering. After awhile she spoke. "Some times," she said, "a trail looks all right when you first start out on it and the folks around you say that it is a good trail;—and then by-and-by you begin to wonder,—and then it gets worse and