Page:The Floating Prince - Frank R Stockton.djvu/192

Rh fire, in the back room of the cottage, preparing her dinner, she heard a knock.

Springing to her feet, she dropped the pan she held in her hand, and made a dash at the front door, pulling it open with a tremendous fling. No one should go away this time.

"Hello! Ho! ho!" cried a person outside, giving a skip backwards. "Do you open doors by lightning here?"

"No, sir," said Loris; "but I didn't want to keep you waiting."

"I should think not," said the other; "why I had hardly begun to knock."

This visitor was a middle-sized man, very slight, and, at first sight, of a youthful appearance. But his hair was either powdered or gray, and it was difficult to know whether he was old or young. His face was long and smooth, and he nearly always looked as if he was just going to burst out laughing. He was dressed in a silken suit of light green, pink, pale yellow and sky blue, but all the colors were very much faded. On his head was stuck a tall orange-colored hat, with a lemon-colored feather.

"Is your father in ?" said this strange personage.

"No, sir," said Loris. "He will be here this evening, and I can give him any message you may leave for him."

"I haven't any message," said the other. "I want to see him."

"You can see him about sun-set," said Loris, "if you will come then."

"I don't want to come again. I think I'll wait," said the man.

Loris said, "very well," but she wondered what he would do all the afternoon. She brought out a stool for him to sit upon, for it was not very pleasant in the house, and there he sat for