Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/207

190 Mrs. Vaughn came back after a time, she found them very well acquainted, and talking a droll mixture of their two languages, the mistakes they made leading to merry laughter.

Ellie was surprised to hear that it was time to go, and the boy's face darkened.

"We are coming again, if you would like to see us," said Mrs. Vaughn.

Bertrand's look left no doubt of his liking to see them, and he begged them to come every day. Mrs. Vaughn thought this would be too often; but very soon it became the rule.

"Bertrand will not be able to eat any dinner if I don't go to see him to-day, Mother;" Ellie would say. "He does n't feel hungry unless he has me to tell him a story before he has his food."

Mrs. Vaughn laughed at first at this fancy, but there was truth in it. The disappointment of waiting in vain for his