"Thank ye," she said, as she took the fan, and glanced at his pleasant
face.

Uncle Harry wished that she would speak again.

"I wish she'd give us some of her '_views_,'" he whispered to his wife,
"Arabella says she has plenty of them."

"Oh, Harry, hush, unless you want her to hear you."

"I wouldn't mind," he whispered, his blue eyes twinkling with merriment.

Just at that moment, the fairy queen seated herself upon her woodland
throne, and as the girls knelt before her, the red curtain rolled slowly
down, hiding the little stage.

The first act was finished, and now, in the few moments before the
curtain would rise, the buzz of voices whispered approval of the pretty
play.

Arabella's prim little aunt looked furtively toward her neighbor. He
smiled encouragingly, and she ventured to speak.

She was a little old lady and he was tall and stalwart; his handsome
face was youthful, and she wished him to know that she thought him a
mere boy.

"Young man, do you approve of this play-acting?" she asked.