"Why,--Santa Claus will bring you a whole lot of nice--"

"I don't believe that;--he will be too busy with some other folks I
know, who--"

"No, he won't--I know he's going to bring you--Oh!" She suddenly took
one hand from Clark's eyes and clapped it over her mouth--but next
second replaced it.--"And besides, I'll give you a whole lot of kisses."

"Oh! yes, I know--the Princess with the Golden Locks, Santa Claus's
Partner--the sweetest little kitten in the world, and her name is--Kitty
Clark."

"Umhm--m!" And on a sudden, the arms were transferred from about the
forehead to the neck and the little girl, with her sunny head canted to
one side, was making good her promise of reward. Livingstone could hear
the kisses.

The next second they moved out of the line of reflection in
Livingstone's mirror. But he could still catch fragments of what they
said. Clark spoke too low to be heard; but now and then, Livingstone
could catch the little girl's words. Indeed, he could not help hearing
her.

"Oh! papa!" she exclaimed in a tone of disappointment, replying to
something her father had told her.

"But papa you _must_ come--You _promised_!"