Lady Arabel, ignoring Miss Ford by mistake, said to the witch: "Will you
come on Tuesday to tea or supper?"

"Supper, please," said the witch instantly. Tact, I repeat, was a
stranger to her, so she added: "I will bring Sarah Brown too. I bet you
twopence she hasn't had a decent meal for days."

And then the Mayor arrived. The witch saw at once that there was some
secret understanding between him and her that she did not understand.
Her magic escapades often left her in this position. However, she winked
back hopefully. But she was not a skilled winker. Everybody--even the
Dog David--saw her doing it, and Miss Ford looked a little offended.




CHAPTER III

THE EVERLASTING BOY


Mitten Island is a place of fine weather, its air is always like
stained glass between you and perfection. Always you will find in the
happy ways of Mitten Island a confidence that the worst is left behind,
and that even the worst was not so very bad. You can afford to remember
the winter, for even the winter was beautiful; you can smile in the sun
and think of the grey flush that used to overspread the island under its
urgent crises of snow, and it seems that always there was joy running
quickly behind the storms, joy looking with the sun through a tall