her hair was very long and light, and hung in two smooth braids, with
a neat blue bow on the end of each, down her back.

[Illustration: LETITIA STOOD BEFORE UNCLE JACK.]

Uncle Jack gazed inquiringly at her through his half-closed eyes.
"What is it, Letitia?"

"Aunt Malvina said 'as black as Toby,'" said Letitia with a look half
of inquiry, half of anxious abstraction. What Letitia could find out
herself she never asked other people.

"Yes; I know she did," replied uncle Jack.

"Then she said, 'Dark as Pokonoket.'"

"Yes; she said that too."

"And then she said, 'Crazy as a loon.'"

"Yes; she did."

"Uncle Jack, what is Toby, and what is Pokonoket, and what is a loon?"

"Toby," said uncle Jack slowly and impressively, "lives in Pokonoket,
and keeps a loon."

"Oh!" said Letitia, in a tone which implied that she was both relieved
and amazed at her own stupidity.