he was perfectly happy.

Cinderella stood regarding him, two finger tips pressed against her
cheek. "Have I--have I ever met you before?" she asked wonderingly.

He did not really reply to this. "I was beside the road with my
companions," he said. "We were lying down. I saw you hurry by. I
could tell something was the matter. I followed you. I hope you don't
mind!"

She regarded him dubiously. "You look like a very nice boy," she said.
"But it's fearfully late for you to be out or for me to ask you to come
in. Still----"

"Please let me come in," pleaded Everychild. "There's something I want
very much to ask you."

After a pause she said, "Well, yes, you may come in." She stood aside,
watching him with a whimsical smile as he advanced into the room.

He stopped in surprise when he saw the figure at the table, bending
over the spoons. It was the Masked Lady. She had put aside her
shepherdess's crook and had become a house-servant. But he was so full
of the thought of Cinderella that he paid little heed to the Masked
Lady.

He sat down in one of the chairs the sisters had occupied; and when
Cinderella followed and sat down by him he gazed at her intently.

"Tell me--what was it you wished to know?" asked Cinderella.