"First it was just me," explained Everychild. "And then it was Hansel
and Grettel."

"Ah, those poor children!" exclaimed Cinderella. "I've heard how their
parents took them out into the woods to lose them. I'm surprised they
ever went back."

"They're not going back again. They're going with me. With me and the
giant and----"

"But where?" interrupted Cinderella.

"And you shall go with us," concluded Everychild. "That's what I
wanted to tell you. We're going to find the truth."

But this only brought a sad smile to Cinderella's lips. "Ah," she
said, "I wonder if it would be really wise to do that. Sometimes I
think our hearts never break until we know the whole truth."

Everychild could not understand this; and he was relieved when the
Masked Lady spoke. She was still polishing spoons slowly. Now she
said, without looking up, "Our hearts break when we know only half the
truth. They are healed when all the truth is known."

"Come, it will be great to have you go too," declared Everychild
urgently.

Cinderella slowly relaxed in her chair. She rested her chin in her
palm and gazed at the floor. Her eyes presently took in the fact that