my head, in that blissful state between Sleeping and waking.

Now, as I lay, from the blue wreaths of my pipe I wove me fair
fancies:

And lo! the stairs were no longer deserted; there were fine
gentlemen, patched and powdered, in silks and satins, with
shoe-buckles that flashed in the sun; there were dainty ladies in
quilted petticoats and flowered gowns, with most wonderful
coiffures; and there was Lisbeth, fairer and daintier than them
all, and there, too, was I. And behold how demurely she
courtesied and smiled behind her ivory fan! With what a grace I
took a pinch of snuff! With what an air I ogled and bowed with
hand on heart! Then, somehow, it seemed we were alone, she on
the top stair, I on the lower. And standing thus I raised my
arms to her with an appealing gesture. Her eyes looked down into
mine, the patch quivered at the corner of her scarlet mouth, and
there beside it was the dimple. Beneath her petticoat I saw her
foot in a little pink satin shoe come slowly toward me and stop
again. I watched scarce breathing, for it seemed my fate hung in
the balance. Would she come down to Love and me, or -

"Ship ahoy!" cried a voice, and in that moment my dream vanished.
I sighed, and looking round, beheld a head peering eat me over
the balustrade; a head bound up in a bandanna handkerchief of
large pattern and vivid colouring.

"Why, Imp!" I exclaimed. But my surprise abated when he emerged
into full view.