Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-03
THE
FIRST SECRETARY

whistles, and then he finds out what he wants. "
And does it help you out OF your Difficult
ties, too?" Madame Mavrocorthato asked, hard
put to keep straight face at Xenys philos-
ophy.
YES" Xeny said simply. =" | was puzzled
about the names. Ten daughters at once to
name is something. You know, mdnfdn, have
often heard you say that when kalliopy came
YOU were at the end of all the grandmothers
and aunts, and you had to let the godmothers
and you said that long before the bird came
and told you, SO that you could have every
thing ready and keep the window of your bed
room open. Now these ten daughters came all
at once, and quite suddenly
but you have not told me yet whether
whistling helped you"
Indeed it didi' Xeny cried. while was
whistng my eyes fell on that picture Xeny
pointed to the wall where there was fresco
of the nine muses. PLAYING around Apollo
"You mean the first and prettiest Oh,
that l had before. l shall name her after
Hanum Rhasneh, because she is going to make
me some more clothes for them. Will you let
me go to see her to-day, mdnndn, since we are to
leave for Pera in a few days?" Xenys arms
were around her mother pleadingly.
Eyes, you may" Madame Mavrocorthato
answered, patting the child's head and I'M
suspecting the deep diplomacy that had led
up to the request.
So that afternoon, Xeny, escorted by maid,
carrying all her newly acquired daughters, ap-
peared in Rhasneh's sitting room, with her
rubber ball in her hand.
Here, Xeny said, as soon as the maid had
left them here is letter from Mr.. Weir, and
he is well, and"
But Rhasneh after breathless embrace of
her little visitor, had seized the ball and
rushed into her bed ROOM where she had torn
it to pieces in her haste to get at its con-
tents. Presently she came dancing back to
where Xeny was composedly undressing her
dolls
"Oh, YOU adorable child" she cried, catch
ing her up and hugging and kissing her.
Xeny, who was not fond of being kissed, en-
dured the test like Spartan, COMPRISING her
lips and squeezing up her eyes. Nevertheless,
when the Paroxysm was over she politely
kissed only your letter and not me-"
Rhasneh laughed at the reproof, and sat
down on the floor beside the child. did he
kiss my letter." she exclaimed.
YES. but he said he would rather kiss you-
But you needn't hug me again" she protested
as Rhasneh impulsively grabbed her.
You will come tomorrow to get my answer
for Monsieur Weir, will you not?"
"Why do you not write it now, the way he
wrote his?" Xeny asked g will help you"
mo, Xeny, you do not know, unless you
are old like me. 1t is better to wait whole
day before answering letter-then he will
value it more highly"
"Then ought Monsieur Weir to have waited
whole day, too, so that you would value it
more highly?" Xeny asked, worried lest she
had failed to advise her big friend wisely.
"Oh, no, that is quite different. The more
quickner he answers. the better it is. But
with me, / must not seem too hasty. Always
it should be like that You will understand it
most well when you are old, like me-"
"Oh!" Xeny exclaimed She was uncon-
WINGED, yet did not like to show that her under
standing was Juvenile and therefore acqui-
esced, storing Rhasneh's words away for future
rumination.
II Ia nort S,nIn