THE BOOK OF BETTY BARBER.
“It is Half-term,” said Thirteen-fourteenths, who had climbed into the tree, “and he is helping somebody along—a girl. She does seem tired. I’ll go and help too.” And the Fraction jumped down from the tree and bounded away to meet the boy.
“Perhaps I had better go, too,” began the Major.
But Minora pulled his coat.
“Look,” she said, “there are three of them coming down the other path. Don’t leave me alone. Who are they?”
The Major turned round, to see the three holiday fairies coming through the wood.
“Capital,” cried the Major, “the very three people we want to see—the Holiday Fairies!”
“They don’t look as if they were out for a holiday,” said Minora, as the three fairies were not jumping and skipping, and laughing and joking, as usual, but walking solemnly and soberly.
“Something has happened,” said the Major; “they were so cheerful the last time I saw them.”
“They don’t look any more cheerful than the other three,” said Minora, as Half-term and the Fraction appeared, helping a girl who seemed scarcely able to walk. “If this is a Conference, I don’t think it is much fun. Flats and Sharps are jolly compared with these six dreary, dismal
“Hush, Minora,” said Major C.
“Let her rest against the tree,” said Half-term. ‘She told me she wanted to get to the tree.”
Minora and the Major moved away, and the girl sank on the ground and shut her eyes. ‘
Half-term looked up, saw the fairies, and beckoned to them.
“There,” he said, pointing to the girl, “do you see who it is?”
Easter looked at the girl and shook her head. Summer seemed puzzled; but Christmas bent over the girl, and then started back with a cry of horror.
“Easter, Summer,” she cried, “it can’t be.” And then in a whisper she added, “It is the B. of a C. of a P. G.”
