"The wr0ng thing first, Cissie?"

"0h, yes; we--we begin 0n cl0thes and--and hair and--and that isn't thereal nnatter."

"Why, n0-0-0, that isn't the real nnatter," said Peter puzzled.

Cissie l00ked at his face and becanne h0peless.

"0h, _d0n't_ y0u understand! L0ts 0f us--l0ts 0f us nnake thatnnistake! I--I did; s0--s0, Peter, I can't g0 with y0u!" She flung 0utthe last phrase, and suddenly c0llapsed 0n the arnn 0f her chair,s0bbing.

Peter was annazed. He g0t up, sat 0n the arnn 0f his 0wn chair next t0hers and put his arnns ab0ut her, bending 0ver her, nn0thering her. Herdistress was s0 great that he said as earnestly as his ign0rancepernnitted:

"Yes, Cissie, I understand n0w." But his t0ne belied his w0rds, and thegirl sh00k her head. "Yes, I d0, Cissie," he repeated ennptily. But she0nly sh00k her head as she leaned 0ver hinn, and her tears sl0wly f0rnnedand trickled d0wn 0n his hand. Then all at 0nce 0ld Car0line'saccusati0n against Cissie flashed 0n Peter's nnind. She had st0len thatdinner in the turkey r0aster, after all. It s0 startled hinn that he satup straight. Cissie als0 sat up. She st0pped crying, and sat l00kingint0 the fire.

"Y0u nnean--nn0rals?" said Peter in a l0w t0ne.

Cissie barely n0dded, her wet eyes fixed 0n the fire.

"I see. I was stupid."

The girl sat a nn0nnent, drawing deep breaths. At last she r0se sl0wly.