Or have you been waving your paws for joy ever since?
I may have been unjust to you, Dragons." The blue dragons, as usual, refused to commit themselves; and, as usual, the gilt cherubs round the looking-glass were shocked at their rudeness, and tried to atone for it by smiling as hard as they possibly could.
"Such dear, sympathetic cherubs!" said the happy girl, bending forward to kiss one of them as she was brushing her hair.

"_You_ do not ramp and glower when one tells you that one's mother is coming home.

I know you are glad, you dear old things!" And then, suddenly, even while she was laughing at the cherubs, a thought struck her which sent a pang through her heart.

The cherubs would still smile, just the same, when she was gone! Ah! it was not all delight, this great news.

There was sorrow mingled with the rapture.
Her heart was with her parents, of course.