Here, sit down in this nice, easy chair, while we take turns telling you just how young you are." "It is due to my adopted children that I am not a cross, crotchety, complaining old woman," said Mrs.Gray, allowing Grace to seat her in the big leather-covered arm chair.
"Now, what does your Majesty crave of her loyal subjects ?" inquired Grace, bowing low before the little, old lady.
"Very well, if I am queen, then I must be obeyed.

Draw up your chairs and sit in a circle.

I want to tell you a little story.

That is partly my reason for inviting you here this afternoon, although you know you are welcome whenever you choose to come." "Is it a fairy story, dear Mrs.Gray, and does it begin with 'Once upon a time' ?" queried Jessica.
"It is a story of real life, my child, but I'll begin it like a fairy tale if you wish it." "Oh, please begin at once," said Grace, who, at eighteen, was as fond of a story as she had been at six.
"Well, 'once upon a time,' there were two sisters.

They were really only half sisters, and the one was almost twenty years older than the other.
The mother of the elder sister had died when she was about fifteen years of age, and two years later the father had married a beautiful young Irish girl of very good family, who loved him dearly in spite of the difference in their ages.
"After they had been married a little over two years, a little girl came to them, and the older sister loved the tiny baby as dearly as she loved her beautiful, young step-mother." "Why, that sounds very much like Grimm's fairy tales!" exclaimed Nora.
"Only the book people are all kings and queens, but this is even better because the heroine is actually Irish." There was a general laugh over Nora's remark in which Mrs.Gray joined.
"It's a case of Ireland forever, isn't it Nora ?" said Grace teasingly.
"'Fine and dandy are the Irish,'" said Nora with a grin, quoting from a popular song she had heard in a recent musical comedy.