And this Dan confessed to me, but most assuredly he did not confess it to Hulda. As he stood here, staring into the glowing dark depths of Zetta's eyes, it occurred to him that he should release her. But he did not. Instead, he caught her in his arms. Lifted her up. Not, to be wholly truthful, because scientifically he wanted to test her weight. Rather was it because, at touching her, an instant of madness swept him. It passed. She was pushing him away, smiling, startled, but unafraid. And, with the madness gone, he tossed her into the air as one would toss a child. Caught her; tossed her again to the ceiling and let her fall, to land lightly on tiptoe as her feet came down to the straw matting of the floor. And in the doorway, he became aware that Hulda was standing, silently watching them. When father arrived at the Cains' he weighed Zetta. Had she been a normal girl of earth, by her appearance she would have weighed some ninety or a hundred pounds. Zetta weighed eighteen pounds! There were several scientists in Porto Rico who, at father's invitation, came to see Zetta. They were with her hours each day. Dan and Hulda were excluded. Father's manner, Dan said, was very solemn, and he seemed to be laboring under a suppressed excitement. Then came the news of March 2, that invaders from Xenephrene had landed on the earth near New York. The scientists at the Cains' house hastened to San Juan, but father remained. One afternoon--it was the afternoon of March 4--Hulda and Dan listened at the door when father was with Zetta. She was talking to him now! Talking in low, slow tones; haltingly, and often he would question and prompt her. Abruptly he rose to his feet and came out. "Hulda! Dan, where are your father and mother?" Dan called them; they came hustling in. The excitement of these days was too much for the elder Cains; they lived in a constant confusion and bewilderment. "Sit down, all of you," father commanded. "Zetta--come out here, child." She came at his call, wide-eyed, gentle; but she, too, was trembling with excitement. Father seated her gently on a cushion. He said: "Our earth lashed into turmoil by this extraordinary change of climate, is far worse off than that. These invaders--well, what Zetta has to say will at least give us information--aid us in doing what we can to repel them! It is a bad condition--it may prove serious--possibly complete disaster!" He regarded Zetta with a gentle tenderness. "This girl has come from her world to help us. Yes, she has learned our language, with what strange qualities of mind, and senses so different from ours you will be amazed to hear. A very gentle little creature. I think all of you have grown to love her--she says you have been very kind to her, and she loves you very much, particularly Hulda."