"It was merely a habit I had fallen into," said she. "You should never become a slave to a habit," replied the curly-headed Sailor-Lad. He spoke reprovingly, as he thought of his many heart-aches. She did not like to be reproved, so she changed the subject. "You made a mistake," she said. "Mademoiselle Cerise's dress is very pretty, but it is not _precisely_ like mine; the pattern is larger and a little louder, and the color is lighter and a little harsher." "Well, perhaps," said the Sailor-Lad. He spoke very cheerful now, he felt in such good spirits. * * * * * "I am very glad that the Sailor-Boy was happy at last," said the little girl. "I was afraid Belinda never meant to open her eyes." "It certainly looked like it at one time," answered the little Marionette. "However, it was all right in the end, for she opened them in time to prevent her Sailor-Boy's heart from breaking." "I wonder why she kept them closed so long." "I wonder," reflected the little Marionette. And she smiled. "Force of habit, I suppose, as she herself said," she remarked after a pause. "We all have our little ways. Now what sort of story would you like to-morrow?" The little girl thought deeply for a few moments. Then she said: "You have told me a story about a sailor, so I should like the next one to be about a soldier." "A soldier--a soldier--" the Marionette answered. "I don't think I know one about a soldier--Yes, stay; there is the story of the Officer and the Elephant. That is about a soldier." "An Officer and an Elephant! How nice!" exclaimed the little girl eagerly. "I am quite certain it must be very funny." "I don't think the Officer found it so," the little lady replied, giving a sweet, little tinkling laugh. "Didn't he?" asked her listener with much interest. "I wish you would tell me all about it now," she continued; "I want so much to hear it." "Not now," replied the little Marionette, "it is getting too late; all the animals in the Noah's Ark are fast asleep. Listen, they are snoring loudly. Come to-morrow at the same time. Be punctual, for the story is a long one." "Yes, I will," promised the little girl. CHAPTER IV The next day she was as good as her word, arriving to the very minute. It was the little Marionette who was not in time. It was quite five minutes before she tripped up the counter and greeted her little friend. The little girl looked at her with some reproach. "It is _you_ who are late, not I," she said. "Is it?" replied the little Marionette. "Well, I _am_ ashamed. However, here I am now, so I will begin at once to tell you my tale." And settling herself down, and smoothing out her beautiful brocade dress, she began without further ado, the story of: "The Officer and the Elephant." THE OFFICER & THE ELEPHANT