“Not that I haven’t had my little flirtations!” sighed the Elderly Spinster Spider, combing her spinnerettes, “but I always stopped before it came to eating the beasts. I think men-spiders taste horrid! I nibbled the leg of one I was rather fond of once, just to see!” After this heart-to-heart confession, the Elderly Spinster Spider sighed again, and her eyes grew dreamy. “I hear that gentlemen spiders are not your only suitors,” continued Tibbs; “wasn’t there once a golden-haired boy?” “Once?” exclaimed the Elderly Spinster Spider, “not once, but NOW! He is inside my den at this very moment, sound asleep.” “I can scarcely believe it!” cried Tibbs, hiding his relief. “Don’t you?” said the Elderly Spinster Spider, with a touch of her former severity; “then, pray walk in, and see for yourself.” Tibbs needed no second asking. The Spider’s den was a gruesome place--hung with the remains of flies and insects--and in a far corner lay Kiddiwee, fast asleep. The question was how to get him away from the old Spider. “I must get her out of the way,” he said to himself. Then, turning to the Elderly Spinster Spider, he said, “By Jove, you know, he looks very pale.” “Does he?” said the Spider, looking anxiously at Kiddiwee. “These boys are awfully thirsty little chaps, you know,” added Tibbs; “they want plenty of water.” [Illustration: “Don’t talk of husbands to me,” said the Elderly Spinster Spider.] “Dear, dear, and I haven’t a drain of water in the den!” cried the Spider. “I saw a dew-drop--a beauty--hanging from the next crevice as I came along,” said Tibbs. “I can’t climb for toffee, else I’d get it like a shot; it’s the very thing for a thirsty boy. But you, with your eight beautiful, long legs----” Before he had finished the sentence, the Elderly Spinster Spider--who was very good-hearted, as Spiders go--left the den in search of the dew-drop. As soon as her back was turned, Tibbs seized the sleeping form of Kiddiwee in his arms, rushed out of the den with him, and, running down the long crevice road at breakneck speed, was soon out of reach of the Elderly Spinster Spider. “Goodness gracious!” said Kiddiwee, waking up suddenly, and using one of Coppertop’s expressions--perhaps he had been dreaming of her--“Wherever am I? Why! it’s Tibbie. Oh, I am glad, I am!” and he threw his arms round his elder brother’s neck, and gave him a real big squeeze. “Stop that!” cried Tibbs. “Fellows don’t hug each other,” but he was pleased nevertheless. “’Es, but where’s Cece?” asked Kiddiwee, looking round anxiously, “and Miss Smiler?” “Celia’s gone to Japan,” explained Tibbs, briefly, “and Smiler has followed her. We’re going there also, if we can find the way!” “Ou! how lovely! I love going to Japan--I do!” exclaimed Kiddiwee, his fair little cheeks growing red as roses, with excitement, and his big, blue eyes sparkling like dew on a blue-bell. “But how are we to get there; we’re so hugely tiny?” “Don’t worry about that,” said a small voice.