But he said no more then, for Ran, who had lingered at the door over his last words with Judy, now kissed her good-night and went away, and the girl rejoined her friends in the little parlor. CHAPTER IX PALMA’S NEW FRIEND “I will leave you for half an hour to make your arrangements,” said Stuart to his wife; and he left the room and went downstairs and out upon the sidewalk to take the air. Judy had thrown herself into an easy-chair and stretched out her feet to the bright little fire. Palma pushed the small sofa back against the wall, and then went into the bedroom, from which she brought a cushion and a rug. When she had arranged the sofa into a couch she turned and looked at her guest. Judy was nodding. Palma went and laid her hand on the sleeper’s shoulder and gently aroused her, saying: “Whenever you wish to retire, dear, your room is ready.” “Oh! sure, I thank ye, ma’am. Any time as shutes yourself will shute me,” replied Judy with a wide gape, waking up. “Come, then,” said Palma, and she led the sleepy and half-bewildered girl into the pretty little bedchamber, where she had laid out a dainty night dress for her guest. Judy waked up fully in the process of disrobing, and then her hostess said: “To-morrow you shall have a better accommodation, but to-night you will share my room. I hope you won’t mind it.” “Och, no, ma’am. Sure and haven’t I been used to pigging in itself?” began Judy brightly, but she suddenly checked herself and amended her phraseology—“I mean, ma’am, I have been accustomed to close quarters in the mining camp, and this is a palace compared to any place I have ever seen before.” “It is a pretty little doll’s house as one could wish, for dolls,” replied Palma with a laugh. “Not quite spacious enough, however, for one who loves space.” “Which side am I to sleep on, ma’am?” inquired the girl when she was ready for bed. “Any side you wish, dear. But, Judy, please don’t call me ‘ma’am.’ If you do I shall be obliged to call you ‘miss,’ and I should not like that, and I do not think you would like it, either.” “Fegs and I wouldn’t! Oh! that is to say, no, ma’am, I should not. I should feel it to be cold and unkind of you.” “Very well, then, Judy dear, do as you would be done by.” “I will, ma’am,” said the girl, getting into bed and lying down on the side next to the wall and squeezing herself against it to take up as little room as possible, “and indeed, ma’am, since it displeases you, I will try to remember—never—to call—you ma’am—again.” The last word was scarcely audible, for as soon as Judy’s head dropped on the pillow her eyes closed and she fell fast asleep. Palma returned to the parlor, drew the easy-chair to the fire, and seated herself to wait for Stuart. He came in at length and dropped himself into the larger easy-chair by Palma’s side.