My mother started to her feet; and opened the door. A young girl, with bonnet and cloak on, stood before us. I thought immediately of the fairy in the cotton-print dress; but no, it was not she who had thus mysteriously appeared. The girl looked at us in silence. 'You should have tapped on the counter, my dear,' said my mother. 'What for?' was the answer, in the most musical voice I had ever heard. 'I don't want to buy anything.' This was a puzzling rejoinder. If she did not want to buy anything, why was she here? 'This is Mr. Carey's? asked the girl. 'Yes, my dear.' 'Who are you?' Now this was so manifestly a question which should have come from us, and not from her, that I gazed at her in some wonder, and at the same time in admiration, for her manner was very winning. She returned my gaze frankly, and seemed to be pleased with my look of admiration. Certainly a perfectly self-possessed little creature in every respect. Uncle Bryan still slept. 'Who are you?' repeated our visitor, to my mother. 'My name is Carey,' said my mother. 'Oh, indeed!' exclaimed the girl. 'That is nice. And who is he?' indicating uncle Bryan. 'That is my brother-in-law, Bryan.' 'Mr. Bryan Carey. I've come to see him.' And she made a movement towards him. My mother's hand restrained her. 'Hush, my dear! You must not disturb him.' 'Oh, I am not in a hurry. But I think you ought to help me in with my box.' This to me. 'If I was a man, I wouldn't ask you.' Her box! Deeper and deeper the mystery grew. When the girl thus directly addressed me, my heart beat with a feeling of intense pleasure. Hitherto I had been mortified that she had evinced no interest in me. 'Come along!' she exclaimed imperiously. I followed her to the door, like a slave, and there was her box, almost similar in appearance to the box we had brought with us. It was altogether such an astounding experience, and so entirely an innovation upon the regular routine of our days, that I rubbed my eyes to be sure that I was awake. My mother had closed the door of the room in which uncle Bryan was sleeping, and now stood by my side. I stooped to lift the box, and found it heavy. 'What is in it?' I asked. 'Books and things,' our visitor replied. 'I'll help you. Oh, I'm strong, though I _am_ a girl! I wish I was you.' 'Why?' 'Then I should be a boy. There! You see I am almost as strong as you are.' The box was in the shop by this time. My mother was perfectly bewildered, as I myself was; but mine was a delightful bewilderment The adventure was so new, so novel, so like an adventure, that I was filled with excitement. 'How did the box come here?' I asked. 'Walked here, of course,' she said somewhat scornfully. 'Nonsense!' I exclaimed; although if she had persisted in her statement, I was quite ready to believe it, as I would have believed anything from her lips. 'Oh, you don't believe in things!' 'Yes, I do; but I don't believe that thing. How _did_ it come?'