"Now, Pollypod," said Felix, holding up his finger to denote that she was to give him all her attention, "I'm going to tell you something. I'm a wizard." "A wiz-ard," repeated Pollypod thoughtfully; and then said, with a sharp look at Felix, "I want to know!" "What a wizard is! So you shall, little one. A wizard can see things, and tell things before they occur." "Can he!" exclaimed Pollypod, her blue eyes dilating. "Can you see and tell anything now?" "Yes." "What?" "I can see a little girl lying in bed, looking at the roses on the wall." "That's me," said Pollypod, in a tone of infinite content. "Who's in the room with the little girl? Not father!" "No; not father, because father comes home so late." "And the little girl is asleep before he comes home." "Fast asleep, Pollypod. But there's some one else in the room--mother is there, working." "That's right! that's right!" cried Pollypod, twining her fingers together in her excitement. "You _are_ a wizard!" "The little girl is lying with her eyes open, looking at the roses. She fixes her eyes upon one, and it changes. Lips come--like Lily's; eyes come, bright--like Lily's. Presently Lily's face is in the rose, smiling at the little girl. But the face fades----" "Does it?" whispered Pollypod anxiously. "And in its place a Doll appears----" "Yes! yes!" "And the little girl falls asleep and dreams of it, and holds it in her arms. And while she dreams, I see a ship coming over the seas----" "Father's ship!" cried Pollypod in ecstacy. "No; another ship." "O!" sighed Pollypod, drooping. "Here it comes sailing--sailing--sailing; and the waves are curling--curling--curling; and the captain is bowing--bowing--bowing; and the stars are shining--shining--shining into the waters, lighting them up with smiles! But what is this I see on the ship? A Doll!" "Doll!" cried Pollypod, reviving. "For the little girl?" "Yes, for the little girl. The little girl's Doll! Pollypod's Doll! And as sure as we sit here talking, the captain, if he's alive, will bring it home before the week's out." In a very flutter of delight Pollypod jumped to her feet, and clasped her hands. "You mustn't be frightened of me, Pollypod," said Felix, sharing in Pollypod's delight; "I'm a good wizard." "I know that! I know that!" said the little maid, almost in a whisper. "But I want to know! Is She beautiful?" "Yes, she is beautiful," replied Felix, dwelling long on each syllable. "And has she got blue eyes?" "The bluest in the world." "And a pink face?" "As pink as this rose, Pollypod." "And red lips?" "Red as cherries." "And what is She dressed in?" "Blue silk, with a large sash behind, and mauve boots, and the loveliest bonnet that ever was made."