“Merope’s arm was around Little Bear, as he sat close beside her, and she drooped her head until her chin touched his sharp little ear and bent it over. “‘I wanted a new star,’ she said very softly. ‘Wait—I’ll tell you all about it. I thought you were ashamed of me, and I didn’t want to disgrace you; and I thought and thought until I made up my mind to go where they were made, and get a new one.’ “‘But how could you be gone from your place?’ asked Maia. ‘Don’t you know it’s been clear weather?’ “‘Yes,’ said Merope. ‘But I knew my star was so dull it wasn’t likely I’d be missed. I’m not very important.’ “‘Yes, you _are_—just as important as any of us,’ said Taygeta. “‘And we’ve been almost crazy, missing you,’ said Cassiopeia. ‘Even Major had the fidgets. I think our feelings ought to be considered.’ “‘I know it. I’m sorry now. I didn’t think of that.’ “‘But tell us what you did,’ said Orion. It seemed almost impossible to keep them to the subject. “‘I will. You know the place—off that way,’ and she pointed over the river. ‘I knew all I had to do was to keep going straight on until I came there. So I slipped off quietly, when you were all busy.’ “‘If I’d seen you start, you wouldn’t have gone,—unless I went too,’ said Hercules. ‘It wasn’t safe—a girl all alone.’ “‘But what happened? Did anything frighten you?’ “‘No. Only the dark, and cold.’ “‘_Dark!_ Was it really _dark_, Merope?’ “‘Well—I never heard anything like _that_!’ said Cassiopeia. (“The reason they were so astonished is because it never is dark in Starland. There is always the starlight.” The Princess answered the question the Others didn’t ask, except by looks. “Oh—h!” they murmured.) “‘Yes, it was,’ said Merope, ‘part of the time. Not at first. After I crossed the river I went straight on for a good while; it was about like this,’ she waved her hand. ‘It was all right until it was dark—’ Then she stopped talking just at the most interesting place. “‘Oh, go _on_, Merope!’ said Alcyone. ‘Where was it dark?’ “‘I don’t believe I can explain it. It came all at once—everywhere—as if I had walked off the edge—into the sea; only there wasn’t any sea. There wasn’t anything!’ “‘There was _you_, wasn’t there?’ asked Perseus. “‘Yes. But I knew there wouldn’t be, long.’ “‘I wish you would explain things as you go along,’ said Cassiopeia. “‘I’ll try,’ said Merope. ‘But it’s very perplexing. It was perfectly dark; you never saw any dark like it—’ “‘You can’t _see_ dark, ever,’ said Orion. ‘That’s what it is.’ “‘That’s what I meant. You couldn’t see it; even my own little stars were out’ (she glanced at her dress), ‘and it was cold—_deathly_! and not a sound—and I didn’t know which way anything was. I was just colder and colder, and still—and I knew, someway, I was going out.’ “‘Out where?’ asked Hercules. “‘Nowhere,’ said Merope. ‘Like a candle.’ “‘Goodness! Weren’t you frightened?’ asked Andromeda.