"No," she said, "we're going to have a taxicab." Mrs. Ledley, coming from the kitchen, heard the words. "Faith! You shouldn't promise them such things, when you know it's impossible." She rebuked her daughter wearily. "You've got new shoes to buy out of your money this week, and there's the gas to pay...." Faith smiled and dimpled. The pendulum had swung the other way now, and she was hugging her secret to her breast delightedly. "I'm not going back to Heeler's any more," she said. "Not going back!" Mrs. Ledley stared at her helplessly for a moment; then she burst into tears. "I knew something had happened," she sobbed. "I knew you hadn't been yourself all this week. What have you done, Faith, that they've sent you away just when you were settling down so nicely?" "I haven't done anything," said Faith. "At least ... nothing you will mind. And I wasn't sent away. I left on my own account." Mrs. Ledley went on crying. She sobbed out that she wished she was dead, that she did not see what was the use of going on living. Faith went down on her knees beside her and the twins held hands and cried for sympathy. "There's nothing to cry for, mother," Faith urged, kissing her. "There's only something to be glad about. Such a wonderful thing has happened. It's like a...." Like a novelette, she had been going to add, but she remembered the way the Beggar Man had said that he did not like the expression, and changed it to "a fairy story" instead. She drew her mother's hands down from her face. "You'll be able to live happily ever after," she said excitedly. Her eyes shone like stars. "We're going to be rich--all of us. We can go away from London and live in the country. And the twins can go to a lovely school and have really pretty frocks. Oh, smile, darling, smile, and say you're glad!" Mrs. Ledley looked up. "I think you must be ill--or dreaming," she said with a sob. "What is the good of talking such nonsense, Faith? How do you think such things can ever come true?" Faith held out her left hand with its new wedding ring. "Because I've married a Fairy Prince," she said. Mrs. Ledley stared at the little ring for a moment in absolute silence, then she broke out tremblingly: "Faith! It's not true! You're just teasing me! It's just a joke! You couldn't have got married without telling me first! Why, there's nobody who would ask you!" She caught the girl by both shoulders and peered into her face. "Faith!" she urged again passionately. Faith laughed tremulously. Somehow she had not expected her news to be received so tragically; her old fears came surging back. Peg's words echoed once more in her ears. "What do you think he wants with a wife like you? With all his money he could have anybody he likes...." To drown the insistence of that voice she broke out into hurried explanations.