Avrillia was too much interested to notice what Sara and Pirlaps were doing.  “Now, children,” she was saying kindly but severely, “I shall expect to find you better the next time I come.  No, you can’t have that bottle—­that’s for the Mumps.”

Sara found, as they left the house, that the Mumps were an old couple who lived only a few doors down the same street.  Old Mr. Mump had once made a fortune in the pickle-business; but he had had reverses, and was now very old and poor.

They found the old couple sitting in front of their rickety grate, with their jaws tied up in red flannel.  The old man evidently had a vicious temper, but he was plainly glad to see Avrillia.  The old lady was more mild and tearful; and both were overjoyed to get the medicine.

As they went out into the street again, Sara gave a sigh of relief; but Avrillia looked quite rapt and uplifted.

Sara was anxious to see if any mishap had overtaken Yassuh and the Baby; but when they had hurried back to the restaurant they found Yassuh still awake and the Baby still asleep.  Pirlaps took off the sticky paper and handed him, as clean as ever, back to Sara, who was very glad that she had not exposed him to those dreadful diseases.

They caught the scallop-shell boat, though they had to run for it, and they were quite quiet all the way home.  Avrillia sat by the rail, watching the gulls, and dreaming; and Sara strained her eyes for a long time to catch the last glimpse of the little magic, toy City of Zinariola.  She was still lost in memories when the boat scraped on the beach; and then they climbed the little path among the cliffs through the sunset.  As soon as they reached the house Pirlaps sat emphatically down on his step, remarking, “My, but it’s good to be at home!” But Avrillia hurried off to her balcony, murmuring absent-mindedly, “I must write a poem about streets!”

As for Sara, she sped along the little curly path in the dusk toward the ivory doors.  And there, in front of the dimple-holder, stood the Gunkus in livery, still bowing low, holding his left shoe in his right hand over his faithful heart.

Sara was much ashamed of having forgotten him, and she had no money with her; but she had a postage stamp in her pocket, from which the puppy had licked the mucilage.  This she gave him.

It was, in all other respects, a perfectly good stamp.  And the faithful Gunkus seemed much pleased.

Chapter VIII The Vale of Tears

Such a thing had never happened before, and how it happened this time I am at a loss to understand:  but when Sara entered the Garden on this particular morning her eyes were full of tears.  She had to fumble blindly around for her dimples, and when she did find them they were buried quite deep in her little wet cheeks.  She would have strayed right on into the Garden without removing them, except that as soon