But I DO wish she had been pretty . '' `` Well , '' said Felicity , with a glance at the clock , `` it 's all over , and it has been very interesting . But that clock has got to be put back to the right time some time through the day . I do n't want bedtime coming a whole half-hour before it ought to . '' In the afternoon , when Aunt Janet was over at Uncle Roger 's , seeing him and Aunt Olivia off to town , the clock was righted . The Story Girl and Peter came over to stay all night with us , and we made taffy in the kitchen , which the grown-ups kindly gave over to us for that purpose . `` Of course it was very interesting to see the old chest unpacked , '' said the Story Girl as she stirred the contents of a saucepan vigorously . `` But now that it is over I believe I am sorry that it is opened . It is n't mysterious any longer . We know all about it now , and we can never imagine what things are in it any more . '' `` It 's better to know than to imagine , '' said Felicity . `` Oh , no , it is n't , '' said the Story Girl quickly . `` When you know things you have to go by facts . But when you just dream about things there 's nothing to hold you down . '' `` You 're letting the taffy scorch , and THAT 'S a fact you 'd better go by , '' said Felicity sniffing . `` Have n't you got a nose ? '' When we went to bed , that wonderful white enchantress , the moon , was making an elf-land of the snow-misted world outside . From where I lay I could see the sharp tops of the spruces against the silvery sky . The frost was abroad , and the winds were still and the land lay in glamour . Across the hall , the Story Girl was telling Felicity and Cecily the old , old tale of Argive Helen and `` evil-hearted Paris . ''
`` But that 's a bad story , '' said XXXXX when the tale was ended .
Cecily Felicity Girl Janet Paris Peter Roger afternoon elf-land grown-ups