Zodiac Stories (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899. Excerpt: ... door. Its bare feet made no noise on the carpet, and as it advanced and stood in the moonlight, it had a startlingly unreal look. Bobby, happening to be awake at the moment, but still drowsy, was about to call for Nurse, when the figure spoke. "Where's my servant?" it said in a distinct and imperative voice. "Are you Moti? I was 'fraid of you " answered Bobby. "What's the matter, and why do you go barefoot? Nurse scolds me if I do " "Where's my servant?" repeated the little girl; and receiving no reply from the bewildered Bobby, stamped her tiny foot on the floor. "Can't you speak?" she went on in an injured tone. "I should think you was deaf " "I don't know what you want," said Bobby. "You 're so funny, you know I think you'd better go back to bed, or they 'll punish you." To this friendly warning, Moti paid no attention, but raising her shrill treble, called at its loudest: "Dilal Dilal quickly " "Now you've done it " ejaculated her young cousin, and as the sound of hurrying steps came along the passage, he hid his head under the bedclothes. It was so hot there, however, that he was unable to bear it, and, hearing no sounds of scolding or grief, he ventured to look and see what had happened. In the bright moonbeams stood Dilal, Moti in his arms. He was talking to her in a soft, low tone, and in a language Bobby did not understand. Presently he carried her out of the room, and Bobby heard the murmur of the two voices in the room which had been arranged for the little girl across the hall. And then he fell asleep. "What was the matter with you last night?" he asked Moti in confidence after breakfast the following day. "Nothing, only I could n't go to sleep," replied his cousin. "Was that why you wanted your servant?" "Yes, I wanted him to tell me a sto...