Her old fear had not left her. She fully
realized that she looked different from other children and that her
horns would get worse, till they could not be hidden any more. Then
everybody would think what Mux had thought, even if they did not say
it.
Next morning, when Cornelli had just gotten up, Mrs. Halm entered her
room. "Cornelli," she said, taking the child's hand, "you have made
us all so happy! You have done much for Dino by helping him to pass
many pleasant hours, and you have entertained my little restless Mux
so wonderfully that he can hardly live without you any more. I should
like to do something for you now; I should love to make you look festive
to-day and get rid forever of everything that disfigures you."
The mother had already begun to smooth out the child's thick hair.
"Oh no, oh no, please don't do it!" Cornelli cried out, "then everything
will be lost. I want to go home, oh, I must go home! Oh, they will all
laugh at me and they won't like me any more. Oh, you don't know how
it is.
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