In the House of Many Windows which stands in a large city and is
sometimes called a "flat" by people who, because they are grown up, do
not know any better, live the Little Lady and the Story Teller.
The Little Lady is four years old, going on five, and is fond of
stories. This makes her and the Story Teller good friends. They mostly
sit in the firelight after supper, and while the Little Lady is being
undressed they tell each other all that has happened since morning. Then
the Little Lady looks into the fire and says:--
"Now, tell me a story."
Sometimes she wants a new story. Sometimes one of the old ones, which
must be told always the same, because the Little Lady, like a good many
grown up people, does not care for new and revised editions, but wants
the old stories in the old words, that sound real and true. Sometimes
the Story Teller forgets or improves on his plots, but the Little Lady
never forgets and never fails to set the Story Teller right.