and drowsed on, half-remembering her dream of last night and wanting to enter it again.

The wish took her deeper into sleep again, and she was once more the lady of the house, welcoming her guests and seeing to their comfort.

She smiled happily in her sleep.

She went in turn to each of her guests, asking what she could do to make their stay in her home perfect. They all responded quite politely, and strangely enough, each of them requested the same thing -- something from the kitchen.

How odd, she thought as she rang her little bell that hung from the chatelaine's keyring at her belt. It should bring one of the parlourmaids in no time.

"Ah," she said, as a parlourmaid of unusual size drifted closer to her, eying her quizzically. "Please see to our guests, girl. And when you've done that, do hurry off to the kitchen and see that hot coffee and a breakfast buffet are made ready."

The huge parlormaid said nothing, did nothing, just stood there looking at her.

"Do run along, dear," Salome said a trifle impatiently. "We can't have our guests feeling that we're inhospitable."

Suddenly, the parlourmaid reached out with hamsized hands and grasped Salome by the shoulders, shaking her smartly.

"Stop that!" cried Salome. "What do you think you're doing? I'll have you..."

And Salome awoke with a start to find herself in the inn's common room and the proprietor shaking her like a ragdoll, repeating the same phrase over and over again.

"WAKE UP, GIRL!" he growled. "YOU'RE SLEEPWALKING!"

She looked at him wide-eyed, then burst into tears and threw her arms around his neck. "I'm awake now," she sobbed. "And I'm not 'girl'... my name is Salome."