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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32867-8.txt b/32867-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f00bcf3 --- /dev/null +++ b/32867-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5387 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mopsa the Fairy, by Jean Ingelow + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mopsa the Fairy + +Author: Jean Ingelow + +Release Date: June 18, 2010 [EBook #32867] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOPSA THE FAIRY *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Katherine Ward, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +MOPSA THE FAIRY + +BY JEAN INGELOW + +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Boston +Little, Brown, and Company +1919 + + +Author's Edition. + + + + +DEDICATED TO MY DEAR LITTLE COUSIN JANE HOLLWAY. + + +[Illustration: THE ENCHANTED BAY. + +"Look at those five grand ones with high prows: they were part of the +Spanish Armada."--PAGE 16.] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + CHAP. PAGE + I. Above the Clouds. 1 + II. Captain Jack. 14 + III. Winding-Up Time. 23 + IV. Bees and Other Fellow-Creatures. 42 + V. The Parrot in His Shawl. 60 + VI. The Town With Nobody in It. 80 + VII. Half-A-Crown. 91 + VIII. A Story. 106 + IX. After The Party. 121 + X. Mopsa Learns Her Letters. 133 + XI. Good-Morning, Sister. 146 + XII. They Run Away From Old Mother Fate. 158 + XIII. Melon Seeds. 174 + XIV. Reeds and Rushes. 187 + XV. The Queen's Wand. 199 + XVI. Failure. 219 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + The Enchanted Bay. Frontispiece + Jack's New Friend. 82 + Jack's Slave. 98 + A Story. 107 + The Queen. 114 + The Apple Woman. 156 + They Run Away From Old Mother Fate. 162 + The Queen's Farewell. 234 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ABOVE THE CLOUDS. + + "And can this be my own world? + 'Tis all gold and snow, + Save where scarlet waves are hurled + Down yon gulf below." + "'Tis thy world, 'tis my world, + City, mead, and shore, + For he that hath his own world + Hath many worlds more." + + +A boy, whom I knew very well, was once going through a meadow, which +was full of buttercups. The nurse and his baby sister were with him; +and when they got to an old hawthorn, which grew in the hedge and was +covered with blossom, they all sat down in its shade, and the nurse +took out three slices of plum-cake, gave one to each of the children, +and kept one for herself. + +While the boy was eating, he observed that this hedge was very high +and thick, and that there was a great hollow in the trunk of the old +thorn-tree, and he heard a twittering, as if there was a nest +somewhere inside; so he thrust his head in, twisted himself round, and +looked up. + +It was a very great thorn-tree, and the hollow was so large that two +or three boys could have stood upright in it; and when he got used to +the dim light in that brown, still place, he saw that a good way above +his head there was a nest,--rather a curious one, too, for it was as +large as a pair of blackbirds would have built,--and yet it was made +of fine white wool and delicate bits of moss; in short, it was like a +goldfinch's nest magnified three times. + +Just then he thought he heard some little voices cry, "Jack! Jack!" +His baby sister was asleep, and the nurse was reading a story-book, so +it could not have been either of them who called. "I must get in +here," said the boy. "I wish this hole was larger." So he began to +wriggle and twist himself through, and just as he pulled in his last +foot, he looked up, and three heads which had been peeping over the +edge of the nest suddenly popped down again. + +"Those heads had no beaks, I am sure," said Jack, and he stood on +tiptoe and poked in one of his fingers. "And the things have no +feathers," he continued; so, the hollow being rather rugged, he +managed to climb up and look in. + +His eyes were not used yet to the dim light; but he was sure those +things were not birds,--no. He poked them, and they took no notice; +but when he snatched one of them out of the nest, it gave a loud +squeak, and said, "O don't, Jack!" as plainly as possible, upon which +he was so frightened that he lost his footing, dropped the thing, and +slipped down himself. Luckily, he was not hurt, nor the thing either; +he could see it quite plainly now: it was creeping about like rather +an old baby, and had on a little frock and pinafore. + +"It's a fairy!" exclaimed Jack to himself. "How curious! and this must +be a fairy's nest. Oh, how angry the old mother will be if this little +thing creeps away and gets out of the hole!" So he looked down. "Oh, +the hole is on the other side," he said; and he turned round, but the +hole was not on the other side; it was not on any side; it must have +closed up all on a sudden, while he was looking into the nest, for, +look whichever way he would, there was no hole at all, excepting a +very little one high up over the nest, which let in a very small +sunbeam. + +Jack was very much astonished, but he went on eating his cake, and was +so delighted to see the young fairy climb up the side of the hollow +and scramble again into her nest, that he laughed heartily; upon which +all the nestlings popped up their heads, and, showing their pretty +white teeth, pointed at the slice of cake. + +"Well," said Jack, "I may have to stay inside here for a long time, +and I have nothing to eat but this cake; however, your mouths are very +small, so you shall have a piece;" and he broke off a small piece, and +put it into the nest, climbing up to see them eat it. + +These young fairies were a long time dividing and munching the cake, +and before they had finished, it began to be rather dark, for a black +cloud came over and covered the little sunbeam. At the same time the +wind rose, and rocked the boughs, and made the old tree creak and +tremble. Then there was thunder and rain, and the little fairies were +so frightened that they got out of the nest and crept into Jack's +pockets. One got into each waistcoat pocket, and the other two were +very comfortable, for he took out his handkerchief and made room for +them in the pocket of his jacket. + +It got darker and darker, till at last Jack could only just see the +hole, and it seemed to be a very long way off. Every time he looked at +it, it was farther off, and at last he saw a thin crescent moon +shining through it. + +"I am sure it cannot be night yet," he said; and he took out one of +the fattest of the young fairies, and held it up towards the hole. + +"Look at that," said he; "what is to be done now? the hole is so far +off that it's night up there, and down here I haven't done eating my +lunch." + +"Well," answered the young fairy, "then why don't you whistle?" + +Jack was surprised to hear her speak in this sensible manner, and in +the light of the moon he looked at her very attentively. + +"When first I saw you in the nest," said he, "you had a pinafore on, +and now you have a smart little apron, with lace round it." + +"That is because I am much older now," said the fairy; "we never take +such a long time to grow up as you do." + +"But your pinafore?" said Jack. + +"Turned into an apron, of course," replied the fairy, "just as your +velvet jacket will turn into a tail-coat when you are old enough." + +"It won't," said Jack. + +"Yes it will," answered the fairy, with an air of superior wisdom. +"Don't argue with me; I am older now than you are,--nearly grown up, +in fact. Put me into your pocket again, and whistle as loudly as you +can." + +Jack laughed, put her in, and pulled out another. "Worse and worse," +he said; "why, this was a boy fairy, and now he has a mustache and a +sword, and looks as fierce as possible!" + +"I think I heard my sister tell you to whistle?" said this fairy, very +sternly. + +"Yes, she did," said Jack. "Well, I suppose I had better do it." So he +whistled very loudly indeed. + +"Why did you leave off so soon?" said another of them, peeping out. + +"Why, if you wish to know," answered Jack, "it was because I thought +something took hold of my legs." + +"Ridiculous child!" cried the last of the four, "how do you think you +are ever to get out, if she doesn't take hold of your legs?" + +Jack thought he would rather have done a long-division sum than have +been obliged to whistle; but he could not help doing it when they told +him, and he felt something take hold of his legs again, and then give +him a jerk, which hoisted him on to its back, where he sat astride, +and wondered whether the thing was a pony; but it was not, for he +presently observed that it had a very slender neck, and then that it +was covered with feathers. It was a large bird, and he presently found +that they were rising towards the hole, which had become so very far +off, and in a few minutes she dashed through the hole, with Jack on +her back and all the fairies in his pockets. + +It was so dark that he could see nothing, and he twined his arms round +the bird's neck, to hold on, upon which this agreeable fowl told him +not to be afraid, and said she hoped he was comfortable. + +"I should be more comfortable," replied Jack, "if I knew how I could +get home again. I don't wish to go home just yet, for I want to see +where we are flying to, but papa and mamma will be frightened if I +never do." + +"Oh no," replied the albatross (for she was an albatross), "you need +not be at all afraid about that. When boys go to Fairyland, their +parents never are uneasy about them." + +"Really?" exclaimed Jack. + +"Quite true," replied the albatross. + +"And so we are going to Fairyland?" exclaimed Jack; "how delightful!" + +"Yes," said the albatross; "the back way, mind; we are only going the +back way. You could go in two minutes by the usual route; but these +young fairies want to go before they are summoned, and therefore you +and I are taking them." And she continued to fly on in the dark sky +for a very long time. + +"They seem to be all fast asleep," said Jack. + +"Perhaps they will sleep till we come to the wonderful river," +replied the albatross; and just then she flew with a great bump +against something that met her in the air. + +"What craft is this that hangs out no light?" said a gruff voice. + +"I might ask the same question of you," answered the albatross, +sullenly. + +"I'm only a poor Will-o'-the-wisp," replied the voice, "and you know +very well that I have but a lantern to show." Thereupon a lantern +became visible, and Jack saw by the light of it a man, who looked old +and tired, and he was so transparent that you could see through him, +lantern and all. + +"I hope I have not hurt you, William," said the albatross; "I will +light up immediately. Good-night." + +"Good-night," answered the Will-o'-the-wisp. "I am going down as fast +as I can; the storm blew me up, and I am never easy excepting in my +native swamps." + +Jack might have taken more notice of Will, if the albatross had not +begun to light up. She did it in this way. First, one of her eyes +began to gleam with a beautiful green light, which cast its rays far +and near, and then, when it was as bright as a lamp, the other eye +began to shine, and the light of that eye was red. In short, she was +lighted up just like a vessel at sea. + +Jack was so happy that he hardly knew which to look at first, there +really were so many remarkable things. + +"They snore," said the albatross, "they are very fast asleep, and +before they wake I should like to talk to you a little." + +She meant that the fairies snored, and so they did, in Jack's +pockets. + +"My name," continued the albatross, "is Jenny. Do you think you shall +remember that? because, when you are in Fairyland and want some one to +take you home again, and call 'Jenny,' I shall be able to come to you; +and I shall come with pleasure, for I like boys better than fairies." + +"Thank you," said Jack. "Oh yes, I shall remember your name, it is +such a very easy one." + +"If it is in the night that you want me, just look up," continued the +albatross, "and you will see a green and a red spark moving in the +air; you will then call Jenny, and I will come; but remember that I +cannot come unless you do call me." + +"Very well," said Jack; but he was not attending, because there was so +much to be seen. + +In the first place, all the stars excepting a few large ones were +gone, and they looked frightened; and as it got lighter, one after the +other seemed to give a little start in the blue sky and go out. And +then Jack looked down and saw, as he thought, a great country, covered +with very jagged snow mountains with astonishingly sharp peaks. Here +and there he saw a very deep lake,--at least he thought it was a lake; +but while he was admiring the mountains, there came an enormous crack +between two of the largest, and he saw the sun come rolling up among +them, and it seemed to be almost smothered. + +"Why, those are clouds!" exclaimed Jack; "and O how rosy they have all +turned! I thought they were mountains." + +"Yes, they are clouds," said the albatross; and then they turned gold +color; and next they began to plunge and tumble, and every one of the +peaks put on a glittering crown; and next they broke themselves to +pieces, and began to drift away. In fact, Jack had been out all night, +and now it was morning. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +CAPTAIN JACK. + + "It has been our lot to sail with many captains, not one + of whom is fit to be a patch on your back."--_Letter of + the Ship's Company of H. M. S. S. Royalist to Captain W. + T. Bate._ + + +All this time the albatross kept dropping down and down like a stone, +till Jack was quite out of breath, and they fell or flew, whichever +you like to call it, straight through one of the great chasms which he +had thought were lakes, and he looked down, as he sat on the bird's +back, to see what the world is like when you hang a good way above it +at sunrise. + +It was a very beautiful sight; the sheep and lambs were still fast +asleep on the green hills, and the sea-birds were asleep in long rows +upon the ledges of the cliffs, with their heads under their wings. + +"Are those young fairies awake yet?" asked the albatross. + +"As sound asleep as ever," answered Jack; "but, Albatross, is not that +the sea which lies under us? You are a sea-bird, I know, but I am not +a sea boy, and I cannot live in the water." + +"Yes, that is the sea," answered the albatross. "Don't you observe +that it is covered with ships?" + +"I see boats and vessels," answered Jack, "and all their sails are +set, but they cannot sail, because there is no wind." + +"The wind never does blow in this great bay," said the bird; "and +those ships would all lie there becalmed till they dropped to pieces +if one of them was not wanted now and then to go up the wonderful +river." + +"But how did they come there?" asked Jack. + +"Some of them had captains who ill-used their cabin-boys, some were +pirate ships, and others were going out on evil errands. The +consequence was, that when they chanced to sail within this great bay +they got becalmed; the fairies came and picked all the sailors out and +threw them into the water; they then took away the flags and pennons +to make their best coats of, threw the ship-biscuits and other +provisions to the fishes, and set all the sails. Many ships which are +supposed by men to have foundered lie becalmed in this quiet sea. Look +at those five grand ones with high prows; they are moored close +together; they were part of the Spanish Armada: and those open boats +with blue sails belonged to the Romans; they sailed with Cæsar when he +invaded Britain." + +By this time the albatross was hovering about among the vessels, +making choice of one to take Jack and the fairies up the wonderful +river. + +"It must not be a large one," she said, "for the river in some places +is very shallow." + +Jack would have liked very much to have a fine three-master, all to +himself; but then he considered that he did not know anything about +sails and rigging; he thought it would be just as well to be +contented with whatever the albatross might choose, so he let her set +him down in a beautiful little open boat, with a great carved +figure-head to it. There he seated himself in great state, and the +albatross perched herself on the next bench, and faced him. + +"You remember my name?" asked the albatross. + +"Oh yes," said Jack; but he was not attending,--he was thinking what a +fine thing it was to have such a curious boat all to himself. + +"That's well," answered the bird; "then, in the next place, are those +fairies awake yet?" + +"No, they are not," said Jack; and he took them out of his pockets, +and laid them down in a row before the albatross. + +"They are certainly asleep," said the bird. "Put them away again, and +take great care of them. Mind you don't lose any of them, for I really +don't know what will happen if you do. Now I have one thing more to +say to you, and that is, are you hungry?" + +"Rather," said Jack. + +"Then," replied the albatross, "as soon as you feel _very_ hungry, lie +down in the bottom of the boat and go to sleep. You will dream that +you see before you a roasted fowl, some new potatoes, and an +apple-pie. Mind you don't eat too much in your dream, or you will be +sorry for it when you wake. That is all. Good-by! I must go." + +Jack put his arms round the neck of the bird, and hugged her; then she +spread her magnificent wings and sailed slowly away. At first he felt +very lonely, but in a few minutes he forgot that, because the little +boat began to swim so fast. + +She was not sailing, for she had no sail, and he was not rowing, for +he had no oars; so I am obliged to call her motion swimming, because I +don't know of a better word. In less than a quarter of an hour they +passed close under the bows of a splendid three-decker, a seventy-gun +ship. The gannets who live in those parts had taken possession of +her, and she was so covered with nests that you could not have walked +one step on her deck without treading on them. The father birds were +aloft in the rigging, or swimming in the warm, green sea, and they +made such a clamor when they saw Jack that they nearly woke the +fairies,--nearly, but not quite, for the little things turned round in +Jack's pockets, and sneezed, and began to snore again. + +Then the boat swam past a fine brig. Some sea fairies had just flung +her cargo overboard, and were playing at leap-frog on deck. These were +not at all like Jack's own fairies; they were about the same height +and size as himself, and they had brown faces, and red flannel shirts +and red caps on. A large fleet of the pearly nautilus was collected +close under the vessel's lee. The little creatures were feasting on +what the sea fairies had thrown overboard, and Jack's boat, in its +eagerness to get on, went plunging through them so roughly that +several were capsized. Upon this the brown sea fairies looked over, +and called out angrily, "Boat ahoy!" and the boat stopped. + +"Tell that boat of yours to mind what she is about," said the fairy +sea-captain to Jack. + +Jack touched his hat, and said, "Yes, sir," and then called out to his +boat, "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, running down these little +live fishing-vessels so carelessly. Go at a more gentle pace." + +So it swam more slowly; and Jack, being by this time hungry, curled +himself up in the bottom of the boat, and fell asleep. + +He dreamt directly about a fowl and some potatoes, and he ate a wing, +and then he ate a merry-thought, and then somebody said to him that he +had better not eat any more, but he did,--he ate another wing; and +presently an apple-pie came, and he ate some of that, and then he ate +some more, and then he immediately woke. + +"Now that bird told me not to eat too much," said Jack, "and yet I +have done it. I never felt so full in my life;" and for more than +half an hour he scarcely noticed anything. + +At last he lifted up his head, and saw straight before him two great +brown cliffs, and between them flowed in the wonderful river. Other +rivers flow out, but this river flowed in, and took with it far into +the land dolphins, sword-fish, mullet, sun-fish, and many other +strange creatures; and that is one reason why it was called the magic +river, or the wonderful river. + +At first it was rather wide, and Jack was alarmed to see what +multitudes of soldiers stood on either side to guard the banks, and +prevent any person from landing. + +He wondered how he should get the fairies on shore. However, in about +an hour the river became much narrower, and then Jack saw that the +guards were not real soldiers, but rose-colored flamingoes. There they +stood, in long regiments, among the reeds, and never stirred. They are +the only foot-soldiers the fairies have in their pay; they are very +fierce, and never allow anything but a fairy ship to come up the +river. + +They guarded the banks for miles and miles, many thousands of them, +standing a little way into the water among the flags and rushes; but +at last there were no more reeds and no soldier guards, for the stream +became narrower, and flowed between such steep rocks that no one could +possibly have climbed them. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +WINDING-UP TIME. + + "Wake, baillie, wake! the crafts are out; + Wake!" said the knight, "be quick! + For high street, bye street, over the town + They fight with poker and stick." + Said the squire, "A fight so fell was ne'er + In all thy bailliewick." + What said the old clock in the tower? + "Tick, tick, tick!" + + "Wake, daughter, wake! the hour draws on; + Wake!" quoth the dame, "be quick! + The meats are set, the guests are coming, + The fiddler waxing his stick." + She said, "The bridegroom waiting and waiting + To see thy face is sick." + What said the new clock in her bower? + "Tick, tick, tick!" + + +Jack looked at these hot, brown rocks, first on the left bank and then +on the right, till he was quite tired; but at last the shore on the +right bank became flat, and he saw a beautiful little bay, where the +water was still, and where grass grew down to the brink. + +He was so much pleased at this change, that he cried out hastily, "Oh +how I wish my boat would swim into that bay and let me land!" He had +no sooner spoken than the boat altered her course, as if somebody had +been steering her, and began to make for the bay as fast as she could +go. + +"How odd!" thought Jack. "I wonder whether I ought to have spoken; for +the boat certainly did not intend to come into this bay. However, I +think I will let her alone now, for I certainly do wish very much to +land here." + +As they drew towards the strand, the water got so shallow that you +could see crabs and lobsters walking about at the bottom. At last the +boat's keel grated on the pebbles; and just as Jack began to think of +jumping on shore, he saw two little old women approaching, and gently +driving a white horse before them. + +The horse had panniers, one on each side; and when his feet were in +the water he stood still; and Jack said to one of the old women,--"Will +you be so kind as to tell me whether this is Fairyland?" + +"What does he say?" asked one old woman of the other. + +"I asked if this was Fairyland?" repeated Jack, for he thought the +first old woman might have been deaf. She was very handsomely +dressed in a red satin gown, and did not look in the least like a +washer-woman, though it afterwards appeared that she was one. + +"He says, 'Is this Fairyland?'" she replied; and the other, who had a +blue satin cloak, answered, "Oh, does he?" and then they began to +empty the panniers of many small blue, and pink, and scarlet shirts, +and coats, and stockings; and when they had made them into two little +heaps they knelt down and began to wash them in the river, taking no +notice of him whatever. + +Jack stared at them. They were not much taller than himself, and they +were not taking the slightest care of their handsome clothes; then he +looked at the old white horse, who was hanging his head over the +lovely clear water with a very discontented air. + +At last the blue washer-woman said, "I shall leave off now; I've got a +pain in my works." + +"Do," said the other. "We'll go home and have a cup of tea." Then she +glanced at Jack, who was still sitting in the boat, and said, "Can you +strike?" + +"I can if I choose," replied Jack, a little astonished at this speech. +And the red and blue washer-women wrung out the clothes, put them +again into the panniers, and taking the old horse by the bridle, began +gently to lead him away. + +"I have a great mind to land," thought Jack. "I should not wonder at +all if this is Fairyland. So as the boat came here to please me, I +shall ask it to stay where it is, in case I should want it again." + +So he sprang ashore, and said to the boat, "Stay just where you are, +will you?" and he ran after the old women, calling to them,-- + +"Is there any law to prevent my coming into your country?" + +"Wo!" cried the red-coated old woman, and the horse stopped, while the +blue-coated woman repeated, "Any law? No, not that I know of; but if +you are a stranger here you had better look out." + +"Why?" asked Jack. + +"You don't suppose, do you," she answered, "that our Queen will wind +up strangers?" + +While Jack was wondering what she meant, the other said,-- + +"I shouldn't wonder if he goes eight days. Gee!" and the horse went +on. + +"No, wo!" said the other. + +"No, no. Gee! I tell you," cried the first. + +Upon this, to Jack's intense astonishment, the old horse stopped, and +said, speaking through his nose,-- + +"Now, then, which is it to be? I'm willing to gee, and I'm agreeable +to wo; but what's a fellow to do when you say them both together?" + +"Why, he talks!" exclaimed Jack. + +"It's because he's got a cold in his head," observed one of the +washer-women; "he always talks when he's got a cold, and there's no +pleasing him; whatever you say, he's not satisfied. Gee, Boney, do!" + +"Gee it is, then," said the horse, and began to jog on. + +"He spoke again!" said Jack, upon which the horse laughed, and Jack +was quite alarmed. + +"It appears that your horses don't talk?" observed the blue-coated +woman. + +"Never," answered Jack; "they can't." + +"You mean they won't," observed the old horse; and though he spoke the +words of mankind, it was not in a voice like theirs. Still Jack felt +that his was just the natural tone for a horse, and that it did not +arise only from the length of his nose. "You'll find out some day, +perhaps," he continued, "whether horses can talk or not." + +"Shall I?" said Jack, very earnestly. + +"They'll TELL," proceeded the white horse. "I wouldn't be you when +they tell how you've used them." + +"Have you been ill used?" said Jack, in an anxious tone. + +"Yes, yes, of course he has," one of the women broke in; "but he has +come here to get all right again. This is a very wholesome country for +horses; isn't it, Boney?" + +"Yes," said the horse. + +"Well, then, jog on, there's a dear," continued the old woman. "Why, +you will be young again soon, you know,--young, and gamesome, and +handsome; you'll be quite a colt, by and by, and then we shall set you +free to join your companions in the happy meadows." + +The old horse was so comforted by this kind speech, that he pricked up +his ears and quickened his pace considerably. + +"He was shamefully used," observed one washer-woman. "Look at him, +how lean he is! You can see all his ribs." + +"Yes," said the other, as if apologizing for the poor old horse. "He +gets low-spirited when he thinks of all he has gone through; but he is +a vast deal better already than he was. He used to live in London; his +master always carried a long whip to beat him with, and never spoke +civilly to him." + +"London!" exclaimed Jack; "why that is in my country. How did the +horse get here?" + +"That's no business of yours," answered one of the women. "But I can +tell you he came because he was wanted, which is more than you are." + +"You let him alone," said the horse, in a querulous tone. "I don't +bear any malice." + +"No; he has a good disposition, has Boney," observed the red old +woman. "Pray, are you a boy?" + +"Yes," said Jack. + +"A real boy, that wants no winding up?" inquired the old woman. + +"I don't know what you mean," answered Jack; "but I am a real boy, +certainly." + +"Ah!" she replied. "Well, I thought you were, by the way Boney spoke +to you. How frightened you must be! I wonder what will be done to all +your people for driving, and working, and beating so many beautiful +creatures to death every year that comes? They'll have to pay for it +some day, you may depend." + +Jack was a little alarmed, and answered that he had never been unkind +himself to horses, and he was glad that Boney bore no malice. + +"They worked him, and often drove him about all night in the miserable +streets, and never let him have so much as a canter in a green field," +said one of the women; "but he'll be all right now, only he has to +begin at the wrong end." + +"What do you mean?" said Jack. + +"Why, in this country," answered the old woman, "they begin by being +terribly old and stiff, and they seem miserable and jaded at first, +but by degrees they get young again, as you heard me reminding him." + +"Indeed," said Jack; "and do you like that?" + +"It has nothing to do with me," she answered. "We are only here to +take care of all the creatures that men have ill used. While they are +sick and old, which they are when first they come to us,--after they +are dead, you know,--we take care of them, and gradually bring them up +to be young and happy again." + +"This must be a very nice country to live in, then," said Jack. + +"For horses it is," said the old lady, significantly. + +"Well," said Jack, "it does seem very full of haystacks, certainly, +and all the air smells of fresh grass." + +At this moment they came to a beautiful meadow, and the old horse +stopped, and, turning to the blue-coated woman, said, "Faxa, I think I +could fancy a handful of clover." Upon this Faxa snatched Jack's cap +off his head, and in a very active manner jumped over a little ditch, +and gathering some clover, presently brought it back full, handing it +to the old horse with great civility. + +"You shouldn't be in such a hurry," observed the old horse; "your +weights will be running down some day, if you don't mind." + +"It's all zeal," observed the red-coated woman. + +Just then a little man, dressed like a groom, came running up, out of +breath. "Oh, here you are, Dow!" he exclaimed to the red-coated woman. +"Come along, will you? Lady Betty wants you; it's such a hot day, and +nobody, she says, can fan her so well as you can." + +The red-coated woman, without a word, went off with the groom, and +Jack thought he would go with them, for this Lady Betty could surely +tell him whether the country was called Fairyland, or whether he must +get into his boat and go farther. He did not like either to hear the +way in which Faxa and Dow talked about their works and their weights; +so he asked Faxa to give him his cap, which she did, and he heard a +curious sort of little ticking noise as he came close to her, which +startled him. + +"Oh, this must be Fairyland, I am sure," thought Jack, "for in my +country our pulses beat quite differently from that." + +"Well," said Faxa, rather sharply, "do you find any fault with the way +I go?" + +"No," said Jack, a little ashamed of having listened. "I think you +walk beautifully; your steps are so regular." + +"She's machine-made," observed the old horse, in a melancholy voice, +and with a deep sigh. "In the largest magnifying-glass you'll hardly +find the least fault with her chain. She's not like the goods they +turn out in Clerkenwell." + +Jack was more and more startled, and so glad to get his cap and run +after the groom and Dow to find Lady Betty, that he might be with +ordinary human beings again; but when he got up to them, he found that +Lady Betty was a beautiful brown mare! She was lying in a languid and +rather affected attitude, with a load of fresh hay before her, and +two attendants, one of whom stood holding a parasol over her head, and +the other was fanning her. + +"I'm so glad you are come, my good Dow," said the brown mare. "Don't +you think I am strong enough to-day to set off for the happy +meadows?" + +"Well," said Dow, "I'm afraid not yet; you must remember that it is of +no use your leaving us till you have quite got over the effects of the +fall." + +Just then Lady Betty observed Jack, and said, "Take that boy away; he +reminds me of a jockey." + +The attentive groom instantly started forward, but Jack was too nimble +for him; he ran and ran with all his might, and only wished he had +never left the boat. But still he heard the groom behind him; and in +fact the groom caught him at last, and held him so fast that +struggling was of no use at all. + +"You young rascal!" he exclaimed, as he recovered breath. "How you do +run! It's enough to break your mainspring." + +"What harm did I do?" asked Jack. "I was only looking at the mare." + +"Harm!" exclaimed the groom; "harm indeed! Why, you reminded her of a +jockey. It's enough to hold her back, poor thing!--and we trying so +hard, too, to make her forget what a cruel end she came to in the old +world." + +"You need not hold me so tightly," said Jack, "I shall not run away +again; but," he added, "if this is Fairyland, it is not half such a +nice country as I expected." + +"Fairyland!" exclaimed the groom, stepping back with surprise. "Why, +what made you think of such a thing? This is only one of the border +countries, where things are set right again that people have caused to +go wrong in the world. The world, you know, is what men and women call +their own home." + +"I know," said Jack; "and that's where I came from." Then, as the +groom seemed no longer to be angry, he went on: "And I wish you would +tell me about Lady Betty." + +"She was a beautiful fleet creature, of the racehorse breed," said the +groom; "and she won silver cups for her master, and then they made her +run a steeple-chase, which frightened her, but still she won it; and +then they made her run another, and she cleared some terribly high +hurdles, and many gates and ditches, till she came to an awful one, +and at first she would not take it, but her rider spurred and beat her +till she tried. It was beyond her powers, and she fell and broke both +her forelegs. Then they shot her. After she had died that miserable +death, we had her here, to make her all right again." + +"Is this the only country where you set things right?" asked Jack. + +"Certainly not," answered the groom; "they lie about in all +directions. Why, you might wander for years, and never come to the end +of this one." + +"I am afraid I shall not find the one I am looking for," said Jack, +"if your countries are so large." + +"I don't think our world is much larger than yours," answered the +groom. "But come along: I hear the bell, and we are a good way from +the palace." + +Jack, in fact, heard the violent ringing of a bell at some distance; +and when the groom began to run, he ran beside him, for he thought he +should like to see the palace. As they ran, people gathered from all +sides,--fields, cottages, mills,--till at last there was a little +crowd, among whom Jack saw Dow and Faxa, and they were all making for +a large house, the wide door of which was standing open. Jack stood +with the crowd, and peeped in. There was a woman sitting inside upon a +rocking-chair,--a tall, large woman, with a gold-colored gown on,--and +beside her stood a table, covered with things that looked like keys. + +"What is that woman doing?" said he to Faxa, who was standing close to +him. + +"Winding us up, to be sure," answered Faxa. "You don't suppose, +surely, that we can go forever?" + +"Extraordinary!" said Jack. "Then are you wound up every evening, like +watches?" + +"Unless we have misbehaved ourselves," she answered; "and then she +lets us run down." + +"And what then?" + +"What then?" repeated Faxa, "why, then we have to stop and stand +against a wall, till she is pleased to forgive us, and let our friends +carry us in to be set going again." + +Jack looked in, and saw the people pass in and stand close by the +woman. One after the other she took by the chin with her left hand, +and with her right hand found a key that pleased her. It seemed to +Jack that there was a tiny key-hole in the back of their heads, and +that she put the key in and wound them up. + +"You must take your turn with the others," said the groom. + +"There's no key-hole in my head," said Jack; "besides, I do not want +any woman to wind me up." + +"But you must do as others do," he persisted; "and if you have no +key-hole, our Queen can easily have one made, I should think." + +"Make one in my head!" exclaimed Jack. "She shall do no such thing." + +"We shall see," said Faxa, quietly. And Jack was so frightened that he +set off, and ran back towards the river with all his might. Many of +the people called to him to stop, but they could not run after him, +because they wanted winding up. However, they would certainly have +caught him if he had not been very quick, for before he got to the +river he heard behind him the footsteps of those who had been first +attended to by the Queen, and he had only just time to spring into the +boat when they reached the edge of the water. + +No sooner was he on board than the boat swung round, and got out again +into the middle of the stream; but he could not feel safe till not +only was there a long reach of water between him and the shore, but +till he had gone so far down the river that the beautiful bay had +passed out of sight, and the sun was going down. By this time he began +to feel very tired and sleepy; so, having looked at his fairies, and +found that they were all safe and fast asleep, he laid down in the +bottom of the boat, and fell into a doze, and then into a dream. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +BEES AND OTHER FELLOW-CREATURES. + + The dove laid some little sticks, + Then began to coo; + The gnat took his trumpet up + To play the day through; + The pie chattered soft and long-- + But that she always does; + The bee did all he had to do, + And only said, "Buzz." + + +When Jack at length opened his eyes, he found that it was night, for +the full moon was shining; but it was not at all a dark night, for he +could see distinctly some black birds, that looked like ravens. They +were sitting in a row on the edge of the boat. + +Now that he had fairies in his pockets, he could understand +bird-talk, and he heard one of these ravens saying, "There is no meat +so tender; I wish I could pick their little eyes out." + +"Yes," said another, "fairies are delicate eating indeed. We must +speak Jack fair if we want to get at them." And she heaved up a deep +sigh. + +Jack lay still, and thought he had better pretend to be asleep; but +they soon noticed that his eyes were open, and one of them presently +walked up his leg and bowed, and asked if he was hungry. + +Jack said, "No." + +"No more am I," replied the raven; "not at all hungry." Then she +hopped off his leg, and Jack sat up. + +"And how are the sweet fairies that my young master is taking to their +home?" asked another of the ravens. "I hope they are safe in my young +master's pockets?" + +Jack felt in his pockets. Yes, they were all safe; but he did not take +any of them out, lest the ravens should snatch at them. + +"Eh?" continued the raven, pretending to listen; "did this dear young +gentleman say that the fairies were asleep?" + +"It doesn't amuse me to talk about fairies," said Jack; "but if you +would explain some of the things in this country that I cannot make +out, I should be very glad." + +"What things?" asked the blackest of the ravens. + +"Why," said Jack, "I see a full moon lying down there among the +water-flags, and just going to set, and there is a half-moon overhead +plunging among those great gray clouds, and just this moment I saw a +thin crescent moon peeping out between the branches of that tree." + +"Well," said all the ravens at once, "did the young master never see a +crescent moon in the men and women's world?" + +"Oh yes," said Jack. + +"Did he never see a full moon?" asked the ravens. + +"Yes, of course," said Jack; "but they are the same moon. I could +never see all three of them at the same time." + +The ravens were very much surprised at this, and one of them said,-- + +"If my young master did not see the moons it must have been because he +didn't look. Perhaps my young master slept in a room, and had only one +window; if so, he couldn't see all the sky at once." + +"I tell you, Raven," said Jack, laughing, "that I KNOW there is never +more than one moon in my country, and sometimes there is no moon at +all!" + +Upon this all the ravens hung down their heads, and looked very much +ashamed; for there is nothing that birds hate so much as to be laughed +at, and they believed that Jack was saying this to mock them, and that +he knew what they had come for. So first one and then another hopped +to the other end of the boat and flew away, till at last there was +only one left, and she appeared to be out of spirits, and did not +speak again till he spoke to her. + +"Raven," said Jack, "there's something very cold and slippery lying +at the bottom of the boat. I touched it just now, and I don't like it +at all." + +"It's a water-snake," said the raven; and she stooped and picked up a +long thing with her beak, which she threw out, and then looked over. +"The water swarms with them, wicked, murderous creatures; they smell +the young fairies, and they want to eat them." + +Jack was so thrown off his guard that he snatched one fairy out, just +to make sure that it was safe. It was the one with the mustache; and, +alas! in one instant the raven flew at it, got it out of his hand, and +pecked off its head before it had time to wake or Jack to rescue it. +Then, as she slowly rose, she croaked, and said to Jack, "You'll catch +it for this, my young master!" and she flew to the bough of a tree, +where she finished eating the fairy, and threw his little empty coat +into the river. + +On this Jack began to cry bitterly, and to think what a foolish boy he +had been. He was the more sorry because he did not even know that +poor little fellow's name. But he had heard the others calling by name +to their companions, and very grand names they were too. One was +Jovinian,--he was a very fierce-looking gentleman; the other two were +Roxaletta and Mopsa. + +Presently, however, Jack forgot to be unhappy, for two of the moons +went down, and then the sun rose, and he was delighted to find that +however many moons there might be, there was only one sun, even in the +country of the wonderful river. + +So on and on they went; but the river was very wide, and the waves +were boisterous. On the right brink was a thick forest of trees, with +such heavy foliage that a little way off they looked like a bank, +green, and smooth, and steep; but as the light became clearer, Jack +could see here and there the great stems, and see creatures like +foxes, wild boars, and deer, come stealing down to drink in the +river. + +It was very hot here; not at all like the spring weather he had left +behind. And as the low sunbeams shone into Jack's face he said +hastily, without thinking of what would occur, "I wish I might land +among those lovely glades on the left bank." + +No sooner said than the boat began to make for the left bank, and the +nearer they got towards it the more beautiful it became; but also the +more stormy were the reaches of water they had to traverse. + +A lovely country indeed! It sloped gently down to the water's edge, +and beautiful trees were scattered over it, soft, mossy grass grew +everywhere, great old laburnum trees stretched their boughs down in +patches over the water, and higher up camellias, almost as large as +hawthorns, grew together and mingled their red and white flowers. + +The country was not so open as a park,--it was more like a half-cleared +woodland; but there was a wide space just where the boat was steering +for, that had no trees, only a few flowering shrubs. Here groups of +strange-looking people were bustling about, and there were shrill +fifes sounding, and drums. + +Farther back he saw rows of booths or tents under the shade of the +trees. + +In another place some people dressed like gypsies had made fires of +sticks just at the skirts of the woodland, and were boiling their +pots. Some of these had very gaudy tilted carts, hung all over with +goods, such as baskets, brushes, mats, little glasses, pottery, and +beads. + +It seemed to be a kind of fair, to which people had gathered from all +parts; but there was not one house to be seen. All the goods were +either hung upon trees or collected in strange-looking tents. + +The people were not all of the same race; indeed, he thought the only +human beings were the gypsies, for the folks who had tents were no +taller than himself. + +How hot it was that morning! and as the boat pushed itself into a +little creek, and made its way among the beds of yellow and purple +iris which skirted the brink, what a crowd of dragon-flies and large +butterflies rose from them! + +"Stay where you are!" cried Jack to the boat; and at that instant such +a splendid moth rose slowly, that he sprang on shore after it, and +quite forgot the fair and the people in his desire to follow it. + +The moth settled on a great red honey-flower, and he stole up to look +at it. As large as a swallow, it floated on before him. Its wings were +nearly black, and they had spots of gold on them. + +When it rose again Jack ran after it, till he found himself close to +the rows of tents where the brown people stood; and they began to cry +out to him, "What'll you buy? what'll you buy, sir?" and they crowded +about him, so that he soon lost sight of the moth, and forgot +everything else in his surprise at the booths. + +They were full of splendid things,--clocks and musical boxes, strange +china ornaments, embroidered slippers, red caps, and many kinds of +splendid silks and small carpets. In other booths were swords and +dirks, glittering with jewels; and the chatter of the people when they +talked together was not in a language that Jack could understand. + +Some of the booths were square, and evidently made of common canvas, +for when you went into them, and the sun shone, you could distinctly +see the threads. + +But scattered a little farther on in groups were some round tents, +which were far more curious. They were open on all sides, and +consisted only of a thick canopy overhead, which was supported by one +beautiful round pillar in the middle. + +Outside the canopy was white or brownish; but when Jack stood under +these tents, he saw that they were lined with splendid flutings of +brown or pink silk: what looked like silk, at least, for it was +impossible to be sure whether these were real tents or gigantic +mushrooms. + +They varied in size, also, as mushrooms do, and in shape: some were +large enough for twenty people to stand under them, and had flat tops +with a brown lining; others had dome-shaped roofs; these were lined +with pink, and would only shelter six or seven. + +The people who sold in these tents were as strange as their neighbors; +each had a little high cap on his head, in shape just like a beehive, +and it was made of straw, and had a little hole in front. In fact, +Jack very soon saw bees flying in and out, and it was evident that +these people had their honey made on the premises. They were chiefly +selling country produce. They had cheeses so large as to reach to +their waists, and the women trundled them along as boys do their +hoops. They sold a great many kinds of seed, too, in wooden bowls, and +cakes and good things to eat, such as gilt gingerbread. Jack bought +some of this, and found it very nice indeed. But when he took out his +money to pay for it, the little man looked rather strangely at it, and +turned it over with an air of disgust. Then Jack saw him hand it to +his wife, who also seemed to dislike it; and presently Jack observed +that they followed him about, first on one side, then on the other. +At last, the little woman slipped her hand into his pocket, and Jack, +putting his hand in directly, found his sixpence had been returned. + +"Why, you've given me back my money!" he said. + +The little woman put her hands behind her. "I do not like it," she +said; "it's dirty; at least, it's not new." + +"No, it's not new," said Jack, a good deal surprised, "but it is a +good sixpence." + +"The bees don't like it," continued the little woman. "They like +things to be neat and new, and that sixpence is bent." + +"What shall I give you then?" said Jack. + +The good little woman laughed and blushed. "This young gentleman has a +beautiful whistle round his neck," she observed, politely, but did not +ask for it. + +Jack had a dog-whistle, so he took it off and gave it to her. + +"Thank you for the bees," she said. "They love to be called home when +we've collected flowers for them." + +So she made a pretty little courtesy, and went away to her customers. + +There were some very strange creatures also, about the same height as +Jack, who had no tents, and seemed there to buy, not to sell. Yet they +looked poorer than the other folks, and they were also very cross and +discontented; nothing pleased them. Their clothes were made of moss, +and their mantles of feathers; and they talked in a queer whistling +tone of voice, and carried their skinny little children on their backs +and on their shoulders. + +They were treated with great respect by the people in the tents; and +when Jack asked his friend to whom he had given the whistle what they +were, and where they got so much money as they had, she replied that +they lived over the hills, and were afraid to come in their best +clothes. They were rich and powerful at home, and they came shabbily +dressed, and behaved humbly, lest their enemies should envy them. It +was very dangerous, she said, to fairies to be envied. + +Jack wanted to listen to their strange whistling talk, but he could +not for the noise and cheerful chattering of the brown folks, and more +still for the screaming and talking of parrots. + +Among the goods were hundreds of splendid gilt cages, which were hung +by long gold chains from the trees. Each cage contained a parrot and +his mate, and they all seemed to be very unhappy indeed. + +The parrots could talk, and they kept screaming to the discontented +women to buy things for them, and trying very hard to attract +attention. + +One old parrot made himself quite conspicuous by these efforts. He +flung himself against the wires of his cage, he squalled, he screamed, +he knocked the floor with his beak, till Jack and one of the customers +came running up to see what was the matter. + +"What do you make such a fuss for?" cried the discontented woman. +"You've set your cage swinging with knocking yourself about; and what +good does that do? I cannot break the spell and open it for you." + +"I know that," answered the parrot, sobbing; "but it hurts my feelings +so that you should take no notice of me now that I have come down in +the world." + +"Yes," said the parrot's mate, "it hurts our feelings." + +"I haven't forgotten you," answered the woman, more crossly than ever; +"I was buying a measure of maize for you when you began to make such a +noise." + +Jack thought this was the queerest conversation he had ever heard in +his life; and he was still more surprised when the bird answered,-- + +"I would much rather you would buy me a pocket-handkerchief. Here we +are, shut up, without a chance of getting out, and with nobody to pity +us; and we can't even have the comfort of crying, because we've got +nothing to wipe our eyes with." + +"But at least," replied the woman, "you CAN cry now if you please, and +when you had your other face you could not." + +"Buy me a handkerchief," sobbed the parrot. + +"I can't afford both," whined the cross woman, "and I've paid now for +the maize." So saying, she went back to the tent to fetch her present +to the parrots; and as their cage was still swinging Jack put out his +hand to steady it for them, and the instant he did so they became +perfectly silent, and all the other parrots on that tree, who had been +flinging themselves about in their cages, left off screaming, and +became silent too. + +The old parrot looked very cunning. His cage hung by such a long gold +chain that it was just on a level with Jack's face, and so many odd +things had happened that day that it did not seem more odd than usual +to hear him say, in a tone of great astonishment,-- + +"It's a BOY, if ever there was one!" + +"Yes," said Jack; "I'm a boy." + +"You won't go yet, will you?" said the parrot. + +"No, don't," said a great many other parrots. Jack agreed to stay a +little while, upon which they all thanked him. + +"I had no notion you were a boy till you touched my cage," said the +old parrot. + +Jack did not know how this could have told him, so he only answered, +"Indeed!" + +"I'm a fairy," observed the parrot, in a confidential tone. "We are +imprisoned here by our enemies the gypsies." + +"So we are," answered a chorus of other parrots. + +"I'm sorry for that," replied Jack. "I'm friends with the fairies." + +"Don't tell," said the parrot, drawing a film over his eyes, and +pretending to be asleep. At that moment his friend in the moss +petticoat and feather cloak came up with a little measure of maize, +and poured it into the cage. + +"Here, neighbor," she said; "I must say good-by now, for the gypsy is +coming this way, and I want to buy some of her goods." + +"Well, thank you," answered the parrot, sobbing again; "but I could +have wished it had been a pocket-handkerchief." + +"I'll lend you my handkerchief," said Jack. "Here!" And he drew it +out, and pushed it between the wires. + +The parrot and his wife were in a great hurry to get Jack's +handkerchief. They pulled it in very hastily; but instead of using it +they rolled it up into a ball, and the parrot-wife tucked it under her +wing. + +"It makes me tremble all over," said she, "to think of such good +luck." + +"I say," observed the parrot to Jack, "I know all about it now. You've +got some of my people in your pockets,--not of my own tribe, but +fairies." + +By this Jack was sure that the parrot really was a fairy himself, and +he listened to what he had to say the more attentively. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE PARROT IN HIS SHAWL. + + That handkerchief + Did an Egyptian to my mother give; + She was a charmer, and could almost read + The thoughts of people.--_Othello._ + + +"That gypsy woman who is coming with her cart," said the parrot, "is a +fairy too, and very malicious. It was she and others of her tribe who +caught us and put us into these cages, for they are more powerful than +we. Mind you do not let her allure you into the woods, nor wheedle you +or frighten you into giving her any of those fairies." + +"No," said Jack; "I will not." + +"She sold us to the brown people," continued the parrot. "Mind you do +not buy anything of her, for your money in her palm would act as a +charm against you." + +"She has a baby," observed the parrot-wife, scornfully. + +"Yes, a baby," repeated the old parrot; "and I hope by means of that +baby to get her driven away, and perhaps get free myself. I shall try +to put her in a passion. Here she comes." + +There she was indeed, almost close at hand. She had a little cart; her +goods were hung all about it, and a small horse drew it slowly on, and +stopped when she got a customer. + +Several gypsy children were with her, and as the people came running +together over the grass to see her goods, she sang a curious kind of +song, which made them wish to buy them. + +Jack turned from the parrot's cage as she came up. He had heard her +singing a little way off, and now, before she began again, he felt +that already her searching eyes had found him out, and taken notice +that he was different from the other people. + +When she began to sing her selling song, he felt a most curious +sensation. He felt as if there were some cobwebs before his face, and +he put up his hand as if to clear them away. There were no real +cobwebs, of course; and yet he again felt as if they floated from the +gypsy woman to him, like gossamer threads, and attracted him towards +her. So he gazed at her, and she at him, till Jack began to forget how +the parrot had warned him. + +He saw her baby too, wondered whether it was heavy for her to carry, +and wished he could help her. I mean, he saw that she had a baby on +her arm. It was wrapped in a shawl, and had a handkerchief over its +face. She seemed very fond of it, for she kept hushing it; and Jack +softly moved nearer and nearer to the cart, till the gypsy woman +smiled, and suddenly began to sing,-- + + My good man--he's an old, old man + And my good man got a fall, + To buy me a bargain so fast he ran + When he heard the gypsies call: + "Buy, buy brushes, + Baskets wrought o' rushes. + Buy them, buy them, take them, try them, + Buy, dames all." + + My old man, he has money and land, + And a young, young wife am I. + Let him put the penny in my white hand + When he hears the gypsies cry: + "Buy, buy laces, + Veils to screen your faces. + Buy them, buy them, take and try them. + Buy, maids, buy." + +When the gypsy had finished her song, Jack felt as if he was covered +all over with cobwebs; but he could not move away, and he did not mind +them now. All his wish was to please her, and get close to her; so +when she said, in a soft, wheedling voice, "What will you please to +buy, my pretty gentleman?" he was just going to answer that he would +buy anything she recommended, when, to his astonishment and +displeasure, for he thought it very rude, the parrot suddenly burst +into a violent fit of coughing, which made all the customers stare. +"That's to clear my throat," he said, in a most impertinent tone of +voice; and then he began to beat time with his foot, and sing, or +rather scream out, an extremely saucy imitation of the gypsy's song, +and all his parrot friends in the other cages joined in the chorus. + + My fair lady's a dear, dear lady-- + I walked by her side to woo. + In a garden alley, so sweet and shady, + She answered, "I love not you, + John, John Brady," + Quoth my dear lady, + "Pray now, pray now, go your way now, + Do, John, do!" + +At first the gypsy did not seem to know where that mocking song came +from, but when she discovered that it was her prisoner, the old +parrot, who was thus daring to imitate her, she stood silent and +glared at him, and her face was almost white with rage. + +When he came to the end of the verse he pretended to burst into a +violent fit of sobbing and crying, and screeched out to his wife, +"Mate! mate! hand up my handkerchief. Oh! oh! it's so affecting, this +song is." + +Upon this the other parrot pulled Jack's handkerchief from under her +wing, hobbled up, and began, with a great show of zeal, to wipe his +horny beak with it. But this was too much for the gypsy; she took a +large brush from her cart, and flung it at the cage with all her +might. + +This set it violently swinging backwards and forwards, but did not +stop the parrot, who screeched out, "How delightful it is to be +swung!" And then he began to sing another verse in the most impudent +tone possible, and with a voice that seemed to ring through Jack's +head, and almost pierce it:-- + + Yet my fair lady's my own, own lady, + For I passed another day; + While making her moan, she sat all alone, + And thus and thus did she say: + "John, John Brady," + Quoth my dear lady, + "Do now, do now, once more woo now, + Pray, John, pray!" + +"It's beautiful!" screeched the parrot-wife, "and so ap-pro-pri-ate." +Jack was delighted when she managed slowly to say this long word with +her black tongue, and he burst out laughing. In the mean time a good +many of the brown people came running together, attracted by the noise +of the parrots and the rage of the gypsy, who flung at his cage, one +after the other, all the largest things she had in her cart. But +nothing did the parrot any harm; the more violently his cage swung, +the louder he sang, till at last the wicked gypsy seized her poor +little young baby, who was lying in her arms, rushed frantically at +the cage as it flew swiftly through the air towards her, and struck at +it with the little creature's head. "Oh, you cruel, cruel woman!" +cried Jack, and all the small mothers who were standing near with +their skinny children on their shoulders, screamed out with terror and +indignation; but only for one instant, for the handkerchief flew off +that had covered its face, and was caught in the wires of the cage, +and all the people saw that it was not a real baby at all, but a +bundle of clothes, and its head was a turnip. + +Yes, a turnip! You could see that as plainly as possible, for though +the green leaves had been cut off, their stalks were visible through +the lace cap that had been tied on it. + +Upon this all the crowd pressed closer, throwing her baskets, and +brushes, and laces, and beads at the gypsy, and calling out, "We will +have none of your goods, you false woman! Give us back our money, or +we will drive you out of the fair. You've stuck a stick into a turnip, +and dressed it up in baby clothes. You're a cheat! a cheat!" + +"My sweet gentlemen, my kind ladies," began the gypsy; but baskets and +brushes flew at her so fast that she was obliged to sit down on the +grass and hold up the sham baby to screen her face. + +While this was going on, Jack felt that the cobwebs which had seemed +to float about his face were all gone; he did not care at all any more +about the gypsy, and began to watch the parrots with great attention. + +He observed that when the handkerchief stuck between the cage wires, +the parrots caught it, and drew it inside; and then Jack saw the +cunning old bird himself lay it on the floor, fold it crosswise like +a shawl, and put it on his wife. + +Then she jumped upon the perch, and held it with one foot, looking +precisely like an old lady with a parrot's head. Then he folded Jack's +handkerchief in the same way, put it on, and got upon the perch beside +his wife, screaming out, in his most piercing tone,-- + +"I like shawls; they're so becoming." + +Now the gypsy did not care at all what those inferior people thought +of her, and she was calmly counting out their money, to return it; but +she was very desirous to make Jack forget her behavior, and had begun +to smile again, and tell him she had only been joking, when the parrot +spoke, and, looking up, she saw the two birds sitting side by side, +and the parrot-wife was screaming in her mate's ear, though neither of +them was at all deaf,-- + +"If Jack lets her allure him into the woods, he'll never come out +again. She'll hang him up in a cage, as she did us. I say, how does +my shawl fit?" + +So saying, the parrot-wife whisked herself round on the perch, and lo! +in the corner of the handkerchief were seen some curious letters, +marked in red. When the crowd saw these, they drew a little farther +off, and glanced at one another with alarm. + +"You look charming, my dear; it fits well!" screamed the old parrot in +answer. "A word in your ear; 'Share and share alike' is a fine +motto." + +"What do you mean by all this?" said the gypsy, rising, and going with +slow steps to the cage, and speaking cautiously. + +"Jack," said the parrot, "do they ever eat handkerchiefs in your part +of the country?" + +"No, never," answered Jack. + +"Hold your tongue and be reasonable," said the gypsy, trembling. "What +do you want? I'll do it, whatever it is." + +"But do they never pick out the marks?" continued the parrot. "O +Jack! are you sure they never pick out the marks?" + +"The marks?" said Jack, considering. "Yes, perhaps they do." + +"Stop!" cried the gypsy, as the old parrot made a peck at the strange +letters. "Oh! you're hurting me. What do you want? I say again, tell +me what you want, and you shall have it." + +"We want to get out," replied the parrot; "you must undo the spell." + +"Then give me my handkerchief," answered the gypsy, "to bandage my +eyes. I dare not say the words with my eyes open. You had no business +to steal it. It was woven by human hands, so that nobody can see +through it; and if you don't give it to me, you'll never get out,--no, +never!" + +"Then," said the old parrot, tossing his shawl off, "you may have +Jack's handkerchief; it will bandage your eyes just as well. It was +woven over the water, as yours was." + +"It won't do!" cried the gypsy, in terror; "give me my own." + +"I tell you," answered the parrot, "that you shall have Jack's +handkerchief; you can do no harm with that." + +By this time the parrots all around had become perfectly silent, and +none of the people ventured to say a word, for they feared the malice +of the gypsy. She was trembling dreadfully, and her dark eyes, which +had been so bright and piercing, had become dull and almost dim; but +when she found there was no help for it, she said,-- + +"Well, pass out Jack's handkerchief. I will set you free if you will +bring out mine with you." + +"Share and share alike," answered the parrot; "you must let all my +friends out too." + +"Then I won't let you out," answered the gypsy. "You shall come out +first, and give me my handkerchief, or not one of their cages will I +undo. So take your choice." + +"My friends, then," answered the brave old parrot; and he poked +Jack's handkerchief out to her through the wires. + +The wondering crowd stood by to look, and the gypsy bandaged her eyes +tightly with the handkerchief; and then, stooping low, she began to +murmur something and clap her hands--softly at first, but by degrees +more and more violently. The noise was meant to drown the words she +muttered; but as she went on clapping, the bottom of cage after cage +fell clattering down. Out flew the parrots by hundreds, screaming and +congratulating one another; and there was such a deafening din that +not only the sound of her spell, but the clapping of her hands, was +quite lost in it. + +But all this time Jack was very busy; for the moment the gypsy had +tied up her eyes, the old parrot snatched the real handkerchief off +his wife's shoulders, and tied it round her neck. Then she pushed out +her head through the wires, and the old parrot called to Jack, and +said, "Pull!" + +Jack took the ends of the handkerchief, pulled terribly hard, and +stopped. "Go on! go on!" screamed the old parrot. + +"I shall pull her head off," cried Jack. + +"No matter," cried the parrot; "no matter,--only pull." + +Well, Jack did pull, and he actually did pull her head off! nearly +tumbling backward himself as he did it; but he saw what the whole +thing meant then, for there was another head inside,--a fairy's head. + +Jack flung down the old parrot's head and great beak, for he saw that +what he had to do was to clear the fairy of its parrot covering. The +poor little creature seemed nearly dead, it was so terribly squeezed +in the wires. It had a green gown or robe on, with an ermine collar; +and Jack got hold of this dress, stripped the fairy out of the parrot +feathers, and dragged her through,--velvet robe, and crimson girdle, +and little yellow shoes. She was very much exhausted, but a kind brown +woman took her instantly, and laid her in her bosom. She was a +splendid little creature, about half a foot long. + +"There's a brave boy!" cried the parrot. Jack glanced round, and saw +that not all the parrots were free yet, the gypsy was still muttering +her spell. + +He returned the handkerchief to the parrot, who put it round his own +neck, and again Jack pulled. But oh! what a tough old parrot that was, +and how Jack tugged before his cunning head would come off! It did, +however, at last; and just as a fine fairy was pulled through, leaving +his parrot skin and the handkerchief behind him, the gypsy untied her +eyes, and saw what Jack had done. + +"Give me my handkerchief!" she screamed, in despair. + +"It's in the cage, gypsy," answered Jack; "you can get it yourself. +Say your words again." + +But the gypsy's spell would only open places where she had confined +fairies, and no fairies were in the cage now. + +"No, no, no!" she screamed; "too late! Hide me! O good people, hide +me!" + +But it was indeed too late. The parrots had been wheeling in the air, +hundreds and hundreds of them, high above her head; and as she ceased +speaking, she fell shuddering on the ground, drew her cloak over her +face, and down they came, swooping in one immense flock, and settled +so thickly all over her that she was completely covered; from her +shoes to her head not an atom of her was to be seen. + +All the people stood gravely looking on. So did Jack, but he could not +see much for the fluttering of the parrots, nor hear anything for +their screaming voices; but at last he made one of the cross people +hear when he shouted to her, "What are they going to do to the poor +gypsy?" + +"Make her take her other form," she replied; "and then she cannot hurt +us while she stays in our country. She is a fairy, as we have just +found out, and all fairies have two forms." + +"Oh!" said Jack; but he had no time for more questions. + +The screaming and fighting, and tossing about of little bits of cloth +and cotton, ceased; a black lump heaved itself up from the ground +among the parrots; and as they flew aside, an ugly great condor, with +a bare neck, spread out its wings, and, skimming the ground, sailed +slowly away. + +"They have pecked her so that she can hardly rise," exclaimed the +parrot fairy. "Set me on your shoulder, Jack, and let me see the end +of it." + +Jack set him there; and his little wife, who had recovered herself, +sprang from her friend the brown woman, and sat on the other shoulder. +He then ran on,--the tribe of brown people and mushroom people, and +the feather-coated folks running too,--after the great black bird, who +skimmed slowly on before them till she got to the gypsy carts, when +out rushed the gypsies, armed with poles, milking-stools, spades, and +everything they could get hold of to beat back the people and the +parrots from hunting their relation, who had folded her tired wings, +and was skulking under a cart, with ruffled feathers and a scowling +eye. + +Jack was so frightened at the violent way in which the gypsies and the +other tribes were knocking each other about, that he ran off, thinking +he had seen enough of such a dangerous country. + +As he passed the place where that evil-minded gypsy had been changed, +he found the ground strewed with little bits of her clothes. Many +parrots were picking them up, and poking them into the cage where the +handkerchief was; and presently another parrot came with a lighted +brand, which she had pulled from one of the gypsies' fires. + +"That's right," said the fairy on Jack's shoulder, when he saw his +friend push the brand between the wires of what had been his cage, and +set the gypsy's handkerchief on fire, and all the bits of her clothes +with it. "She won't find much of herself here," he observed, as Jack +went on. "It will not be very easy to put herself together again." + +So Jack moved away. He was tired of the noise and confusion; and the +sun was just setting as he reached the little creek where his boat +lay. + +Then the parrot fairy and his wife sprang down, and kissed their hands +to him as he stepped on board, and pushed the boat off. He saw, when +he looked back, that a great fight was still going on; so he was glad +to get away, and he wished his two friends good-by, and set off, the +old parrot fairly calling after him, "My relations have put some of +our favorite food on board for you." Then they again thanked him for +his good help, and sprang into a tree, and the boat began to go down +the wonderful river. + +"This has been a most extraordinary day," thought Jack; "the strangest +day I have had yet." And after he had eaten a good supper of what the +parrots had brought, he felt so tired and sleepy that he laid down in +the boat, and presently fell fast asleep. His fairies were sound +asleep too in his pockets, and nothing happened of the least +consequence; so he slept comfortably till morning. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE TOWN WITH NOBODY IN IT. + + "Master," quoth the auld hound, + "Where will ye go?" + "Over moss, over muir. + To court my new jo." + "Master, though the night be merk, + I'se follow through the snow. + + "Court her, master, court her, + So shall ye do weel; + But and ben she'll guide the house, + I'se get milk and meal. + Ye'se get lilting while she sits + With her rock and reel." + + "For, oh! she has a sweet tongue, + And een that look down, + A gold girdle for her waist, + And a purple gown. + She has a good word forbye + Fra a' folk in the town." + + +Soon after sunrise they came to a great city, and it was perfectly +still. There were grand towers and terraces, wharves, too, and a +large market, but there was nobody anywhere to be seen. Jack thought +that might be because it was so early in the morning; and when the +boat ran itself up against a wooden wharf and stopped, he jumped +ashore, for he thought this must be the end of his journey. A +delightful town it was, if only there had been any people in it! The +market-place was full of stalls, on which were spread toys, baskets, +fruit, butter, vegetables, and all the other things that are usually +sold in a market. + +Jack walked about in it. Then he looked in at the open doors of the +houses, and at last, finding that they were all empty, he walked into +one, looked at the rooms, examined the picture-books, rang the bells, +and set the musical-boxes going. Then, after he had shouted a good +deal, and tried in vain to make some one hear, he went back to the +edge of the river where his boat was lying, and the water was so +delightfully clear and calm, that he thought he would bathe. So he +took off his clothes, and folding them very carefully, so as not to +hurt the fairies, laid them down beside a hay-cock, and went in, and +ran about and paddled for a long time,--much longer than there was any +occasion for; but then he had nothing to do. + +When at last he had finished, he ran to the hay-cock and began to +dress himself; but he could not find his stockings, and after looking +about for some time he was obliged to put on his clothes without them, +and he was going to put his boots on his bare feet, when, walking to +the other side of the hay-cock, he saw a little old woman about as +large as himself. She had a pair of spectacles on, and she was +knitting. + +She looked so sweet-tempered that Jack asked her if she knew anything +about his stockings. + +"It will be time enough to ask for them when you have had your +breakfast," said she. "Sit down. Welcome to our town. How do you like +it?" + +[Illustration: JACK'S NEW FRIEND. + +"She had a pair of spectacles on, and she was knitting."--PAGE 82.] + +"I should like it very much indeed," said Jack, "if there was anybody +in it." + +"I'm glad of that," said the woman. "You've seen a good deal of it; +but it pleases me to find that you are a very honest boy. You did not +take anything at all. I am honest too." + +"Yes," said Jack, "of course you are." + +"And as I am pleased with you for being honest," continued the little +woman, "I shall give you some breakfast out of my basket." So she took +out a saucer full of honey, a roll of bread, and a cup of milk. + +"Thank you," said Jack, "but I am not a beggar-boy; I have got a +half-crown, a shilling, a sixpence, and two pence; so I can buy this +breakfast of you, if you like. You look very poor." + +"Do I?" said the little woman, softly; and she went on knitting, and +Jack began to eat the breakfast. + +"I wonder what has become of my stockings," said Jack. + +"You will never see them any more," said the old woman. "I threw them +into the river, and they floated away." + +"Why did you?" asked Jack. + +The little woman took no notice; but presently she had finished a +beautiful pair of stockings, and she handed them to Jack, and said,-- + +"Is that like the pair you lost?" + +"Oh no," said Jack; "these are much more beautiful stockings than +mine." + +"Do you like them as well?" asked the fairy woman. + +"I like them much better," said Jack, putting them on. "How clever you +are!" + +"Would you like to wear these," said the woman, "instead of yours?" + +She gave Jack such a strange look when she said this, that he was +afraid to take them, and answered,-- + +"I shouldn't like to wear them if you think I had better not." + +"Well," she answered, "I am very honest, as I told you; and therefore +I am obliged to say that if I were you I would not wear those +stockings on any account." + +"Why not?" said Jack; for she looked so sweet-tempered that he could +not help trusting her. + +"Why not?" repeated the fairy; "why, because when you have those +stockings on, your feet belong to me." + +"Oh!" said Jack. "Well, if you think that matters, I'll take them off +again. Do you think it matters?" + +"Yes," said the fairy woman; "it matters, because I am a slave, and my +master can make me do whatever he pleases, for I am completely in his +power. So, if he found out that I had knitted these stockings for you, +he would make me order you to walk into his mill,--the mill which +grinds the corn for the town; and there you would have to grind and +grind till I got free again." + +When Jack heard this, he pulled off the beautiful stockings, and laid +them on the old woman's lap. Upon this she burst out crying, as if +her heart would break. + +"If my fairies that I have in my pocket would only wake," said Jack, +"I would fight your master; for if he is no bigger than you are, +perhaps I could beat him, and get you away." + +"No, Jack," said the little woman; "that would be of no use. The only +thing you could do would be to buy me; for my cruel master has said +that if ever I am late again he shall sell me in the slave market to +the brown people, who work underground. And, though I am dreadfully +afraid of my master, I mean to be late to-day, in hopes (as you are +kind, and as you have some money) that you will come to the +slave-market and buy me. Can you buy me, Jack, to be your slave?" + +"I don't want a slave," said Jack; "and, besides, I have hardly any +money to buy you with." + +"But it is real money," said the fairy woman, "not like what my master +has. His money has to be made every week, for if there comes a hot +day it cracks, so it never has time to look old, as your half-crown +does; and that is how we know the real money, for we cannot imitate +anything that is old. Oh, now, now it is twelve o'clock! now I am late +again! and though I said I would do it, I am so frightened!" + +So saying, the little woman ran off towards the town, wringing her +hands, and Jack ran beside her. + +"How am I to find your master?" he said. + +"O Jack, buy me! buy me!" cried the fairy woman. "You will find me in +the slave-market. Bid high for me. Go back and put your boots on, and +bid high." + +Now Jack had nothing on his feet, so he left the poor little woman to +run into the town by herself, and went back to put his boots on. They +were very uncomfortable, as he had no stockings; but he did not much +mind that, and he counted his money. There was the half-crown that his +grandmamma had given him on his birthday, there was a shilling, a +sixpence, and two pence, besides a silver fourpenny-piece which he had +forgotten. He then marched into the town; and now it was quite full of +people,--all of them little men and women about his own height. They +thought he was somebody of consequence, and they called out to him to +buy their goods. And he bought some stockings, and said, "What I want +to buy now is a slave." + +So they showed him the way to the slave-market, and there whole rows +of odd-looking little people were sitting, while in front of them +stood the slaves. + +Now Jack had observed as he came along how very disrespectful the dogs +of that town were to the people. They had a habit of going up to them +and smelling at their legs, and even gnawing their feet as they sat +before the little tables selling their wares; and what made this more +surprising was that the people did not always seem to find out when +they were being gnawed. But the moment the dogs saw Jack they came and +fawned on him, and two old hounds followed him all the way to the +slave-market; and when he took a seat one of them laid down at his +feet, and said, "Master, set your handsome feet on my back, that they +may be out of the dust." + +"Don't be afraid of him," said the other hound; "he won't gnaw your +feet. He knows well enough that they are real ones." + +"Are the other people's feet not real?" asked Jack. + +"Of course not," said the hound. "They had a feud long ago with the +fairies, and they all went one night into a great corn-field which +belonged to these enemies of theirs, intending to steal the corn. So +they made themselves invisible, as they are always obliged to do till +twelve o'clock at noon; but before morning dawn, the wheat being quite +ripe, down came the fairies with their sickles, surrounded the field, +and cut the corn. So all their legs of course got cut off with it, for +when they are invisible they cannot stir. Ever since that they have +been obliged to make their legs of wood." + +While the hound was telling this story Jack looked about, but he did +not see one slave who was in the least like his poor little friend, +and he was beginning to be afraid that he should not find her, when he +heard two people talking together. + +"Good-day!" said one. "So you have sold that good-for-nothing slave of +yours?" + +"Yes," answered a very cross-looking old man. "She was late again this +morning, and came to me crying and praying to be forgiven; but I was +determined to make an example of her, so I sold her at once to +Clink-of-the-Hole, and he has just driven her away to work in his +mine." + +Jack, on hearing this, whispered to the hound at his feet, "If you +will guide me to Clink's hole, you shall be my dog." + +"Master, I will do my best," answered the hound; and he stole softly +out of the market, Jack following him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +HALF-A-CROWN. + + So useful it is to have money, heigh ho! + So useful it is to have money! + + A. H. CLOUGH. + + +The old hound went straight through the town, smelling Clink's +footsteps, till he came into a large field of barley; and there, +sitting against a sheaf, for it was harvest time, they found +Clink-of-the-Hole. He was a very ugly little brown man, and he was +smoking a pipe in the shade; while crouched near him was the poor +little woman, with her hands spread before her face. + +"Good-day, sir," said Clink to Jack. "You are a stranger here, no +doubt?" + +"Yes," said Jack; "I only arrived this morning." + +"Have you seen the town?" asked Clink, civilly; "there is a very fine +market." + +"Yes, I have seen the market," answered Jack. "I went into it to buy a +slave, but I did not see one that I liked." + +"Ah!" said Clink; "and yet they had some very fine articles." Here he +pointed to the poor little woman, and said, "Now that's a useful body +enough, and I had her very cheap." + +"What did you give for her?" said Jack, sitting down. + +"Three pitchers," said Clink, "and fifteen cups and saucers, and two +shillings in the money of the town." + +"Is their money like this?" said Jack, taking out his shilling. + +When Clink saw the shilling he changed color, and said, very +earnestly, "Where did you get that, dear sir?" + +"Oh, it was given me," said Jack, carelessly. + +Clink looked hard at the shilling, and so did the fairy woman, and +Jack let them look some time, for he amused himself with throwing it +up several times and catching it. At last he put it back in his +pocket, and then Clink heaved a deep sigh. Then Jack took out a penny, +and began to toss that up, upon which, to his great surprise, the +little brown man fell on his knees, and said, "Oh, a shilling and a +penny,--a shilling and a penny of mortal coin! What would I not give +for a shilling and a penny!" + +"I don't believe you have got anything to give," said Jack, cunningly; +"I see nothing but that ring on your finger, and the old woman." + +"But I have a great many things at home, sir," said the brown man, +wiping his eyes; "and besides, that ring would be cheap at a +shilling,--even a shilling of mortal coin." + +"Would the slave be cheap at a penny?" said Jack. + +"Would you give a penny for her, dear sir?" inquired Clink, trembling +with eagerness. + +"She is honest," answered Jack; "ask her whether I had better buy her +with this penny." + +"It does not matter what she says," replied the brown man; "I would +sell twenty such as she is for a penny,--a real one." + +"Ask her," repeated Jack; and the poor little woman wept bitterly, but +she said, "No." + +"Why not?" asked Jack; but she only hung down her head and cried. + +"I'll make you suffer for this," said the brown man. But when Jack +took out the shilling, and said, "Shall I buy you with this, slave?" +his eyes actually shot out sparks, he was so eager. + +"Speak!" he said to the fairy woman; "and if you don't say 'Yes,' I'll +strike you." + +"He cannot buy me with that," answered the fairy woman, "unless it is +the most valuable coin he has got." + +The brown man, on hearing this, rose up in a rage, and was just going +to strike her a terrible blow, when Jack cried out, "Stop!" and took +out his half-crown. + +"Can I buy you with this?" said he; and the fairy woman answered, +"Yes." + +Upon this Clink drew a long breath, and his eyes grew bigger and +bigger as he gazed at the half-crown. + +"Shall she be my slave forever, and not yours," said Jack, "if I give +you this?" + +"She shall," said the brown man. And he made such a low bow, as he +took the money, that his head actually knocked the ground. Then he +jumped up; and, as if he was afraid Jack should repent of his bargain, +he ran off towards the hole in the hill with all his might, shouting +for joy as he went. + +"Slave," said Jack, "that is a very ragged old apron that you have +got, and your gown is quite worn out. Don't you think we had better +spend my shilling in buying you some new clothes? You look so very +shabby." + +"Do I?" said the fairy woman, gently. "Well, master, you will do as +you please." + +"But you know better than I do," said Jack, "though you are my +slave." + +"You had better give me the shilling, then," answered the little old +woman; "and then I advise you to go back to the boat, and wait there +till I come." + +"What!" said Jack; "can you go all the way back into the town again? I +think you must be tired, for you know you are so very old." + +The fairy woman laughed when Jack said this, and she had such a sweet +laugh that he loved to hear it; but she took the shilling, and trudged +off to the town, and he went back to the boat, his hound running after +him. + +He was a long time going, for he ran a good many times after +butterflies, and then he climbed up several trees; and altogether he +amused himself for such a long while that when he reached the boat his +fairy woman was there before him. So he stepped on board, the hound +followed, and the boat immediately began to swim on. + +"Why, you have not bought any new clothes!" said Jack to his slave. + +"No, master," answered the fairy woman; "but I have bought what I +wanted." And she took out of her pocket a little tiny piece of +purple ribbon, with a gold-colored satin edge, and a very small +tortoise-shell comb. + +When Jack saw these he was vexed, and said, "What do you mean by being +so silly? I can't scold you properly, because I don't know what name +to call you by, and I don't like to say 'Slave,' because that sounds +so rude. Why, this bit of ribbon is such a little bit that it's of no +use at all. It's not large enough even to make one mitten of." + +"Isn't it?" said the slave. "Just take hold of it, master, and let us +see if it will stretch." + +So Jack did. And she pulled, and he pulled, and very soon the silk had +stretched till it was nearly as large as a handkerchief; and then she +shook it, and they pulled again. "This is very good fun," said Jack; +"why now it is as large as an apron." + +So she shook it again, and gave it a twitch here and a pat there; and +then they pulled again, and the silk suddenly stretched so wide that +Jack was very nearly falling overboard. So Jack's slave pulled off her +ragged gown and apron, and put it on. It was a most beautiful robe of +purple silk; it had a gold border, and it just fitted her. + +[Illustration: JACK'S SLAVE. + +"These are fairies," said Jack's slave; "but what are you?"--PAGE 99.] + +"That will do," she said. And then she took out the little tortoise-shell +comb, pulled off her cap, and threw it into the river. She had a little +knot of soft, gray hair, and she let it down, and began to comb. And as +she combed the hair got much longer and thicker, till it fell in waves +all about her throat. Then she combed again, and it all turned +gold-color, and came tumbling down to her waist; and then she stood up +in the boat, and combed once more, and shook out the hair, and there was +such a quantity that it reached down to her feet, and she was so +covered with it that you could not see one bit of her, excepting her +eyes, which peeped out, and looked bright and full of tears. + +Then she began to gather up her lovely locks; and when she had dried +her eyes with them, she said, "Master, do you know what you have done? +look at me now!" So she threw back the hair from her face, and it was +a beautiful young face; and she looked so happy that Jack was glad he +had bought her with his half-crown,--so glad that he could not help +crying, and the fair slave cried too; and then instantly the little +fairies woke, and sprang out of Jack's pockets. As they did so, +Jovinian cried out, "Madam, I am your most humble servant"; and +Roxaletta said, "I hope your Grace is well"; but the third got on +Jack's knee, and took hold of the buttons of his waistcoat, and when +the lovely slave looked at her, she hid her face and blushed with +pretty childish shyness. + +"These are fairies," said Jack's slave; "but what are you?" + +"Jack kissed me," said the little thing; "and I want to sit on his +knee." + +"Yes," said Jack; "I took them out, and laid them in a row, to see +that they were safe, and this one I kissed, because she looked such a +little dear." + +"Was she not like the others, then?" asked the slave. + +"Yes," said Jack; "but I liked her the best; she was my favorite." + +Now, the instant these three fairies sprang out of Jack's pockets, +they got very much larger; in fact, they became fully grown,--that is +to say, they measured exactly one foot one inch in height, which, as +most people know, is exactly the proper height for fairies of that +tribe. The two who had sprung out first were very beautifully dressed. +One had a green velvet coat, and a sword, the hilt of which was +incrusted with diamonds. The second had a white spangled robe, and the +loveliest rubies and emeralds round her neck and in her hair; but the +third, the one who sat on Jack's knee, had a white frock and a blue +sash on. She had soft, fat arms, and a face just like that of a sweet +little child. + +When Jack's slave saw this, she took the little creature on her +knee, and said to her, "How comes it that you are not like your +companions?" + +And she answered, in a pretty lisping voice, "It's because Jack kissed +me." + +"Even so it must be," answered the slave; "the love of a mortal works +changes indeed. It is not often that we win anything so precious. +Here, master, let her sit on your knee sometimes, and take care of +her, for she cannot now take the same care of herself that others of +her race are capable of." + +So Jack let little Mopsa sit on his knee; and when he was tired of +admiring his slave, and wondering at the respect with which the other +two fairies treated her, and at their cleverness in getting +water-lilies for her, and fanning her with feathers, he curled himself +up in the bottom of the boat with his own little favorite, and taught +her how to play at cat's-cradle. + +When they had been playing some time, and Mopsa was getting quite +clever at the game, the lovely slave said, "Master, it is a long time +since you spoke to me." + +"And yet," said Jack, "there is something that I particularly want to +ask you about." + +"Ask it then," she replied. + +"I don't like to have a slave," answered Jack; "and as you are so +clever, don't you think you can find out how to be free again?" + +"I am very glad you asked me about that," said the fairy woman. "Yes, +master, I wish very much to be free; and as you were so kind as to +give the most valuable piece of real money you possessed in order to +buy me, I can be free if you can think of anything that you really +like better than that half-crown, and if I can give it you." + +"Oh, there are many things," said Jack. "I like going up this river +to Fairyland much better." + +"But you are going there, master," said the fairy woman; "you were on +the way before I met with you." + +"I like this little child better," said Jack; "I love this little +Mopsa. I should like her to belong to me." + +"She is yours," answered the fairy woman; "she belongs to you already. +Think of something else." + +Jack thought again, and was so long about it that at last the +beautiful slave said to him, "Master, do you see those purple +mountains?" + +Jack turned round in the boat, and saw a splendid range of purple +mountains, going up and up. They were very great and steep, each had a +crown of snow, and the sky was very red behind them, for the sun was +going down. + +"At the other side of those mountains is Fairyland," said the slave; +"but if you cannot think of something that you should like better to +have than your half-crown, I can never enter in. The river flows +straight up to yonder steep precipice, and there is a chasm in it +which pierces it, and through which the river runs down beneath, among +the very roots of the mountains, till it comes out at the other side. +Thousands and thousands of the small people will come when they see +the boat, each with a silken thread in his hand; but if there is a +slave in it, not all their strength and skill can tow it through. Look +at those rafts on the river; on them are the small people coming up." + +Jack looked, and saw that the river was spotted with rafts, on which +were crowded brown fairy sailors, each one with three green stripes on +his sleeve, which looked like good conduct marks. All these sailors +were chattering very fast, and the rafts were coming down to meet the +boat. + +"All these sailors to tow my slave!" said Jack. "I wonder, I do +wonder, what you are?" But the fairy woman only smiled, and Jack went +on: "I have thought of something that I should like much better than +my half-crown. I should like to have a little tiny bit of that purple +gown of yours with the gold border." + +Then the fairy woman said, "I thank you, master. Now I can be free." +So she told Jack to lend her his knife, and with it she cut off a very +small piece of the skirt of her robe, and gave it to him. "Now mind," +she said, "I advise you never to stretch this unless you want to make +some particular thing of it, for then it will only stretch to the +right size; but if you merely begin to pull it for your own amusement, +it will go on stretching and stretching, and I don't know where it +will stop." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A STORY. + + In the night she told a story, + In the night and all night through, + While the moon was in her glory, + And the branches dropped with dew. + + 'Twas my life she told, and round it + Rose the years as from a deep; + In the world's great heart she found it, + Cradled like a child asleep. + + In the night I saw her weaving + By the misty moonbeam cold, + All the weft her shuttle cleaving + With a sacred thread of gold. + + Ah! she wept me tears of sorrow, + Lulling tears so mystic sweet; + Then she wove my last to-morrow, + And her web lay at my feet. + + Of my life she made the story: + I must weep--so soon 'twas told! + But your name did lend it glory, + And your love its thread of gold! + + +By this time, as the sun had gone down, and none of the moons had +risen, it would have been dark but that each of the rafts was rigged +with a small mast that had a lantern hung to it. + +By the light of these lanterns Jack saw crowds of little brown faces; +and presently many rafts had come up to the boat, which was now +swimming very slowly. Every sailor in every raft fastened to the +boat's side a silken thread; then the rafts were rowed to shore, and +the sailors jumped out, and began to tow the boat along. + +[Illustration: A STORY.--PAGE 106.] + +These crimson threads looked no stronger than the silk that ladies sew +with, yet by means of them the small people drew the boat along +merrily. There were so many of them that they looked like an army as +they marched in the light of the lanterns and torches. Jack thought +they were very happy, though the work was hard, for they shouted and +sang. + +The fairy woman looked more beautiful than ever now, and far more +stately. She had on a band of precious stones to bind back her hair, +and they shone so brightly in the night that her features could be +clearly seen. + +Jack's little favorite was fast asleep, and the other two fairies had +flown away. He was beginning to feel rather sleepy himself, when he +was roused by the voice of his free lady, who said to him, "Jack, +there is no one listening now, so I will tell you my story. I am the +Fairy Queen!" + +Jack opened his eyes very wide, but he was so much surprised that he +did not say a word. + +"One day, long, long ago," said the Queen, "I was discontented with my +own happy country. I wished to see the world, so I set forth with a +number of the one-foot-one fairies, and went down the wonderful river, +thinking to see the world. + +"So we sailed down the river till we came to that town which you know +of; and there, in the very middle of the stream, stood a tower,--a +tall tower, built upon a rock. + +"Fairies are afraid of nothing but of other fairies, and we did not +think this tower was fairy-work, so we left our ship and went up the +rock and into the tower, to see what it was like; but just as we had +descended into the dungeon keep, we heard the gurgling of water +overhead, and down came the tower. It was nothing but water enchanted +into the likeness of stone, and we all fell down with it into the very +bed of the river. + +"Of course we were not drowned, but there we were obliged to lie, for +we have no power out of our own element; and the next day the +towns-people came down with a net and dragged the river, picked us all +out of the meshes, and made us slaves. The one-foot-one fairies got +away shortly; but from that day to this, in sorrow and distress, I +have had to serve my masters. Luckily, my crown had fallen off in the +water, so I was not known to be the Queen; but till you came, Jack, I +had almost forgotten that I had ever been happy and free, and I had +hardly any hope of getting away." + +"How sorry your people must have been," said Jack, "when they found +you did not come home again." + +"No," said the Queen: "they only went to sleep, and they will not wake +till to-morrow morning, when I pass in again. They will think I have +been absent for a day, and so will the apple-woman. You must not +undeceive them; if you do, they will be very angry." + +"And who is the apple-woman?" inquired Jack; but the Queen blushed, +and pretended not to hear the question, so he repeated,-- + +"Queen, who is the apple-woman?" + +"I've only had her for a very little while," said the Queen, +evasively. + +"And how long do you think you have been a slave. Queen?" asked Jack. + +"I don't know," said the Queen. "I have never been able to make up my +mind about that." + +And now all the moons began to shine, and all the trees lighted +themselves up, for almost every leaf had a glowworm or a fire-fly on +it, and the water was full of fishes that had shining eyes. And now +they were close to the steep mountain side; and Jack looked and saw an +opening in it, into which the river ran. It was a kind of cave, +something like a long, long church with a vaulted roof, only the +pavement of it was that magic river, and a narrow towing-path ran on +either side. + +As they entered the cave there was a hollow, murmuring sound, and the +Queen's crown became so bright that it lighted up the whole boat; at +the same time she began to tell Jack a wonderful story, which he liked +very much to hear, but every fresh thing she said he forgot what had +gone before; and at last, though he tried very hard to listen, he was +obliged to go to sleep; and he slept soundly, and never dreamed of +anything, till it was morning. + +He saw such a curious sight when he woke! They had been going through +this underground cavern all night, and now they were approaching its +opening on the other side. This opening, because they were a good way +from it yet, looked like a lovely little round window of blue and +yellow and green glass, but as they drew on he could see far-off +mountains, blue sky, and a country all covered with sunshine. + +He heard singing, too, such as fairies make; and he saw some beautiful +people, such as those fairies whom he had brought with him. They were +coming along the towing-path. They were all lady fairies; but they +were not very polite, for as each one came up she took a silken rope +out of a brown sailor's hand, and gave him a shove which pushed him +into the water. In fact, the water became filled with such swarms of +these sailors that the boat could hardly get on. But the poor little +brown fellows did not seem to mind this conduct, for they plunged and +shook themselves about, scattering a good deal of spray. Then they all +suddenly dived, and when they came up again they were ducks,--nothing +but brown ducks, I assure you, with green stripes on their wings; and +with a great deal of quacking and floundering, they all began to swim +back again as fast as they could. + +Then Jack was a good deal vexed, and he said to himself, "If nobody +thanks the ducks for towing us I will"; so he stood up in the boat and +shouted, "Thank you, ducks; we are very much obliged to you!" But +neither the Queen nor these new towers took the least notice, and +gradually the boat came out of that dim cave and entered Fairyland, +while the river became so narrow that you could hear the song of the +towers quite easily; those on the right bank sang the first verse, and +those on the left bank answered:-- + + Drop, drop from the leaves of lign aloes, + O honey-dew! drop from the tree. + Float up through your clear river shallows, + White lilies, beloved of the bee. + + Let the people, O Queen! say, and bless thee, + Her bounty drops soft as the dew, + And spotless in honor confess thee, + As lilies are spotless in hue. + + On the roof stands yon white stork awaking, + His feathers flush rosy the while, + For, lo! from the blushing east breaking, + The sun sheds the bloom of his smile. + + Let them boast of thy word, "It is certain; + We doubt it no more," let them say, + "Than to-morrow that night's dusky curtain + Shall roll back its folds for the day." + +"Master," whispered the old hound, who was lying at Jack's feet. + +"Well," said Jack. + +"They didn't invent that song themselves," said the hound; "the old +apple-woman taught it to them,--the woman whom they love because she +can make them cry." + +Jack was rather ashamed of the hound's rudeness in saying this; but +the Queen took no notice. And now they had reached a little +landing-place, which ran out a few feet into the river, and was +strewed thickly with cowslips and violets. + +[Illustration: THE QUEEN. + +"Here the boat stopped, and the Queen rose and got out."--PAGE 114.] + +Here the boat stopped, and the Queen rose and got out. + +Jack watched her. A whole crowd of one-foot-one fairies came down a +garden to meet her, and he saw them conduct her to a beautiful tent, +with golden poles and a silken covering; but nobody took the slightest +notice of him, or of little Mopsa, or of the hound, and after a long +silence the hound said, "Well, master, don't you feel hungry? Why +don't you go with the others and have some breakfast?" + +"The Queen didn't invite me," said Jack. + +"But do you feel as if you couldn't go?" asked the hound. + +"Of course not," answered Jack; "but perhaps I may not." + +"Oh, yes, master," replied the hound; "whatever you _can_ do in +Fairyland you _may_ do." + +"Are you sure of that?" asked Jack. + +"Quite sure, master," said the hound; "and I am hungry too." + +"Well," said Jack, "I will go there and take Mopsa. She shall ride on +my shoulder; you may follow." + +So he walked up that beautiful garden till he came to the great tent. +A banquet was going on inside. All the one-foot-one fairies sat down +the sides of the table, and at the top sat the Queen on a larger +chair; and there were two empty chairs, one on each side of her. + +Jack blushed; but the hound whispering again, "Master, whatever you +can do you may do," he came slowly up the table towards the Queen, who +was saying, as he drew near, "Where is our trusty and well-beloved, +the apple-woman?" And she took no notice of Jack; so, though he could +not help feeling rather red and ashamed, he went and sat in the chair +beside her with Mopsa still on his shoulder. Mopsa laughed for joy +when she saw the feast. The Queen said, "O Jack, I am so glad to see +you!" and some of the one-foot-one fairies cried out, "What a +delightful little creature that is! She can laugh! Perhaps she can +also cry!" + +Jack looked about, but there was no seat for Mopsa; and he was afraid +to let her run about on the floor, lest she should be hurt. + +There was a very large dish standing before the Queen; for though the +people were small, the plates and dishes were exactly like those we +use, and of the same size. + +This dish was raised on a foot, and filled with grapes and peaches. +Jack wondered at himself for doing it, but he saw no other place for +Mopsa; so he took out the fruit, laid it round the dish, and set his +own little one-foot-one in the dish. + +Nobody looked in the least surprised; and there she sat very happily, +biting an apple with her small white teeth. + +Then, as they brought him nothing to eat, Jack helped himself from +some of the dishes before him, and found that a fairy breakfast was +very nice indeed. + +In the meantime there was a noise outside, and in stumped an elderly +woman. She had very thick boots on, a short gown of red print, an +orange cotton handkerchief over her shoulders, and a black silk +bonnet. She was exactly the same height as the Queen,--for of course +nobody in Fairyland is allowed to be any bigger than the Queen; so, if +they are not children when they arrive, they are obliged to shrink. + +"How are you, dear?" said the Queen. + +"I am as well as can be expected," answered the apple-woman, sitting +down in the empty chair. "Now, then, where's my tea? They're never +ready with my cup of tea." + +Two attendants immediately brought a cup of tea, and set it down +before the apple-woman, with a plate of bread and butter; and she +proceeded to pour it into the saucer, and blow it, because it was hot. +In so doing her wandering eyes caught sight of Jack and little Mopsa, +and she set down the saucer, and looked at them with attention. + +Now Mopsa, I am sorry to say, was behaving so badly that Jack was +quite ashamed of her. First, she got out of her dish, took something +nice out of the Queen's plate with her fingers, and ate it; and then, +as she was going back, she tumbled over a melon, and upset a glass of +red wine, which she wiped up with her white frock; after which she got +into her dish again, and there she sat smiling, and daubing her pretty +face with a piece of buttered muffin. + +"Mopsa," said Jack, "you are very naughty; if you behave in this way, +I shall never take you out to parties again." + +"Pretty lamb!" said the apple-woman; "It's just like a child." And +then she burst into tears, and exclaimed, sobbing, "It's many a long +day since I've seen a child. Oh dear! oh deary me!" + +Upon this, to the astonishment of Jack, every one of the guests began +to cry and sob too. + +"Oh dear! oh dear!" they said to one another, "we're crying; we can +cry just as well as men and women. Isn't it delightful? What a luxury +it is to cry, to be sure!" + +They were evidently quite proud of it; and when Jack looked at the +Queen for an explanation, she only gave him a still little smile. + +But Mopsa crept along the table to the apple-woman, let her take her +and hug her, and seemed to like her very much; for as she sat on her +knee, she patted her brown face with a little dimpled hand. + +"I should like vastly well to be her nurse," said the apple-woman, +drying her eyes, and looking at Jack. + +"If you'll always wash her, and put clean frocks on her, you may," +said Jack; "for just look at her,--what a figure she is already!" + +Upon this the apple-woman laughed for joy, and again every one else +did the same. The fairies can only laugh and cry when they see mortals +do so. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +AFTER THE PARTY. + + _Stephano._--This will prove a brave kingdom to me, + Where I shall have my music for nothing. + + _The Tempest._ + + +When breakfast was over, the guests got up, one after the other, +without taking the least notice of the Queen; and the tent began to +get so thin and transparent that you could see the trees and the sky +through it. At last, it looked only like a colored mist, with blue, +and green, and yellow stripes, and then it was gone; and the table and +all the things on it began to go in the same way. Only Jack, and the +apple-woman, and Mopsa were left, sitting on their chairs, with the +Queen between them. + +Presently, the Queen's lips began to move, and her eyes looked +straight before her, as she sat upright in her chair. Whereupon the +apple-woman snatched up Mopsa, and, seizing Jack's hand, hurried him +off, exclaiming, "Come away! come away! She is going to tell one of +her stories; and if you listen, you'll be obliged to go to sleep, and +sleep nobody knows how long." + +Jack did not want to go to sleep; he wished to go down to the river +again, and see what had become of his boat, for he had left his cap +and several other things in it. + +So he parted from the apple-woman,--who took Mopsa with her, and said +he would find her again when he wanted her at her apple-stall,--and +went down to the boat, where he saw that his faithful hound was there +before him. + +"It was lucky, master, that I came when I did," said the hound, "for a +dozen or so of those one-foot-one fellows were just shoving it off, +and you will want it at night to sleep in." + +"Yes," said Jack; "and I can stretch the bit of purple silk to make a +canopy over head,--a sort of awning,--for I should not like to sleep +in tents or palaces that are inclined to melt away." + +So the hound with his teeth, and Jack with his hands, pulled and +pulled at the silk till it was large enough to make a splendid canopy, +like a tent; and it reached down to the water's edge, and roofed in +all the after part of the boat. + +So now he had a delightful little home of his own; and there was no +fear of its being blown away, for no wind ever blows in Fairyland. All +the trees are quite still, no leaf rustles, and the flowers lie on the +ground exactly where they fall. + +After this Jack told the hound to watch his boat, and went himself in +search of the apple-woman. Not one fairy was to be seen, any more than +if he had been in his own country, and he wandered down the green +margin of the river till he saw the apple-woman sitting at a small +stall with apples on it, and cherries tied to sticks, and some +dry-looking nuts. She had Mopsa on her knee, and had washed her face, +and put a beautiful clean white frock on her. + +"Where are all the fairies gone to?" asked Jack. + +"I never take any notice of that common trash and their doings," she +answered. "When the Queen takes to telling her stories they are +generally frightened, and go and sit in the tops of the trees." + +"But you seem very fond of Mopsa," said Jack, "and she is one of them. +You will help me to take care of her, won't you, tills she grows a +little older?" + +"Grows!" said the apple-woman, laughing. "Grows! Why you don't think, +surely, that she will ever be any different from what she is now?" + +"I thought she would grow up," said Jack. + +"They never change so long as they last," answered the apple-woman, +"when once they are one-foot-one high." + +"Mopsa," said Jack, "come here, and I'll measure you." + +Mopsa came dancing towards Jack, and he tried to measure her, first +with a yard measure that the apple-woman took out of her pocket, and +then with a stick, and then with a bit of string; but Mopsa would not +stand steady, and at last it ended in their having a good game of +romps together, and a race; but when he carried her back, sitting on +his shoulder, he was sorry to see that the apple-woman was crying +again, and he asked her kindly what she did it for. + +"It is because," she answered, "I shall never see my own country any +more, nor any men and women and children, excepting such as by a rare +chance stray in for a little while as you have done." + +"I can go back whenever I please," said Jack. "Why don't you?" + +"Because I came in of my own good-will, after I had had fair warning +that if I came at all it would end in my staying always. Besides, I +don't know that I exactly wish to go home again: I should be afraid." + +"Afraid of what?" asked Jack. + +"Why, there's the rain and the cold, and not having anything to eat +excepting what you earn. And yet," said the apple-woman, "I have three +boys of my own at home; one of them must be nearly a man by this time, +and the youngest is about as old as you are. If I went home I might +find one or more of those boys in jail, and then how miserable I +should be." + +"But you are not happy as it is," said Jack. "I have seen you cry." + +"Yes," said the apple-woman; "but now I live here I don't care about +anything so much as I used to do. 'May I have a satin gown and a +coach?' I asked, when first I came. 'You may have a hundred and fifty +satin gowns if you like,' said the Queen, 'and twenty coaches with six +cream-colored horses to each.' But when I had been here a little time, +and found I could have everything I wished for, and change it as +often as I pleased, I began not to care for anything; and at last I +got so sick of all their grand things that I dressed myself in my own +clothes that I came in, and made up my mind to have a stall and sit at +it, as I used to do, selling apples. And I used to say to myself, 'I +have but to wish with all my heart to go home, and I can go, I know +that;' but oh dear! oh dear! I couldn't wish enough, for it would come +into my head that I should be poor, or that my boys would have +forgotten me, or that my neighbors would look down on me, and so I +always put off wishing for another day. Now here is the Queen coming. +Sit down on the grass and play with Mopsa. Don't let her see us +talking together, lest she should think I have been telling you things +which you ought not to know." + +Jack looked, and saw the Queen coming slowly towards them, with her +hands held out before her, as if it was dark. She felt her way, yet +her eyes were wide open, and she was telling her stories all the +time. + +"Don't you listen to a word she says," whispered the apple-woman; and +then, in order that Jack might not hear what the Queen was talking +about, she began to sing. + +She had no sooner begun than up from the river came swarms of +one-foot-one fairies to listen, and hundreds of them dropped down from +the trees. The Queen, too, seemed to attend as they did, though she +kept murmuring her story all the time; and nothing that any of them +did appeared to surprise the apple-woman,--she sang as if nobody was +taking any notice at all:-- + + When I sit on market-days amid the comers and the goers, + Oh! full oft I have a vision of the days without alloy, + And a ship comes up the river with a jolly gang of towers, + And a "pull'e haul'e, pull'e haul'e, yoy! heave, hoy!" + + There is busy talk around me, all about mine ears it hummeth, + But the wooden wharves I look on, and a dancing, heaving buoy, + For 'tis tidetime in the river, and she cometh--oh, she cometh! + With a "pull'e haul'e, pull'e haul'e, yoy! heave, hoy!" + + Then I hear the water washing, never golden waves were brighter, + And I hear the capstan creaking--'tis a sound that cannot cloy. + Bring her to, to ship her lading, brig or schooner, sloop or + lighter, + With a "pull'e haul'e, pull'e haule, yoy! heave, hoy!" + + "Will ye step aboard, my dearest? for the high seas lie before us." + So I sailed adown the river in those days without alloy. + We are launched! But when, I wonder, shall a sweeter sound float + o'er us + Than yon "pull'e haul'e, pull'e haul'e, yoy! heave, hoy!" + +As the apple-woman left off singing, the Queen moved away, still +murmuring the words of her story, and Jack said,-- + +"Does the Queen tell stories of what has happened, or of what is going +to happen?" + +"Why, of what is going to happen, of course," replied the woman. +"Anybody could tell the other sort." + +"Because I heard a little of it," observed Jack. "I thought she was +talking of me. She said 'So he took the measure, and Mopsa stood +still for once, and he found she was only one foot high, and she grew +a great deal after that. Yes, she can grow.'" + +"That's a fine hearing, and a strange hearing," said the apple-woman; +"and what did she mutter next?" + +"Of how she heard me sobbing," replied Jack; "and while you went on +about stepping on board the ship, she said, 'He was very good to me, +dear little fellow! But Fate is the name of my old mother, and she +reigns here. Oh, she reigns! The fatal F is in her name, and I cannot +take it out!'" + +"Ah!" replied the apple-woman, "they all say that, and that they are +fays, and that mortals call their history fable; they are always +crying out for an alphabet without the fatal F." + +"And then she told how she heard Mopsa sobbing too," said Jack; +"sobbing among the reeds and rushes by the river side." + +"There are no reeds, and no rushes either, here," said the +apple-woman, "and I have walked the river from end to end. I don't +think much of that part of the story. But you are sure she said that +Mopsa was short of her proper height?" + +"Yes, and that she would grow; but that's nothing. In my country we +always grow." + +"Hold your tongue about you country!" said the apple-woman, sharply. +"Do you want to make enemies of them all?" + +Mopsa had been listening to this, and now she said, "I don't love the +Queen. She slapped my arm as she went by, and it hurts." + +Mopsa showed her little fat arm as she spoke, and there was a red +place on it. + +"That's odd, too," said the apple-woman; "there's nothing red in a +common fairy's veins. They have sap in them: that's why they can't +blush." + +Just then the sun went down, and Mopsa got up on the apple-woman's +lap, and went to sleep; and Jack, being tired, went to his boat and +lay down under the purple canopy, his old hound lying at his feet to +keep guard over him. + +The next morning, when he woke, a pretty voice called to him, "Jack! +Jack!" and he opened his eyes and saw Mopsa. The apple-woman had +dressed her in a clean frock and blue shoes, and her hair was so long! +She was standing on the landing-place, close to him. "O Jack! I'm so +big," she said. "I grew in the night; look at me." + +Jack looked. Yes, Mopsa had grown indeed; she had only just reached to +his knee the day before, and now her little bright head, when he +measured her, came as high as the second button of his waistcoat. + +"But I hope you will not go on growing so fast as this," said Jack, +"or you will be as tall as my mamma is in a week or two,--much too big +for me to play with." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MOPSA LEARNS HER LETTERS. + + A----apple-pie. + B----bit it. + + +"How ashamed I am," Jack said, "to think that you don't know even your +letters!" + +Mopsa replied that she thought that did not signify, and then she and +Jack began to play at jumping from the boat on to the bank, and back +again; and afterwards, as not a single fairy could be seen, they had +breakfast with the apple-woman. + +"Where is the Queen?" asked Jack. + +The apple-woman answered, "It's not the fashion to ask questions in +Fairyland." + +"That's a pity," said Jack, "for there are several things that I +particularly want to know about this country. Mayn't I even ask how +big it is?" + +"How big?" said Mopsa,--little Mopsa looking as wise as possible. +"Why, the same size as your world, of course." + +Jack laughed. "It's the same world that you call yours," continued +Mopsa; "and when I'm a little older, I'll explain it all to you." + +"If it's our world," said Jack, "why are none of us in it, excepting +me and the apple-woman?" + +"That's because you've got something in your world that you call +TIME," said Mopsa; "so you talk about NOW, and you talk about THEN." + +"And don't you?" asked Jack. + +"I do if I want to make you understand," said Mopsa. + +The apple-woman laughed, and said, "To think of the pretty thing +talking so queen-like already! Yes, that's right, and just what the +grown-up fairies say. Go on, and explain it to him if you can." + +"You know," said Mopsa, "that your people say there was a time when +there were none of them in the world,--a time before they were made. +Well, THIS is that time. This is long ago." + +"Nonsense!" said Jack. "Then how do I happen to be here?" + +"Because," said Mopsa, "when the albatross brought you, she did not +fly with you a long way off, but a long way back,--hundreds and +hundreds of years. This is your world, as you can see; but none of +your people are here, because they are not made yet. I don't think any +of them will be made for a thousand years." + +"But I saw the old ships," answered Jack, "in the enchanted bay." + +"That was a border country," said Mopsa. "I was asleep while you went +through those countries; but these are the real Fairylands." + +Jack was very much surprised when he heard Mopsa say these strange +things; and as he looked at her, he felt that a sleep was coming over +him, and he could not hold up his head. He felt how delightful it was +to go to sleep; and though the apple-woman sprang to him, when she +observed that he was shutting his eyes, and though he heard her +begging and entreating him to keep awake, he did not want to do so; +but he let his head sink down on the mossy grass, which was as soft as +a pillow, and there, under the shade of a Guelder rose-tree, that kept +dropping its white flowerets all over him, he had this dream: + +He thought that Mopsa came running up to him, as he stood by the +river, and that he said to her, "Oh, Mopsa, how old we are! We have +lived back to the times before Adam and Eve!" + +"Yes," said Mopsa; "but I don't feel old. Let us go down the river, +and see what we can find." + +So they got into the boat, and it floated into the middle of the +river, and then made for the opposite bank, where the water was warm +and very muddy, and the river became so very wide that it seemed to be +afternoon when they got near enough to see it clearly; and what they +saw was a boggy country, green, and full of little rills; but the +water,--which, as I told you, was thick and muddy,--the water was full +of small holes! You never saw water with eyelet-holes in it; but Jack +did. On all sides of the boat he saw holes moving about in pairs, and +some were so close that he looked and saw their lining: they were +lined with pink, and they snorted! Jack was afraid, but he considered +that this was such a long time ago that the holes, whatever they were, +could not hurt him; but it made him start, notwithstanding, when a +huge flat-head reared itself up close to the boat, and he found that +the holes were the nostrils of creatures who kept all the rest of +themselves under water. + +In a minute or two, hundreds of ugly flat-heads popped up, and the +boat danced among them as they floundered about in the water. + +"I hope they won't upset us," said Jack. "I wish you would land." + +Mopsa said she would rather not, because she did not like the hairy +elephants. + +"There are no such things as hairy elephants," said Jack, in his +dream; but he had hardly spoken when out of a wood close at hand some +huge creatures, far larger than our elephants, came jogging down to +the water. There were forty or fifty of them, and they were covered +with what looked like tow. In fact, so coarse was their shaggy hair +that they looked as if they were dressed in door-mats; and when they +stood still and shook themselves, such clouds of dust flew out that, +as it swept over the river, it almost stifled Jack and Mopsa. + +"Odious!" exclaimed Jack, sneezing. "What terrible creatures these +are!" + +"Well," answered Mopsa, at the other end of the boat (but he could +hardly see her for the dust), "then why do you dream of them?" + +Jack had just decided to dream of something else, when, with a noise +greater than fifty trumpets, the elephants, having shaken out all the +dust, came thundering down to the water to bathe in the liquid mud. +They shook the whole country as they plunged; but that was not all. +The awful river-horses rose up, and, with shrill screams, fell upon +them, and gave them battle; while up from every rill peeped above the +rushes frogs as large as oxen, and with blue and green eyes that +gleamed like the eyes of cats. + +The frogs croaking, and the shrill trumpeting of the elephants, +together with the cries of the river-horses, as all these creatures +fought with horn and tusk, and fell on one another, lashing the water +into whirlpools, among which the boat danced up and down like a +cork,--the blinding spray, and the flapping about of great bats over +the boat and in it,--so confused Jack, that Mopsa had spoken to him +several times before he answered. + +"O Jack!" she said, at last; "if you can't dream any better, I must +call the Craken." + +"Very well," said Jack. "I'm almost wrapped up and smothered in bats' +wings, so call anything you please." + +Thereupon Mopsa whistled softly, and in a minute or two he saw, almost +spanning the river, a hundred yards off, a thing like a rainbow, or a +slender bridge, or still more, like one ring or coil of an enormous +serpent; and presently the creature's head shot up like a fountain, +close to the boat, almost as high as a ship's mast. It was the Craken; +and when Mopsa saw it, she began to cry, and said, "We are caught in +this crowd of creatures, and we cannot get away from the land of +dreams. Do help us, Craken!" + +Some of the bats that hung to the edges of the boat had wings as large +as sails; and the first thing the Craken did was to stoop its lithe +neck, pick two or three of them off, and eat them. + +"You can swim your boat home under my coils where the water is calm," +the Craken said, "for she is so extremely old now, that if you do not +take care she will drop to pieces before you get back to the present +time." + +Jack knew it was of no use saying anything to this formidable +creature, before whom the river-horses and the elephants were rushing +to the shore; but when he looked and saw down the river rainbow behind +rainbow,--I mean coil behind coil,--glittering in the sun, like so +many glorious arches that did not reach to the banks, he felt +extremely glad that this was a dream, and besides that, he thought to +himself, "It's only a fabled monster." + +"No, it's only a fable to these times," said Mopsa, answering his +thought; "but in spite of that we shall have to go through all the +rings." + +They went under one,--silver, green, and blue, and gold. The water +dripped from it upon them, and the boat trembled, either because of +its great age, or because it felt the rest of the coil underneath. + +A good way off was another coil, and they went so safely under that, +that Jack felt himself getting used to Crakens, and not afraid. Then +they went under thirteen more. These kept getting nearer and nearer +together, but, besides that, the fourteenth had not quite such a high +span as the former ones; but there were a great many to come, and yet +they got lower and lower. + +Both Jack and Mopsa noticed this, but neither said a word. The +thirtieth coil brushed Jack's cap off, then they had to stoop to pass +under the two next, and then they had to lie down in the bottom of the +boat, and they got through with the greatest difficulty; but still +before them was another! The boat was driving straight towards it, and +it lay so close to the water that the arch it made was only a foot +high. When Jack saw it, he called out, "No! that I cannot bear. +Somebody else may do the rest of this dream. I shall jump overboard." + +Mopsa seemed to answer in quite a pleasant voice, as if she was not +afraid,-- + +"No, you'd much better wake." And then she went on, "Jack! Jack! why +don't you wake!" + +Then all on a sudden Jack opened his eyes, and found that he was lying +quietly on the grass, that little Mopsa really had asked him why he +did not wake. He saw the Queen too, standing by, looking at him, and +saying to herself, "_I_ did not put him to sleep. _I_ did not put him +to sleep." + +"We don't want any more stories to-day, Queen," said the apple-woman, +in a disrespectful tone, and she immediately began to sing, clattering +some tea-things all the time, for a kettle was boiling on some sticks, +and she was going to make tea out of doors:-- + + The marten flew to the finch's nest, + Feathers, and moss, and a wisp of hay: + "The arrow it sped to thy brown mate's breast; + Low in the broom is thy mate to-day." + + "Liest thou low, love? low in the broom? + Feathers and moss, and a wisp of hay, + Warm the white eggs till I learn his doom." + She beateth her wings, and away, away. + + "Ah, my sweet singer, thy days are told + (Feathers and moss, and a wisp of hay)! + Thine eyes are dim, and the eggs grow cold. + O mournful morrow! O dark to-day!" + + The finch flew back to her cold, cold nest, + Feathers and moss, and a wisp of hay, + Mine is the trouble that rent her breast, + And home is silent, and love is clay. + +Jack felt very tired indeed,--as much tired as if he had really been +out all day on the river, and gliding under the coils of the Craken. +He however rose up, when the apple-woman called him, and drank his +tea, and had some fairy bread with it, which refreshed him very much. + +After tea he measured Mopsa again, and found that she had grown up to +a higher button. She looked much wiser too, and when he said she must +be taught to read she made no objection, so he arranged daisies and +buttercups into the forms of the letters, and she learnt nearly all of +them that one evening, while crowds of the one-foot-one fairies looked +on, hanging from the boughs and sitting in the grass, and shouting +out the names of the letters as Mopsa said them. They were very +polite to Jack, for they gathered all these flowers for him, and +emptied them from their little caps at his feet as fast as he wanted +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +GOOD-MORNING, SISTER. + + Sweet is childhood--childhood's over, + Kiss and part. + Sweet is youth; but youth's a rover-- + So's my heart. + Sweet is rest; but by all showing + Toil is nigh. + We must go. Alas! the going, + Say "good-bye." + + +Jack crept under his canopy, went to sleep early that night, and did +not wake till the sun had risen, when the apple-woman called him, and +said breakfast was nearly ready. + +The same thing never happens twice in Fairyland, so this time the +breakfast was not spread in a tent, but on the river. The Queen had +cut off a tiny piece of her robe, the one-foot-one fairies had +stretched it till it was very large, and then they had spread it on +the water, where it floated and lay like a great carpet of purple and +gold. One corner of it was moored to the side of Jack's boat; but he +had not observed this, because of his canopy. However, that was now +looped up by the apple-woman, and Jack and Mopsa saw what was going +on. + +Hundreds of swans had been towing the carpet along, and were still +holding it with their beaks, while a crowd of doves walked about on +it, smoothing out the creases and patting it with their pretty pink +feet till it was quite firm and straight. The swans then swam away, +and they flew away. + +Presently troops of fairies came down to the landing-place, jumped +into Jack's boat without asking leave, and so got on to the carpet, +while at the same time a great tree which grew on the bank began to +push out fresh leaves, as large as fans, and shoot out long branches, +which again shot out others, till very soon there was shade all over +the carpet,--a thick shadow as good as a tent, which was very +pleasant, for the sun was already hot. + +When the Queen came down, the tree suddenly blossomed out with +thousands of red and white flowers. + +"You must not go on to that carpet," said the apple-woman; "let us sit +still in the boat, and be served here." She whispered this as the +Queen stepped into the boat. + +"Good-morning, Jack," said the Queen. "Good-morning, dear." This was +to the apple-woman; and then she stood still for a moment and looked +earnestly at little Mopsa, and sighed. + +"Well," she said to her, "don't you mean to speak to me?" Then Mopsa +lifted up her pretty face and blushed very rosy red, and said, in a +shy voice, "Good morning----sister." + +"I said so!" exclaimed the Queen; "I said so!" and she lifted up her +beautiful eyes, and murmured out, "What is to be done now?" + +"Never mind, Queen dear," said Jack. "If it was rude of Mopsa to say +that, she is such a little young thing that she does not know +better." + +"It was not rude," said Mopsa, and she laughed and blushed again. "It +was not rude, and I am not sorry." + +As she said this the Queen stepped on to the carpet, and all the +flowers began to drop down. They were something like camellias, and +there were thousands of them. + +The fairies collected them in little heaps. They had no tables and +chairs, nor any plates and dishes for this breakfast; but the Queen +sat down on the carpet close to Jack's boat, and leaned her cheek on +her hand, and seemed to be lost in thought. The fairies put some +flowers into her lap, then each took some, and they all sat down and +looked at the Queen, but she did not stir. + +At last Jack said, "When is the breakfast coming?" + +"This is the breakfast," said the apple-woman; "these flowers are most +delicious eating. You never tasted anything so good in your life; but +we don't begin till the Queen does." + +Quantities of blossoms had dropped into the boat. Several fairies +tumbled into it almost head over heels, they were in such a hurry, and +they heaped them into Mopsa's lap, but took no notice of Jack, nor of +the apple-woman either. + +At last, when every one had waited some time, the Queen pulled a petal +off one flower, and began to eat, so every one else began; and what +the apple-woman had said was quite true. Jack knew that he never had +tasted anything half so nice, and he was quite sorry when he could not +eat any more. So, when every one had finished, the Queen leaned her +arm on the edge of the boat, and, turning her lovely face towards +Mopsa, said, "I want to whisper to you, sister." + +"Oh!" said Mopsa, "I wish I was in Jack's waistcoat pocket again; but +I'm so big now." And she took hold of the two sides of his velvet +jacket, and hid her face between them. + +"My old mother sent a message last night," continued the Queen, in a +soft, sorrowful voice. "She is much more powerful than we are." + +"What is the message?" asked Mopsa; but she still hid her face. + +So the Queen moved over, and put her lips close to Mopsa's ear, and +repeated it: "There cannot be two Queens in one hive." + +"If Mopsa leaves the hive, a fine swarm will go with her," said the +apple-woman. "I shall, for one; that I shall!" + +"No!" answered the Queen. "I hope not, dear; for you know well that +this is my old mother's doing, not mine." + +"Oh!" said Mopsa; "I feel as if I must tell a story too, just as the +Queen does." But the apple-woman broke out in a very cross voice, +"It's not at all like Fairyland, if you go on in this way, and I would +as lieve be out of it as in it." Then she began to sing, that she and +Jack might not hear Mopsa's story:-- + + On the rocks by Aberdeen, + Where the whislin' wave had been, + As I wandered and at e'en + Was eerie; + There I saw thee sailing west, + And I ran with joy opprest-- + Ay, and took out all my best, + My dearie. + + Then I busked mysel' wi' speed, + And the neighbors cried "What need? + 'Tis a lass in any weed + Aye bonny!" + Now my heart, my heart is sair. + What's the good, though I be fair, + For thou'lt never see me mair, + Man Johnnie! + +While the apple-woman sang Mopsa finished her story; and the Queen +untied the fastening which held her carpet to the boat, and went +floating upon it down the river. + +"Good-by," she said, kissing her hand to them. "I must go and prepare +for the deputation." + +So Jack and Mopsa played about all the morning, sometimes in the boat +and sometimes on the shore, while the apple-woman sat on the grass, +with her arms folded, and seemed to be lost in thought. At last she +said to Jack, "What was the name of the great bird that carried you +two here?" + +"I have forgotten," answered Jack. "I've been trying to remember ever +since we heard the Queen tell her first story, but I cannot." + +"I remember," said Mopsa. + +"Tell it then," replied the apple-woman; but Mopsa shook her head. + +"I don't want Jack to go," she answered. + +"I don't want to go, nor that you should," said Jack. + +"But the Queen said, 'there cannot be two queens in one hive,' and +that means that you are going to be turned out of this beautiful +country." + +"The other fairy lands are just as nice," answered Mopsa; "she can +only turn me out of this one." + +"I never heard of more than one Fairyland," observed Jack. + +"It's my opinion," said the apple-woman, "that there are hundreds! And +those one-foot-one fairies are such a saucy set, that if I were you I +should be very glad to get away from them. You've been here a very +little while as yet, and you've no notion what goes on when the leaves +begin to drop." + +"Tell us," said Jack. + +"Well, you must know," answered the apple-woman, "that fairies cannot +abide cold weather; so, when the first rime frost comes, they bury +themselves." + +"Bury themselves?" repeated Jack. + +"Yes, I tell you, they bury themselves. You've seen fairy rings, of +course, even in your own country; and here the fields are full of +them. Well, when it gets cold, a company of fairies forms itself into +a circle, and every one digs a little hole. The first that has +finished jumps into his hole, and his next neighbor covers him up, +and then jumps into his own little hole, and he gets covered up in his +turn, till at last there is only one left, and he goes and joins +another circle, hoping he shall have better luck than to be last +again. I've often asked them why they do that, but no fairy can ever +give a reason for anything. They always say that old Mother Fate makes +them do it. When they come up again, they are not fairies at all, but +the good ones are mushrooms, and the bad ones are toadstools." + +"Then you think there are no one-foot-one fairies in the other +countries," said Jack. + +"Of course not," answered the apple-woman; "all the fairy lands are +different. It's only the queens that are alike." + +"I wish the fairies would not disappear for hours," said Jack. "They +all seem to run off and hide themselves." + +"That's their way," answered the apple-woman. "All fairies are part of +their time in the shape of human creatures, and the rest of it in the +shape of some animal. These can turn themselves, when they please, +into Guinea-fowl. In the heat of the day they generally prefer to be +in that form, and they sit among the leaves of the trees. + +[Illustration: THE APPLE WOMAN. + +"So she began to sing."--PAGE 156.] + +"A great many are now with the Queen, because there is a deputation +coming; but if I were to begin to sing, such a flock of Guinea-hens +would gather round, that the boughs of the trees would bend with their +weight, and they would light on the grass all about so thickly that +not a blade of grass would be seen as far as the song was heard." + +So she began to sing, and the air was darkened by great flocks of +these Guinea-fowl. They alighted just as she had said, and kept time +with their heads and their feet, nodding like a crowd of mandarins; +and yet it was nothing but a stupid old song that you would have +thought could have no particular meaning for them. + + +LIKE A LAVEROCK IN THE LIFT. + + I. + + It's we two, it's we two, it's we two for aye, + All the world and we two, and Heaven be our stay. + Like a laverock in the lift, sing, O bonny bride! + All the world was Adam once, with Eve by his side. + + II. + + What's the world, my lass, my love!--what can it do? + I am thine, and thou art mine; life is sweet and new. + If the world have missed the mark, let it stand by, + For we two have gotten leave, and once more we'll try. + + III. + + Like a laverock in the lift, sing, O bonny bride! + It's we two, it's we two, happy side by side. + Take a kiss from me thy man; now the song begins: + "All is made afresh for us, and the brave heart wins." + + IV. + + When the darker days come, and no sun will shine, + Thou shalt dry my tears, lass, and I'll dry thine. + It's we two, it's we two, while the world's away, + Sitting by the golden sheaves on our wedding-day. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THEY RUN AWAY FROM OLD MOTHER FATE. + + A land that living warmth disowns, + It meets my wondering ken; + A land where all the men are stones, + Or all the stones are men. + + +Before the apple-woman had finished, Jack and Mopsa saw the Queen +coming in great state, followed by thousands of the one-foot-one +fairies, and leading by a ribbon round its neck a beautiful brown doe. +A great many pretty fawns were walking among the fairies. + +"Here's the deputation," said the apple-woman; but as the Guinea-fowl +rose like a cloud at the approach of the Queen, and the fairies and +fawns pressed forward, there was a good deal of noise and confusion, +during which Mopsa stepped up close to Jack, and whispered in his ear, +"Remember, Jack, whatever you can do you may do." + +Then the brown doe laid down at Mopsa's feet, and the Queen began:-- + +"Jack and Mopsa, I love you both. I had a message last night from my +old mother, and I told you what it was." + +"Yes, Queen," said Mopsa, "you did." + +"And now," continued the Queen, "she has sent this beautiful brown doe +from the country beyond the lake, where they are in the greatest +distress for a queen, to offer Mopsa the crown; and, Jack, it is fated +that Mopsa is to reign there, so you had better say no more about +it." + +"I don't want to be a queen," said Mopsa, pouting; "I want to play +with Jack." + +"You are a queen already," answered the real Queen; "at least, you +will be in a few days. You are so much grown, even since the morning, +that you come up nearly to Jack's shoulder. In four days you will be +as tall as I am; and it is quite impossible that any one of fairy +birth should be as tall as a queen in her own country." + +"But I don't see what stags and does can want with a queen," said +Jack. + +"They were obliged to turn into deer," said the Queen, "when they +crossed their own border; but they are fairies when they are at home, +and they want Mopsa, because they are always obliged to have a queen +of alien birth." + +"If I go," said Mopsa, "shall Jack go too?" + +"Oh, no," answered the Queen; "Jack and the apple-woman are my +subjects." + +"Apple-woman," said Jack, "tell us what you think; shall Mopsa go to +this country?" + +"Why, child," said the apple-woman, "go away from here she must; but +she need not go off with the deer, I suppose, unless she likes. They +look gentle and harmless; but it is very hard to get at the truth in +this country, and I've heard queer stories about them." + +"Have you?" said the Queen. "Well, you can repeat them if you like; +but remember that the poor brown doe cannot contradict them." + +So the apple-woman said, "I have heard, but I don't know how true it +is, that in that country they shut up their queen in a great castle, +and cover her with a veil, and never let the sun shine on her; for if +by chance the least little sunbeam should light on her she would turn +into a doe directly, and all the nation would turn with her, and stay +so." + +"I don't want to be shut up in a castle," said Mopsa. + +"But is it true?" asked Jack. + +"Well," said the apple-woman, "as I told you before, I cannot make out +whether it's true or not, for all these stags and fawns look very +mild, gentle creatures." + +"I won't go," said Mopsa; "I would rather run away." + +All this time the Queen with the brown doe had been gently pressing +with the crowd nearer and nearer to the brink of the river, so that +now Jack and Mopsa, who stood facing them, were quite close to the +boat; and while they argued and tried to make Mopsa come away, Jack +suddenly whispered to her to spring into the boat, which she did, and +he after her, and at the same time he cried out,-- + +"Now, boat, if you are my boat, set off as fast as you can, and let +nothing of fairy birth get on board of you." + +No sooner did he begin to speak than the boat swung itself away from +the edge, and almost in a moment it was in the very middle of the +river, and beginning to float gently down with the stream. + +[Illustration: THEY RUN AWAY FROM OLD MOTHER FATE. + +"The boat swung itself away from the edge, and almost in a moment it was +in the very middle of the river."--PAGE 162.] + +Now, as I have told you before, that river runs up the country instead +of down to the sea, so Jack and Mopsa floated still farther up into +Fairyland; and they saw the Queen, and the apple-woman, and all the +crowd of fawns and fairies walking along the bank of the river, +keeping exactly to the same pace that the boat went; and this went on +for hours and hours, so that there seemed to be no chance that Jack +and Mopsa could land; and they heard no voices at all, nor any sound +but the baying of the old hound, who could not swim out to them, +because Jack had forbidden the boat to take anything of fairy birth on +board of her. + +Luckily the bottom of the boat was full of those delicious flowers +that had dropped into it at breakfast-time, so there was plenty of +nice food for Jack and Mopsa; and Jack noticed, when he looked at her +towards evening, that she was now nearly as tall as himself, and that +her lovely brown hair floated down to her ankles. + +"Jack," she said, before it grew dusk, "will you give me your little +purse that has the silver fourpence in it?" + +Now Mopsa had often played with this purse. It was lined with a nice +piece of pale green silk, and when Jack gave it to her she pulled the +silk out, and shook it, and patted it, and stretched it, just as the +Queen had done, and it came into a most lovely cloak, which she tied +round her neck. Then she twisted up her long hair into a coil, and +fastened it round her head, and called to the fire-flies which were +beginning to glitter on the trees to come, and they came and alighted +in a row upon the coil, and turned into diamonds directly. So now +Mopsa had got a crown and a robe, and she was so beautiful that Jack +thought he should never be tired of looking at her; but it was nearly +dark now, and he was so sleepy and tired that he could not keep his +eyes open, though he tried very hard, and he began to blink, and then +he began to nod, and at last he fell fast asleep, and did not awake +till the morning. + +Then he sat up in the boat, and looked about him. A wonderful country, +indeed!--no trees, no grass, no houses, nothing but red stones and red +sand,--and Mopsa was gone. Jack jumped on shore, for the boat had +stopped, and was close to the brink of the river. He looked about for +some time, and at last, in the shadow of a pale brown rock, he found +her; and oh! delightful surprise, the apple-woman was there too. She +was saying, "O my bones! Dearie, dearie me, how they do ache!" That +was not surprising, for she had been out all night. She had walked +beside the river with the Queen and her tribe till they came to a +little tinkling stream, which divides their country from the sandy +land, and there they were obliged to stop; they could not cross it. +But the apple-woman sprang over, and, though the Queen told her she +must come back again in twenty-four hours, she did not appear to be +displeased. Now the Guinea-hens, when they had come to listen, the day +before, to the apple-woman's song, had brought each of them a grain of +maize in her beak, and had thrown it into her apron; so when she got +up she carried it with her gathered up there, and now she had been +baking some delicious little cakes on a fire of dry sticks that the +river had drifted down, and Mopsa had taken a honeycomb from the rock, +so that they all had a very nice breakfast. And the apple-woman gave +them a great deal of good advice, and told them if they wished to +remain in Fairyland, and not be caught by the brown doe and her +followers, they must cross over the purple mountains. "For on the +other side of those peaks," she said, "I have heard that fairies live +who have the best of characters for being kind and just. I am sure +they would never shut up a poor queen in a castle. + +"But the best thing you could do, dear," she said to Mopsa, "would be +to let Jack call the bird, and make her carry you back to his own +country." + +"The Queen is not at all kind," said Jack; "I have been very kind to +her, and she should have let Mopsa stay." + +"No, Jack, she could not," said Mopsa; "but I wish I had not grown so +fast, and I don't like to go to your country. I would rather run +away." + +"But who is to tell us where to run?" asked Jack. + +"Oh," said Mopsa, "some of these people." + +"I don't see anybody," said Jack, looking about him. + +Mopsa pointed to a group of stones, and then to another group, and +as Jack looked he saw that in shape they were something like +people,--stone people. One stone was a little like an old man with +a mantle over him, and he was sitting on the ground with his knees up +nearly to his chin. Another was like a woman with a hood on, and +she seemed to be leaning her chin on her hand. Close to these stood +something very much like a cradle in shape; and beyond were stones +that resembled a flock of sheep lying down on the bare sand, with +something that reminded Jack of the figure of a man lying asleep +near them, with his face to the ground. + +That was a very curious country; all the stones reminded you of people +or of animals, and the shadows that they cast were much more like than +the stones themselves. There were blocks with things that you might +have mistaken for stone ropes twisted round them; but, looking at the +shadows, you could see distinctly that they were trees, and that what +coiled round were snakes. Then there was a rocky prominence, at one +side of which was something like a sitting figure, but its shadow, +lying on the ground, was that of a girl with a distaff. Jack was very +much surprised at all this; Mopsa was not. She did not see, she said, +that one thing was more wonderful than another. All the fairy lands +were wonderful, but the men-and-women world was far more so. She and +Jack went about among the stones all day, and as the sun got low both +the shadows and the blocks themselves became more and more like +people, and if you went close you could now see features, very sweet, +quiet features, but the eyes were all shut. + +By this time the apple-woman began to feel very sad. She knew she +should soon have to leave Jack and Mopsa, and she said to Mopsa, as +they finished their evening meal, "I wish you would ask the +inhabitants a few questions, dear, before I go, for I want to know +whether they can put you in the way how to cross the purple +mountains." + +Jack said nothing, for he thought he would see what Mopsa was going to +do; so when she got up and went towards the shape that was like a +cradle he followed, and the apple-woman too. Mopsa went to the figure +that sat by the cradle. It was a stone yet, but when Mopsa laid her +little warm hand on its bosom it smiled. + +"Dear," said Mopsa, "I wish you would wake." + +A curious little sound was now heard, but the figure did not move, and +the apple-woman lifted Mopsa on to the lap of the statue; then she put +her arms round its neck, and spoke to it again very distinctly: "Dear! +why don't you wake? You had better wake now; the baby's crying." + +Jack now observed that the sound he had heard was something like the +crying of a baby. He also heard the figure answering Mopsa. It said, +"I am only a stone!" + +"Then," said Mopsa, "I am not a queen yet. I cannot wake her. Take me +down." + +"I am not warm," said the figure; and that was quite true, and yet she +was not a stone now which reminded one of a woman, but a woman that +reminded one of a stone. + +All the west was very red with the sunset, and the river was red too, +and Jack distinctly saw some of the coils of rope glide down from the +trees and slip into the water; next he saw the stones that had looked +like sheep raise up their heads in the twilight, and then lift +themselves and shake their woolly sides. At that instant the large +white moon heaved up her pale face between two dark blue hills, and +upon this the statue put out its feet and gently rocked the cradle. + +Then it spoke again to Mopsa: "What was it that you wished me to tell +you?" + +"How to find the way over those purple mountains," said Mopsa. + +"You must set off in an hour, then," said the woman; and she had +hardly anything of the stone about her now. "You can easily find it by +night without any guide, but nothing can ever take you to it by +day." + +"But we would rather stay a few days in this curious country," said +Jack; "let us wait at least till to-morrow night." + +The statue at this moment rubbed her hands together, as if they still +felt cold and stiff. "You are quite welcome to stay," she observed; +"but you had better not." + +"Why not?" persisted Jack. + +"Father," said the woman, rising and shaking the figure next to her by +the sleeve, "Wake up!" What had looked like an old man was a real old +man now, and he got up and began to gather sticks to make a fire, and +to pick up the little brown stones which had been scattered about all +day, but which now were berries of coffee; the larger ones, which you +might find here and there, were rasped rolls. Then the woman answered +Jack, "Why not? Why, because it's full moon to-night at midnight, and +the moment the moon is past the full your Queen, whose country you +have just left, will be able to cross over the little stream, and she +will want to take you and that other mortal back. She can do it, of +course, if she pleases; and we can afford you no protection, for by +that time we shall be stones again. We are only people two hours out +of the twenty-four." + +"That is very hard," observed Jack. + +"No," said the woman, in a tone of indifference; "it comes to the same +thing, as we live twelve times as long as others do." + +By this time the shepherd was gently driving his flock down to the +water, and round fifty little fires groups of people were sitting +roasting coffee, while cows were lowing to be milked, and girls with +distaffs were coming to them slowly, for no one was in a hurry there. +They say in that country that they wish to enjoy their day quietly, +because it is so short. + +"Can you tell us anything of the land beyond the mountains?" asked +Jack. + +"Yes," said the woman. "Of all fairy lands it is the best; the people +are the gentlest and kindest." + +"Then I had better take Mopsa there than down the river?" said Jack. + +"You can't take her down the river," replied the woman; and Jack +thought she laughed and was glad of that. + +"Why not?" asked Jack. "I have a boat." + +"Yes, sir," answered the woman; "but where is it now?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +MELON SEEDS. + + _Rosalind._--Well, this is the forest of Arden. + + _Touchstone._--Ay, now am I in Arden: the more fool I; + when I was at home I was in a better place; but travellers + must be content. + + _As you Like it._ + + +"Where is it now?" said the stone-woman; and when Jack heard that he +ran down to the river, and looked right and looked left. At last he +saw his boat,--a mere speck in the distance, it had floated so far. + +He called it, but it was far beyond the reach of his voice; and Mopsa, +who had followed him, said,-- + +"It does not signify, Jack, for I feel that no place is the right +place for me but that country beyond the purple mountains, and I +shall never be happy unless we go there." + +So they walked back towards the stone-people hand in hand, and the +apple-woman presently joined them. She was crying gently, for she knew +that she must soon pass over the little stream, and part with these +whom she called her dear children. Jack had often spoken to her that +day about going home to her own country, but she said it was too late +to think of that now, and she must end her days in the land of Faery. + +The kind stone-people asked them to come and sit by their little fire; +and in the dusk the woman whose baby had slept in a stone cradle took +it up and began to sing to it. She seemed astonished when she heard +that the apple-woman had power to go home if she could make up her +mind to do it; and as she sang she looked at her with wonder and +pity. + + Little babe, while burns the west, + Warm thee, warm thee in my breast; + While the moon doth shine her best, + And the dews distil not. + + All the land so sad, so fair-- + Sweet its toils are, blest its care. + Child, we may not enter there! + Some there are that will not. + + Fain would I thy margins know, + Land of work, and land of snow; + Land of life, whose rivers flow + On, and on, and stay not. + + Fain would I thy small limbs fold, + While the weary hours are told, + Little babe in cradle cold. + Some there are that may not. + +"You are not exactly fairies, I suppose?" said Jack. "If you were, you +could go to our country when you pleased." + +"No," said the woman; "we are not exactly fairies; but we shall be +more like them when our punishment is over." + +"I am sorry you are punished," answered Jack, "for you seem very nice, +kind people." + +"We were not always kind," answered the woman; "and perhaps we are +only kind now because we have no time, and no chance of being +otherwise. I'm sure I don't know about that. We were powerful once, +and we did a cruel deed. I must not tell you what it was. We were told +that our hearts were all as cold as stones,--and I suppose they +were,--and we were doomed to be stones all our lives, excepting for +the two hours of twilight. There was no one to sow the crops, or water +the grass, so it all failed, and the trees died, and our houses fell, +and our possessions were stolen from us." + +"It is a very sad thing," observed the apple-woman; and then she said +that she must go, for she had a long way to walk before she should +reach the little brook that led to the country of her own queen; so +she kissed the two children, Jack and Mopsa, and they begged her again +to think better of it, and return to her own land. But she said No; +she had no heart for work now, and could not bear either cold or +poverty. + +Then the woman who was hugging her little baby, and keeping it cosy +and warm, began to tell Jack and Mopsa that it was time they should +begin to run away to the country over the purple mountains, or else +the Queen would overtake them and be very angry with them; so, with +many promises that they would mind her directions, they set off hand +in hand to run; but before they left her they could see plainly that +she was beginning to turn again into stone. However, she had given +them a slice of melon with the seeds in it. It had been growing on the +edge of the river, and was stone in the day-time, like everything +else. "When you are tired," she said, "eat the seeds, and they will +enable you to go running on. You can put the slice into this little +red pot, which has string handles to it, and you can hang it on your +arm. While you have it with you it will not turn to stone, but if you +lay it down it will, and then it will be useless." + +So, as I said before, Jack and Mopsa set off hand in hand to run; and +as they ran all the things and people gradually and softly settled +themselves to turn into stone again. Their cloaks and gowns left off +fluttering, and hung stiffly; and then they left off their +occupations, and sat down, or laid down themselves; and the sheep and +cattle turned stiff and stone-like too, so that in a very little while +all that country was nothing but red stones and red sand, just as it +had been in the morning. + +Presently the full moon, which had been hiding behind a cloud, came +out, and they saw their shadows, which fell straight before them; so +they ran on hand in hand very merrily till the half-moon came up, and +the shadows she made them cast fell sideways. This was rather awkward, +because as long as only the full moon gave them shadows, they had but +to follow them, in order to go straight towards the purple mountains. +Now they were not always sure which were her shadows: and presently a +crescent moon came, and still further confused them; also the sand +began to have tufts of grass in it; and then, when they had gone a +little farther, there were beautiful patches of anemones, and +hyacinths, and jonquils, and crown imperials, and they stopped to +gather them; and they got among some trees, and then, as they had +nothing to guide them but the shadows, and these went all sorts of +ways, they lost a great deal of time, and the trees became of taller +growth; but they still ran on and on till they got into a thick forest +where it was quite dark, and here Mopsa began to cry, for she was +tired. + +"If I could only begin to be a queen," she said to Jack, "I could go +wherever I pleased. I am not a fairy, and yet I am not a proper queen. +Oh, what shall I do? I cannot go any farther." + +So Jack gave her some of the seeds of the melon, though it was so dark +that he could scarcely find the way to her mouth, and then he took +some himself, and they both felt that they were rested, and Jack +comforted Mopsa. + +"If you are not a queen yet," he said, "you will be by to-morrow +morning; for when our shadows danced on before us yours was so very +nearly the same height as mine, that I could hardly see any +difference." + +When they reached the end of that great forest, and found themselves +out in all sorts of moonlight, the first thing they did was to +laugh,--the shadows looked so odd, sticking out in every direction; +and the next thing they did was to stand back to back, and put their +heels together, and touch their heads together, to see by the shadow +which was the taller; and Jack was still the least bit in the world +taller than Mopsa; so they knew she was not a queen yet, and they ate +some more melon-seeds, and began to climb up the mountain. + +They climbed till the trees of the forest looked no bigger than +gooseberry bushes, and then they climbed till the whole forest looked +only like a patch of moss; and then, when they got a little higher, +they saw the wonderful river, a long way off, and the snow glittering +on the peaks overhead; and while they were looking and wondering how +they should find a pass, the moons all went down, one after the +other, and, if Mopsa had not found some glowworms, they would have +been quite in the dark again. However, she took a dozen of them, and +put them round Jack's ankles, so that when he walked he could see +where he was going; and he found a little sheep-path, and she followed +him. + +Now they had noticed during the night how many shooting-stars kept +darting about from time to time, and at last one shot close by them, +and fell in the soft moss on before. There it lay shining; and Jack, +though he began to feel very tired again, made haste to it, for he +wanted to see what it was like. + +It was not what you would have supposed. It was soft and round, and +about the color of a ripe apricot; it was covered with fur, and in +fact it was evidently alive, and had curled itself up into a round +ball. + +"The dear little thing!" said Jack, as he held it in his hand, and +showed it to Mopsa; "how its heart beats. Is it frightened?" + +"Who are you?" said Mopsa to the thing. "What is your name?" + +The little creature made a sound that seemed like "Wisp." + +"Uncurl yourself, Wisp," said Mopsa. "Jack and I want to look at +you." + +So Wisp unfolded himself, and showed two little black eyes, and spread +out two long filmy wings. He was like a most beautiful bat, and the +light he shed out illuminated their faces. + +"It is only one of the air fairies," said Mopsa. "Pretty creature! It +never did any harm, and would like to do us good if it knew how, for +it knows that I shall be a queen very soon. Wisp, if you like, you may +go and tell your friends and relations that we want to cross over the +mountains, and if they can they may help us." + +Upon this Wisp spread out his wings, and shot off again; and Jack's +feet were so tired that he sat down, and pulled off one of his shoes, +for he thought there was a stone in it. So he set the little red jar +beside him, and quite forgot what the stone-woman had said, but went +on shaking his shoe, and buckling it, and admiring the glowworms round +his ankle, till Mopsa said, "Darling Jack, I am so dreadfully tired! +Give me some more melon-seeds." Then he lifted up the jar, and thought +it felt very heavy; and when he put in his hand, jar, and melon, and +seeds were all turned to stone together. + +They were both very sorry, and they sat still for a minute or two, for +they were much too tired to stir; and then shooting-stars began to +appear in all directions. The fairy bat had told his friends and +relations, and they were coming. One fell at Mopsa's feet, another in +her lap; more, more, all about, behind, before, and over them. And +they spread out long filmy wings, some of them a yard long, till Jack +and Mopsa seemed to be enclosed in a perfect network of the rays of +shooting-stars, and they were both a good deal frightened. Fifty or +sixty shooting-stars, with black eyes that could stare, were enough, +they thought, to frighten anybody. + +"If we had anything to sit upon," said Mopsa, "they could carry us +over the pass." She had no sooner spoken than the largest of the bats +bit off one of his own long wings, and laid it at Mopsa's feet. It did +not seem to matter much to him that he had parted with it, for he shot +out another wing directly, just as a comet shoots out a ray of light +sometimes, when it approaches the sun. + +Mopsa thanked the shooting fairy, and, taking the wing, began to +stretch it, till it was large enough for her and Jack to sit upon. +Then all the shooting fairies came round it, took its edges in their +mouths, and began to fly away with it over the mountains. They went +slowly, for Jack and Mopsa were heavy, and they flew very low, resting +now and then; but in the course of time they carried the wing over the +pass, and halfway down the other side. Then the sun came up; and the +moment he appeared all their lovely apricot-colored light was gone, +and they only looked like common bats, such as you can see every +evening. + +They set down Jack and Mopsa, folded up their long wings, and hung +down their heads. + +Mopsa thanked them, and said they had been useful; but still they +looked ashamed, and crept into little corners and crevices of the +rock, to hide. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +REEDS AND RUSHES. + + 'Tis merry, 'tis merry in Fairyland, + Where Fairy birds are singing; + When the court doth sit by the monarch's side, + With bit and bridle ringing. + + WALTER SCOTT. + + +There were many fruit-trees on that slope of the mountain, and Jack +and Mopsa, as they came down, gathered some fruit for breakfast, and +did not feel very tired, for the long ride on the wing had rested +them. + +They could not see the plain, for a slight blue mist hung over it; but +the sun was hot already, and as they came down they saw a beautiful +bed of high reeds, and thought they would sit awhile and rest in it. A +rill of clear water ran beside the bed, so when they had reached it +they sat down, and began to consider what they should do next. + +"Jack," said Mopsa, "did you see anything particular as you came down +with the shooting-stars?" + +"No, I saw nothing so interesting as they were," answered Jack. "I was +looking at them and watching how they squeaked to one another, and how +they had little hooks in their wings, with which they held the large +wing that we sat on." + +"But I saw something," said Mopsa. "Just as the sun rose I looked +down, and in the loveliest garden I ever saw, and all among trees and +woods, I saw a most beautiful castle. O, Jack! I am sure that castle +is the place I am to live in, and now we have nothing to do but to +find it. I shall soon be a queen, and there I shall reign." + +"Then I shall be king there," said Jack; "shall I?" + +"Yes, if you can," answered Mopsa. "Of course, whatever you can do +you may do. And, Jack, this is a much better fairy country than either +the stony land or the other that we first came to, for this castle is +a real place! It will not melt away. There the people can work, they +know how to love each other: common fairies cannot do that, I know. +They can laugh and cry, and I shall teach them several things that +they do not know yet. Oh! do let us make haste and find the castle." + +So they arose; but they turned the wrong way, and by mistake walked +farther and farther in among the reeds, whose feathery heads puffed +into Mopsa's face, and Jack's coat was all covered with the fluffy +seed. + +"This is very odd," said Jack. "I thought this was only a small bed of +reeds when we stepped into it; but really we must have walked a mile +already." + +But they walked on and on, till Mopsa grew quite faint, and her sweet +face became very pale, for she knew that the beds of reeds were +spreading faster than they walked, and then they shot up so high that +it was impossible to see over their heads; so at last Jack and Mopsa +were so tired that they sat down, and Mopsa began to cry. + +However, Jack was the braver of the two this time, and he comforted +Mopsa, and told her that she was nearly a queen, and would never reach +her castle by sitting still. So she got up and took his hand, and he +went on before, parting the reeds and pulling her after him, till all +on a sudden they heard the sweetest sound in the world; it was like a +bell, and it sounded again and again. + +It was the castle clock, and it was striking twelve at noon. + +As it finished striking they came out at the farther edge of the great +bed of reeds, and there was the castle straight before them,--a +beautiful castle, standing on the slope of a hill. The grass all about +it was covered with beautiful flowers; two of the taller turrets were +overgrown with ivy, and a flag was flying on a staff; but everything +was so silent and lonely that it made one sad to look on. As Jack and +Mopsa drew near they trod as gently as they could, and did not say a +word. + +All the windows were shut, but there was a great door in the centre of +the building, and they went towards it, hand in hand. + +What a beautiful hall! The great door stood wide open, and they could +see what a delightful place this must be to live in: it was paved with +squares of blue and white marble, and here and there carpets were +spread, with chairs and tables upon them. They looked and saw a great +dome overhead, filled with windows of colored glass, and they cast +down blue and golden and rosy reflections. + +"There is my home that I shall live in," said Mopsa; and she came +close to the door, and they both looked in, till at last she let go of +Jack's hand, and stepped over the threshold. + +The bell in the tower sounded again more sweetly than ever, and the +instant Mopsa was inside there came from behind the fluted columns, +which rose up on every side, the brown doe, followed by troops of deer +and fawns! + +"Mopsa! Mopsa!" cried Jack, "come away! come back!" But Mopsa was too +much astonished to stir, and something seemed to hold Jack from +following; but he looked and looked, till, as the brown doe advanced, +the door of the castle closed,--Mopsa was shut in, and Jack was left +outside. + +So Mopsa had come straight to the place she thought she had ran away +from. + +"But I am determined to get her away from those creatures," thought +Jack; "she does not want to reign over deer." And he began to look +about him, hoping to get in. It was of no use: all the windows in that +front of the castle were high, and when he tried to go round, he came +to a high wall with battlements. Against some parts of this wall the +ivy grew, and looked as if it might have grown there for ages; its +stems were thicker than his waist, and its branches were spread over +the surface like network; so by means of them he hoped to climb to the +top. + +He immediately began to try. Oh, how high the wall was! First he came +to several sparrows' nests, and very much frightened the sparrows +were; then he reached starlings' nests, and very angry the starlings +were; but at last, just under the coping, he came to jackdaws' nests, +and these birds were very friendly, and pointed out to him the best +little holes for him to put his feet into. At last he reached the top, +and found to his delight that the wall was three feet thick, and he +could walk upon it quite comfortably, and look down into a lovely +garden, where all the trees were in blossom, and creepers tossed their +long tendrils from tree to tree, covered with puffs of yellow, or +bells of white, or bunches and knots of blue or rosy bloom. + +He could look down into the beautiful empty rooms of the castle, and +he walked cautiously on the wall till he came to the west front, and +reached a little casement window that had latticed panes. Jack peeped +in; nobody was there. He took his knife, and cut away a little bit of +lead to let out the pane, and it fell with such a crash on the +pavement below that he wondered it did not bring the deer over to look +at what he was about. Nobody came. + +He put in his hand and opened the latchet, and with very little +trouble got down into the room. Still nobody was to be seen. He +thought that the room, years ago, might have been a fairies' +school-room, for it was strewn with books, slates, and all sorts of +copybooks. A fine soft dust had settled down over everything,--pens, +papers, and all. Jack opened a copybook: its pages were headed with +maxims, just as ours are, which proved that these fairies must have +been superior to such as he had hitherto come among. Jack read some of +them:-- + + Turn your back on the light, and you'll follow a shadow. + The deaf queen Fate has dumb courtiers. + If the hound is your foe, don't sleep in his kennel. + That that is, is. + +And so on; but nobody came, and no sound was heard, so he opened the +door, and found himself in a long and most splendid gallery, all hung +with pictures, and spread with a most beautiful carpet, which was as +soft and white as a piece of wool, and wrought with a beautiful +device. This was the letter M, with a crown and sceptre, and +underneath a beautiful little boat, exactly like the one in which he +had come up the river. Jack felt sure that this carpet had been made +for Mopsa, and he went along the gallery upon it till he reached a +grand staircase of oak that was almost black with age, and he stole +gently down it, for he began to feel rather shy, more especially as he +could now see the great hall under the dome, and that it had a +beautiful lady in it, and many other people, but no deer at all. + +These fairy people were something like the one-foot-one fairies, but +much larger and more like children; and they had very gentle, happy +faces, and seemed to be extremely glad and gay. But seated on a +couch, where lovely painted windows threw down all sorts of rainbow +colors on her, was a beautiful fairy lady, as large as a woman. She +had Mopsa in her arms, and was looking down upon her with eyes full of +love, while at her side stood a boy, who was exactly and precisely +like Jack himself. He had rather long light hair and gray eyes, and a +velvet jacket. That was all Jack could see at first, but as he drew +nearer the boy turned, and then Jack felt as if he was looking at +himself in the glass. + +Mopsa had been very tired, and now she was fast asleep, with her head +on that lady's shoulder. The boy kept looking at her, and he seemed +very happy indeed; so did the lady, and she presently told him to +bring Jack something to eat. + +It was rather a curious speech that she made to him; it was this:-- + +"Jack, bring Jack some breakfast." + +"What!" thought Jack to himself, "has he got a face like mine, and a +name like mine too?" + +So that other Jack went away, and presently came back with a golden +plate full of nice things to eat. + +"I know you don't like me," he said, as he came up to Jack with the +plate. + +"Not like him?" repeated the lady; "and pray what reason have you for +not liking my royal nephew?" + +"O dame!" exclaimed the boy, and laughed. + +The lady, on hearing this, turned pale, for she perceived that she +herself had mistaken the one for the other. + +"I see you know how to laugh," said the real Jack. "You are wiser +people than those whom I went to first; but the reason I don't like +you is, that you are so exactly like me." + +"I am not!" exclaimed the boy. "Only hear him, dame! You mean, I +suppose, that you are so exactly like me. I am sure I don't know what +you mean by it." + +"Nor I either," replied Jack, almost in a passion. + +"It couldn't be helped, of course," said the other Jack. + +"Hush! hush!" said the fairy woman; "don't wake our dear little Queen. +Was it you, my royal nephew, who spoke last?" + +"Yes, dame," answered the boy, and again he offered the plate; but +Jack was swelling with indignation, and he gave the plate a push with +his elbow, which scattered the fruit and bread on the ground. + +"I won't eat it," he said; but when the other Jack went and picked it +up again, and said, "Oh, yes, do, old fellow; it's not my fault, you +know," he began to consider that it was no use being cross in +Fairyland; so he forgave his double, and had just finished his +breakfast when Mopsa woke. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE QUEEN'S WAND. + + One, two, three, four; one, two, three, four; + 'Tis still one, two, three, four. + Mellow and silvery are the tones, + But I wish the bells were more. + + SOUTHEY. + + +Mopsa woke: she was rather too big to be nursed, for she was the size +of Jack, and looked like a sweet little girl of ten years, but she did +not always behave like one; sometimes she spoke as wisely as a +grown-up woman, and sometimes she changed again and seemed like a +child. + +Mopsa lifted up her head and pushed back her long hair: her coronet +had fallen off while she was in the bed of reeds; and she said to the +beautiful dame,-- + +"I am a queen now." + +"Yes, my sweet Queen," answered the lady, "I know you are." + +"And you promise that you will be kind to me till I grow up," said +Mopsa, "and love me, and teach me how to reign?" + +"Yes," repeated the lady; "and I will love you too, just as if you +were a mortal and I your mother." + +"For I am only ten years old yet," said Mopsa, "and the throne is too +big for me to sit upon; but I am a queen." And then she paused, and +said, "Is it three o'clock?" + +As she spoke, the sweet, clear bell of the castle sounded three times, +and then chimes began to play: they played such a joyous tune that it +made everybody sing. The dame sang, the crowd of fairies sang, the +boy who was Jack's double sang, and Mopsa sang,--only Jack was +silent,--and this was the song:-- + + The prince shall to the chase again, + The dame has got her face again, + The king shall have his place again + Aneath the fairy dome. + + And all the knights shall woo again, + And all the doves shall coo again, + And all the dreams come true again, + And Jack shall go home. + +"We shall see about that!" thought Jack to himself. And Mopsa, while +she sang those last words, burst into tears, which Jack did not like +to see; but all the fairies were so very glad, so joyous, and so +delighted with her for having come to be their queen, that after a +while she dried her eyes, and said to the wrong boy,-- + +"Jack, when I pulled the lining out of your pocket-book there was a +silver fourpence in it." + +"Yes," said the real Jack, "and here it is." + +"Is it real money?" asked Mopsa. "Are you sure you brought it with you +all the way from your own country?" + +"Yes," said Jack, "quite sure." + +"Then, dear Jack," answered Mopsa, "will you give it to me?" + +"I will," said Jack, "if you will send this boy away." + +"How can I?" answered Mopsa, surprised. "Don't you know what happened +when the door closed? Has nobody told you?" + +"I did not see any one after I got into the place," said Jack. "There +was no one to tell anything,--not even a fawn, nor the brown doe. I +have only seen down here these fairy people, and this boy, and this +lady." + +"The lady is the brown doe," answered Mopsa; "and this boy and the +fairies were the fawns." Jack was so astonished at this that he stared +at the lady and the boy and the fairies with all his might. + +"The sun came shining in as I stepped inside," said Mopsa, "and a long +beam fell down from the fairy dome across my feet. Do you remember +what the apple-woman told us,--how it was reported that the brown doe +and her nation had a queen whom they shut up, and never let the sun +shine on her? That was not a kind or true report, and yet it came from +something that really happened." + +"Yes, I remember," said Jack; "and if the sun did shine they were all +to be turned into deer." + +"I dare not tell you all that story yet," said Mopsa; "but, Jack, as +the brown doe and all the fawns came up to greet me, and passed by +turns into the sunbeam, they took their own forms, every one of them, +because the spell was broken. They were to remain in the disguise of +deer till a queen of alien birth should come to them against her will. +I am a queen of alien birth, and did not I come against my will?" + +"Yes, to be sure," answered Jack. "We thought all the time that we +were running away." + +"If ever you come to Fairyland again," observed Mopsa, "you can save +yourself the trouble of trying to run away from the old mother." + +"I shall not 'come,'" answered Jack, "because I shall not go,--not for +a long while, at least. But the boy,--I want to know why this boy +turned into another ME?" + +"Because he is the heir, of course," answered Mopsa. + +"But I don't see that this is any reason at all," said Jack. + +Mopsa laughed. "That's because you don't know how to argue," she +replied. "Why, the thing is as plain as possible." + +"It may be plain to you," persisted Jack, "but it's no reason." + +"No reason!" repeated Mopsa, "no reason! when I like you the best of +anything in the world, and when I am come here to be queen? Of course, +when the spell was broken he took exactly your form on that account; +and very right too." + +"But why?" asked Jack. + +Mopsa, however, was like other fairies in this respect,--that she knew +all about Old Mother Fate, but not about causes and reasons. She +believed, as we do in this world, that + + That that is, is; + +but the fairies go further than this; they say:-- + + That that is, is; and when it is, that is the reason that it is. + +This sounds like nonsense to us, but it is all right to them. + +So Mopsa, thinking she had explained everything, said again,-- + +"And, dear Jack, will you give the silver fourpence to me?" + +Jack took it out; and she got down from the dame's knee and took it in +the palm of her hand, laying the other palm upon it. + +"It will be very hot," observed the dame. + +"But it will not burn me so as really to hurt, if I am a real queen," +said Mopsa. + +Presently she began to look as if something gave her pain. + +"Oh, it's so hot!" she said to the other Jack; "so very hot!" + +"Never mind, sweet Queen," he answered; "it will not hurt you long. +Remember my poor uncle and all his knights." + +Mopsa still held the little silver coin; but Jack saw that it hurt +her, for two bright tears fell from her eyes; and in another moment he +saw that it was actually melted, for it fell in glittering drops from +Mopsa's hand to the marble floor, and there it lay as soft as +quicksilver. + +"Pick it up," said Mopsa to the other Jack; and he instantly did so, +and laid it in her hand again; and she began gently to roll it +backwards and forwards between her palms till she had rolled it into a +very slender rod, two feet long, and not nearly so thick as a pin; but +it did not bend, and it shone so brightly that you could hardly look +at it. + +Then she held it out towards the real Jack, and said, "Give this a +name." + +"I think it is a----" began the other Jack; but the dame suddenly +stopped him. "Silence, sire! Don't you know that what it is first +called that it will be?" + +Jack hesitated; he thought if Mopsa was a queen the thing ought to be +a sceptre; but it certainly was not at all like a sceptre. + +"That thing is a wand," said he. + +"You are a wand," said Mopsa, speaking to the silver stick, which was +glittering now in a sunbeam almost as if it were a beam of light +itself. Then she spoke again to Jack: + +"Tell me, Jack, what can I do with a wand?" + +Again the boy-king began to speak, and the dame stopped him, and again +Jack considered. He had heard a great deal in his own country about +fairy wands, but he could not remember that the fairies had done +anything particular with them, so he gave what he thought was true, +but what seemed to him a very stupid answer: + +"You can make it point to anything that you please." + +The moment he had said this, shouts of ecstasy filled the hall, and +all the fairies clapped their hands with such hurrahs of delight that +he blushed for joy. + +The dame also looked truly glad, and as for the other Jack, he +actually turned head over heels, just as Jack had often done himself +on his father's lawn. + +Jack had merely meant that Mopsa could point with the wand to anything +that she saw; but he was presently told that what he had meant was +nothing, and that his words were everything. + +"I can make it point now," said Mopsa, "and it will point aright to +anything I please, whether I know where the thing is or not." + +Again the hall was filled with those cries of joy, and the sweet, +child-like fairies congratulated each other with "The Queen has got a +wand,--a wand! and she can make it point wherever she pleases!" + +Then Mopsa rose and walked towards the beautiful staircase, the dame +and all the fairies following. Jack was going too, but the other Jack +held him. + +"Where is Mopsa going? and why am I not to follow?" inquired Jack. + +"They are going to put on her robes, of course," answered the other +Jack. + +"I am so tired of always hearing you say 'of course,'" answered Jack; +"and I wonder how it is that you always seem to know what is going to +be done without being told. However, I suppose you can't help being +odd people." + +The boy-king did not make a direct answer; he only said, "I like you +very much, though you don't like me." + +"Why do you like me?" asked Jack. + +So he opened his eyes wide with surprise: "Most boys say Sire to me," +he observed; "at least they used to do when there were any boys here. +However, that does not signify. Why, of course I like you, because I +am so tired of being always a fawn, and you brought Mopsa to break the +spell. You cannot think how disagreeable it is to have no hands, and +to be all covered with hair. Now look at my hands; I can move them and +turn them everywhere, even over my head if I like. Hoofs are good for +nothing in comparison; and we could not talk." + +"Do tell me about it," said Jack. "How did you become fawns?" + +"I dare not tell you," said the boy; "and listen!--I hear Mopsa." + +Jack looked, and certainly Mopsa was coming, but very strangely, he +thought. Mopsa, like all other fairies, was afraid to whisper a spell +with her eyes open; so a handkerchief was tied across them, and as she +came on she felt her way, holding by the banisters with one hand, and +with the other, between her finger and thumb, holding out the silver +wand. She felt with her foot for the edge of the first stair; and Jack +heard her say, "I am much older,--ah! so much older, now I have got my +wand. I can feel sorrow too, and _their_ sorrow weighs down my +heart." + +Mopsa was dressed superbly in a white satin gown, with a long, long +train of crimson velvet which was glittering with diamonds; it reached +almost from one end of the great gallery to the other, and had +hundreds of fairies to hold it and keep it in its place. But in her +hair were no jewels, only a little crown made of daisies, and on her +shoulders her robe was fastened with the little golden image of a +boat. These things were to show the land she had come from and the +vessel she had come in. + +So she came slowly, slowly down stairs blindfold, and muttering to her +wand all the time: + + Though the sun shine brightly, + Wand, wand, guide rightly. + +So she felt her way down to the great hall. There the wand turned half +round in the hall toward the great door, and she and Jack and the +other Jack came out into the lawn in front with all the followers and +trainbearers; only the dame remained behind. + +Jack noticed now for the first time that, with the one exception of +the boy-king, all these fairies were lady-fairies; he also observed +that Mopsa, after the manner of fairy queens, though she moved slowly +and blindfold, was beginning to tell a story. This time it did not +make him feel sleepy. It did not begin at the beginning: their stories +never do. + +These are the first words he heard, for she spoke softly and very low, +while he walked at her right hand, and the other Jack on her left: + +"And so now I have no wings. But my thoughts can go up (Jovinian and +Roxaletta could not think). My thoughts are instead of wings; but they +have dropped with me now, as a lark among the clods of the valley. +Wand, do you bend? Yes, I am following, wand. + +"And after that the bird said, 'I will come when you call me.' I never +have seen her moving overhead; perhaps she is out of sight. Flocks of +birds hover over the world, and watch it high up where the air is +thin. There are zones, but those in the lowest zone are far out of +sight. + +"I have not been up there. I have no wings. + +"Over the highest of the birds is the place where angels float and +gather the children's souls as they are set free. + +"And so that woman told me,--(Wand, you bend again, and I will turn at +your bending),--that woman told me how it was: for when the new king +was born, a black fairy with a smiling face came and sat within the +doorway. She had a spindle, and would always spin. She wanted to teach +them how to spin, but they did not like her, and they loved to do +nothing at all. So they turned her out. + +"But after her came a brown fairy, with a grave face, and she sat on +the black fairy's stool and gave them much counsel. They liked that +still less; so they got spindles and spun, for they said, 'She will go +now, and we shall have the black fairy again.' When she did not go +they turned her out also, and after her came a white fairy, and sat in +the same seat. She did nothing at all, and she said nothing at all; +but she had a sorrowful face, and she looked up. So they were +displeased. They turned her out also; and she went and sat by the +edge of the lake with her two sisters. + +"And everything prospered over all the land; till, after shearing-time, +the shepherds, because the king was a child, came to his uncle and +said, 'Sir, what shall we do with the old wool, for the new fleeces +are in the bales, and there is no storehouse to put them in?' So he +said, 'Throw them into the lake.' + +"And while they threw them in, a great flock of finches flew to them, +and said, 'Give us some of the wool that you do not want; we should be +glad of it to build our nests with.' + +"They answered, 'Go and gather for yourselves; there is wool on every +thorn.' + +"Then the black fairy said, 'They shall be forgiven this time, because +the birds should pick wool for themselves.' + +"So the finches flew away. + +"Then the harvest was over, and the reapers came and said to the +child-king's uncle, 'Sir, what shall we do with the new wheat, for +the old is not half eaten yet, and there is no room in the +granaries?' + +"He said, 'Throw that into the lake also.' + +"While they were throwing it in, there came a great flight of the wood +fairies, fairies of passage from over the sea. They were in the form +of pigeons, and they alighted and prayed them, 'O, cousins! we are +faint with our long flight; give us some of that corn which you do not +want, that we may peck it and be refreshed.' + +"But they said, 'You may rest on our land, but our corn is our own. +Rest awhile, and go and get food in your own fields.' + +"Then the brown fairy said, 'They may be forgiven this once, but yet +it is a great unkindness.' + +"And as they were going to pour in the last sackful, there passed a +poor mortal beggar, who had strayed in from the men and women's world, +and she said, 'Pray give me some of that wheat, O fairy people! for I +am hungry. I have lost my way, and there is no money to be earned +here. Give me some of that wheat, that I may bake cakes, lest I and my +baby should starve.' + +"And they said, 'What is starve? We never heard that word before, and +we cannot wait while you explain it to us.' + +"So they poured it all into the lake; and then the white fairy said, +'This cannot be forgiven them'; and she covered her face with her +hands and wept. Then the black fairy rose and drove them all before +her,--the prince, with his chief shepherd and his reapers, his +courtiers and his knights; she drove them into the great bed of reeds, +and no one has ever set eyes on them since. Then the brown fairy went +into the palace where the king's aunt sat, with all her ladies and her +maids about her, and with the child-king on her knee. + +"It was a very gloomy day. + +"She stood in the middle of the hall, and said, 'Oh, you cold-hearted +and most unkind! my spell is upon you, and the first ray of sunshine +shall bring it down. Lose your present forms, and be of a more gentle +and innocent race, till a queen of alien birth shall come to reign +over you against her will.' + +"As she spoke they crept into corners, and covered the dame's head +with a veil. And all that day it was dark and gloomy, and nothing +happened, and all the next day it rained and rained; and they thrust +the dame into a dark closet, and kept her there for a whole month, and +still not a ray of sunshine came to do them any damage; but the dame +faded and faded in the dark, and at last they said, 'She must come +out, or she will die; and we do not believe the sun will ever shine in +our country any more.' So they let the poor dame come out; and lo! as +she crept slowly forth under the dome, a piercing ray of sunlight +darted down upon her head, and in an instant they were all changed +into deer, and the child-king too. + +"They are gentle now, and kind; but where is the prince? where are the +fairy knights and the fairy men? + +"Wand! why do you turn?" + +Now while Mopsa told her story the wand continued to bend, and Mopsa, +following, was slowly approaching the foot of a great precipice, which +rose sheer up for more than a hundred feet. The crowd that followed +looked dismayed at this: they thought the wand must be wrong; or even +if it was right, they could not climb a precipice. + +But still Mopsa walked on blindfold, and the wand pointed at the rock +till it touched it, and she said, "Who is stopping me?" + +They told her, and she called to some of her ladies to untie the +handkerchief. Then Mopsa looked at the rock, and so did the two Jacks. +There was nothing to be seen but a very tiny hole. The boy-king +thought it led to a bees' nest, and Jack thought it was a keyhole, for +he noticed in the rock a slight crack which took the shape of an +arched door. + +Mopsa looked earnestly at the hole. "It may be a keyhole," she said, +"but there is no key." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +FAILURE. + + We are much bound to them that do succeed; + But, in a more pathetic sense, are bound + To such as fail. They all our loss expound; + They comfort us for work that will not speed, + And life--itself a failure. Ay, his deed, + Sweetest in story, who the dusk profound + Of Hades flooded with entrancing sound, + Music's own tears, was failure. Doth it read + Therefore the worse? Ah, no! so much to dare, + He fronts the regnant Darkness on its throne.-- + So much to do; impetuous even there, + He pours out love's disconsolate sweet moan-- + He wins; but few for that his deed recall: + Its power is in the look which costs him all. + + +At this moment Jack observed that a strange woman was standing among +them, and that the trainbearing fairies fell back, as if they were +afraid of her. As no one spoke, he did, and said, "Good-morning!" + +"Good-afternoon!" she answered, correcting him. "I am the black fairy. +Work is a fine thing. Most people in your country can work." + +"Yes," said Jack. + +"There are two spades," continued the fairy woman, "one for you, and +one for your double." + +Jack took one of the spades,--it was small, and was made of silver; +but the other Jack said with scorn,-- + +"I shall be a king when I am old enough, and must I dig like a +clown?" + +"As you please," said the black fairy, and walked away. + +Then they all observed that a brown woman was standing there; and she +stepped up and whispered in the boy-king's ear. As he listened his +sullen face became good tempered, and at last he said, in a gentle +tone, "Jack, I'm quite ready to begin if you are." + +"But where are we to dig?" asked Jack. + +"There," said a white fairy, stepping up and setting her foot on the +grass just under the little hole. "Dig down as deep as you can." + +So Mopsa and the crowd stood back, and the two boys began to dig; and +greatly they enjoyed it, for people can dig so fast in Fairyland. + +Very soon the hole was so deep that they had to jump into it, because +they could not reach the bottom with their spades. "This is very jolly +indeed," said Jack, when they had dug so much deeper that they could +only see out of the hole by standing on tiptoe. + +"Go on," said the white fairy; so they dug till they came to a flat +stone, and then she said, "Now you can stamp. Stamp on the stone, and +don't be afraid." So the two Jacks began to stamp, and in such a +little time that she had only half turned her head round, the flat +stone gave way, for there was a hollow underneath it, and down went +the boys, and utterly disappeared. + +Then, while Mopsa and the crowd silently looked on, the white fairy +lightly pushed the clods of earth towards the hole with the side of +her foot, and in a very few minutes the hole was filled in, and that +so completely and so neatly, that when she had spread the turf on it, +and given it a pat with her foot, you could not have told where it had +been. Mopsa said not a word, for no fairy ever interferes with a +stronger fairy; but she looked on earnestly, and when the white +stranger smiled she was satisfied. + +Then the white stranger walked away, and Mopsa and the fairies sat +down on a bank under some splendid cedar-trees. The beautiful castle +looked fairer than ever in the afternoon sunshine; a lovely waterfall +tumbled with a tinkling noise near at hand, and the bank was covered +with beautiful wild flowers. + +They sat for a long while, and no one spoke: what they were thinking +of is not known, but sweet Mopsa often sighed. + +At last a noise,--a very, very slight noise, as of the footsteps of +people running,--was heard inside the rock, and then a little +quivering was seen in the wand. It quivered more and more as the +sound increased. At last that which had looked like a door began to +shake as if some one was pushing it from within. Then a noise was +distinctly heard as of a key turning in the hole, and out burst the +two Jacks, shouting for joy, and a whole troop of knights and squires +and serving-men came rushing wildly forth behind them. + +Oh, the joy of that meeting! who shall describe it? Fairies by dozens +came up to kiss the boy-king's hand, and Jack shook hands with every +one that could reach him. Then Mopsa proceeded to the castle between +the two Jacks, and the king's aunt came out to meet them, and welcomed +her husband with tears of joy; for these fairies could laugh and cry +when they pleased, and they naturally considered this a great proof of +superiority. + +After this a splendid feast was served under the great dome. The other +fairy feasts that Jack had seen were nothing to it. The prince and his +dame sat at one board, but Mopsa sat at the head of the great table, +with the two Jacks, one on each side of her. + +Mopsa was not happy, Jack was sure of that, for she often sighed; and +he thought this strange. But he did not ask her any questions, and he, +with the boy-king, related their adventures to her: how, when the +stone gave way, they tumbled in and rolled down a sloping bank till +they found themselves at the entrance of a beautiful cave, which was +all lighted up with torches, and glittering with stars and crystals of +all the colors in the world. There was a table spread with what looked +like a splendid luncheon in this great cave, and chairs were set +round, but Jack and the boy-king felt no inclination to eat anything, +though they were hungry, for a whole nation of ants were creeping up +the honey-pots. There were snails walking about over the table-cloth, +and toads peeping out of some of the dishes. + +So they turned away, and, looking for some other door to lead them +farther in, they at last found a very small one,--so small that only +one of them could pass through at a time. + +They did not tell Mopsa all that had occurred on this occasion. It was +thus: + +The boy-king said, "I shall go in first, of course, because of my +rank." + +"Very well," said Jack, "I don't mind. I shall say to myself that +you've gone in first to find the way for me, because you're my double. +Besides, now I think of it, our Queen always goes last in a +procession; so it's grand to go last. Pass in, Jack." + +"No," answered the other Jack; "now you have said that I will not. You +may go first." + +So they began to quarrel and argue about this, and it is impossible to +say how long they would have gone on if they had not begun to hear a +terrible and mournful sort of moaning and groaning, which frightened +them both and instantly made them friends. They took tight hold of one +another's hand, and again there came by a loud sighing, and a noise of +all sorts of lamentation, and it seemed to reach them through the +little door. + +Each of the boys would now have been very glad to go back, but neither +liked to speak. At last Jack thought anything would be less terrible +than listening to those dismal moans, so he suddenly dashed through +the door, and the other Jack followed. + +There was nothing terrible to be seen. They found themselves in a +place like an immensely long stable; but it was nearly dark, and when +their eyes got used to the dimness, they saw that it was strewed with +quantities of fresh hay, from which curious things like sticks stuck +up in all directions. What were they? + +"They are dry branches of trees," said the boy-king. + +"They are table-legs turned upside down," said Jack: but then the +other Jack suddenly perceived the real nature of the thing, and he +shouted out, "No; they are antlers!" + +The moment he said this the moaning ceased, hundreds of beautiful +antlered heads were lifted up, and the two boys stood before a +splendid herd of stags; but they had had hardly time to be sure of +this when the beautiful multitude rose and fled away into the +darkness, leaving the two boys to follow as well as they could. + +They were sure they ought to run after the herd, and they ran and ran, +but they soon lost sight of it, though they heard far on in front what +seemed at first like a pattering of deer's feet, but the sound changed +from time to time. It became heavier and louder, and then the +clattering ceased, and it was evidently the tramping of a great crowd +of men. At last they heard words, very glad and thankful words; people +were crying to one another to make haste, lest the spell should come +upon them again. Then the two Jacks, still running, came into a grand +hall, which was quite full of knights and all sorts of fairy men, and +there was the boy-king's uncle, but he looked very pale. "Unlock the +door!" they cried. "We shall not be safe till we see our new Queen. +Unlock the door; we see light coming through the keyhole." + +The two Jacks came on to the front, and felt and shook the door. At +last the boy-king saw a little golden key glittering on the floor, +just where the one narrow sunbeam fell that came through the keyhole; +so he snatched it up. It fitted, and out they all came, as you have +been told. + +When they had done relating their adventures, the new Queen's health +was drunk. And then they drank the health of the boy-king, who stood +up to return thanks, and, as is the fashion there, he sang a song. +Jack thought it the most ridiculous song he had ever heard; but as +everybody else looked extremely grave, he tried to be grave too. It +was about Cock-Robin and Jenny Wren, how they made a wedding feast, +and how the wren said she should wear her brown gown, and the old dog +brought a bone to the feast. + + "He had brought them," he said, "some meat on a bone: + They were welcome to pick it or leave it alone." + +The fairies were very attentive to this song; they seemed, if one may +judge by their looks, to think it was rather a serious one. Then they +drank Jack's health, and afterwards looked at him as if they expected +him to sing too; but as he did not begin, he presently heard them +whispering, and one asking another, "Do you think he knows manners?" + +So he thought he had better try what he could do, and he stood up and +sang a song that he had often heard his nurse sing in the nursery at +home. + + One morning, oh! so early, my belovèd, my belovèd, + All the birds were singing blithely, as if never they would cease; + 'Twas a thrush sang in my garden, "Hear the story, hear the story!" + And the lark sang, "Give us glory!" + And the dove said, "Give us peace!" + + Then I listened, oh! so early, my belovèd, my belovèd, + To that murmur from the woodland of the dove, my dear, the dove; + When the nightingale came after, "Give us fame to sweeten duty!" + When the wren sang, "Give us beauty!" + She made answer, "Give us love!" + + Sweet is spring, and sweet the morning, my belovèd, my belovèd; + Now for us doth spring, doth morning, wait upon the year's + increase, + And my prayer goes up, "Oh, give us, crowned in youth with marriage + glory, + Give for all our life's dear story, + Give us love, and give us peace!" + +"A very good song too," said the dame, at the other end of the table; +"only you made a mistake in the first verse. What the dove really said +was, no doubt, 'Give us peas.' All kinds of doves and pigeons are very +fond of peas." + +"It isn't peas, though," said Jack. However, the court historian was +sent for to write down the song, and he came with a quill pen, and +wrote it down as the dame said it ought to be. + +Now all this time Mopsa sat between the two Jacks, and she looked very +mournful,--she hardly said a word. + +When the feast was over, and everything had vanished, the musicians +came in, for there was to be dancing; but while they were striking +up, the white fairy stepped in, and, coming up, whispered something +in Jack's ear; but he could not hear what she said, so she repeated it +more slowly, and still he could neither hear nor understand it. + +Mopsa did not seem to like the white fairy; she leaned her face on her +hand and sighed; but when she found that Jack could not hear the +message, she said, "That is well. Cannot you let things alone for this +one day?" The fairy then spoke to Mopsa, but she would not listen; she +made a gesture of dislike and moved away. So then this strange fairy +turned and went out again, but on the door-step she looked round, and +beckoned to Jack to come to her. So he did; and then, as they two +stood together outside, she made him understand what she had said. It +was this: + +"Her name was Jenny, her name was Jenny." + +When Jack understood what she said he felt so sorrowful; he wondered +why she had told him, and he longed to stay in that great place with +Queen Mopsa,--his own little Mopsa, whom he had carried in his pocket, +and taken care of, and loved. + +He walked up and down, up and down, outside, and his heart swelled and +his eyes filled with tears. The bells had said he was to go home, and +the fairy had told him how to go. Mopsa did not need him, she had so +many people to take care of her; and then there was that boy, so +exactly like himself that she would not miss him. Oh, how sorrowful it +all was! Had he really come up the fairy river, and seen those strange +countries, and run away with Mopsa over those dangerous mountains, +only to bring her to the very place she wished to fly from, and there +to leave her, knowing that she wanted him no more, and that she was +quite content? + +No; Jack felt that he could not do that. "I will stay," he said; "they +cannot make me leave her. That would be too unkind." + +As he spoke, he drew near to the great yawning door, and looked in. +The fairy folk were singing inside; he could hear their pretty +chirping voices, and see their beautiful faces, but he could not bear +it, and he turned away. + +The sun began to get low, and all the west was dyed with crimson. Jack +dried his eyes, and, not liking to go in, took one turn more. + +"I will go in," he said; "there is nothing to prevent me." He set his +foot on the step of the door, and while he hesitated Mopsa came out to +meet him. + +"Jack," she said, in a sweet mournful tone of voice. But he could not +make any answer; he only looked at her earnestly, because her lovely +eyes were not looking at him, but far away towards the west. + +"He lives there," she said, as if speaking to herself. "He will play +there again, in his father's garden." + +Then she brought her eyes down slowly from the rose-flush in the +cloud, and looked at him and said, "Jack." + +"Yes," said Jack; "I am here. What is it that you wish to say?" + +She answered, "I am come to give you back your kiss." + +So she stooped forward as she stood on the step, and kissed him, and +her tears fell on his cheek. + +"Farewell!" she said, and she turned and went up the steps and into +the great hall; and while Jack gazed at her as she entered, and would +fain have followed, but could not stir, the great doors closed +together again, and he was left outside. + +Then he knew, without having been told, that he should never enter +them any more. He stood gazing at the castle; but it was still,--no +more fairy music sounded. + +How beautiful it looked in the evening sunshine, and how Jack cried! + +[Illustration: THE QUEEN'S FAREWELL. + +"She stooped forward as she stood on the step, and kissed him."--PAGE +234.] + +Suddenly he perceived that reeds were growing up between him and the +great doors: the grass, which had all day grown about the steps, was +getting taller; it had long spear-like leaves, it pushed up long pipes +of green stem, and they whistled. + +They were up to his ankles, they were presently up to his waist; soon +they were as high as his head. He drew back that he might see over +them; they sprang up faster as he retired, and again he went back. It +seemed to him that the castle also receded; there was a long reach of +these great reeds between it and him, and now they were growing behind +also, and on all sides of him. He kept moving back and back: it was of +no use, they sprang up and grew yet more tall, till very shortly the +last glimpse of the fairy castle was hidden from his sorrowful eyes. + +The sun was just touching the tops of the purple mountains when Jack +lost sight of Mopsa's home; but he remembered how he had penetrated +the bed of reeds in the morning, and he hoped to have the same good +fortune again. So on and on he walked, pressing his way among them as +well as he could, till the sun went down behind the mountains, and +the rosy sky turned gold color, and the gold began to burn itself +away, and then all on a sudden he came to the edge of the reed-bed, +and walked out upon a rising ground. + +Jack ran up it, looking for the castle. He could not see it, so he +climbed a far higher hill; still he could not see it. At last, after a +toilsome ascent to the very top of the green mountain, he saw the +castle lying so far, so very far off, that its peaks and its +battlements were on the edge of the horizon, and the evening mist rose +while he was gazing, so that all its outlines were lost, and very soon +they seemed to mingle with the shapes of the hill and the forest, till +they had utterly vanished away. + +Then he threw himself down on the short grass. The words of the white +fairy sounded in his ears, "Her name was Jenny"; and he burst into +tears again, and decided to go home. + +He looked up into the rosy sky, and held out his arms, and called, +"Jenny! O Jenny! come." + +In a minute or two he saw a little black mark overhead, a small speck, +and it grew larger, and larger, and larger still, as it fell headlong +down like a stone. In another instant he saw a red light and a green +light, then he heard the winnowing noise of the bird's great wings, +and she alighted at his feet, and said, "Here I am." + +"I wish to go home," said Jack, hanging down his head and speaking in +a low voice, for his heart was heavy because of his failure. + +"That is well," answered the bird. She took Jack on her back, and in +three minutes they were floating among the clouds. + +As Jack's feet were lifted up from Fairyland he felt a little +consoled. He began to have a curious feeling, as if this had all +happened a good while ago, and then half the sorrow he had felt faded +into wonder, and the feeling still grew upon him that these things had +passed some great while since, so that he repeated to himself, "It was +a long time ago." + +Then he fell asleep, and did not dream at all, nor know anything more +till the bird woke him. + +"Wake up now, Jack," she said; "we are at home." + +"So soon!" said Jack, rubbing his eyes. "But it is evening; I thought +it would be morning." + +"Fairy time is always six hours in advance of your time," said the +bird. "I see glowworms down in the hedge, and the moon is just +rising." + +They were falling so fast that Jack dared not look; but he saw the +church, and the wood, and his father's house, which seemed to be +starting up to meet him. In two seconds more the bird alighted, and he +stepped down from her back into the deep grass of his father's +meadow. + +"Good-by!" she said; "make haste and run in, for the dews are +falling"; and before he could ask her one question, or even thank her, +she made a wide sweep over the grass, beat her magnificent wings, and +soared away. + +It was all very extraordinary, and Jack felt shy and ashamed; but he +knew he must go home, so he opened the little gate that led into the +garden, and stole through the shrubbery, hoping that his footsteps +would not be heard. + +Then he came out on the lawn, where the flower-beds were, and he +observed that the drawing-room window was open, so he came softly +towards it and peeped in. + +His father and mother were sitting there. Jack was delighted to see +them, but he did not say a word, and he wondered whether they would be +surprised at his having stayed away so long. The bird had said that +they would not. + +He drew a little nearer. His mother sat with her back to the open +window, but a candle was burning, and she was reading aloud. Jack +listened as she read, and knew that this was not in the least like +anything that he had seen in Fairyland, nor the reading like anything +that he had heard, and he began to forget the boy-king, and the +apple-woman, and even his little Mopsa, more and more. + +At last his father noticed him. He did not look at all surprised, but +just beckoned to him with his finger to come in. So Jack did, and got +upon his father's knee, where he curled himself up comfortably, laid +his head on his father's waistcoat, and wondered what he would think +if he should be told about the fairies in somebody else's waistcoat +pocket. He thought, besides, what a great thing a man was; he had +never seen anything so large in Fairyland, nor so important; so, on +the whole, he was glad he had come back, and felt very comfortable. +Then his mother, turning over the leaf, lifted up her eyes and looked +at Jack, but not as if she was in the least surprised, or more glad to +see him than usual; but she smoothed the leaf with her hand, and began +again to read, and this time it was about the Shepherd Lady:-- + + I. + + Who pipes upon the long green hill, + Where meadow grass is deep? + The white lamb bleats but followeth on-- + Follow the clean white sheep. + The dear white lady in yon high tower, + She hearkeneth in her sleep. + + All in long grass the piper stands, + Goodly and grave is he; + Outside the tower, at dawn of day, + The notes of his pipe ring free. + A thought from his heart doth reach to hers: + "Come down, O lady! to me." + + She lifts her head, she dons her gown: + Ah! the lady is fair; + She ties the girdle on her waist, + And binds her flaxen hair, + And down she stealeth, down and down, + Down the turret stair. + + Behold him! With the flock he wons + Along yon grassy lea. + "My shepherd lord, my shepherd love, + What wilt thou, then, with me? + My heart is gone out of my breast, + And followeth on to thee." + + II. + + "The white lambs feed in tender grass: + With them and thee to bide, + How good it were," she saith at noon; + "Albeit the meads are wide. + Oh! well is me" she saith when day + Draws on to eventide. + + Hark! hark! the shepherd's voice. Oh, sweet! + Her tears drop down like rain. + "Take now this crook, my chosen, my fere + And tend the flock full fain; + Feed them, O lady, and lose not one, + Till I shall come again." + + Right soft her speech: "My will is thine, + And my reward thy grace!" + Gone are his footsteps over the hill, + Withdrawn his goodly face; + The mournful dusk begins to gather, + The daylight wanes apace. + + III. + + On sunny slopes, ah! long the lady + Feedeth her flock at noon; + She leads them down to drink at eve + Where the small rivulets croon. + All night her locks are wet with dew, + Her eyes outwatch the moon. + + Over the hills her voice is heard, + She sings when light doth wane: + "My longing heart is full of love. + When shall my loss be gain? + My shepherd lord, I see him not, + But he will come again." + +When she had finished, Jack lifted his face and said, "Mamma!" Then +she came to him and kissed him, and his father said, "I think it must +be time this man of ours was in bed." + +So he looked earnestly at them both, and as they still asked him no +questions, he kissed and wished them good-night; and his mother said +there were some strawberries on the sideboard in the dining-room, and +he might have them for his supper. + +So he ran out into the hall, and was delighted to find all the house +just as usual, and after he had looked about him he went into his own +room, and said his prayers. Then he got into his little white bed, and +comfortably fell asleep. + +That's all. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mopsa the Fairy, by Jean Ingelow + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOPSA THE FAIRY *** + +***** This file should be named 32867-8.txt or 32867-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/8/6/32867/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Katherine Ward, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mopsa the Fairy + +Author: Jean Ingelow + +Release Date: June 18, 2010 [EBook #32867] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOPSA THE FAIRY *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Katherine Ward, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' title='' width='328' height='500' /><br /> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='center'> +<h1>MOPSA<br /> +<span class='smcaplc'>THE</span><br /> +FAIRY</h1> +<p class='larger'><span class='smcaplc'>BY</span><br /> +JEAN INGELOW</p> +<p class='padtop smcaplc'>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS</p> +<p class='padtop'>Boston<br /> +Little, Brown, and Company<br /> +1919</p> +<p class='padtop'><i>Author’s Edition.</i></p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p>DEDICATED<br /> +TO<br /> +MY DEAR LITTLE COUSIN<br /> +<span class='larger'>JANE HOLLWAY</span>.</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/frontis.jpg' alt='' title='' width='600' height='393' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +THE ENCHANTED BAY.<br /> +<br /> +“Look at those five grand ones with high prows: they were part of the Spanish Armada.”—<span class='smcap'><a href='#page_16'>Page 16</a>.</span><br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'><span class="smaller">CHAP.</span></td> + <td> </td> + <td valign='top' align='right'><span class="smaller">PAGE</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>I.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Above the Clouds.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I__ABOVE_THE_CLOUDS'>1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>II.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Captain Jack.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II__CAPTAIN_JACK'>14</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>III.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Winding-Up Time.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III__WINDINGUP_TIME'>23</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Bees and Other Fellow-Creatures.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV__BEES_AND_OTHER_FELLOWCREATURES'>42</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>V.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Parrot in His Shawl.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_V__THE_PARROT_IN_HIS_SHAWL'>60</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Town With Nobody in It.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VI__THE_TOWN_WITH_NOBODY_IN_IT'>80</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Half-A-Crown.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VII__HALFACROWN'>91</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Story.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_VIII__A_STORY'>106</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>After The Party.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IX__AFTER_THE_PARTY'>121</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>X.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Mopsa Learns Her Letters.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_X__MOPSA_LEARNS_HER_LETTERS'>133</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Good-Morning, Sister.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XI__GOODMORNING_SISTER'>146</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>They Run Away From Old Mother Fate.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XII__THEY_RUN_AWAY_FROM_OLD_MOTHER_FATE'>158</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Melon Seeds.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIII__MELON_SEEDS'>174</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Reeds and Rushes.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XIV__REEDS_AND_RUSHES'>187</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Queen’s Wand.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XV__THE_QUEENS_WAND'>199</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Failure.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_XVI__FAILURE'>219</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Illustrations' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<col style='width:75%;' /> +<col style='width:25%;' /> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span class='smcap'>The Enchanted Bay.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_2'><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span class='smcap'>Jack’s New Friend.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_3'>82</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span class='smcap'>Jack’s Slave.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_4'>98</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span class='smcap'>A Story.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_5'>107</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span class='smcap'>The Queen.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_6'>114</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span class='smcap'>The Apple Woman.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_7'>156</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span class='smcap'>They Run Away From Old Mother Fate.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_8'>162</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'><span class='smcap'>The Queen’s Farewell.</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_9'>234</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1' name='page_1'></a>1</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_I__ABOVE_THE_CLOUDS' id='CHAPTER_I__ABOVE_THE_CLOUDS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER I.<br /><br />ABOVE THE CLOUDS.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>“And can this be my own world?</p> +<p class='indent2'>’Tis all gold and snow,</p> +<p>Save where scarlet waves are hurled</p> +<p class='indent2'>Down yon gulf below.”</p> +<p>“’Tis thy world, ’tis my world,</p> +<p class='indent2'>City, mead, and shore,</p> +<p>For he that hath his own world</p> +<p class='indent2'>Hath many worlds more.”</p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>A boy</span>, whom I knew very well, was once +going through a meadow, which was full of +buttercups. The nurse and his baby sister were +with him; and when they got to an old hawthorn, +which grew in the hedge and was covered with +blossom, they all sat down in its shade, and the +nurse took out three slices of plum-cake, gave +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2' name='page_2'></a>2</span> +one to each of the children, and kept one for +herself.</p> +<p>While the boy was eating, he observed that this +hedge was very high and thick, and that there +was a great hollow in the trunk of the old thorn-tree, +and he heard a twittering, as if there was +a nest somewhere inside; so he thrust his head in, +twisted himself round, and looked up.</p> +<p>It was a very great thorn-tree, and the hollow +was so large that two or three boys could have +stood upright in it; and when he got used to the +dim light in that brown, still place, he saw that a +good way above his head there was a nest,—rather +a curious one, too, for it was as large as a +pair of blackbirds would have built,—and yet it +was made of fine white wool and delicate bits of +moss; in short, it was like a goldfinch’s nest magnified +three times.</p> +<p>Just then he thought he heard some little voices +cry, “Jack! Jack!” His baby sister was asleep, +and the nurse was reading a story-book, so it could +not have been either of them who called. “I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3' name='page_3'></a>3</span> +must get in here,” said the boy. “I wish this hole +was larger.” So he began to wriggle and twist +himself through, and just as he pulled in his last +foot, he looked up, and three heads which had +been peeping over the edge of the nest suddenly +popped down again.</p> +<p>“Those heads had no beaks, I am sure,” said +Jack, and he stood on tiptoe and poked in one +of his fingers. “And the things have no feathers,” +he continued; so, the hollow being rather rugged, +he managed to climb up and look in.</p> +<p>His eyes were not used yet to the dim light; +but he was sure those things were not birds,—no. +He poked them, and they took no notice; but +when he snatched one of them out of the nest, +it gave a loud squeak, and said, “O don’t, Jack!” +as plainly as possible, upon which he was so +frightened that he lost his footing, dropped the +thing, and slipped down himself. Luckily, he +was not hurt, nor the thing either; he could see +it quite plainly now: it was creeping about like +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4' name='page_4'></a>4</span> +rather an old baby, and had on a little frock and +pinafore.</p> +<p>“It’s a fairy!” exclaimed Jack to himself. +“How curious! and this must be a fairy’s nest. +Oh, how angry the old mother will be if this little +thing creeps away and gets out of the hole!” +So he looked down. “Oh, the hole is on the +other side,” he said; and he turned round, but the +hole was not on the other side; it was not on any +side; it must have closed up all on a sudden, +while he was looking into the nest, for, look +whichever way he would, there was no hole at all, +excepting a very little one high up over the nest, +which let in a very small sunbeam.</p> +<p>Jack was very much astonished, but he went +on eating his cake, and was so delighted to see +the young fairy climb up the side of the hollow +and scramble again into her nest, that he laughed +heartily; upon which all the nestlings popped up +their heads, and, showing their pretty white teeth, +pointed at the slice of cake.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Jack, “I may have to stay inside +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span> +here for a long time, and I have nothing to eat but +this cake; however, your mouths are very small, +so you shall have a piece;” and he broke off a +small piece, and put it into the nest, climbing up +to see them eat it.</p> +<p>These young fairies were a long time dividing +and munching the cake, and before they had finished, +it began to be rather dark, for a black cloud +came over and covered the little sunbeam. At the +same time the wind rose, and rocked the boughs, +and made the old tree creak and tremble. Then +there was thunder and rain, and the little fairies +were so frightened that they got out of the nest +and crept into Jack’s pockets. One got into each +waistcoat pocket, and the other two were very +comfortable, for he took out his handkerchief and +made room for them in the pocket of his jacket.</p> +<p>It got darker and darker, till at last Jack could +only just see the hole, and it seemed to be a very +long way off. Every time he looked at it, it was +farther off, and at last he saw a thin crescent moon +shining through it.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span></div> +<p>“I am sure it cannot be night yet,” he said; and +he took out one of the fattest of the young fairies, +and held it up towards the hole.</p> +<p>“Look at that,” said he; “what is to be done +now? the hole is so far off that it’s night up +there, and down here I haven’t done eating my +lunch.”</p> +<p>“Well,” answered the young fairy, “then why +don’t you whistle?”</p> +<p>Jack was surprised to hear her speak in this +sensible manner, and in the light of the moon he +looked at her very attentively.</p> +<p>“When first I saw you in the nest,” said he, +“you had a pinafore on, and now you have a +smart little apron, with lace round it.”</p> +<p>“That is because I am much older now,” said +the fairy; “we never take such a long time to +grow up as you do.”</p> +<p>“But your pinafore?” said Jack.</p> +<p>“Turned into an apron, of course,” replied the +fairy, “just as your velvet jacket will turn into a +tail-coat when you are old enough.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span></div> +<p>“It won’t,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“Yes it will,” answered the fairy, with an air +of superior wisdom. “Don’t argue with me; I +am older now than you are,—nearly grown up, +in fact. Put me into your pocket again, and whistle +as loudly as you can.”</p> +<p>Jack laughed, put her in, and pulled out another. +“Worse and worse,” he said; “why, this was a +boy fairy, and now he has a mustache and a sword, +and looks as fierce as possible!”</p> +<p>“I think I heard my sister tell you to whistle?” +said this fairy, very sternly.</p> +<p>“Yes, she did,” said Jack. “Well, I suppose +I had better do it.” So he whistled very loudly +indeed.</p> +<p>“Why did you leave off so soon?” said another +of them, peeping out.</p> +<p>“Why, if you wish to know,” answered Jack, +“it was because I thought something took hold +of my legs.”</p> +<p>“Ridiculous child!” cried the last of the four, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +“how do you think you are ever to get out, if she +doesn’t take hold of your legs?”</p> +<p>Jack thought he would rather have done a +long-division sum than have been obliged to +whistle; but he could not help doing it when +they told him, and he felt something take hold +of his legs again, and then give him a jerk, +which hoisted him on to its back, where he sat +astride, and wondered whether the thing was a +pony; but it was not, for he presently observed +that it had a very slender neck, and then that +it was covered with feathers. It was a large bird, +and he presently found that they were rising +towards the hole, which had become so very far +off, and in a few minutes she dashed through the +hole, with Jack on her back and all the fairies +in his pockets.</p> +<p>It was so dark that he could see nothing, and +he twined his arms round the bird’s neck, to hold +on, upon which this agreeable fowl told him not +to be afraid, and said she hoped he was comfortable.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span></div> +<p>“I should be more comfortable,” replied Jack, +“if I knew how I could get home again. I don’t +wish to go home just yet, for I want to see where +we are flying to, but papa and mamma will be +frightened if I never do.”</p> +<p>“Oh no,” replied the albatross (for she was an +albatross), “you need not be at all afraid about +that. When boys go to Fairyland, their parents +never are uneasy about them.”</p> +<p>“Really?” exclaimed Jack.</p> +<p>“Quite true,” replied the albatross.</p> +<p>“And so we are going to Fairyland?” exclaimed +Jack; “how delightful!”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the albatross; “the back way, +mind; we are only going the back way. You +could go in two minutes by the usual route; but +these young fairies want to go before they are +summoned, and therefore you and I are taking +them.” And she continued to fly on in the dark +sky for a very long time.</p> +<p>“They seem to be all fast asleep,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“Perhaps they will sleep till we come to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +wonderful river,” replied the albatross; and just +then she flew with a great bump against something +that met her in the air.</p> +<p>“What craft is this that hangs out no light?” +said a gruff voice.</p> +<p>“I might ask the same question of you,” answered +the albatross, sullenly.</p> +<p>“I’m only a poor Will-o’-the-wisp,” replied the +voice, “and you know very well that I have but a +lantern to show.” Thereupon a lantern became +visible, and Jack saw by the light of it a man, +who looked old and tired, and he was so transparent +that you could see through him, lantern +and all.</p> +<p>“I hope I have not hurt you, William,” said +the albatross; “I will light up immediately. Good-night.”</p> +<p>“Good-night,” answered the Will-o’-the-wisp. +“I am going down as fast as I can; the storm +blew me up, and I am never easy excepting in my +native swamps.”</p> +<p>Jack might have taken more notice of Will, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +if the albatross had not begun to light up. She +did it in this way. First, one of her eyes began +to gleam with a beautiful green light, which cast +its rays far and near, and then, when it was as +bright as a lamp, the other eye began to shine, and +the light of that eye was red. In short, she was +lighted up just like a vessel at sea.</p> +<p>Jack was so happy that he hardly knew which +to look at first, there really were so many remarkable +things.</p> +<p>“They snore,” said the albatross, “they are very +fast asleep, and before they wake I should like to +talk to you a little.”</p> +<p>She meant that the fairies snored, and so they +did, in Jack’s pockets.</p> +<p>“My name,” continued the albatross, “is Jenny. +Do you think you shall remember that? because, +when you are in Fairyland and want some one to +take you home again, and call ‘Jenny,’ I shall be +able to come to you; and I shall come with pleasure, +for I like boys better than fairies.”</p> +<p>“Thank you,” said Jack. “Oh yes, I shall +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +remember your name, it is such a very easy +one.”</p> +<p>“If it is in the night that you want me, just +look up,” continued the albatross, “and you will +see a green and a red spark moving in the air; +you will then call Jenny, and I will come; but +remember that I cannot come unless you do call +me.”</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Jack; but he was not attending, +because there was so much to be seen.</p> +<p>In the first place, all the stars excepting a few +large ones were gone, and they looked frightened; +and as it got lighter, one after the other seemed to +give a little start in the blue sky and go out. And +then Jack looked down and saw, as he thought, a +great country, covered with very jagged snow +mountains with astonishingly sharp peaks. Here +and there he saw a very deep lake,—at least he +thought it was a lake; but while he was admiring +the mountains, there came an enormous crack +between two of the largest, and he saw the sun +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +come rolling up among them, and it seemed to be +almost smothered.</p> +<p>“Why, those are clouds!” exclaimed Jack; +“and O how rosy they have all turned! I thought +they were mountains.”</p> +<p>“Yes, they are clouds,” said the albatross; and +then they turned gold color; and next they began +to plunge and tumble, and every one of the peaks +put on a glittering crown; and next they broke +themselves to pieces, and began to drift away. In +fact, Jack had been out all night, and now it was +morning.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_II__CAPTAIN_JACK' id='CHAPTER_II__CAPTAIN_JACK'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER II.<br /><br />CAPTAIN JACK.</h2> +</div> +<blockquote> +<p>“It has been our lot to sail with many captains, not one +of whom is fit to be a patch on your back.”—<i>Letter of +the Ship’s Company of H. M. S. S. Royalist to Captain +W. T. Bate.</i></p> +</blockquote> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>All</span> this time the albatross kept dropping +down and down like a stone, till Jack was +quite out of breath, and they fell or flew, whichever +you like to call it, straight through one of the +great chasms which he had thought were lakes, +and he looked down, as he sat on the bird’s back, +to see what the world is like when you hang a +good way above it at sunrise.</p> +<p>It was a very beautiful sight; the sheep and +lambs were still fast asleep on the green hills, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +the sea-birds were asleep in long rows upon the +ledges of the cliffs, with their heads under their +wings.</p> +<p>“Are those young fairies awake yet?” asked the +albatross.</p> +<p>“As sound asleep as ever,” answered Jack; +“but, Albatross, is not that the sea which lies +under us? You are a sea-bird, I know, but I am +not a sea boy, and I cannot live in the water.”</p> +<p>“Yes, that is the sea,” answered the albatross. +“Don’t you observe that it is covered with ships?”</p> +<p>“I see boats and vessels,” answered Jack, “and +all their sails are set, but they cannot sail, because +there is no wind.”</p> +<p>“The wind never does blow in this great bay,” +said the bird; “and those ships would all lie there +becalmed till they dropped to pieces if one of +them was not wanted now and then to go up +the wonderful river.”</p> +<p>“But how did they come there?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“Some of them had captains who ill-used their +cabin-boys, some were pirate ships, and others +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +were going out on evil errands. The consequence +was, that when they chanced to sail within this +great bay they got becalmed; the fairies came and +picked all the sailors out and threw them into the +water; they then took away the flags and pennons +to make their best coats of, threw the ship-biscuits +and other provisions to the fishes, and set all the +sails. Many ships which are supposed by men to +have foundered lie becalmed in this quiet sea. +Look at those five grand ones with high prows; +they are moored close together; they were part of +the Spanish Armada: and those open boats with +blue sails belonged to the Romans; they sailed +with Cæsar when he invaded Britain.”</p> +<p>By this time the albatross was hovering about +among the vessels, making choice of one to take +Jack and the fairies up the wonderful river.</p> +<p>“It must not be a large one,” she said, “for the +river in some places is very shallow.”</p> +<p>Jack would have liked very much to have a +fine three-master, all to himself; but then he considered +that he did not know anything about sails +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +and rigging; he thought it would be just as well +to be contented with whatever the albatross might +choose, so he let her set him down in a beautiful +little open boat, with a great carved figure-head to +it. There he seated himself in great state, and the +albatross perched herself on the next bench, and +faced him.</p> +<p>“You remember my name?” asked the albatross.</p> +<p>“Oh yes,” said Jack; but he was not attending,—he +was thinking what a fine thing it was to +have such a curious boat all to himself.</p> +<p>“That’s well,” answered the bird; “then, in the +next place, are those fairies awake yet?”</p> +<p>“No, they are not,” said Jack; and he took +them out of his pockets, and laid them down in a +row before the albatross.</p> +<p>“They are certainly asleep,” said the bird. +“Put them away again, and take great care of +them. Mind you don’t lose any of them, for I +really don’t know what will happen if you do. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +Now I have one thing more to say to you, and that +is, are you hungry?”</p> +<p>“Rather,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“Then,” replied the albatross, “as soon as you +feel <i>very</i> hungry, lie down in the bottom of the boat +and go to sleep. You will dream that you see +before you a roasted fowl, some new potatoes, and +an apple-pie. Mind you don’t eat too much in +your dream, or you will be sorry for it when you +wake. That is all. Good-by! I must go.”</p> +<p>Jack put his arms round the neck of the bird, +and hugged her; then she spread her magnificent +wings and sailed slowly away. At first he felt +very lonely, but in a few minutes he forgot that, +because the little boat began to swim so fast.</p> +<p>She was not sailing, for she had no sail, and he +was not rowing, for he had no oars; so I am +obliged to call her motion swimming, because I +don’t know of a better word. In less than a quarter +of an hour they passed close under the bows of a +splendid three-decker, a seventy-gun ship. The +gannets who live in those parts had taken possession +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +of her, and she was so covered with nests that +you could not have walked one step on her deck +without treading on them. The father birds were +aloft in the rigging, or swimming in the warm, +green sea, and they made such a clamor when they +saw Jack that they nearly woke the fairies,—nearly, +but not quite, for the little things turned +round in Jack’s pockets, and sneezed, and began +to snore again.</p> +<p>Then the boat swam past a fine brig. Some sea +fairies had just flung her cargo overboard, and +were playing at leap-frog on deck. These were +not at all like Jack’s own fairies; they were about +the same height and size as himself, and they had +brown faces, and red flannel shirts and red caps +on. A large fleet of the pearly nautilus was collected +close under the vessel’s lee. The little +creatures were feasting on what the sea fairies had +thrown overboard, and Jack’s boat, in its eagerness +to get on, went plunging through them so +roughly that several were capsized. Upon this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +the brown sea fairies looked over, and called out +angrily, “Boat ahoy!” and the boat stopped.</p> +<p>“Tell that boat of yours to mind what she is +about,” said the fairy sea-captain to Jack.</p> +<p>Jack touched his hat, and said, “Yes, sir,” and +then called out to his boat, “You ought to be +ashamed of yourself, running down these little +live fishing-vessels so carelessly. Go at a more +gentle pace.”</p> +<p>So it swam more slowly; and Jack, being by +this time hungry, curled himself up in the bottom +of the boat, and fell asleep.</p> +<p>He dreamt directly about a fowl and some potatoes, +and he ate a wing, and then he ate a merry-thought, +and then somebody said to him that he +had better not eat any more, but he did,—he ate +another wing; and presently an apple-pie came, +and he ate some of that, and then he ate some +more, and then he immediately woke.</p> +<p>“Now that bird told me not to eat too much,” +said Jack, “and yet I have done it. I never felt +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +so full in my life;” and for more than half an hour +he scarcely noticed anything.</p> +<p>At last he lifted up his head, and saw straight +before him two great brown cliffs, and between +them flowed in the wonderful river. Other rivers +flow out, but this river flowed in, and took with it +far into the land dolphins, sword-fish, mullet, sun-fish, +and many other strange creatures; and that is +one reason why it was called the magic river, or +the wonderful river.</p> +<p>At first it was rather wide, and Jack was +alarmed to see what multitudes of soldiers stood +on either side to guard the banks, and prevent any +person from landing.</p> +<p>He wondered how he should get the fairies on +shore. However, in about an hour the river +became much narrower, and then Jack saw that +the guards were not real soldiers, but rose-colored +flamingoes. There they stood, in long regiments, +among the reeds, and never stirred. They are the +only foot-soldiers the fairies have in their pay; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +they are very fierce, and never allow anything but +a fairy ship to come up the river.</p> +<p>They guarded the banks for miles and miles, +many thousands of them, standing a little way into +the water among the flags and rushes; but at last +there were no more reeds and no soldier guards, +for the stream became narrower, and flowed +between such steep rocks that no one could possibly +have climbed them.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_III__WINDINGUP_TIME' id='CHAPTER_III__WINDINGUP_TIME'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER III.<br /><br />WINDING-UP TIME.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>“Wake, baillie, wake! the crafts are out;</p> +<p class='indent2'>Wake!” said the knight, “be quick!</p> +<p>For high street, bye street, over the town</p> +<p class='indent2'>They fight with poker and stick.”</p> +<p>Said the squire, “A fight so fell was ne’er</p> +<p class='indent2'>In all thy bailliewick.”</p> +<p>What said the old clock in the tower?</p> +<p class='indent8'>“Tick, tick, tick!”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>“Wake, daughter, wake! the hour draws on;</p> +<p class='indent2'>Wake!” quoth the dame, “be quick!</p> +<p>The meats are set, the guests are coming,</p> +<p class='indent2'>The fiddler waxing his stick.”</p> +<p>She said, “The bridegroom waiting and waiting</p> +<p class='indent2'>To see thy face is sick.”</p> +<p>What said the new clock in her bower?</p> +<p class='indent8'>“Tick, tick, tick!”</p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Jack</span> looked at these hot, brown rocks, first on +the left bank and then on the right, till he was +quite tired; but at last the shore on the right bank +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +became flat, and he saw a beautiful little bay, +where the water was still, and where grass grew +down to the brink.</p> +<p>He was so much pleased at this change, that he +cried out hastily, “Oh how I wish my boat would +swim into that bay and let me land!” He had +no sooner spoken than the boat altered her course, +as if somebody had been steering her, and began +to make for the bay as fast as she could go.</p> +<p>“How odd!” thought Jack. “I wonder whether +I ought to have spoken; for the boat certainly did +not intend to come into this bay. However, I +think I will let her alone now, for I certainly do +wish very much to land here.”</p> +<p>As they drew towards the strand, the water got +so shallow that you could see crabs and lobsters +walking about at the bottom. At last the boat’s +keel grated on the pebbles; and just as Jack +began to think of jumping on shore, he saw two +little old women approaching, and gently driving +a white horse before them.</p> +<p>The horse had panniers, one on each side; and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +when his feet were in the water he stood still; and +Jack said to one of the old women,—“Will you +be so kind as to tell me whether this is Fairyland?”</p> +<p>“What does he say?” asked one old woman of +the other.</p> +<p>“I asked if this was Fairyland?” repeated Jack, +for he thought the first old woman might have +been deaf. She was very handsomely dressed in a +red satin gown, and did not look in the least like a +washer-woman, though it afterwards appeared that +she was one.</p> +<p>“He says, ‘Is this Fairyland?’” she replied; +and the other, who had a blue satin cloak, answered, +“Oh, does he?” and then they began to +empty the panniers of many small blue, and pink, +and scarlet shirts, and coats, and stockings; and +when they had made them into two little heaps +they knelt down and began to wash them in the +river, taking no notice of him whatever.</p> +<p>Jack stared at them. They were not much taller +than himself, and they were not taking the slightest +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +care of their handsome clothes; then he looked +at the old white horse, who was hanging his head +over the lovely clear water with a very discontented +air.</p> +<p>At last the blue washer-woman said, “I shall +leave off now; I’ve got a pain in my works.”</p> +<p>“Do,” said the other. “We’ll go home and +have a cup of tea.” Then she glanced at Jack, +who was still sitting in the boat, and said, “Can +you strike?”</p> +<p>“I can if I choose,” replied Jack, a little astonished +at this speech. And the red and blue +washer-women wrung out the clothes, put them +again into the panniers, and taking the old horse +by the bridle, began gently to lead him away.</p> +<p>“I have a great mind to land,” thought Jack. +“I should not wonder at all if this is Fairyland. +So as the boat came here to please me, I shall ask +it to stay where it is, in case I should want it +again.”</p> +<p>So he sprang ashore, and said to the boat, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +“Stay just where you are, will you?” and he ran +after the old women, calling to them,—</p> +<p>“Is there any law to prevent my coming into +your country?”</p> +<p>“Wo!” cried the red-coated old woman, and +the horse stopped, while the blue-coated woman +repeated, “Any law? No, not that I know of; +but if you are a stranger here you had better look +out.”</p> +<p>“Why?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“You don’t suppose, do you,” she answered, +“that our Queen will wind up strangers?”</p> +<p>While Jack was wondering what she meant, the +other said,—</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t wonder if he goes eight days. +Gee!” and the horse went on.</p> +<p>“No, wo!” said the other.</p> +<p>“No, no. Gee! I tell you,” cried the first.</p> +<p>Upon this, to Jack’s intense astonishment, the +old horse stopped, and said, speaking through his +nose,—</p> +<p>“Now, then, which is it to be? I’m willing to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +gee, and I’m agreeable to wo; but what’s a fellow +to do when you say them both together?”</p> +<p>“Why, he talks!” exclaimed Jack.</p> +<p>“It’s because he’s got a cold in his head,” +observed one of the washer-women; “he always +talks when he’s got a cold, and there’s no pleasing +him; whatever you say, he’s not satisfied. Gee, +Boney, do!”</p> +<p>“Gee it is, then,” said the horse, and began to +jog on.</p> +<p>“He spoke again!” said Jack, upon which the +horse laughed, and Jack was quite alarmed.</p> +<p>“It appears that your horses don’t talk?” +observed the blue-coated woman.</p> +<p>“Never,” answered Jack; “they can’t.”</p> +<p>“You mean they won’t,” observed the old horse; +and though he spoke the words of mankind, it was +not in a voice like theirs. Still Jack felt that his +was just the natural tone for a horse, and that it +did not arise only from the length of his nose. +“You’ll find out some day, perhaps,” he continued, +“whether horses can talk or not.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span></div> +<p>“Shall I?” said Jack, very earnestly.</p> +<p>“They’ll <span class='smcaplc'>TELL</span>,” proceeded the white horse. +“I wouldn’t be you when they tell how you’ve +used them.”</p> +<p>“Have you been ill used?” said Jack, in an +anxious tone.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes, of course he has,” one of the women +broke in; “but he has come here to get all right +again. This is a very wholesome country for +horses; isn’t it, Boney?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the horse.</p> +<p>“Well, then, jog on, there’s a dear,” continued +the old woman. “Why, you will be young again +soon, you know,—young, and gamesome, and +handsome; you’ll be quite a colt, by and by, and +then we shall set you free to join your companions +in the happy meadows.”</p> +<p>The old horse was so comforted by this kind +speech, that he pricked up his ears and quickened +his pace considerably.</p> +<p>“He was shamefully used,” observed one washer-woman. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +“Look at him, how lean he is! You +can see all his ribs.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the other, as if apologizing for the +poor old horse. “He gets low-spirited when he +thinks of all he has gone through; but he is a vast +deal better already than he was. He used to live +in London; his master always carried a long whip +to beat him with, and never spoke civilly to him.”</p> +<p>“London!” exclaimed Jack; “why that is in +my country. How did the horse get here?”</p> +<p>“That’s no business of yours,” answered one of +the women. “But I can tell you he came because +he was wanted, which is more than you are.”</p> +<p>“You let him alone,” said the horse, in a querulous +tone. “I don’t bear any malice.”</p> +<p>“No; he has a good disposition, has Boney,” +observed the red old woman. “Pray, are you a +boy?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“A real boy, that wants no winding up?” +inquired the old woman.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span></div> +<p>“I don’t know what you mean,” answered Jack; +“but I am a real boy, certainly.”</p> +<p>“Ah!” she replied. “Well, I thought you +were, by the way Boney spoke to you. How +frightened you must be! I wonder what will be +done to all your people for driving, and working, +and beating so many beautiful creatures to death +every year that comes? They’ll have to pay for it +some day, you may depend.”</p> +<p>Jack was a little alarmed, and answered that he +had never been unkind himself to horses, and he +was glad that Boney bore no malice.</p> +<p>“They worked him, and often drove him about +all night in the miserable streets, and never let him +have so much as a canter in a green field,” said +one of the women; “but he’ll be all right now, +only he has to begin at the wrong end.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” said Jack.</p> +<p>“Why, in this country,” answered the old +woman, “they begin by being terribly old and +stiff, and they seem miserable and jaded at first, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +but by degrees they get young again, as you heard +me reminding him.”</p> +<p>“Indeed,” said Jack; “and do you like that?”</p> +<p>“It has nothing to do with me,” she answered. +“We are only here to take care of all the creatures +that men have ill used. While they are sick and +old, which they are when first they come to us,—after +they are dead, you know,—we take care of +them, and gradually bring them up to be young +and happy again.”</p> +<p>“This must be a very nice country to live in, +then,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“For horses it is,” said the old lady, significantly.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Jack, “it does seem very full of +haystacks, certainly, and all the air smells of fresh +grass.”</p> +<p>At this moment they came to a beautiful +meadow, and the old horse stopped, and, turning +to the blue-coated woman, said, “Faxa, I think I +could fancy a handful of clover.” Upon this Faxa +snatched Jack’s cap off his head, and in a very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +active manner jumped over a little ditch, and +gathering some clover, presently brought it back +full, handing it to the old horse with great civility.</p> +<p>“You shouldn’t be in such a hurry,” observed +the old horse; “your weights will be running +down some day, if you don’t mind.”</p> +<p>“It’s all zeal,” observed the red-coated woman.</p> +<p>Just then a little man, dressed like a groom, +came running up, out of breath. “Oh, here you +are, Dow!” he exclaimed to the red-coated woman. +“Come along, will you? Lady Betty wants you; +it’s such a hot day, and nobody, she says, can fan +her so well as you can.”</p> +<p>The red-coated woman, without a word, went +off with the groom, and Jack thought he would +go with them, for this Lady Betty could surely tell +him whether the country was called Fairyland, or +whether he must get into his boat and go farther. +He did not like either to hear the way in which +Faxa and Dow talked about their works and their +weights; so he asked Faxa to give him his cap, +which she did, and he heard a curious sort of little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +ticking noise as he came close to her, which +startled him.</p> +<p>“Oh, this must be Fairyland, I am sure,” +thought Jack, “for in my country our pulses beat +quite differently from that.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Faxa, rather sharply, “do you find +any fault with the way I go?”</p> +<p>“No,” said Jack, a little ashamed of having listened. +“I think you walk beautifully; your steps +are so regular.”</p> +<p>“She’s machine-made,” observed the old horse, +in a melancholy voice, and with a deep sigh. “In +the largest magnifying-glass you’ll hardly find the +least fault with her chain. She’s not like the +goods they turn out in Clerkenwell.”</p> +<p>Jack was more and more startled, and so glad +to get his cap and run after the groom and Dow +to find Lady Betty, that he might be with ordinary +human beings again; but when he got up to them, +he found that Lady Betty was a beautiful brown +mare! She was lying in a languid and rather +affected attitude, with a load of fresh hay before +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +her, and two attendants, one of whom stood holding +a parasol over her head, and the other was +fanning her.</p> +<p>“I’m so glad you are come, my good Dow,” +said the brown mare. “Don’t you think I am +strong enough to-day to set off for the happy +meadows?”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Dow, “I’m afraid not yet; you +must remember that it is of no use your leaving +us till you have quite got over the effects of the +fall.”</p> +<p>Just then Lady Betty observed Jack, and said, +“Take that boy away; he reminds me of a +jockey.”</p> +<p>The attentive groom instantly started forward, +but Jack was too nimble for him; he ran and ran +with all his might, and only wished he had never +left the boat. But still he heard the groom behind +him; and in fact the groom caught him at last, +and held him so fast that struggling was of no use +at all.</p> +<p>“You young rascal!” he exclaimed, as he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +recovered breath. “How you do run! It’s +enough to break your mainspring.”</p> +<p>“What harm did I do?” asked Jack. “I was +only looking at the mare.”</p> +<p>“Harm!” exclaimed the groom; “harm indeed! +Why, you reminded her of a jockey. It’s enough +to hold her back, poor thing!—and we trying so +hard, too, to make her forget what a cruel end she +came to in the old world.”</p> +<p>“You need not hold me so tightly,” said Jack, +“I shall not run away again; but,” he added, “if +this is Fairyland, it is not half such a nice country +as I expected.”</p> +<p>“Fairyland!” exclaimed the groom, stepping +back with surprise. “Why, what made you think +of such a thing? This is only one of the border +countries, where things are set right again that +people have caused to go wrong in the world. The +world, you know, is what men and women call +their own home.”</p> +<p>“I know,” said Jack; “and that’s where I +came from.” Then, as the groom seemed no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +longer to be angry, he went on: “And I wish you +would tell me about Lady Betty.”</p> +<p>“She was a beautiful fleet creature, of the racehorse +breed,” said the groom; “and she won +silver cups for her master, and then they made her +run a steeple-chase, which frightened her, but still +she won it; and then they made her run another, +and she cleared some terribly high hurdles, and +many gates and ditches, till she came to an awful +one, and at first she would not take it, but her rider +spurred and beat her till she tried. It was beyond +her powers, and she fell and broke both her forelegs. +Then they shot her. After she had died +that miserable death, we had her here, to make her +all right again.”</p> +<p>“Is this the only country where you set things +right?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“Certainly not,” answered the groom; “they +lie about in all directions. Why, you might wander +for years, and never come to the end of this +one.”</p> +<p>“I am afraid I shall not find the one I am looking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +for,” said Jack, “if your countries are so +large.”</p> +<p>“I don’t think our world is much larger than +yours,” answered the groom. “But come along: +I hear the bell, and we are a good way from the +palace.”</p> +<p>Jack, in fact, heard the violent ringing of a bell +at some distance; and when the groom began to +run, he ran beside him, for he thought he should +like to see the palace. As they ran, people gathered +from all sides,—fields, cottages, mills,—till +at last there was a little crowd, among whom Jack +saw Dow and Faxa, and they were all making for +a large house, the wide door of which was standing +open. Jack stood with the crowd, and peeped +in. There was a woman sitting inside upon a +rocking-chair,—a tall, large woman, with a gold-colored +gown on,—and beside her stood a table, +covered with things that looked like keys.</p> +<p>“What is that woman doing?” said he to Faxa, +who was standing close to him.</p> +<p>“Winding us up, to be sure,” answered Faxa. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +“You don’t suppose, surely, that we can go forever?”</p> +<p>“Extraordinary!” said Jack. “Then are you +wound up every evening, like watches?”</p> +<p>“Unless we have misbehaved ourselves,” she +answered; “and then she lets us run down.”</p> +<p>“And what then?”</p> +<p>“What then?” repeated Faxa, “why, then we +have to stop and stand against a wall, till she is +pleased to forgive us, and let our friends carry us +in to be set going again.”</p> +<p>Jack looked in, and saw the people pass in and +stand close by the woman. One after the other +she took by the chin with her left hand, and with +her right hand found a key that pleased her. It +seemed to Jack that there was a tiny key-hole in +the back of their heads, and that she put the key +in and wound them up.</p> +<p>“You must take your turn with the others,” said +the groom.</p> +<p>“There’s no key-hole in my head,” said Jack; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +“besides, I do not want any woman to wind +me up.”</p> +<p>“But you must do as others do,” he persisted; +“and if you have no key-hole, our Queen can +easily have one made, I should think.”</p> +<p>“Make one in my head!” exclaimed Jack. +“She shall do no such thing.”</p> +<p>“We shall see,” said Faxa, quietly. And Jack +was so frightened that he set off, and ran back +towards the river with all his might. Many of +the people called to him to stop, but they could +not run after him, because they wanted winding +up. However, they would certainly have caught +him if he had not been very quick, for before he +got to the river he heard behind him the footsteps +of those who had been first attended to by the +Queen, and he had only just time to spring into +the boat when they reached the edge of the water.</p> +<p>No sooner was he on board than the boat swung +round, and got out again into the middle of the +stream; but he could not feel safe till not only was +there a long reach of water between him and the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +shore, but till he had gone so far down the river +that the beautiful bay had passed out of sight, and +the sun was going down. By this time he began +to feel very tired and sleepy; so, having looked at +his fairies, and found that they were all safe and +fast asleep, he laid down in the bottom of the boat, +and fell into a doze, and then into a dream.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV__BEES_AND_OTHER_FELLOWCREATURES' id='CHAPTER_IV__BEES_AND_OTHER_FELLOWCREATURES'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.<br /><br />BEES AND OTHER FELLOW-CREATURES.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>The dove laid some little sticks,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Then began to coo;</p> +<p>The gnat took his trumpet up</p> +<p class='indent2'>To play the day through;</p> +<p>The pie chattered soft and long—</p> +<p class='indent2'>But that she always does;</p> +<p>The bee did all he had to do,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And only said, “Buzz.”</p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>When</span> Jack at length opened his eyes, he +found that it was night, for the full moon +was shining; but it was not at all a dark night, for +he could see distinctly some black birds, that +looked like ravens. They were sitting in a row on +the edge of the boat.</p> +<p>Now that he had fairies in his pockets, he could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +understand bird-talk, and he heard one of these +ravens saying, “There is no meat so tender; I +wish I could pick their little eyes out.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said another, “fairies are delicate eating +indeed. We must speak Jack fair if we want +to get at them.” And she heaved up a deep sigh.</p> +<p>Jack lay still, and thought he had better pretend +to be asleep; but they soon noticed that his eyes +were open, and one of them presently walked up +his leg and bowed, and asked if he was hungry.</p> +<p>Jack said, “No.”</p> +<p>“No more am I,” replied the raven; “not at all +hungry.” Then she hopped off his leg, and Jack +sat up.</p> +<p>“And how are the sweet fairies that my young +master is taking to their home?” asked another +of the ravens. “I hope they are safe in my young +master’s pockets?”</p> +<p>Jack felt in his pockets. Yes, they were all +safe; but he did not take any of them out, lest the +ravens should snatch at them.</p> +<p>“Eh?” continued the raven, pretending to listen; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +“did this dear young gentleman say that the +fairies were asleep?”</p> +<p>“It doesn’t amuse me to talk about fairies,” said +Jack; “but if you would explain some of the +things in this country that I cannot make out, I +should be very glad.”</p> +<p>“What things?” asked the blackest of the ravens.</p> +<p>“Why,” said Jack, “I see a full moon lying +down there among the water-flags, and just going +to set, and there is a half-moon overhead plunging +among those great gray clouds, and just this +moment I saw a thin crescent moon peeping out +between the branches of that tree.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said all the ravens at once, “did the +young master never see a crescent moon in the +men and women’s world?”</p> +<p>“Oh yes,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“Did he never see a full moon?” asked the +ravens.</p> +<p>“Yes, of course,” said Jack; “but they are the +same moon. I could never see all three of them +at the same time.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span></div> +<p>The ravens were very much surprised at this, +and one of them said,—</p> +<p>“If my young master did not see the moons it +must have been because he didn’t look. Perhaps +my young master slept in a room, and had only +one window; if so, he couldn’t see all the sky at +once.”</p> +<p>“I tell you, Raven,” said Jack, laughing, “that +I <span class='smcaplc'>KNOW</span> there is never more than one moon in +my country, and sometimes there is no moon at +all!”</p> +<p>Upon this all the ravens hung down their +heads, and looked very much ashamed; for there +is nothing that birds hate so much as to be laughed +at, and they believed that Jack was saying this to +mock them, and that he knew what they had +come for. So first one and then another hopped +to the other end of the boat and flew away, till at +last there was only one left, and she appeared to +be out of spirits, and did not speak again till he +spoke to her.</p> +<p>“Raven,” said Jack, “there’s something very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +cold and slippery lying at the bottom of the boat. +I touched it just now, and I don’t like it at all.”</p> +<p>“It’s a water-snake,” said the raven; and she +stooped and picked up a long thing with her +beak, which she threw out, and then looked over. +“The water swarms with them, wicked, murderous +creatures; they smell the young fairies, and +they want to eat them.”</p> +<p>Jack was so thrown off his guard that he snatched +one fairy out, just to make sure that it was safe. +It was the one with the mustache; and, alas! in +one instant the raven flew at it, got it out of his +hand, and pecked off its head before it had time +to wake or Jack to rescue it. Then, as she slowly +rose, she croaked, and said to Jack, “You’ll catch +it for this, my young master!” and she flew to +the bough of a tree, where she finished eating the +fairy, and threw his little empty coat into the +river.</p> +<p>On this Jack began to cry bitterly, and to think +what a foolish boy he had been. He was the +more sorry because he did not even know that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +poor little fellow’s name. But he had heard the +others calling by name to their companions, and +very grand names they were too. One was +Jovinian,—he was a very fierce-looking gentleman; +the other two were Roxaletta and Mopsa.</p> +<p>Presently, however, Jack forgot to be unhappy, +for two of the moons went down, and then the +sun rose, and he was delighted to find that however +many moons there might be, there was only +one sun, even in the country of the wonderful +river.</p> +<p>So on and on they went; but the river was +very wide, and the waves were boisterous. On +the right brink was a thick forest of trees, with +such heavy foliage that a little way off they looked +like a bank, green, and smooth, and steep; but +as the light became clearer, Jack could see here +and there the great stems, and see creatures like +foxes, wild boars, and deer, come stealing down +to drink in the river.</p> +<p>It was very hot here; not at all like the spring +weather he had left behind. And as the low +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +sunbeams shone into Jack’s face he said hastily, +without thinking of what would occur, “I wish +I might land among those lovely glades on the +left bank.”</p> +<p>No sooner said than the boat began to make +for the left bank, and the nearer they got towards +it the more beautiful it became; but also the more +stormy were the reaches of water they had to +traverse.</p> +<p>A lovely country indeed! It sloped gently +down to the water’s edge, and beautiful trees +were scattered over it, soft, mossy grass grew +everywhere, great old laburnum trees stretched +their boughs down in patches over the water, +and higher up camellias, almost as large as hawthorns, +grew together and mingled their red and +white flowers.</p> +<p>The country was not so open as a park,—it +was more like a half-cleared woodland; but there +was a wide space just where the boat was steering +for, that had no trees, only a few flowering shrubs. +Here groups of strange-looking people were bustling +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +about, and there were shrill fifes sounding, +and drums.</p> +<p>Farther back he saw rows of booths or tents +under the shade of the trees.</p> +<p>In another place some people dressed like +gypsies had made fires of sticks just at the skirts +of the woodland, and were boiling their pots. +Some of these had very gaudy tilted carts, hung +all over with goods, such as baskets, brushes, +mats, little glasses, pottery, and beads.</p> +<p>It seemed to be a kind of fair, to which people +had gathered from all parts; but there was not +one house to be seen. All the goods were either +hung upon trees or collected in strange-looking +tents.</p> +<p>The people were not all of the same race; +indeed, he thought the only human beings were +the gypsies, for the folks who had tents were no +taller than himself.</p> +<p>How hot it was that morning! and as the boat +pushed itself into a little creek, and made its way +among the beds of yellow and purple iris which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +skirted the brink, what a crowd of dragon-flies +and large butterflies rose from them!</p> +<p>“Stay where you are!” cried Jack to the boat; +and at that instant such a splendid moth rose +slowly, that he sprang on shore after it, and quite +forgot the fair and the people in his desire to +follow it.</p> +<p>The moth settled on a great red honey-flower, +and he stole up to look at it. As large as a +swallow, it floated on before him. Its wings were +nearly black, and they had spots of gold on them.</p> +<p>When it rose again Jack ran after it, till he +found himself close to the rows of tents where +the brown people stood; and they began to cry +out to him, “What’ll you buy? what’ll you buy, +sir?” and they crowded about him, so that he +soon lost sight of the moth, and forgot everything +else in his surprise at the booths.</p> +<p>They were full of splendid things,—clocks and +musical boxes, strange china ornaments, embroidered +slippers, red caps, and many kinds of +splendid silks and small carpets. In other booths +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +were swords and dirks, glittering with jewels; +and the chatter of the people when they talked +together was not in a language that Jack could +understand.</p> +<p>Some of the booths were square, and evidently +made of common canvas, for when you went into +them, and the sun shone, you could distinctly see +the threads.</p> +<p>But scattered a little farther on in groups were +some round tents, which were far more curious. +They were open on all sides, and consisted only +of a thick canopy overhead, which was supported +by one beautiful round pillar in the middle.</p> +<p>Outside the canopy was white or brownish; +but when Jack stood under these tents, he saw +that they were lined with splendid flutings of +brown or pink silk: what looked like silk, at +least, for it was impossible to be sure whether +these were real tents or gigantic mushrooms.</p> +<p>They varied in size, also, as mushrooms do, +and in shape: some were large enough for twenty +people to stand under them, and had flat tops +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +with a brown lining; others had dome-shaped +roofs; these were lined with pink, and would +only shelter six or seven.</p> +<p>The people who sold in these tents were as +strange as their neighbors; each had a little high +cap on his head, in shape just like a beehive, and +it was made of straw, and had a little hole in +front. In fact, Jack very soon saw bees flying in +and out, and it was evident that these people had +their honey made on the premises. They were +chiefly selling country produce. They had cheeses +so large as to reach to their waists, and the +women trundled them along as boys do their +hoops. They sold a great many kinds of seed, +too, in wooden bowls, and cakes and good things +to eat, such as gilt gingerbread. Jack bought +some of this, and found it very nice indeed. But +when he took out his money to pay for it, the little +man looked rather strangely at it, and turned it +over with an air of disgust. Then Jack saw him +hand it to his wife, who also seemed to dislike +it; and presently Jack observed that they followed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +him about, first on one side, then on the other. +At last, the little woman slipped her hand into +his pocket, and Jack, putting his hand in directly, +found his sixpence had been returned.</p> +<p>“Why, you’ve given me back my money!” he +said.</p> +<p>The little woman put her hands behind her. +“I do not like it,” she said; “it’s dirty; at least, +it’s not new.”</p> +<p>“No, it’s not new,” said Jack, a good deal +surprised, “but it is a good sixpence.”</p> +<p>“The bees don’t like it,” continued the little +woman. “They like things to be neat and new, +and that sixpence is bent.”</p> +<p>“What shall I give you then?” said Jack.</p> +<p>The good little woman laughed and blushed. +“This young gentleman has a beautiful whistle +round his neck,” she observed, politely, but did +not ask for it.</p> +<p>Jack had a dog-whistle, so he took it off and +gave it to her.</p> +<p>“Thank you for the bees,” she said. “They +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +love to be called home when we’ve collected +flowers for them.”</p> +<p>So she made a pretty little courtesy, and went +away to her customers.</p> +<p>There were some very strange creatures also, +about the same height as Jack, who had no tents, +and seemed there to buy, not to sell. Yet they +looked poorer than the other folks, and they were +also very cross and discontented; nothing pleased +them. Their clothes were made of moss, and +their mantles of feathers; and they talked in a +queer whistling tone of voice, and carried their +skinny little children on their backs and on their +shoulders.</p> +<p>They were treated with great respect by the +people in the tents; and when Jack asked his +friend to whom he had given the whistle what they +were, and where they got so much money as they +had, she replied that they lived over the hills, and +were afraid to come in their best clothes. They +were rich and powerful at home, and they came +shabbily dressed, and behaved humbly, lest their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +enemies should envy them. It was very dangerous, +she said, to fairies to be envied.</p> +<p>Jack wanted to listen to their strange whistling +talk, but he could not for the noise and cheerful +chattering of the brown folks, and more still for +the screaming and talking of parrots.</p> +<p>Among the goods were hundreds of splendid +gilt cages, which were hung by long gold chains +from the trees. Each cage contained a parrot and +his mate, and they all seemed to be very unhappy +indeed.</p> +<p>The parrots could talk, and they kept screaming +to the discontented women to buy things for them, +and trying very hard to attract attention.</p> +<p>One old parrot made himself quite conspicuous +by these efforts. He flung himself against the +wires of his cage, he squalled, he screamed, he +knocked the floor with his beak, till Jack and one +of the customers came running up to see what was +the matter.</p> +<p>“What do you make such a fuss for?” cried the +discontented woman. “You’ve set your cage +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +swinging with knocking yourself about; and what +good does that do? I cannot break the spell and +open it for you.”</p> +<p>“I know that,” answered the parrot, sobbing; +“but it hurts my feelings so that you should take +no notice of me now that I have come down in the +world.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the parrot’s mate, “it hurts our +feelings.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t forgotten you,” answered the woman, +more crossly than ever; “I was buying a measure +of maize for you when you began to make such a +noise.”</p> +<p>Jack thought this was the queerest conversation +he had ever heard in his life; and he was still more +surprised when the bird answered,—</p> +<p>“I would much rather you would buy me a +pocket-handkerchief. Here we are, shut up, without +a chance of getting out, and with nobody to +pity us; and we can’t even have the comfort of +crying, because we’ve got nothing to wipe our eyes +with.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span></div> +<p>“But at least,” replied the woman, “you <span class='smcaplc'>CAN</span> +cry now if you please, and when you had your +other face you could not.”</p> +<p>“Buy me a handkerchief,” sobbed the parrot.</p> +<p>“I can’t afford both,” whined the cross woman, +“and I’ve paid now for the maize.” So saying, +she went back to the tent to fetch her present to +the parrots; and as their cage was still swinging +Jack put out his hand to steady it for them, and +the instant he did so they became perfectly silent, +and all the other parrots on that tree, who had +been flinging themselves about in their cages, left +off screaming, and became silent too.</p> +<p>The old parrot looked very cunning. His cage +hung by such a long gold chain that it was just on +a level with Jack’s face, and so many odd things +had happened that day that it did not seem more +odd than usual to hear him say, in a tone of great +astonishment,—</p> +<p>“It’s a <span class='smcaplc'>BOY</span>, if ever there was one!”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jack; “I’m a boy.”</p> +<p>“You won’t go yet, will you?” said the parrot.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span></div> +<p>“No, don’t,” said a great many other parrots. +Jack agreed to stay a little while, upon which they +all thanked him.</p> +<p>“I had no notion you were a boy till you touched +my cage,” said the old parrot.</p> +<p>Jack did not know how this could have told +him, so he only answered, “Indeed!”</p> +<p>“I’m a fairy,” observed the parrot, in a confidential +tone. “We are imprisoned here by our +enemies the gypsies.”</p> +<p>“So we are,” answered a chorus of other parrots.</p> +<p>“I’m sorry for that,” replied Jack. “I’m friends +with the fairies.”</p> +<p>“Don’t tell,” said the parrot, drawing a film +over his eyes, and pretending to be asleep. At +that moment his friend in the moss petticoat and +feather cloak came up with a little measure of +maize, and poured it into the cage.</p> +<p>“Here, neighbor,” she said; “I must say good-by +now, for the gypsy is coming this way, and I +want to buy some of her goods.”</p> +<p>“Well, thank you,” answered the parrot, sobbing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +again; “but I could have wished it had been +a pocket-handkerchief.”</p> +<p>“I’ll lend you my handkerchief,” said Jack. +“Here!” And he drew it out, and pushed it +between the wires.</p> +<p>The parrot and his wife were in a great hurry +to get Jack’s handkerchief. They pulled it in very +hastily; but instead of using it they rolled it up +into a ball, and the parrot-wife tucked it under +her wing.</p> +<p>“It makes me tremble all over,” said she, “to +think of such good luck.”</p> +<p>“I say,” observed the parrot to Jack, “I know +all about it now. You’ve got some of my people +in your pockets,—not of my own tribe, but +fairies.”</p> +<p>By this Jack was sure that the parrot really was +a fairy himself, and he listened to what he had to +say the more attentively.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_V__THE_PARROT_IN_HIS_SHAWL' id='CHAPTER_V__THE_PARROT_IN_HIS_SHAWL'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER V.<br /><br />THE PARROT IN HIS SHAWL.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p class='indent8'>That handkerchief</p> +<p>Did an Egyptian to my mother give;</p> +<p>She was a charmer, and could almost read</p> +<p>The thoughts of people.—<i>Othello.</i></p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>T</span><span class='dcap'>hat</span> gypsy woman who is coming with her +cart,” said the parrot, “is a fairy too, and +very malicious. It was she and others of her tribe +who caught us and put us into these cages, for they +are more powerful than we. Mind you do not let +her allure you into the woods, nor wheedle you +or frighten you into giving her any of those +fairies.”</p> +<p>“No,” said Jack; “I will not.”</p> +<p>“She sold us to the brown people,” continued +the parrot. “Mind you do not buy anything of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +her, for your money in her palm would act as a +charm against you.”</p> +<p>“She has a baby,” observed the parrot-wife, +scornfully.</p> +<p>“Yes, a baby,” repeated the old parrot; “and I +hope by means of that baby to get her driven +away, and perhaps get free myself. I shall try to +put her in a passion. Here she comes.”</p> +<p>There she was indeed, almost close at hand. +She had a little cart; her goods were hung all +about it, and a small horse drew it slowly on, +and stopped when she got a customer.</p> +<p>Several gypsy children were with her, and as +the people came running together over the grass +to see her goods, she sang a curious kind of song, +which made them wish to buy them.</p> +<p>Jack turned from the parrot’s cage as she came +up. He had heard her singing a little way off, +and now, before she began again, he felt that +already her searching eyes had found him out, +and taken notice that he was different from the +other people.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span></div> +<p>When she began to sing her selling song, he felt +a most curious sensation. He felt as if there were +some cobwebs before his face, and he put up his +hand as if to clear them away. There were no +real cobwebs, of course; and yet he again felt as +if they floated from the gypsy woman to him, like +gossamer threads, and attracted him towards her. +So he gazed at her, and she at him, till Jack +began to forget how the parrot had warned him.</p> +<p>He saw her baby too, wondered whether it was +heavy for her to carry, and wished he could help +her. I mean, he saw that she had a baby on her +arm. It was wrapped in a shawl, and had a handkerchief +over its face. She seemed very fond of +it, for she kept hushing it; and Jack softly moved +nearer and nearer to the cart, till the gypsy woman +smiled, and suddenly began to sing,—</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>My good man—he’s an old, old man</p> +<p class='indent2'>And my good man got a fall,</p> +<p>To buy me a bargain so fast he ran</p> +<p class='indent2'>When he heard the gypsies call:</p> +<p class='indent6'>“Buy, buy brushes,</p> +<p class='indent6'>Baskets wrought o’ rushes.</p> +<p class='indent6'>Buy them, buy them, take them, try them,</p> +<p class='indent12'>Buy, dames all.”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span></p> +<p>My old man, he has money and land,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And a young, young wife am I.</p> +<p>Let him put the penny in my white hand</p> +<p class='indent2'>When he hears the gypsies cry:</p> +<p class='indent6'>“Buy, buy laces,</p> +<p class='indent6'>Veils to screen your faces.</p> +<p class='indent6'>Buy them, buy them, take and try them.</p> +<p class='indent12'>Buy, maids, buy.”</p> +</div></div> +<p>When the gypsy had finished her song, Jack +felt as if he was covered all over with cobwebs; +but he could not move away, and he did not mind +them now. All his wish was to please her, and +get close to her; so when she said, in a soft, +wheedling voice, “What will you please to buy, +my pretty gentleman?” he was just going to +answer that he would buy anything she recommended, +when, to his astonishment and displeasure, +for he thought it very rude, the parrot +suddenly burst into a violent fit of coughing, +which made all the customers stare. “That’s to +clear my throat,” he said, in a most impertinent +tone of voice; and then he began to beat time with +his foot, and sing, or rather scream out, an extremely +saucy imitation of the gypsy’s song, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +all his parrot friends in the other cages joined in +the chorus.</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>My fair lady’s a dear, dear lady—</p> +<p class='indent2'>I walked by her side to woo.</p> +<p>In a garden alley, so sweet and shady,</p> +<p class='indent2'>She answered, “I love not you,</p> +<p class='indent6'>John, John Brady,”</p> +<p class='indent6'>Quoth my dear lady,</p> +<p>“Pray now, pray now, go your way now,</p> +<p class='indent6'>Do, John, do!”</p> +</div></div> +<p>At first the gypsy did not seem to know where +that mocking song came from, but when she discovered +that it was her prisoner, the old parrot, +who was thus daring to imitate her, she stood +silent and glared at him, and her face was almost +white with rage.</p> +<p>When he came to the end of the verse he pretended +to burst into a violent fit of sobbing and +crying, and screeched out to his wife, “Mate! +mate! hand up my handkerchief. Oh! oh! it’s +so affecting, this song is.”</p> +<p>Upon this the other parrot pulled Jack’s handkerchief +from under her wing, hobbled up, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +began, with a great show of zeal, to wipe his +horny beak with it. But this was too much for +the gypsy; she took a large brush from her cart, +and flung it at the cage with all her might.</p> +<p>This set it violently swinging backwards and +forwards, but did not stop the parrot, who +screeched out, “How delightful it is to be +swung!” And then he began to sing another +verse in the most impudent tone possible, and +with a voice that seemed to ring through Jack’s +head, and almost pierce it:—</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>Yet my fair lady’s my own, own lady,</p> +<p class='indent2'>For I passed another day;</p> +<p>While making her moan, she sat all alone,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And thus and thus did she say:</p> +<p class='indent6'>“John, John Brady,”</p> +<p class='indent6'>Quoth my dear lady,</p> +<p>“Do now, do now, once more woo now,</p> +<p class='indent6'>Pray, John, pray!”</p> +</div></div> +<p>“It’s beautiful!” screeched the parrot-wife, +“and so ap-pro-pri-ate.” Jack was delighted +when she managed slowly to say this long word +with her black tongue, and he burst out laughing. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +In the mean time a good many of the brown +people came running together, attracted by the +noise of the parrots and the rage of the gypsy, +who flung at his cage, one after the other, all the +largest things she had in her cart. But nothing +did the parrot any harm; the more violently his +cage swung, the louder he sang, till at last the +wicked gypsy seized her poor little young baby, +who was lying in her arms, rushed frantically +at the cage as it flew swiftly through the air +towards her, and struck at it with the little creature’s +head. “Oh, you cruel, cruel woman!” +cried Jack, and all the small mothers who were +standing near with their skinny children on their +shoulders, screamed out with terror and indignation; +but only for one instant, for the handkerchief +flew off that had covered its face, and was +caught in the wires of the cage, and all the people +saw that it was not a real baby at all, but a +bundle of clothes, and its head was a turnip.</p> +<p>Yes, a turnip! You could see that as plainly +as possible, for though the green leaves had been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +cut off, their stalks were visible through the lace +cap that had been tied on it.</p> +<p>Upon this all the crowd pressed closer, throwing +her baskets, and brushes, and laces, and beads +at the gypsy, and calling out, “We will have none +of your goods, you false woman! Give us back +our money, or we will drive you out of the fair. +You’ve stuck a stick into a turnip, and dressed it +up in baby clothes. You’re a cheat! a cheat!”</p> +<p>“My sweet gentlemen, my kind ladies,” began +the gypsy; but baskets and brushes flew at her +so fast that she was obliged to sit down on the +grass and hold up the sham baby to screen her +face.</p> +<p>While this was going on, Jack felt that the +cobwebs which had seemed to float about his face +were all gone; he did not care at all any more +about the gypsy, and began to watch the parrots +with great attention.</p> +<p>He observed that when the handkerchief stuck +between the cage wires, the parrots caught it, +and drew it inside; and then Jack saw the cunning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +old bird himself lay it on the floor, fold +it crosswise like a shawl, and put it on his +wife.</p> +<p>Then she jumped upon the perch, and held it +with one foot, looking precisely like an old lady +with a parrot’s head. Then he folded Jack’s +handkerchief in the same way, put it on, and got +upon the perch beside his wife, screaming out, in +his most piercing tone,—</p> +<p>“I like shawls; they’re so becoming.”</p> +<p>Now the gypsy did not care at all what those +inferior people thought of her, and she was calmly +counting out their money, to return it; but she +was very desirous to make Jack forget her behavior, +and had begun to smile again, and tell +him she had only been joking, when the parrot +spoke, and, looking up, she saw the two birds +sitting side by side, and the parrot-wife was +screaming in her mate’s ear, though neither of +them was at all deaf,—</p> +<p>“If Jack lets her allure him into the woods, +he’ll never come out again. She’ll hang him up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +in a cage, as she did us. I say, how does my +shawl fit?”</p> +<p>So saying, the parrot-wife whisked herself round +on the perch, and lo! in the corner of the handkerchief +were seen some curious letters, marked +in red. When the crowd saw these, they drew a +little farther off, and glanced at one another with +alarm.</p> +<p>“You look charming, my dear; it fits well!” +screamed the old parrot in answer. “A word +in your ear; ‘Share and share alike’ is a fine +motto.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean by all this?” said the +gypsy, rising, and going with slow steps to the +cage, and speaking cautiously.</p> +<p>“Jack,” said the parrot, “do they ever eat +handkerchiefs in your part of the country?”</p> +<p>“No, never,” answered Jack.</p> +<p>“Hold your tongue and be reasonable,” said +the gypsy, trembling. “What do you want? +I’ll do it, whatever it is.”</p> +<p>“But do they never pick out the marks?” continued +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +the parrot. “O Jack! are you sure they +never pick out the marks?”</p> +<p>“The marks?” said Jack, considering. “Yes, +perhaps they do.”</p> +<p>“Stop!” cried the gypsy, as the old parrot +made a peck at the strange letters. “Oh! you’re +hurting me. What do you want? I say again, +tell me what you want, and you shall have +it.”</p> +<p>“We want to get out,” replied the parrot; +“you must undo the spell.”</p> +<p>“Then give me my handkerchief,” answered +the gypsy, “to bandage my eyes. I dare not +say the words with my eyes open. You had no +business to steal it. It was woven by human +hands, so that nobody can see through it; and +if you don’t give it to me, you’ll never get out,—no, +never!”</p> +<p>“Then,” said the old parrot, tossing his shawl +off, “you may have Jack’s handkerchief; it will +bandage your eyes just as well. It was woven +over the water, as yours was.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span></div> +<p>“It won’t do!” cried the gypsy, in terror; +“give me my own.”</p> +<p>“I tell you,” answered the parrot, “that you +shall have Jack’s handkerchief; you can do no +harm with that.”</p> +<p>By this time the parrots all around had become +perfectly silent, and none of the people ventured +to say a word, for they feared the malice of the +gypsy. She was trembling dreadfully, and her +dark eyes, which had been so bright and piercing, +had become dull and almost dim; but when she +found there was no help for it, she said,—</p> +<p>“Well, pass out Jack’s handkerchief. I will +set you free if you will bring out mine with you.”</p> +<p>“Share and share alike,” answered the parrot; +“you must let all my friends out too.”</p> +<p>“Then I won’t let you out,” answered the +gypsy. “You shall come out first, and give me +my handkerchief, or not one of their cages will I +undo. So take your choice.”</p> +<p>“My friends, then,” answered the brave old +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +parrot; and he poked Jack’s handkerchief out +to her through the wires.</p> +<p>The wondering crowd stood by to look, and +the gypsy bandaged her eyes tightly with the +handkerchief; and then, stooping low, she began +to murmur something and clap her hands—softly +at first, but by degrees more and more violently. +The noise was meant to drown the words she +muttered; but as she went on clapping, the bottom +of cage after cage fell clattering down. Out flew +the parrots by hundreds, screaming and congratulating +one another; and there was such a deafening +din that not only the sound of her spell, but the +clapping of her hands, was quite lost in it.</p> +<p>But all this time Jack was very busy; for the +moment the gypsy had tied up her eyes, the old +parrot snatched the real handkerchief off his wife’s +shoulders, and tied it round her neck. Then she +pushed out her head through the wires, and the +old parrot called to Jack, and said, “Pull!”</p> +<p>Jack took the ends of the handkerchief, pulled +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +terribly hard, and stopped. “Go on! go on!” +screamed the old parrot.</p> +<p>“I shall pull her head off,” cried Jack.</p> +<p>“No matter,” cried the parrot; “no matter,—only +pull.”</p> +<p>Well, Jack did pull, and he actually did pull her +head off! nearly tumbling backward himself as he +did it; but he saw what the whole thing meant +then, for there was another head inside,—a fairy’s +head.</p> +<p>Jack flung down the old parrot’s head and great +beak, for he saw that what he had to do was to +clear the fairy of its parrot covering. The poor +little creature seemed nearly dead, it was so terribly +squeezed in the wires. It had a green gown +or robe on, with an ermine collar; and Jack got +hold of this dress, stripped the fairy out of the +parrot feathers, and dragged her through,—velvet +robe, and crimson girdle, and little yellow shoes. +She was very much exhausted, but a kind brown +woman took her instantly, and laid her in her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +bosom. She was a splendid little creature, about +half a foot long.</p> +<p>“There’s a brave boy!” cried the parrot. Jack +glanced round, and saw that not all the parrots +were free yet, the gypsy was still muttering her +spell.</p> +<p>He returned the handkerchief to the parrot, +who put it round his own neck, and again Jack +pulled. But oh! what a tough old parrot that +was, and how Jack tugged before his cunning head +would come off! It did, however, at last; and +just as a fine fairy was pulled through, leaving his +parrot skin and the handkerchief behind him, the +gypsy untied her eyes, and saw what Jack had +done.</p> +<p>“Give me my handkerchief!” she screamed, in +despair.</p> +<p>“It’s in the cage, gypsy,” answered Jack; “you +can get it yourself. Say your words again.”</p> +<p>But the gypsy’s spell would only open places +where she had confined fairies, and no fairies were +in the cage now.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span></div> +<p>“No, no, no!” she screamed; “too late! Hide +me! O good people, hide me!”</p> +<p>But it was indeed too late. The parrots had +been wheeling in the air, hundreds and hundreds +of them, high above her head; and as she ceased +speaking, she fell shuddering on the ground, drew +her cloak over her face, and down they came, +swooping in one immense flock, and settled so +thickly all over her that she was completely covered; +from her shoes to her head not an atom of +her was to be seen.</p> +<p>All the people stood gravely looking on. So +did Jack, but he could not see much for the +fluttering of the parrots, nor hear anything for +their screaming voices; but at last he made one +of the cross people hear when he shouted to +her, “What are they going to do to the poor +gypsy?”</p> +<p>“Make her take her other form,” she replied; +“and then she cannot hurt us while she stays +in our country. She is a fairy, as we have just +found out, and all fairies have two forms.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span></div> +<p>“Oh!” said Jack; but he had no time for more +questions.</p> +<p>The screaming and fighting, and tossing about +of little bits of cloth and cotton, ceased; a black +lump heaved itself up from the ground among +the parrots; and as they flew aside, an ugly +great condor, with a bare neck, spread out its +wings, and, skimming the ground, sailed slowly +away.</p> +<p>“They have pecked her so that she can hardly +rise,” exclaimed the parrot fairy. “Set me +on your shoulder, Jack, and let me see the end +of it.”</p> +<p>Jack set him there; and his little wife, who +had recovered herself, sprang from her friend the +brown woman, and sat on the other shoulder. +He then ran on,—the tribe of brown people and +mushroom people, and the feather-coated folks +running too,—after the great black bird, who +skimmed slowly on before them till she got to the +gypsy carts, when out rushed the gypsies, armed +with poles, milking-stools, spades, and everything +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +they could get hold of to beat back the people +and the parrots from hunting their relation, who +had folded her tired wings, and was skulking +under a cart, with ruffled feathers and a scowling +eye.</p> +<p>Jack was so frightened at the violent way in +which the gypsies and the other tribes were +knocking each other about, that he ran off, thinking +he had seen enough of such a dangerous +country.</p> +<p>As he passed the place where that evil-minded +gypsy had been changed, he found the ground +strewed with little bits of her clothes. Many +parrots were picking them up, and poking them +into the cage where the handkerchief was; and +presently another parrot came with a lighted +brand, which she had pulled from one of the +gypsies’ fires.</p> +<p>“That’s right,” said the fairy on Jack’s shoulder, +when he saw his friend push the brand +between the wires of what had been his cage, +and set the gypsy’s handkerchief on fire, and all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +the bits of her clothes with it. “She won’t find +much of herself here,” he observed, as Jack went +on. “It will not be very easy to put herself together +again.”</p> +<p>So Jack moved away. He was tired of the +noise and confusion; and the sun was just setting +as he reached the little creek where his boat +lay.</p> +<p>Then the parrot fairy and his wife sprang +down, and kissed their hands to him as he +stepped on board, and pushed the boat off. He +saw, when he looked back, that a great fight was +still going on; so he was glad to get away, and +he wished his two friends good-by, and set off, +the old parrot fairly calling after him, “My relations +have put some of our favorite food on board +for you.” Then they again thanked him for his +good help, and sprang into a tree, and the boat +began to go down the wonderful river.</p> +<p>“This has been a most extraordinary day,” +thought Jack; “the strangest day I have had yet.” +And after he had eaten a good supper of what +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span> +the parrots had brought, he felt so tired and +sleepy that he laid down in the boat, and presently +fell fast asleep. His fairies were sound +asleep too in his pockets, and nothing happened +of the least consequence; so he slept comfortably +till morning.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VI__THE_TOWN_WITH_NOBODY_IN_IT' id='CHAPTER_VI__THE_TOWN_WITH_NOBODY_IN_IT'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.<br /><br />THE TOWN WITH NOBODY IN IT.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>“Master,” quoth the auld hound,</p> +<p class='indent2'>“Where will ye go?”</p> +<p>“Over moss, over muir.</p> +<p class='indent2'>To court my new jo.”</p> +<p>“Master, though the night be merk,</p> +<p class='indent2'>I’se follow through the snow.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>“Court her, master, court her,</p> +<p class='indent2'>So shall ye do weel;</p> +<p>But and ben she’ll guide the house,</p> +<p class='indent2'>I’se get milk and meal.</p> +<p>Ye’se get lilting while she sits</p> +<p class='indent2'>With her rock and reel.”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>“For, oh! she has a sweet tongue,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And een that look down,</p> +<p>A gold girdle for her waist,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And a purple gown.</p> +<p>She has a good word forbye</p> +<p class='indent2'>Fra a’ folk in the town.”</p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Soon</span> after sunrise they came to a great city, +and it was perfectly still. There were grand +towers and terraces, wharves, too, and a large +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +market, but there was nobody anywhere to be +seen. Jack thought that might be because it was +so early in the morning; and when the boat ran +itself up against a wooden wharf and stopped, he +jumped ashore, for he thought this must be the +end of his journey. A delightful town it was, +if only there had been any people in it! The +market-place was full of stalls, on which were +spread toys, baskets, fruit, butter, vegetables, and +all the other things that are usually sold in a +market.</p> +<p>Jack walked about in it. Then he looked in +at the open doors of the houses, and at last, +finding that they were all empty, he walked into +one, looked at the rooms, examined the picture-books, +rang the bells, and set the musical-boxes +going. Then, after he had shouted a good deal, +and tried in vain to make some one hear, he went +back to the edge of the river where his boat was +lying, and the water was so delightfully clear and +calm, that he thought he would bathe. So he +took off his clothes, and folding them very carefully, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +so as not to hurt the fairies, laid them down +beside a hay-cock, and went in, and ran about +and paddled for a long time,—much longer than +there was any occasion for; but then he had +nothing to do.</p> +<p>When at last he had finished, he ran to the +hay-cock and began to dress himself; but he could +not find his stockings, and after looking about for +some time he was obliged to put on his clothes +without them, and he was going to put his boots +on his bare feet, when, walking to the other side +of the hay-cock, he saw a little old woman about +as large as himself. She had a pair of spectacles +on, and she was knitting.</p> +<p>She looked so sweet-tempered that Jack asked +her if she knew anything about his stockings.</p> +<p>“It will be time enough to ask for them when +you have had your breakfast,” said she. “Sit +down. Welcome to our town. How do you +like it?”</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i001.jpg' alt='' title='' width='390' height='600' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +JACK’S NEW FRIEND.<br /> +<br /> +“She had a pair of spectacles on, and she was knitting.”—<span class='smcap'><a href='#page_82'>Page 82</a>.</span><br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“I should like it very much indeed,” said +Jack, “if there was anybody in it.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span></div> +<p>“I’m glad of that,” said the woman. “You’ve +seen a good deal of it; but it pleases me to find +that you are a very honest boy. You did not +take anything at all. I am honest too.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jack, “of course you are.”</p> +<p>“And as I am pleased with you for being +honest,” continued the little woman, “I shall +give you some breakfast out of my basket.” So +she took out a saucer full of honey, a roll of +bread, and a cup of milk.</p> +<p>“Thank you,” said Jack, “but I am not a +beggar-boy; I have got a half-crown, a shilling, +a sixpence, and two pence; so I can buy this +breakfast of you, if you like. You look very +poor.”</p> +<p>“Do I?” said the little woman, softly; and +she went on knitting, and Jack began to eat the +breakfast.</p> +<p>“I wonder what has become of my stockings,” +said Jack.</p> +<p>“You will never see them any more,” said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +the old woman. “I threw them into the river, +and they floated away.”</p> +<p>“Why did you?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>The little woman took no notice; but presently +she had finished a beautiful pair of stockings, +and she handed them to Jack, and said,—</p> +<p>“Is that like the pair you lost?”</p> +<p>“Oh no,” said Jack; “these are much more +beautiful stockings than mine.”</p> +<p>“Do you like them as well?” asked the fairy +woman.</p> +<p>“I like them much better,” said Jack, putting +them on. “How clever you are!”</p> +<p>“Would you like to wear these,” said the +woman, “instead of yours?”</p> +<p>She gave Jack such a strange look when she +said this, that he was afraid to take them, and +answered,—</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t like to wear them if you think I +had better not.”</p> +<p>“Well,” she answered, “I am very honest, as +I told you; and therefore I am obliged to say +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +that if I were you I would not wear those stockings +on any account.”</p> +<p>“Why not?” said Jack; for she looked so +sweet-tempered that he could not help trusting +her.</p> +<p>“Why not?” repeated the fairy; “why, because +when you have those stockings on, your +feet belong to me.”</p> +<p>“Oh!” said Jack. “Well, if you think that +matters, I’ll take them off again. Do you think +it matters?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the fairy woman; “it matters, +because I am a slave, and my master can make +me do whatever he pleases, for I am completely +in his power. So, if he found out that I had +knitted these stockings for you, he would make +me order you to walk into his mill,—the mill +which grinds the corn for the town; and there +you would have to grind and grind till I got +free again.”</p> +<p>When Jack heard this, he pulled off the beautiful +stockings, and laid them on the old woman’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +lap. Upon this she burst out crying, as if her +heart would break.</p> +<p>“If my fairies that I have in my pocket would +only wake,” said Jack, “I would fight your master; +for if he is no bigger than you are, perhaps +I could beat him, and get you away.”</p> +<p>“No, Jack,” said the little woman; “that would +be of no use. The only thing you could do +would be to buy me; for my cruel master has +said that if ever I am late again he shall sell me +in the slave market to the brown people, who +work underground. And, though I am dreadfully +afraid of my master, I mean to be late to-day, in +hopes (as you are kind, and as you have some +money) that you will come to the slave-market +and buy me. Can you buy me, Jack, to be +your slave?”</p> +<p>“I don’t want a slave,” said Jack; “and, besides, +I have hardly any money to buy you +with.”</p> +<p>“But it is real money,” said the fairy woman, +“not like what my master has. His money has +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +to be made every week, for if there comes a +hot day it cracks, so it never has time to look +old, as your half-crown does; and that is how +we know the real money, for we cannot imitate +anything that is old. Oh, now, now it is twelve +o’clock! now I am late again! and though I +said I would do it, I am so frightened!”</p> +<p>So saying, the little woman ran off towards +the town, wringing her hands, and Jack ran +beside her.</p> +<p>“How am I to find your master?” he said.</p> +<p>“O Jack, buy me! buy me!” cried the fairy +woman. “You will find me in the slave-market. +Bid high for me. Go back and put your boots +on, and bid high.”</p> +<p>Now Jack had nothing on his feet, so he left +the poor little woman to run into the town by +herself, and went back to put his boots on. They +were very uncomfortable, as he had no stockings; +but he did not much mind that, and he counted +his money. There was the half-crown that his +grandmamma had given him on his birthday, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +there was a shilling, a sixpence, and two pence, +besides a silver fourpenny-piece which he had +forgotten. He then marched into the town; and +now it was quite full of people,—all of them +little men and women about his own height. +They thought he was somebody of consequence, +and they called out to him to buy their goods. +And he bought some stockings, and said, “What +I want to buy now is a slave.”</p> +<p>So they showed him the way to the slave-market, +and there whole rows of odd-looking +little people were sitting, while in front of them +stood the slaves.</p> +<p>Now Jack had observed as he came along how +very disrespectful the dogs of that town were to +the people. They had a habit of going up to +them and smelling at their legs, and even gnawing +their feet as they sat before the little tables selling +their wares; and what made this more surprising +was that the people did not always seem to find +out when they were being gnawed. But the +moment the dogs saw Jack they came and fawned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +on him, and two old hounds followed him all the +way to the slave-market; and when he took a +seat one of them laid down at his feet, and said, +“Master, set your handsome feet on my back, +that they may be out of the dust.”</p> +<p>“Don’t be afraid of him,” said the other +hound; “he won’t gnaw your feet. He knows +well enough that they are real ones.”</p> +<p>“Are the other people’s feet not real?” asked +Jack.</p> +<p>“Of course not,” said the hound. “They had +a feud long ago with the fairies, and they all +went one night into a great corn-field which belonged +to these enemies of theirs, intending to +steal the corn. So they made themselves invisible, +as they are always obliged to do till twelve +o’clock at noon; but before morning dawn, the +wheat being quite ripe, down came the fairies +with their sickles, surrounded the field, and cut +the corn. So all their legs of course got cut +off with it, for when they are invisible they cannot +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +stir. Ever since that they have been obliged +to make their legs of wood.”</p> +<p>While the hound was telling this story Jack +looked about, but he did not see one slave who +was in the least like his poor little friend, and +he was beginning to be afraid that he should +not find her, when he heard two people talking +together.</p> +<p>“Good-day!” said one. “So you have sold +that good-for-nothing slave of yours?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” answered a very cross-looking old +man. “She was late again this morning, and +came to me crying and praying to be forgiven; +but I was determined to make an example of +her, so I sold her at once to Clink-of-the-Hole, and +he has just driven her away to work in his mine.”</p> +<p>Jack, on hearing this, whispered to the hound +at his feet, “If you will guide me to Clink’s hole, +you shall be my dog.”</p> +<p>“Master, I will do my best,” answered the +hound; and he stole softly out of the market, Jack +following him.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VII__HALFACROWN' id='CHAPTER_VII__HALFACROWN'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.<br /><br />HALF-A-CROWN.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>So useful it is to have money, heigh ho!</p> +<p class='indent2'>So useful it is to have money!</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p class='ralign'><span class='smcap'>A. H. Clough.</span></p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>The</span> old hound went straight through the +town, smelling Clink’s footsteps, till he came +into a large field of barley; and there, sitting +against a sheaf, for it was harvest time, they +found Clink-of-the-Hole. He was a very ugly +little brown man, and he was smoking a pipe in +the shade; while crouched near him was the poor +little woman, with her hands spread before her +face.</p> +<p>“Good-day, sir,” said Clink to Jack. “You +are a stranger here, no doubt?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span></div> +<p>“Yes,” said Jack; “I only arrived this +morning.”</p> +<p>“Have you seen the town?” asked Clink, civilly; +“there is a very fine market.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I have seen the market,” answered Jack. +“I went into it to buy a slave, but I did not see +one that I liked.”</p> +<p>“Ah!” said Clink; “and yet they had some +very fine articles.” Here he pointed to the poor +little woman, and said, “Now that’s a useful body +enough, and I had her very cheap.”</p> +<p>“What did you give for her?” said Jack, sitting +down.</p> +<p>“Three pitchers,” said Clink, “and fifteen cups +and saucers, and two shillings in the money of the +town.”</p> +<p>“Is their money like this?” said Jack, taking +out his shilling.</p> +<p>When Clink saw the shilling he changed color, +and said, very earnestly, “Where did you get that, +dear sir?”</p> +<p>“Oh, it was given me,” said Jack, carelessly.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span></div> +<p>Clink looked hard at the shilling, and so did the +fairy woman, and Jack let them look some time, +for he amused himself with throwing it up several +times and catching it. At last he put it back +in his pocket, and then Clink heaved a deep sigh. +Then Jack took out a penny, and began to toss +that up, upon which, to his great surprise, the +little brown man fell on his knees, and said, “Oh, +a shilling and a penny,—a shilling and a penny +of mortal coin! What would I not give for a +shilling and a penny!”</p> +<p>“I don’t believe you have got anything to give,” +said Jack, cunningly; “I see nothing but that +ring on your finger, and the old woman.”</p> +<p>“But I have a great many things at home, sir,” +said the brown man, wiping his eyes; “and +besides, that ring would be cheap at a shilling,—even +a shilling of mortal coin.”</p> +<p>“Would the slave be cheap at a penny?” said +Jack.</p> +<p>“Would you give a penny for her, dear sir?” +inquired Clink, trembling with eagerness.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span></div> +<p>“She is honest,” answered Jack; “ask her +whether I had better buy her with this penny.”</p> +<p>“It does not matter what she says,” replied the +brown man; “I would sell twenty such as she is +for a penny,—a real one.”</p> +<p>“Ask her,” repeated Jack; and the poor little +woman wept bitterly, but she said, “No.”</p> +<p>“Why not?” asked Jack; but she only hung +down her head and cried.</p> +<p>“I’ll make you suffer for this,” said the brown +man. But when Jack took out the shilling, and +said, “Shall I buy you with this, slave?” his eyes +actually shot out sparks, he was so eager.</p> +<p>“Speak!” he said to the fairy woman; “and if +you don’t say ‘Yes,’ I’ll strike you.”</p> +<p>“He cannot buy me with that,” answered the +fairy woman, “unless it is the most valuable coin +he has got.”</p> +<p>The brown man, on hearing this, rose up in a +rage, and was just going to strike her a terrible +blow, when Jack cried out, “Stop!” and took out +his half-crown.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span></div> +<p>“Can I buy you with this?” said he; and the +fairy woman answered, “Yes.”</p> +<p>Upon this Clink drew a long breath, and his +eyes grew bigger and bigger as he gazed at the +half-crown.</p> +<p>“Shall she be my slave forever, and not yours,” +said Jack, “if I give you this?”</p> +<p>“She shall,” said the brown man. And he +made such a low bow, as he took the money, that +his head actually knocked the ground. Then he +jumped up; and, as if he was afraid Jack should +repent of his bargain, he ran off towards the hole +in the hill with all his might, shouting for joy as +he went.</p> +<p>“Slave,” said Jack, “that is a very ragged old +apron that you have got, and your gown is quite +worn out. Don’t you think we had better spend +my shilling in buying you some new clothes? You +look so very shabby.”</p> +<p>“Do I?” said the fairy woman, gently. “Well, +master, you will do as you please.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span></div> +<p>“But you know better than I do,” said Jack, +“though you are my slave.”</p> +<p>“You had better give me the shilling, then,” +answered the little old woman; “and then I advise +you to go back to the boat, and wait there till I +come.”</p> +<p>“What!” said Jack; “can you go all the way +back into the town again? I think you must be +tired, for you know you are so very old.”</p> +<p>The fairy woman laughed when Jack said this, +and she had such a sweet laugh that he loved to +hear it; but she took the shilling, and trudged off +to the town, and he went back to the boat, his +hound running after him.</p> +<p>He was a long time going, for he ran a good +many times after butterflies, and then he climbed +up several trees; and altogether he amused himself +for such a long while that when he reached +the boat his fairy woman was there before him. +So he stepped on board, the hound followed, +and the boat immediately began to swim on.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span></div> +<p>“Why, you have not bought any new clothes!” +said Jack to his slave.</p> +<p>“No, master,” answered the fairy woman; +“but I have bought what I wanted.” And she +took out of her pocket a little tiny piece of purple +ribbon, with a gold-colored satin edge, and a very +small tortoise-shell comb.</p> +<p>When Jack saw these he was vexed, and said, +“What do you mean by being so silly? I can’t +scold you properly, because I don’t know what +name to call you by, and I don’t like to say +‘Slave,’ because that sounds so rude. Why, this +bit of ribbon is such a little bit that it’s of no +use at all. It’s not large enough even to make one +mitten of.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t it?” said the slave. “Just take hold +of it, master, and let us see if it will stretch.”</p> +<p>So Jack did. And she pulled, and he pulled, +and very soon the silk had stretched till it was +nearly as large as a handkerchief; and then she +shook it, and they pulled again. “This is very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +good fun,” said Jack; “why now it is as large +as an apron.”</p> +<p>So she shook it again, and gave it a twitch +here and a pat there; and then they pulled again, +and the silk suddenly stretched so wide that Jack +was very nearly falling overboard. So Jack’s +slave pulled off her ragged gown and apron, and +put it on. It was a most beautiful robe of purple +silk; it had a gold border, and it just fitted +her.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i002.jpg' alt='' title='' width='395' height='600' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +JACK’S SLAVE.<br /> +<br /> +“These are fairies,” said Jack’s slave; “but what are you?”—<span class='smcap'><a href='#page_99'>Page 99</a>.</span><br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“That will do,” she said. And then she took +out the little tortoise-shell comb, pulled off her +cap, and threw it into the river. She had a +little knot of soft, gray hair, and she let it down, +and began to comb. And as she combed the hair +got much longer and thicker, till it fell in waves +all about her throat. Then she combed again, +and it all turned gold-color, and came tumbling +down to her waist; and then she stood up in the +boat, and combed once more, and shook out the +hair, and there was such a quantity that it reached +down to her feet, and she was so covered with it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +that you could not see one bit of her, excepting +her eyes, which peeped out, and looked bright and +full of tears.</p> +<p>Then she began to gather up her lovely locks; +and when she had dried her eyes with them, she +said, “Master, do you know what you have +done? look at me now!” So she threw back +the hair from her face, and it was a beautiful +young face; and she looked so happy that Jack +was glad he had bought her with his half-crown,—so +glad that he could not help crying, and +the fair slave cried too; and then instantly the +little fairies woke, and sprang out of Jack’s +pockets. As they did so, Jovinian cried out, +“Madam, I am your most humble servant”; and +Roxaletta said, “I hope your Grace is well”; +but the third got on Jack’s knee, and took hold +of the buttons of his waistcoat, and when the +lovely slave looked at her, she hid her face and +blushed with pretty childish shyness.</p> +<p>“These are fairies,” said Jack’s slave; “but +what are you?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span></div> +<p>“Jack kissed me,” said the little thing; “and +I want to sit on his knee.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jack; “I took them out, and laid +them in a row, to see that they were safe, and +this one I kissed, because she looked such a little +dear.”</p> +<p>“Was she not like the others, then?” asked +the slave.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jack; “but I liked her the best; +she was my favorite.”</p> +<p>Now, the instant these three fairies sprang out +of Jack’s pockets, they got very much larger; in +fact, they became fully grown,—that is to say, +they measured exactly one foot one inch in height, +which, as most people know, is exactly the proper +height for fairies of that tribe. The two who +had sprung out first were very beautifully dressed. +One had a green velvet coat, and a sword, the +hilt of which was incrusted with diamonds. The +second had a white spangled robe, and the loveliest +rubies and emeralds round her neck and in +her hair; but the third, the one who sat on Jack’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +knee, had a white frock and a blue sash on. She +had soft, fat arms, and a face just like that of a +sweet little child.</p> +<p>When Jack’s slave saw this, she took the little +creature on her knee, and said to her, “How +comes it that you are not like your companions?”</p> +<p>And she answered, in a pretty lisping voice, +“It’s because Jack kissed me.”</p> +<p>“Even so it must be,” answered the slave; +“the love of a mortal works changes indeed. It +is not often that we win anything so precious. +Here, master, let her sit on your knee sometimes, +and take care of her, for she cannot now take +the same care of herself that others of her race +are capable of.”</p> +<p>So Jack let little Mopsa sit on his knee; and +when he was tired of admiring his slave, and +wondering at the respect with which the other +two fairies treated her, and at their cleverness in +getting water-lilies for her, and fanning her with +feathers, he curled himself up in the bottom of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +the boat with his own little favorite, and taught +her how to play at cat’s-cradle.</p> +<p>When they had been playing some time, and +Mopsa was getting quite clever at the game, the +lovely slave said, “Master, it is a long time since +you spoke to me.”</p> +<p>“And yet,” said Jack, “there is something +that I particularly want to ask you about.”</p> +<p>“Ask it then,” she replied.</p> +<p>“I don’t like to have a slave,” answered Jack; +“and as you are so clever, don’t you think you +can find out how to be free again?”</p> +<p>“I am very glad you asked me about that,” +said the fairy woman. “Yes, master, I wish very +much to be free; and as you were so kind as to +give the most valuable piece of real money you +possessed in order to buy me, I can be free if +you can think of anything that you really like +better than that half-crown, and if I can give it +you.”</p> +<p>“Oh, there are many things,” said Jack. “I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +like going up this river to Fairyland much better.”</p> +<p>“But you are going there, master,” said the +fairy woman; “you were on the way before I +met with you.”</p> +<p>“I like this little child better,” said Jack; “I +love this little Mopsa. I should like her to +belong to me.”</p> +<p>“She is yours,” answered the fairy woman; +“she belongs to you already. Think of something +else.”</p> +<p>Jack thought again, and was so long about it +that at last the beautiful slave said to him, +“Master, do you see those purple mountains?”</p> +<p>Jack turned round in the boat, and saw a +splendid range of purple mountains, going up +and up. They were very great and steep, each +had a crown of snow, and the sky was very red +behind them, for the sun was going down.</p> +<p>“At the other side of those mountains is +Fairyland,” said the slave; “but if you cannot +think of something that you should like better to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +have than your half-crown, I can never enter in. +The river flows straight up to yonder steep precipice, +and there is a chasm in it which pierces +it, and through which the river runs down beneath, +among the very roots of the mountains, +till it comes out at the other side. Thousands +and thousands of the small people will come +when they see the boat, each with a silken thread +in his hand; but if there is a slave in it, not +all their strength and skill can tow it through. +Look at those rafts on the river; on them are +the small people coming up.”</p> +<p>Jack looked, and saw that the river was +spotted with rafts, on which were crowded brown +fairy sailors, each one with three green stripes +on his sleeve, which looked like good conduct +marks. All these sailors were chattering very +fast, and the rafts were coming down to meet +the boat.</p> +<p>“All these sailors to tow my slave!” said Jack. +“I wonder, I do wonder, what you are?” But +the fairy woman only smiled, and Jack went on: +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +“I have thought of something that I should like +much better than my half-crown. I should like +to have a little tiny bit of that purple gown of +yours with the gold border.”</p> +<p>Then the fairy woman said, “I thank you, +master. Now I can be free.” So she told Jack +to lend her his knife, and with it she cut off a +very small piece of the skirt of her robe, and +gave it to him. “Now mind,” she said, “I advise +you never to stretch this unless you want +to make some particular thing of it, for then +it will only stretch to the right size; but if you +merely begin to pull it for your own amusement, +it will go on stretching and stretching, and I don’t +know where it will stop.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_VIII__A_STORY' id='CHAPTER_VIII__A_STORY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.<br /><br />A STORY.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>In the night she told a story,</p> +<p class='indent2'>In the night and all night through,</p> +<p>While the moon was in her glory,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And the branches dropped with dew.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>’Twas my life she told, and round it</p> +<p class='indent2'>Rose the years as from a deep;</p> +<p>In the world’s great heart she found it,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Cradled like a child asleep.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>In the night I saw her weaving</p> +<p class='indent2'>By the misty moonbeam cold,</p> +<p>All the weft her shuttle cleaving</p> +<p class='indent2'>With a sacred thread of gold.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Ah! she wept me tears of sorrow,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Lulling tears so mystic sweet;</p> +<p>Then she wove my last to-morrow,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And her web lay at my feet.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Of my life she made the story:</p> +<p class='indent2'>I must weep—so soon ’twas told!</p> +<p>But your name did lend it glory,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And your love its thread of gold!</p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>By</span> this time, as the sun had gone down, and +none of the moons had risen, it would have +been dark but that each of the rafts was rigged +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +with a small mast that had a lantern hung +to it.</p> +<p>By the light of these lanterns Jack saw crowds +of little brown faces; and presently many rafts +had come up to the boat, which was now swimming +very slowly. Every sailor in every raft +fastened to the boat’s side a silken thread; then +the rafts were rowed to shore, and the sailors +jumped out, and began to tow the boat along.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_5' id='linki_5'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i003.jpg' alt='' title='' width='600' height='394' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +A STORY.—<span class='smcap'><a href='#page_106'>Page 106</a>.</span><br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>These crimson threads looked no stronger than +the silk that ladies sew with, yet by means of +them the small people drew the boat along merrily. +There were so many of them that they +looked like an army as they marched in the light +of the lanterns and torches. Jack thought they +were very happy, though the work was hard, for +they shouted and sang.</p> +<p>The fairy woman looked more beautiful than +ever now, and far more stately. She had on a +band of precious stones to bind back her hair, and +they shone so brightly in the night that her features +could be clearly seen.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span></div> +<p>Jack’s little favorite was fast asleep, and the +other two fairies had flown away. He was beginning +to feel rather sleepy himself, when he was +roused by the voice of his free lady, who said to +him, “Jack, there is no one listening now, +so I will tell you my story. I am the Fairy +Queen!”</p> +<p>Jack opened his eyes very wide, but he was so +much surprised that he did not say a word.</p> +<p>“One day, long, long ago,” said the Queen, “I +was discontented with my own happy country. +I wished to see the world, so I set forth with a +number of the one-foot-one fairies, and went +down the wonderful river, thinking to see the +world.</p> +<p>“So we sailed down the river till we came to +that town which you know of; and there, in the +very middle of the stream, stood a tower,—a tall +tower, built upon a rock.</p> +<p>“Fairies are afraid of nothing but of other +fairies, and we did not think this tower was +fairy-work, so we left our ship and went up the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +rock and into the tower, to see what it was like; +but just as we had descended into the dungeon +keep, we heard the gurgling of water overhead, +and down came the tower. It was nothing but +water enchanted into the likeness of stone, and +we all fell down with it into the very bed of the +river.</p> +<p>“Of course we were not drowned, but there +we were obliged to lie, for we have no power +out of our own element; and the next day the +towns-people came down with a net and dragged +the river, picked us all out of the meshes, and +made us slaves. The one-foot-one fairies got away +shortly; but from that day to this, in sorrow and +distress, I have had to serve my masters. Luckily, +my crown had fallen off in the water, so I was +not known to be the Queen; but till you came, +Jack, I had almost forgotten that I had ever been +happy and free, and I had hardly any hope of +getting away.”</p> +<p>“How sorry your people must have been,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +said Jack, “when they found you did not come +home again.”</p> +<p>“No,” said the Queen: “they only went to +sleep, and they will not wake till to-morrow morning, +when I pass in again. They will think I +have been absent for a day, and so will the apple-woman. +You must not undeceive them; if you +do, they will be very angry.”</p> +<p>“And who is the apple-woman?” inquired +Jack; but the Queen blushed, and pretended +not to hear the question, so he repeated,—</p> +<p>“Queen, who is the apple-woman?”</p> +<p>“I’ve only had her for a very little while,” said +the Queen, evasively.</p> +<p>“And how long do you think you have been a +slave. Queen?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” said the Queen. “I have +never been able to make up my mind about +that.”</p> +<p>And now all the moons began to shine, and +all the trees lighted themselves up, for almost +every leaf had a glowworm or a fire-fly on it, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +and the water was full of fishes that had shining +eyes. And now they were close to the steep +mountain side; and Jack looked and saw an +opening in it, into which the river ran. It was +a kind of cave, something like a long, long church +with a vaulted roof, only the pavement of it was +that magic river, and a narrow towing-path ran +on either side.</p> +<p>As they entered the cave there was a hollow, +murmuring sound, and the Queen’s crown became +so bright that it lighted up the whole boat; at +the same time she began to tell Jack a wonderful +story, which he liked very much to hear, but +every fresh thing she said he forgot what had gone +before; and at last, though he tried very hard to +listen, he was obliged to go to sleep; and he slept +soundly, and never dreamed of anything, till it +was morning.</p> +<p>He saw such a curious sight when he woke! +They had been going through this underground +cavern all night, and now they were approaching +its opening on the other side. This opening, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +because they were a good way from it yet, looked +like a lovely little round window of blue and +yellow and green glass, but as they drew on he +could see far-off mountains, blue sky, and a country +all covered with sunshine.</p> +<p>He heard singing, too, such as fairies make; +and he saw some beautiful people, such as those +fairies whom he had brought with him. They +were coming along the towing-path. They were +all lady fairies; but they were not very polite, +for as each one came up she took a silken rope +out of a brown sailor’s hand, and gave him a +shove which pushed him into the water. In fact, +the water became filled with such swarms of these +sailors that the boat could hardly get on. But the +poor little brown fellows did not seem to mind +this conduct, for they plunged and shook themselves +about, scattering a good deal of spray. +Then they all suddenly dived, and when they +came up again they were ducks,—nothing but +brown ducks, I assure you, with green stripes on +their wings; and with a great deal of quacking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +and floundering, they all began to swim back +again as fast as they could.</p> +<p>Then Jack was a good deal vexed, and he said +to himself, “If nobody thanks the ducks for towing +us I will”; so he stood up in the boat and +shouted, “Thank you, ducks; we are very much +obliged to you!” But neither the Queen nor +these new towers took the least notice, and gradually +the boat came out of that dim cave and +entered Fairyland, while the river became so +narrow that you could hear the song of the +towers quite easily; those on the right bank +sang the first verse, and those on the left bank +answered:—</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>Drop, drop from the leaves of lign aloes,</p> +<p class='indent2'>O honey-dew! drop from the tree.</p> +<p>Float up through your clear river shallows,</p> +<p class='indent2'>White lilies, beloved of the bee.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Let the people, O Queen! say, and bless thee,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Her bounty drops soft as the dew,</p> +<p>And spotless in honor confess thee,</p> +<p class='indent2'>As lilies are spotless in hue.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span></p> +<p>On the roof stands yon white stork awaking,</p> +<p class='indent2'>His feathers flush rosy the while,</p> +<p>For, lo! from the blushing east breaking,</p> +<p class='indent2'>The sun sheds the bloom of his smile.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Let them boast of thy word, “It is certain;</p> +<p class='indent2'>We doubt it no more,” let them say,</p> +<p>“Than to-morrow that night’s dusky curtain</p> +<p class='indent2'>Shall roll back its folds for the day.”</p> +</div></div> +<p>“Master,” whispered the old hound, who was +lying at Jack’s feet.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“They didn’t invent that song themselves,” +said the hound; “the old apple-woman taught +it to them,—the woman whom they love because +she can make them cry.”</p> +<p>Jack was rather ashamed of the hound’s rudeness +in saying this; but the Queen took no notice. +And now they had reached a little landing-place, +which ran out a few feet into the river, and +was strewed thickly with cowslips and violets.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_6' id='linki_6'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i004.jpg' alt='' title='' width='381' height='600' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +THE QUEEN.<br /> +<br /> +“Here the boat stopped, and the Queen rose and got out.”—<span class='smcap'><a href='#page_114'>Page 114</a>.</span><br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>Here the boat stopped, and the Queen rose +and got out.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span></div> +<p>Jack watched her. A whole crowd of one-foot-one +fairies came down a garden to meet her, +and he saw them conduct her to a beautiful tent, +with golden poles and a silken covering; but +nobody took the slightest notice of him, or of +little Mopsa, or of the hound, and after a long +silence the hound said, “Well, master, don’t you +feel hungry? Why don’t you go with the others +and have some breakfast?”</p> +<p>“The Queen didn’t invite me,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“But do you feel as if you couldn’t go?” +asked the hound.</p> +<p>“Of course not,” answered Jack; “but perhaps +I may not.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, master,” replied the hound; “whatever +you <i>can</i> do in Fairyland you <i>may</i> do.”</p> +<p>“Are you sure of that?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“Quite sure, master,” said the hound; “and +I am hungry too.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Jack, “I will go there and take +Mopsa. She shall ride on my shoulder; you may +follow.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span></div> +<p>So he walked up that beautiful garden till he +came to the great tent. A banquet was going on +inside. All the one-foot-one fairies sat down the +sides of the table, and at the top sat the Queen +on a larger chair; and there were two empty +chairs, one on each side of her.</p> +<p>Jack blushed; but the hound whispering again, +“Master, whatever you can do you may do,” he +came slowly up the table towards the Queen, who +was saying, as he drew near, “Where is our +trusty and well-beloved, the apple-woman?” And +she took no notice of Jack; so, though he could +not help feeling rather red and ashamed, he went +and sat in the chair beside her with Mopsa still +on his shoulder. Mopsa laughed for joy when +she saw the feast. The Queen said, “O Jack, I +am so glad to see you!” and some of the one-foot-one +fairies cried out, “What a delightful +little creature that is! She can laugh! Perhaps +she can also cry!”</p> +<p>Jack looked about, but there was no seat for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +Mopsa; and he was afraid to let her run about +on the floor, lest she should be hurt.</p> +<p>There was a very large dish standing before +the Queen; for though the people were small, +the plates and dishes were exactly like those we +use, and of the same size.</p> +<p>This dish was raised on a foot, and filled with +grapes and peaches. Jack wondered at himself +for doing it, but he saw no other place for +Mopsa; so he took out the fruit, laid it round +the dish, and set his own little one-foot-one in +the dish.</p> +<p>Nobody looked in the least surprised; and +there she sat very happily, biting an apple with +her small white teeth.</p> +<p>Then, as they brought him nothing to eat, Jack +helped himself from some of the dishes before +him, and found that a fairy breakfast was very +nice indeed.</p> +<p>In the meantime there was a noise outside, and +in stumped an elderly woman. She had very +thick boots on, a short gown of red print, an +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +orange cotton handkerchief over her shoulders, +and a black silk bonnet. She was exactly the +same height as the Queen,—for of course nobody +in Fairyland is allowed to be any bigger +than the Queen; so, if they are not children +when they arrive, they are obliged to shrink.</p> +<p>“How are you, dear?” said the Queen.</p> +<p>“I am as well as can be expected,” answered +the apple-woman, sitting down in the empty +chair. “Now, then, where’s my tea? They’re +never ready with my cup of tea.”</p> +<p>Two attendants immediately brought a cup of +tea, and set it down before the apple-woman, +with a plate of bread and butter; and she proceeded +to pour it into the saucer, and blow it, +because it was hot. In so doing her wandering +eyes caught sight of Jack and little Mopsa, and +she set down the saucer, and looked at them +with attention.</p> +<p>Now Mopsa, I am sorry to say, was behaving +so badly that Jack was quite ashamed of her. +First, she got out of her dish, took something +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +nice out of the Queen’s plate with her fingers, +and ate it; and then, as she was going back, +she tumbled over a melon, and upset a glass of +red wine, which she wiped up with her white +frock; after which she got into her dish again, +and there she sat smiling, and daubing her pretty +face with a piece of buttered muffin.</p> +<p>“Mopsa,” said Jack, “you are very naughty; +if you behave in this way, I shall never take +you out to parties again.”</p> +<p>“Pretty lamb!” said the apple-woman; “It’s +just like a child.” And then she burst into +tears, and exclaimed, sobbing, “It’s many a long +day since I’ve seen a child. Oh dear! oh deary +me!”</p> +<p>Upon this, to the astonishment of Jack, every +one of the guests began to cry and sob too.</p> +<p>“Oh dear! oh dear!” they said to one another, +“we’re crying; we can cry just as well as men +and women. Isn’t it delightful? What a luxury +it is to cry, to be sure!”</p> +<p>They were evidently quite proud of it; and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +when Jack looked at the Queen for an explanation, +she only gave him a still little smile.</p> +<p>But Mopsa crept along the table to the apple-woman, +let her take her and hug her, and seemed +to like her very much; for as she sat on her +knee, she patted her brown face with a little +dimpled hand.</p> +<p>“I should like vastly well to be her nurse,” +said the apple-woman, drying her eyes, and +looking at Jack.</p> +<p>“If you’ll always wash her, and put clean +frocks on her, you may,” said Jack; “for just +look at her,—what a figure she is already!”</p> +<p>Upon this the apple-woman laughed for joy, +and again every one else did the same. The +fairies can only laugh and cry when they see +mortals do so.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IX__AFTER_THE_PARTY' id='CHAPTER_IX__AFTER_THE_PARTY'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.<br /><br />AFTER THE PARTY.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem' style='width: 25em'><div class='stanza'> +<p><i>Stephano.</i>—This will prove a brave kingdom to me,</p> +<p class='indent12'>Where I shall have my music for nothing.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p class='ralign'><i>The Tempest.</i></p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>When</span> breakfast was over, the guests got up, +one after the other, without taking the +least notice of the Queen; and the tent began to +get so thin and transparent that you could see +the trees and the sky through it. At last, it +looked only like a colored mist, with blue, and +green, and yellow stripes, and then it was gone; +and the table and all the things on it began to +go in the same way. Only Jack, and the apple-woman, +and Mopsa were left, sitting on their +chairs, with the Queen between them.</p> +<p>Presently, the Queen’s lips began to move, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +and her eyes looked straight before her, as she +sat upright in her chair. Whereupon the apple-woman +snatched up Mopsa, and, seizing Jack’s +hand, hurried him off, exclaiming, “Come away! +come away! She is going to tell one of her +stories; and if you listen, you’ll be obliged to +go to sleep, and sleep nobody knows how long.”</p> +<p>Jack did not want to go to sleep; he wished +to go down to the river again, and see what had +become of his boat, for he had left his cap and +several other things in it.</p> +<p>So he parted from the apple-woman,—who +took Mopsa with her, and said he would find +her again when he wanted her at her apple-stall,—and +went down to the boat, where he +saw that his faithful hound was there before +him.</p> +<p>“It was lucky, master, that I came when I +did,” said the hound, “for a dozen or so of those +one-foot-one fellows were just shoving it off, and +you will want it at night to sleep in.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jack; “and I can stretch the bit +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +of purple silk to make a canopy over head,—a +sort of awning,—for I should not like to sleep +in tents or palaces that are inclined to melt +away.”</p> +<p>So the hound with his teeth, and Jack with +his hands, pulled and pulled at the silk till it +was large enough to make a splendid canopy, +like a tent; and it reached down to the water’s +edge, and roofed in all the after part of the +boat.</p> +<p>So now he had a delightful little home of his +own; and there was no fear of its being blown +away, for no wind ever blows in Fairyland. All +the trees are quite still, no leaf rustles, and the +flowers lie on the ground exactly where they +fall.</p> +<p>After this Jack told the hound to watch his +boat, and went himself in search of the apple-woman. +Not one fairy was to be seen, any more +than if he had been in his own country, and he +wandered down the green margin of the river +till he saw the apple-woman sitting at a small +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +stall with apples on it, and cherries tied to sticks, +and some dry-looking nuts. She had Mopsa on +her knee, and had washed her face, and put a +beautiful clean white frock on her.</p> +<p>“Where are all the fairies gone to?” asked +Jack.</p> +<p>“I never take any notice of that common trash +and their doings,” she answered. “When the +Queen takes to telling her stories they are generally +frightened, and go and sit in the tops of the +trees.”</p> +<p>“But you seem very fond of Mopsa,” said +Jack, “and she is one of them. You will help +me to take care of her, won’t you, tills she grows +a little older?”</p> +<p>“Grows!” said the apple-woman, laughing. +“Grows! Why you don’t think, surely, that she +will ever be any different from what she is +now?”</p> +<p>“I thought she would grow up,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“They never change so long as they last,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +answered the apple-woman, “when once they are +one-foot-one high.”</p> +<p>“Mopsa,” said Jack, “come here, and I’ll +measure you.”</p> +<p>Mopsa came dancing towards Jack, and he +tried to measure her, first with a yard measure +that the apple-woman took out of her pocket, +and then with a stick, and then with a bit of +string; but Mopsa would not stand steady, and +at last it ended in their having a good game of +romps together, and a race; but when he carried +her back, sitting on his shoulder, he was sorry +to see that the apple-woman was crying again, +and he asked her kindly what she did it for.</p> +<p>“It is because,” she answered, “I shall never +see my own country any more, nor any men and +women and children, excepting such as by a rare +chance stray in for a little while as you have done.”</p> +<p>“I can go back whenever I please,” said Jack. +“Why don’t you?”</p> +<p>“Because I came in of my own good-will, +after I had had fair warning that if I came at all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +it would end in my staying always. Besides, I +don’t know that I exactly wish to go home again: +I should be afraid.”</p> +<p>“Afraid of what?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“Why, there’s the rain and the cold, and not +having anything to eat excepting what you earn. +And yet,” said the apple-woman, “I have three +boys of my own at home; one of them must be +nearly a man by this time, and the youngest is +about as old as you are. If I went home I might +find one or more of those boys in jail, and then +how miserable I should be.”</p> +<p>“But you are not happy as it is,” said Jack. +“I have seen you cry.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the apple-woman; “but now I +live here I don’t care about anything so much +as I used to do. ‘May I have a satin gown +and a coach?’ I asked, when first I came. ‘You +may have a hundred and fifty satin gowns if you +like,’ said the Queen, ‘and twenty coaches with +six cream-colored horses to each.’ But when I +had been here a little time, and found I could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +have everything I wished for, and change it as +often as I pleased, I began not to care for anything; +and at last I got so sick of all their +grand things that I dressed myself in my own +clothes that I came in, and made up my mind +to have a stall and sit at it, as I used to do, +selling apples. And I used to say to myself, ‘I +have but to wish with all my heart to go home, +and I can go, I know that;’ but oh dear! oh +dear! I couldn’t wish enough, for it would come +into my head that I should be poor, or that my +boys would have forgotten me, or that my neighbors +would look down on me, and so I always +put off wishing for another day. Now here is +the Queen coming. Sit down on the grass and +play with Mopsa. Don’t let her see us talking +together, lest she should think I have been telling +you things which you ought not to know.”</p> +<p>Jack looked, and saw the Queen coming slowly +towards them, with her hands held out before +her, as if it was dark. She felt her way, yet her +eyes were wide open, and she was telling her +stories all the time.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></div> +<p>“Don’t you listen to a word she says,” whispered +the apple-woman; and then, in order that +Jack might not hear what the Queen was talking +about, she began to sing.</p> +<p>She had no sooner begun than up from the +river came swarms of one-foot-one fairies to listen, +and hundreds of them dropped down from the +trees. The Queen, too, seemed to attend as they +did, though she kept murmuring her story all the +time; and nothing that any of them did appeared +to surprise the apple-woman,—she sang as if +nobody was taking any notice at all:—</p> +<div class='poem' style='width: 30em'><div class='stanza'> +<p>When I sit on market-days amid the comers and the goers,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Oh! full oft I have a vision of the days without alloy,</p> +<p>And a ship comes up the river with a jolly gang of towers,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And a “pull’e haul’e, pull’e haul’e, yoy! heave, hoy!”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>There is busy talk around me, all about mine ears it hummeth,</p> +<p class='indent2'>But the wooden wharves I look on, and a dancing, heaving buoy,</p> +<p>For ’tis tidetime in the river, and she cometh—oh, she cometh!</p> +<p class='indent2'>With a “pull’e haul’e, pull’e haul’e, yoy! heave, hoy!”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span></p> +<p>Then I hear the water washing, never golden waves were brighter,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And I hear the capstan creaking—’tis a sound that cannot cloy.</p> +<p>Bring her to, to ship her lading, brig or schooner, sloop or lighter,</p> +<p class='indent2'>With a “pull’e haul’e, pull’e haule, yoy! heave, hoy!”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>“Will ye step aboard, my dearest? for the high seas lie before us.”</p> +<p class='indent2'>So I sailed adown the river in those days without alloy.</p> +<p>We are launched! But when, I wonder, shall a sweeter sound float o’er us</p> +<p class='indent2'>Than yon “pull’e haul’e, pull’e haul’e, yoy! heave, hoy!”</p> +</div></div> +<p>As the apple-woman left off singing, the Queen +moved away, still murmuring the words of her +story, and Jack said,—</p> +<p>“Does the Queen tell stories of what has happened, +or of what is going to happen?”</p> +<p>“Why, of what is going to happen, of course,” +replied the woman. “Anybody could tell the +other sort.”</p> +<p>“Because I heard a little of it,” observed Jack. +“I thought she was talking of me. She said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +‘So he took the measure, and Mopsa stood still +for once, and he found she was only one foot +high, and she grew a great deal after that. Yes, +she can grow.’”</p> +<p>“That’s a fine hearing, and a strange hearing,” +said the apple-woman; “and what did she mutter +next?”</p> +<p>“Of how she heard me sobbing,” replied Jack; +“and while you went on about stepping on +board the ship, she said, ‘He was very good to +me, dear little fellow! But Fate is the name +of my old mother, and she reigns here. Oh, she +reigns! The fatal F is in her name, and I cannot +take it out!’”</p> +<p>“Ah!” replied the apple-woman, “they all say +that, and that they are fays, and that mortals +call their history fable; they are always crying +out for an alphabet without the fatal F.”</p> +<p>“And then she told how she heard Mopsa +sobbing too,” said Jack; “sobbing among the +reeds and rushes by the river side.”</p> +<p>“There are no reeds, and no rushes either, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +here,” said the apple-woman, “and I have walked +the river from end to end. I don’t think much +of that part of the story. But you are sure +she said that Mopsa was short of her proper +height?”</p> +<p>“Yes, and that she would grow; but that’s +nothing. In my country we always grow.”</p> +<p>“Hold your tongue about you country!” said +the apple-woman, sharply. “Do you want to +make enemies of them all?”</p> +<p>Mopsa had been listening to this, and now she +said, “I don’t love the Queen. She slapped my +arm as she went by, and it hurts.”</p> +<p>Mopsa showed her little fat arm as she spoke, +and there was a red place on it.</p> +<p>“That’s odd, too,” said the apple-woman; +“there’s nothing red in a common fairy’s veins. +They have sap in them: that’s why they can’t +blush.”</p> +<p>Just then the sun went down, and Mopsa got +up on the apple-woman’s lap, and went to sleep; +and Jack, being tired, went to his boat and lay +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +down under the purple canopy, his old hound +lying at his feet to keep guard over him.</p> +<p>The next morning, when he woke, a pretty +voice called to him, “Jack! Jack!” and he +opened his eyes and saw Mopsa. The apple-woman +had dressed her in a clean frock and blue +shoes, and her hair was so long! She was standing +on the landing-place, close to him. “O Jack! +I’m so big,” she said. “I grew in the night; +look at me.”</p> +<p>Jack looked. Yes, Mopsa had grown indeed; +she had only just reached to his knee the day +before, and now her little bright head, when he +measured her, came as high as the second button +of his waistcoat.</p> +<p>“But I hope you will not go on growing so +fast as this,” said Jack, “or you will be as tall as +my mamma is in a week or two,—much too big +for me to play with.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_X__MOPSA_LEARNS_HER_LETTERS' id='CHAPTER_X__MOPSA_LEARNS_HER_LETTERS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER X.<br /><br />MOPSA LEARNS HER LETTERS.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem' style='width: 10em'><div class='stanza'> +<p>A——apple-pie.</p> +<p>B——bit it.</p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>H</span><span class='dcap'>ow</span> ashamed I am,” Jack said, “to think +that you don’t know even your letters!”</p> +<p>Mopsa replied that she thought that did not +signify, and then she and Jack began to play at +jumping from the boat on to the bank, and back +again; and afterwards, as not a single fairy could +be seen, they had breakfast with the apple-woman.</p> +<p>“Where is the Queen?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>The apple-woman answered, “It’s not the fashion +to ask questions in Fairyland.”</p> +<p>“That’s a pity,” said Jack, “for there are several +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +things that I particularly want to know about this +country. Mayn’t I even ask how big it is?”</p> +<p>“How big?” said Mopsa,—little Mopsa looking +as wise as possible. “Why, the same size +as your world, of course.”</p> +<p>Jack laughed. “It’s the same world that you +call yours,” continued Mopsa; “and when I’m a +little older, I’ll explain it all to you.”</p> +<p>“If it’s our world,” said Jack, “why are none +of us in it, excepting me and the apple-woman?”</p> +<p>“That’s because you’ve got something in your +world that you call <span class='smcap'>Time</span>,” said Mopsa; “so you +talk about <span class='smcaplc'>NOW</span>, and you talk about <span class='smcaplc'>THEN</span>.”</p> +<p>“And don’t you?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“I do if I want to make you understand,” said +Mopsa.</p> +<p>The apple-woman laughed, and said, “To think +of the pretty thing talking so queen-like already! +Yes, that’s right, and just what the grown-up +fairies say. Go on, and explain it to him if you +can.”</p> +<p>“You know,” said Mopsa, “that your people +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +say there was a time when there were none of +them in the world,—a time before they were +made. Well, <span class='smcaplc'>THIS</span> is that time. This is long +ago.”</p> +<p>“Nonsense!” said Jack. “Then how do I +happen to be here?”</p> +<p>“Because,” said Mopsa, “when the albatross +brought you, she did not fly with you a long +way off, but a long way back,—hundreds and +hundreds of years. This is your world, as you +can see; but none of your people are here, because +they are not made yet. I don’t think any +of them will be made for a thousand years.”</p> +<p>“But I saw the old ships,” answered Jack, +“in the enchanted bay.”</p> +<p>“That was a border country,” said Mopsa. +“I was asleep while you went through those +countries; but these are the real Fairylands.”</p> +<p>Jack was very much surprised when he heard +Mopsa say these strange things; and as he looked +at her, he felt that a sleep was coming over +him, and he could not hold up his head. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +felt how delightful it was to go to sleep; and +though the apple-woman sprang to him, when +she observed that he was shutting his eyes, and +though he heard her begging and entreating him +to keep awake, he did not want to do so; but he +let his head sink down on the mossy grass, which +was as soft as a pillow, and there, under the shade +of a Guelder rose-tree, that kept dropping its +white flowerets all over him, he had this dream:</p> +<p>He thought that Mopsa came running up to +him, as he stood by the river, and that he said +to her, “Oh, Mopsa, how old we are! We +have lived back to the times before Adam and +Eve!”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mopsa; “but I don’t feel old. +Let us go down the river, and see what we can +find.”</p> +<p>So they got into the boat, and it floated into +the middle of the river, and then made for the +opposite bank, where the water was warm and +very muddy, and the river became so very wide +that it seemed to be afternoon when they got +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +near enough to see it clearly; and what they +saw was a boggy country, green, and full of +little rills; but the water,—which, as I told you, +was thick and muddy,—the water was full of +small holes! You never saw water with eyelet-holes +in it; but Jack did. On all sides of the +boat he saw holes moving about in pairs, and +some were so close that he looked and saw their +lining: they were lined with pink, and they +snorted! Jack was afraid, but he considered +that this was such a long time ago that the +holes, whatever they were, could not hurt him; +but it made him start, notwithstanding, when a +huge flat-head reared itself up close to the boat, +and he found that the holes were the nostrils +of creatures who kept all the rest of themselves +under water.</p> +<p>In a minute or two, hundreds of ugly flat-heads +popped up, and the boat danced among them +as they floundered about in the water.</p> +<p>“I hope they won’t upset us,” said Jack. “I +wish you would land.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span></div> +<p>Mopsa said she would rather not, because she +did not like the hairy elephants.</p> +<p>“There are no such things as hairy elephants,” +said Jack, in his dream; but he had hardly +spoken when out of a wood close at hand some +huge creatures, far larger than our elephants, +came jogging down to the water. There were +forty or fifty of them, and they were covered +with what looked like tow. In fact, so coarse +was their shaggy hair that they looked as if +they were dressed in door-mats; and when they +stood still and shook themselves, such clouds of +dust flew out that, as it swept over the river, it +almost stifled Jack and Mopsa.</p> +<p>“Odious!” exclaimed Jack, sneezing. “What +terrible creatures these are!”</p> +<p>“Well,” answered Mopsa, at the other end of +the boat (but he could hardly see her for the +dust), “then why do you dream of them?”</p> +<p>Jack had just decided to dream of something +else, when, with a noise greater than fifty trumpets, +the elephants, having shaken out all the dust, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +came thundering down to the water to bathe in +the liquid mud. They shook the whole country +as they plunged; but that was not all. The awful +river-horses rose up, and, with shrill screams, fell +upon them, and gave them battle; while up from +every rill peeped above the rushes frogs as large +as oxen, and with blue and green eyes that +gleamed like the eyes of cats.</p> +<p>The frogs croaking, and the shrill trumpeting +of the elephants, together with the cries of the +river-horses, as all these creatures fought with +horn and tusk, and fell on one another, lashing +the water into whirlpools, among which the boat +danced up and down like a cork,—the blinding +spray, and the flapping about of great bats over +the boat and in it,—so confused Jack, that Mopsa +had spoken to him several times before he answered.</p> +<p>“O Jack!” she said, at last; “if you can’t +dream any better, I must call the Craken.”</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Jack. “I’m almost wrapped +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +up and smothered in bats’ wings, so call anything +you please.”</p> +<p>Thereupon Mopsa whistled softly, and in a +minute or two he saw, almost spanning the river, +a hundred yards off, a thing like a rainbow, or +a slender bridge, or still more, like one ring or +coil of an enormous serpent; and presently the +creature’s head shot up like a fountain, close +to the boat, almost as high as a ship’s mast. +It was the Craken; and when Mopsa saw it, she +began to cry, and said, “We are caught in this +crowd of creatures, and we cannot get away +from the land of dreams. Do help us, Craken!”</p> +<p>Some of the bats that hung to the edges of +the boat had wings as large as sails; and the +first thing the Craken did was to stoop its lithe +neck, pick two or three of them off, and eat them.</p> +<p>“You can swim your boat home under my +coils where the water is calm,” the Craken said, +“for she is so extremely old now, that if you do +not take care she will drop to pieces before you +get back to the present time.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span></div> +<p>Jack knew it was of no use saying anything +to this formidable creature, before whom the +river-horses and the elephants were rushing to +the shore; but when he looked and saw down +the river rainbow behind rainbow,—I mean coil +behind coil,—glittering in the sun, like so many +glorious arches that did not reach to the banks, +he felt extremely glad that this was a dream, and +besides that, he thought to himself, “It’s only a +fabled monster.”</p> +<p>“No, it’s only a fable to these times,” said +Mopsa, answering his thought; “but in spite +of that we shall have to go through all the +rings.”</p> +<p>They went under one,—silver, green, and +blue, and gold. The water dripped from it upon +them, and the boat trembled, either because of +its great age, or because it felt the rest of the coil +underneath.</p> +<p>A good way off was another coil, and they +went so safely under that, that Jack felt himself +getting used to Crakens, and not afraid. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +Then they went under thirteen more. These +kept getting nearer and nearer together, but, +besides that, the fourteenth had not quite such +a high span as the former ones; but there were +a great many to come, and yet they got lower +and lower.</p> +<p>Both Jack and Mopsa noticed this, but neither +said a word. The thirtieth coil brushed Jack’s +cap off, then they had to stoop to pass under +the two next, and then they had to lie down in +the bottom of the boat, and they got through +with the greatest difficulty; but still before them +was another! The boat was driving straight +towards it, and it lay so close to the water that +the arch it made was only a foot high. When +Jack saw it, he called out, “No! that I cannot +bear. Somebody else may do the rest of this +dream. I shall jump overboard.”</p> +<p>Mopsa seemed to answer in quite a pleasant +voice, as if she was not afraid,—</p> +<p>“No, you’d much better wake.” And then she +went on, “Jack! Jack! why don’t you wake!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span></div> +<p>Then all on a sudden Jack opened his eyes, +and found that he was lying quietly on the grass, +that little Mopsa really had asked him why he +did not wake. He saw the Queen too, standing +by, looking at him, and saying to herself, “<i>I</i> did +not put him to sleep. <i>I</i> did not put him to +sleep.”</p> +<p>“We don’t want any more stories to-day, +Queen,” said the apple-woman, in a disrespectful +tone, and she immediately began to sing, +clattering some tea-things all the time, for a kettle +was boiling on some sticks, and she was going +to make tea out of doors:—</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>The marten flew to the finch’s nest,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Feathers, and moss, and a wisp of hay:</p> +<p>“The arrow it sped to thy brown mate’s breast;</p> +<p class='indent2'>Low in the broom is thy mate to-day.”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>“Liest thou low, love? low in the broom?</p> +<p class='indent2'>Feathers and moss, and a wisp of hay,</p> +<p>Warm the white eggs till I learn his doom.”</p> +<p class='indent2'>She beateth her wings, and away, away.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span></p> +<p>“Ah, my sweet singer, thy days are told</p> +<p class='indent2'>(Feathers and moss, and a wisp of hay)!</p> +<p>Thine eyes are dim, and the eggs grow cold.</p> +<p class='indent2'>O mournful morrow! O dark to-day!”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>The finch flew back to her cold, cold nest,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Feathers and moss, and a wisp of hay,</p> +<p>Mine is the trouble that rent her breast,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And home is silent, and love is clay.</p> +</div></div> +<p>Jack felt very tired indeed,—as much tired +as if he had really been out all day on the river, +and gliding under the coils of the Craken. He +however rose up, when the apple-woman called +him, and drank his tea, and had some fairy bread +with it, which refreshed him very much.</p> +<p>After tea he measured Mopsa again, and found +that she had grown up to a higher button. She +looked much wiser too, and when he said she +must be taught to read she made no objection, +so he arranged daisies and buttercups into the +forms of the letters, and she learnt nearly all +of them that one evening, while crowds of the +one-foot-one fairies looked on, hanging from the +boughs and sitting in the grass, and shouting out +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +the names of the letters as Mopsa said them. +They were very polite to Jack, for they gathered +all these flowers for him, and emptied them +from their little caps at his feet as fast as he +wanted them.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XI__GOODMORNING_SISTER' id='CHAPTER_XI__GOODMORNING_SISTER'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.<br /><br />GOOD-MORNING, SISTER.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>Sweet is childhood—childhood’s over,</p> +<p class='indent8'>Kiss and part.</p> +<p>Sweet is youth; but youth’s a rover—</p> +<p class='indent8'>So’s my heart.</p> +<p>Sweet is rest; but by all showing</p> +<p class='indent8'>Toil is nigh.</p> +<p>We must go. Alas! the going,</p> +<p class='indent8'>Say “good-bye.”</p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Jack</span> crept under his canopy, went to sleep +early that night, and did not wake till the +sun had risen, when the apple-woman called +him, and said breakfast was nearly ready.</p> +<p>The same thing never happens twice in Fairyland, +so this time the breakfast was not spread +in a tent, but on the river. The Queen had +cut off a tiny piece of her robe, the one-foot-one +fairies had stretched it till it was very large, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span> +then they had spread it on the water, where it +floated and lay like a great carpet of purple and +gold. One corner of it was moored to the side +of Jack’s boat; but he had not observed this, +because of his canopy. However, that was now +looped up by the apple-woman, and Jack and +Mopsa saw what was going on.</p> +<p>Hundreds of swans had been towing the carpet +along, and were still holding it with their beaks, +while a crowd of doves walked about on it, +smoothing out the creases and patting it with +their pretty pink feet till it was quite firm and +straight. The swans then swam away, and they +flew away.</p> +<p>Presently troops of fairies came down to the +landing-place, jumped into Jack’s boat without +asking leave, and so got on to the carpet, while +at the same time a great tree which grew on the +bank began to push out fresh leaves, as large as +fans, and shoot out long branches, which again +shot out others, till very soon there was shade +all over the carpet,—a thick shadow as good as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +a tent, which was very pleasant, for the sun +was already hot.</p> +<p>When the Queen came down, the tree suddenly +blossomed out with thousands of red and +white flowers.</p> +<p>“You must not go on to that carpet,” said +the apple-woman; “let us sit still in the boat, +and be served here.” She whispered this as the +Queen stepped into the boat.</p> +<p>“Good-morning, Jack,” said the Queen. +“Good-morning, dear.” This was to the apple-woman; +and then she stood still for a moment +and looked earnestly at little Mopsa, and sighed.</p> +<p>“Well,” she said to her, “don’t you mean to +speak to me?” Then Mopsa lifted up her pretty +face and blushed very rosy red, and said, in a +shy voice, “Good morning——sister.”</p> +<p>“I said so!” exclaimed the Queen; “I said +so!” and she lifted up her beautiful eyes, and +murmured out, “What is to be done now?”</p> +<p>“Never mind, Queen dear,” said Jack. “If it +was rude of Mopsa to say that, she is such a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +little young thing that she does not know +better.”</p> +<p>“It was not rude,” said Mopsa, and she laughed +and blushed again. “It was not rude, and I am +not sorry.”</p> +<p>As she said this the Queen stepped on to the +carpet, and all the flowers began to drop down. +They were something like camellias, and there +were thousands of them.</p> +<p>The fairies collected them in little heaps. They +had no tables and chairs, nor any plates and dishes +for this breakfast; but the Queen sat down on +the carpet close to Jack’s boat, and leaned her +cheek on her hand, and seemed to be lost in +thought. The fairies put some flowers into her +lap, then each took some, and they all sat down +and looked at the Queen, but she did not stir.</p> +<p>At last Jack said, “When is the breakfast +coming?”</p> +<p>“This is the breakfast,” said the apple-woman; +“these flowers are most delicious eating. You +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +never tasted anything so good in your life; but we +don’t begin till the Queen does.”</p> +<p>Quantities of blossoms had dropped into the +boat. Several fairies tumbled into it almost head +over heels, they were in such a hurry, and they +heaped them into Mopsa’s lap, but took no notice +of Jack, nor of the apple-woman either.</p> +<p>At last, when every one had waited some time, +the Queen pulled a petal off one flower, and began +to eat, so every one else began; and what the +apple-woman had said was quite true. Jack knew +that he never had tasted anything half so nice, +and he was quite sorry when he could not eat any +more. So, when every one had finished, the +Queen leaned her arm on the edge of the +boat, and, turning her lovely face towards Mopsa, +said, “I want to whisper to you, sister.”</p> +<p>“Oh!” said Mopsa, “I wish I was in Jack’s +waistcoat pocket again; but I’m so big now.” +And she took hold of the two sides of his velvet +jacket, and hid her face between them.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span></div> +<p>“My old mother sent a message last night,” +continued the Queen, in a soft, sorrowful voice. +“She is much more powerful than we are.”</p> +<p>“What is the message?” asked Mopsa; but she +still hid her face.</p> +<p>So the Queen moved over, and put her lips +close to Mopsa’s ear, and repeated it: “There +cannot be two Queens in one hive.”</p> +<p>“If Mopsa leaves the hive, a fine swarm will +go with her,” said the apple-woman. “I shall, +for one; that I shall!”</p> +<p>“No!” answered the Queen. “I hope not, +dear; for you know well that this is my old +mother’s doing, not mine.”</p> +<p>“Oh!” said Mopsa; “I feel as if I must tell +a story too, just as the Queen does.” But the +apple-woman broke out in a very cross voice, +“It’s not at all like Fairyland, if you go on in this +way, and I would as lieve be out of it as in it.” +Then she began to sing, that she and Jack might +not hear Mopsa’s story:—</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span></div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>On the rocks by Aberdeen,</p> +<p>Where the whislin’ wave had been,</p> +<p>As I wandered and at e’en</p> +<p class='indent8'>Was eerie;</p> +<p>There I saw thee sailing west,</p> +<p>And I ran with joy opprest—</p> +<p>Ay, and took out all my best,</p> +<p class='indent8'>My dearie.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Then I busked mysel’ wi’ speed,</p> +<p>And the neighbors cried “What need?</p> +<p>’Tis a lass in any weed</p> +<p class='indent8'>Aye bonny!”</p> +<p>Now my heart, my heart is sair.</p> +<p>What’s the good, though I be fair,</p> +<p>For thou’lt never see me mair,</p> +<p class='indent8'>Man Johnnie!</p> +</div></div> +<p>While the apple-woman sang Mopsa finished +her story; and the Queen untied the fastening +which held her carpet to the boat, and went floating +upon it down the river.</p> +<p>“Good-by,” she said, kissing her hand to +them. “I must go and prepare for the deputation.”</p> +<p>So Jack and Mopsa played about all the morning, +sometimes in the boat and sometimes on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +the shore, while the apple-woman sat on the +grass, with her arms folded, and seemed to be +lost in thought. At last she said to Jack, “What +was the name of the great bird that carried you +two here?”</p> +<p>“I have forgotten,” answered Jack. “I’ve +been trying to remember ever since we heard +the Queen tell her first story, but I cannot.”</p> +<p>“I remember,” said Mopsa.</p> +<p>“Tell it then,” replied the apple-woman; but +Mopsa shook her head.</p> +<p>“I don’t want Jack to go,” she answered.</p> +<p>“I don’t want to go, nor that you should,” +said Jack.</p> +<p>“But the Queen said, ‘there cannot be two +queens in one hive,’ and that means that you +are going to be turned out of this beautiful +country.”</p> +<p>“The other fairy lands are just as nice,” answered +Mopsa; “she can only turn me out of +this one.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span></div> +<p>“I never heard of more than one Fairyland,” +observed Jack.</p> +<p>“It’s my opinion,” said the apple-woman, +“that there are hundreds! And those one-foot-one +fairies are such a saucy set, that if I were +you I should be very glad to get away from +them. You’ve been here a very little while as +yet, and you’ve no notion what goes on when +the leaves begin to drop.”</p> +<p>“Tell us,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“Well, you must know,” answered the apple-woman, +“that fairies cannot abide cold weather; +so, when the first rime frost comes, they bury +themselves.”</p> +<p>“Bury themselves?” repeated Jack.</p> +<p>“Yes, I tell you, they bury themselves. You’ve +seen fairy rings, of course, even in your own +country; and here the fields are full of them. +Well, when it gets cold, a company of fairies +forms itself into a circle, and every one digs a +little hole. The first that has finished jumps into +his hole, and his next neighbor covers him up, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +and then jumps into his own little hole, and +he gets covered up in his turn, till at last there +is only one left, and he goes and joins another +circle, hoping he shall have better luck than +to be last again. I’ve often asked them why +they do that, but no fairy can ever give a reason +for anything. They always say that old Mother +Fate makes them do it. When they come up +again, they are not fairies at all, but the good +ones are mushrooms, and the bad ones are toadstools.”</p> +<p>“Then you think there are no one-foot-one +fairies in the other countries,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“Of course not,” answered the apple-woman; +“all the fairy lands are different. It’s only the +queens that are alike.”</p> +<p>“I wish the fairies would not disappear for +hours,” said Jack. “They all seem to run off +and hide themselves.”</p> +<p>“That’s their way,” answered the apple-woman. +“All fairies are part of their time in the shape +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +of human creatures, and the rest of it in the +shape of some animal. These can turn themselves, +when they please, into Guinea-fowl. In +the heat of the day they generally prefer to be +in that form, and they sit among the leaves of +the trees.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_7' id='linki_7'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i005.jpg' alt='' title='' width='392' height='600' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +THE APPLE WOMAN.<br /> +<br /> +“So she began to sing.”—<span class='smcap'><a href='#page_156'>Page 156</a>.</span><br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“A great many are now with the Queen, because +there is a deputation coming; but if I were +to begin to sing, such a flock of Guinea-hens +would gather round, that the boughs of the trees +would bend with their weight, and they would +light on the grass all about so thickly that not +a blade of grass would be seen as far as the +song was heard.”</p> +<p>So she began to sing, and the air was darkened +by great flocks of these Guinea-fowl. They +alighted just as she had said, and kept time with +their heads and their feet, nodding like a crowd +of mandarins; and yet it was nothing but a +stupid old song that you would have thought +could have no particular meaning for them.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span></div> +<h3><i>LIKE A LAVEROCK IN THE LIFT.</i></h3> +<div class='poem' style='width: 25em'><div class='stanza'> +<p class='center'>I.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>It’s we two, it’s we two, it’s we two for aye,</p> +<p>All the world and we two, and Heaven be our stay.</p> +<p>Like a laverock in the lift, sing, O bonny bride!</p> +<p>All the world was Adam once, with Eve by his side.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p class='center'>II.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>What’s the world, my lass, my love!—what can it do?</p> +<p>I am thine, and thou art mine; life is sweet and new.</p> +<p>If the world have missed the mark, let it stand by,</p> +<p>For we two have gotten leave, and once more we’ll try.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p class='center'>III.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Like a laverock in the lift, sing, O bonny bride!</p> +<p>It’s we two, it’s we two, happy side by side.</p> +<p>Take a kiss from me thy man; now the song begins:</p> +<p>“All is made afresh for us, and the brave heart wins.”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p class='center'>IV.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>When the darker days come, and no sun will shine,</p> +<p>Thou shalt dry my tears, lass, and I’ll dry thine.</p> +<p>It’s we two, it’s we two, while the world’s away,</p> +<p>Sitting by the golden sheaves on our wedding-day.</p> +</div></div> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XII__THEY_RUN_AWAY_FROM_OLD_MOTHER_FATE' id='CHAPTER_XII__THEY_RUN_AWAY_FROM_OLD_MOTHER_FATE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.<br /><br />THEY RUN AWAY FROM OLD MOTHER FATE.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>A land that living warmth disowns,</p> +<p class='indent2'>It meets my wondering ken;</p> +<p>A land where all the men are stones,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Or all the stones are men.</p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Before</span> the apple-woman had finished, Jack +and Mopsa saw the Queen coming in great +state, followed by thousands of the one-foot-one +fairies, and leading by a ribbon round its neck +a beautiful brown doe. A great many pretty +fawns were walking among the fairies.</p> +<p>“Here’s the deputation,” said the apple-woman; +but as the Guinea-fowl rose like a cloud at the +approach of the Queen, and the fairies and fawns +pressed forward, there was a good deal of noise +and confusion, during which Mopsa stepped up +close to Jack, and whispered in his ear, “Remember, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +Jack, whatever you can do you may +do.”</p> +<p>Then the brown doe laid down at Mopsa’s +feet, and the Queen began:—</p> +<p>“Jack and Mopsa, I love you both. I had a +message last night from my old mother, and I +told you what it was.”</p> +<p>“Yes, Queen,” said Mopsa, “you did.”</p> +<p>“And now,” continued the Queen, “she has +sent this beautiful brown doe from the country +beyond the lake, where they are in the greatest +distress for a queen, to offer Mopsa the crown; +and, Jack, it is fated that Mopsa is to reign +there, so you had better say no more about +it.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to be a queen,” said Mopsa, +pouting; “I want to play with Jack.”</p> +<p>“You are a queen already,” answered the real +Queen; “at least, you will be in a few days. +You are so much grown, even since the morning, +that you come up nearly to Jack’s shoulder. In +four days you will be as tall as I am; and it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +is quite impossible that any one of fairy birth +should be as tall as a queen in her own +country.”</p> +<p>“But I don’t see what stags and does can +want with a queen,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“They were obliged to turn into deer,” said +the Queen, “when they crossed their own border; +but they are fairies when they are at home, +and they want Mopsa, because they are always +obliged to have a queen of alien birth.”</p> +<p>“If I go,” said Mopsa, “shall Jack go too?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no,” answered the Queen; “Jack and +the apple-woman are my subjects.”</p> +<p>“Apple-woman,” said Jack, “tell us what you +think; shall Mopsa go to this country?”</p> +<p>“Why, child,” said the apple-woman, “go +away from here she must; but she need not go +off with the deer, I suppose, unless she likes. +They look gentle and harmless; but it is very +hard to get at the truth in this country, and I’ve +heard queer stories about them.”</p> +<p>“Have you?” said the Queen. “Well, you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +can repeat them if you like; but remember that +the poor brown doe cannot contradict them.”</p> +<p>So the apple-woman said, “I have heard, but +I don’t know how true it is, that in that country +they shut up their queen in a great castle, and +cover her with a veil, and never let the sun shine +on her; for if by chance the least little sunbeam +should light on her she would turn into a doe +directly, and all the nation would turn with her, +and stay so.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want to be shut up in a castle,” said +Mopsa.</p> +<p>“But is it true?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“Well,” said the apple-woman, “as I told you +before, I cannot make out whether it’s true or not, +for all these stags and fawns look very mild, gentle +creatures.”</p> +<p>“I won’t go,” said Mopsa; “I would rather +run away.”</p> +<p>All this time the Queen with the brown doe +had been gently pressing with the crowd nearer +and nearer to the brink of the river, so that now +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +Jack and Mopsa, who stood facing them, were +quite close to the boat; and while they argued +and tried to make Mopsa come away, Jack suddenly +whispered to her to spring into the boat, +which she did, and he after her, and at the same +time he cried out,—</p> +<p>“Now, boat, if you are my boat, set off as fast +as you can, and let nothing of fairy birth get on +board of you.”</p> +<p>No sooner did he begin to speak than the boat +swung itself away from the edge, and almost +in a moment it was in the very middle of the +river, and beginning to float gently down with +the stream.</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_8' id='linki_8'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i006.jpg' alt='' title='' width='394' height='600' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +THEY RUN AWAY FROM OLD MOTHER FATE.<br /> +<br /> +“The boat swung itself away from the edge, and almost in a moment it was in the very middle of the river.”—<span class='smcap'><a href='#page_162'>Page 162</a>.</span><br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>Now, as I have told you before, that river runs +up the country instead of down to the sea, so +Jack and Mopsa floated still farther up into +Fairyland; and they saw the Queen, and the +apple-woman, and all the crowd of fawns and +fairies walking along the bank of the river, keeping +exactly to the same pace that the boat went; +and this went on for hours and hours, so that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +there seemed to be no chance that Jack and Mopsa +could land; and they heard no voices at all, nor +any sound but the baying of the old hound, who +could not swim out to them, because Jack had +forbidden the boat to take anything of fairy birth +on board of her.</p> +<p>Luckily the bottom of the boat was full of +those delicious flowers that had dropped into it +at breakfast-time, so there was plenty of nice +food for Jack and Mopsa; and Jack noticed, when +he looked at her towards evening, that she was +now nearly as tall as himself, and that her lovely +brown hair floated down to her ankles.</p> +<p>“Jack,” she said, before it grew dusk, “will +you give me your little purse that has the silver +fourpence in it?”</p> +<p>Now Mopsa had often played with this purse. +It was lined with a nice piece of pale green silk, +and when Jack gave it to her she pulled the silk +out, and shook it, and patted it, and stretched it, +just as the Queen had done, and it came into +a most lovely cloak, which she tied round her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +neck. Then she twisted up her long hair into +a coil, and fastened it round her head, and called +to the fire-flies which were beginning to glitter +on the trees to come, and they came and alighted +in a row upon the coil, and turned into diamonds +directly. So now Mopsa had got a crown and a +robe, and she was so beautiful that Jack thought +he should never be tired of looking at her; but +it was nearly dark now, and he was so sleepy +and tired that he could not keep his eyes open, +though he tried very hard, and he began to +blink, and then he began to nod, and at last +he fell fast asleep, and did not awake till the +morning.</p> +<p>Then he sat up in the boat, and looked about +him. A wonderful country, indeed!—no trees, +no grass, no houses, nothing but red stones and +red sand,—and Mopsa was gone. Jack jumped +on shore, for the boat had stopped, and was close +to the brink of the river. He looked about for +some time, and at last, in the shadow of a pale +brown rock, he found her; and oh! delightful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +surprise, the apple-woman was there too. She +was saying, “O my bones! Dearie, dearie me, +how they do ache!” That was not surprising, +for she had been out all night. She had walked +beside the river with the Queen and her tribe +till they came to a little tinkling stream, which +divides their country from the sandy land, and +there they were obliged to stop; they could not +cross it. But the apple-woman sprang over, and, +though the Queen told her she must come back +again in twenty-four hours, she did not appear +to be displeased. Now the Guinea-hens, when +they had come to listen, the day before, to the +apple-woman’s song, had brought each of them +a grain of maize in her beak, and had thrown +it into her apron; so when she got up she carried +it with her gathered up there, and now she had +been baking some delicious little cakes on a fire +of dry sticks that the river had drifted down, +and Mopsa had taken a honeycomb from the +rock, so that they all had a very nice breakfast. +And the apple-woman gave them a great deal +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +of good advice, and told them if they wished to +remain in Fairyland, and not be caught by the +brown doe and her followers, they must cross +over the purple mountains. “For on the other +side of those peaks,” she said, “I have heard +that fairies live who have the best of characters +for being kind and just. I am sure they would +never shut up a poor queen in a castle.</p> +<p>“But the best thing you could do, dear,” she +said to Mopsa, “would be to let Jack call the +bird, and make her carry you back to his own +country.”</p> +<p>“The Queen is not at all kind,” said Jack; +“I have been very kind to her, and she should +have let Mopsa stay.”</p> +<p>“No, Jack, she could not,” said Mopsa; “but +I wish I had not grown so fast, and I don’t like +to go to your country. I would rather run away.”</p> +<p>“But who is to tell us where to run?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“Oh,” said Mopsa, “some of these people.”</p> +<p>“I don’t see anybody,” said Jack, looking +about him.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span></div> +<p>Mopsa pointed to a group of stones, and then +to another group, and as Jack looked he saw +that in shape they were something like people,—stone +people. One stone was a little like an +old man with a mantle over him, and he was +sitting on the ground with his knees up nearly +to his chin. Another was like a woman with a +hood on, and she seemed to be leaning her chin +on her hand. Close to these stood something +very much like a cradle in shape; and beyond +were stones that resembled a flock of sheep lying +down on the bare sand, with something that reminded +Jack of the figure of a man lying asleep +near them, with his face to the ground.</p> +<p>That was a very curious country; all the stones +reminded you of people or of animals, and the +shadows that they cast were much more like +than the stones themselves. There were blocks +with things that you might have mistaken for +stone ropes twisted round them; but, looking at +the shadows, you could see distinctly that they +were trees, and that what coiled round were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +snakes. Then there was a rocky prominence, at +one side of which was something like a sitting +figure, but its shadow, lying on the ground, was +that of a girl with a distaff. Jack was very +much surprised at all this; Mopsa was not. She +did not see, she said, that one thing was more +wonderful than another. All the fairy lands were +wonderful, but the men-and-women world was +far more so. She and Jack went about among +the stones all day, and as the sun got low both +the shadows and the blocks themselves became +more and more like people, and if you went close +you could now see features, very sweet, quiet +features, but the eyes were all shut.</p> +<p>By this time the apple-woman began to feel +very sad. She knew she should soon have to +leave Jack and Mopsa, and she said to Mopsa, +as they finished their evening meal, “I wish +you would ask the inhabitants a few questions, +dear, before I go, for I want to know whether +they can put you in the way how to cross the +purple mountains.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span></div> +<p>Jack said nothing, for he thought he would see +what Mopsa was going to do; so when she got +up and went towards the shape that was like +a cradle he followed, and the apple-woman +too. Mopsa went to the figure that sat by the +cradle. It was a stone yet, but when Mopsa +laid her little warm hand on its bosom it +smiled.</p> +<p>“Dear,” said Mopsa, “I wish you would +wake.”</p> +<p>A curious little sound was now heard, but +the figure did not move, and the apple-woman +lifted Mopsa on to the lap of the statue; then +she put her arms round its neck, and spoke to it +again very distinctly: “Dear! why don’t you wake? +You had better wake now; the baby’s crying.”</p> +<p>Jack now observed that the sound he had +heard was something like the crying of a baby. +He also heard the figure answering Mopsa. It +said, “I am only a stone!”</p> +<p>“Then,” said Mopsa, “I am not a queen yet. +I cannot wake her. Take me down.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span></div> +<p>“I am not warm,” said the figure; and that +was quite true, and yet she was not a stone now +which reminded one of a woman, but a woman +that reminded one of a stone.</p> +<p>All the west was very red with the sunset, +and the river was red too, and Jack distinctly +saw some of the coils of rope glide down from +the trees and slip into the water; next he saw +the stones that had looked like sheep raise up +their heads in the twilight, and then lift themselves +and shake their woolly sides. At that +instant the large white moon heaved up her +pale face between two dark blue hills, and upon +this the statue put out its feet and gently rocked +the cradle.</p> +<p>Then it spoke again to Mopsa: “What was it +that you wished me to tell you?”</p> +<p>“How to find the way over those purple mountains,” +said Mopsa.</p> +<p>“You must set off in an hour, then,” said the +woman; and she had hardly anything of the stone +about her now. “You can easily find it by night +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +without any guide, but nothing can ever take you +to it by day.”</p> +<p>“But we would rather stay a few days in this +curious country,” said Jack; “let us wait at least +till to-morrow night.”</p> +<p>The statue at this moment rubbed her hands +together, as if they still felt cold and stiff. “You +are quite welcome to stay,” she observed; “but +you had better not.”</p> +<p>“Why not?” persisted Jack.</p> +<p>“Father,” said the woman, rising and shaking +the figure next to her by the sleeve, “Wake up!” +What had looked like an old man was a real +old man now, and he got up and began to gather +sticks to make a fire, and to pick up the little +brown stones which had been scattered about +all day, but which now were berries of coffee; +the larger ones, which you might find here and +there, were rasped rolls. Then the woman answered +Jack, “Why not? Why, because it’s full +moon to-night at midnight, and the moment the +moon is past the full your Queen, whose country +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +you have just left, will be able to cross over the +little stream, and she will want to take you and +that other mortal back. She can do it, of course, +if she pleases; and we can afford you no protection, +for by that time we shall be stones again. +We are only people two hours out of the twenty-four.”</p> +<p>“That is very hard,” observed Jack.</p> +<p>“No,” said the woman, in a tone of indifference; +“it comes to the same thing, as we live +twelve times as long as others do.”</p> +<p>By this time the shepherd was gently driving his +flock down to the water, and round fifty little fires +groups of people were sitting roasting coffee, +while cows were lowing to be milked, and girls +with distaffs were coming to them slowly, for no +one was in a hurry there. They say in that country +that they wish to enjoy their day quietly, +because it is so short.</p> +<p>“Can you tell us anything of the land beyond +the mountains?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the woman. “Of all fairy lands +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +it is the best; the people are the gentlest and +kindest.”</p> +<p>“Then I had better take Mopsa there than down +the river?” said Jack.</p> +<p>“You can’t take her down the river,” replied +the woman; and Jack thought she laughed and +was glad of that.</p> +<p>“Why not?” asked Jack. “I have a boat.”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir,” answered the woman; “but where +is it now?”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIII__MELON_SEEDS' id='CHAPTER_XIII__MELON_SEEDS'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.<br /><br />MELON SEEDS.</h2> +</div> +<blockquote> +<p><i>Rosalind.</i>—Well, this is the forest of Arden.</p> +<p><i>Touchstone.</i>—Ay, now am I in Arden: the more fool +I; when I was at home I was in a better place; but travellers +must be content.</p> +<p class='sig1'><i>As you Like it.</i></p> +</blockquote> +<p class='dropcapq'><small>“</small><span class='drop'>W</span><span class='dcap'>here</span> is it now?” said the stone-woman; +and when Jack heard that he ran down to +the river, and looked right and looked left. At +last he saw his boat,—a mere speck in the distance, +it had floated so far.</p> +<p>He called it, but it was far beyond the reach +of his voice; and Mopsa, who had followed him, +said,—</p> +<p>“It does not signify, Jack, for I feel that no +place is the right place for me but that country +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +beyond the purple mountains, and I shall never be +happy unless we go there.”</p> +<p>So they walked back towards the stone-people +hand in hand, and the apple-woman presently +joined them. She was crying gently, for she +knew that she must soon pass over the little +stream, and part with these whom she called her +dear children. Jack had often spoken to her that +day about going home to her own country, but +she said it was too late to think of that now, and +she must end her days in the land of Faery.</p> +<p>The kind stone-people asked them to come and +sit by their little fire; and in the dusk the woman +whose baby had slept in a stone cradle took it up +and began to sing to it. She seemed astonished +when she heard that the apple-woman had power +to go home if she could make up her mind to do +it; and as she sang she looked at her with wonder +and pity.</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>Little babe, while burns the west,</p> +<p>Warm thee, warm thee in my breast;</p> +<p>While the moon doth shine her best,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And the dews distil not.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span></p> +<p>All the land so sad, so fair—</p> +<p>Sweet its toils are, blest its care.</p> +<p>Child, we may not enter there!</p> +<p class='indent2'>Some there are that will not.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Fain would I thy margins know,</p> +<p>Land of work, and land of snow;</p> +<p>Land of life, whose rivers flow</p> +<p class='indent2'>On, and on, and stay not.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Fain would I thy small limbs fold,</p> +<p>While the weary hours are told,</p> +<p>Little babe in cradle cold.</p> +<p class='indent2'>Some there are that may not.</p> +</div></div> +<p>“You are not exactly fairies, I suppose?” said +Jack. “If you were, you could go to our country +when you pleased.”</p> +<p>“No,” said the woman; “we are not exactly +fairies; but we shall be more like them when our +punishment is over.”</p> +<p>“I am sorry you are punished,” answered Jack, +“for you seem very nice, kind people.”</p> +<p>“We were not always kind,” answered the +woman; “and perhaps we are only kind now +because we have no time, and no chance of being +otherwise. I’m sure I don’t know about that. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +We were powerful once, and we did a cruel deed. +I must not tell you what it was. We were told +that our hearts were all as cold as stones,—and I +suppose they were,—and we were doomed to be +stones all our lives, excepting for the two hours of +twilight. There was no one to sow the crops, or +water the grass, so it all failed, and the trees died, +and our houses fell, and our possessions were +stolen from us.”</p> +<p>“It is a very sad thing,” observed the apple-woman; +and then she said that she must go, for +she had a long way to walk before she should +reach the little brook that led to the country of +her own queen; so she kissed the two children, +Jack and Mopsa, and they begged her again to +think better of it, and return to her own land. +But she said No; she had no heart for work +now, and could not bear either cold or poverty.</p> +<p>Then the woman who was hugging her little +baby, and keeping it cosy and warm, began to +tell Jack and Mopsa that it was time they should +begin to run away to the country over the purple +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +mountains, or else the Queen would overtake +them and be very angry with them; so, with +many promises that they would mind her directions, +they set off hand in hand to run; but before +they left her they could see plainly that she +was beginning to turn again into stone. However, +she had given them a slice of melon with +the seeds in it. It had been growing on the +edge of the river, and was stone in the day-time, +like everything else. “When you are tired,” +she said, “eat the seeds, and they will enable +you to go running on. You can put the slice +into this little red pot, which has string handles +to it, and you can hang it on your arm. While +you have it with you it will not turn to stone, +but if you lay it down it will, and then it will +be useless.”</p> +<p>So, as I said before, Jack and Mopsa set off +hand in hand to run; and as they ran all the +things and people gradually and softly settled +themselves to turn into stone again. Their cloaks +and gowns left off fluttering, and hung stiffly; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +and then they left off their occupations, and sat +down, or laid down themselves; and the sheep +and cattle turned stiff and stone-like too, so that +in a very little while all that country was nothing +but red stones and red sand, just as it had been +in the morning.</p> +<p>Presently the full moon, which had been hiding +behind a cloud, came out, and they saw their +shadows, which fell straight before them; so +they ran on hand in hand very merrily till the +half-moon came up, and the shadows she made +them cast fell sideways. This was rather awkward, +because as long as only the full moon +gave them shadows, they had but to follow them, +in order to go straight towards the purple mountains. +Now they were not always sure which +were her shadows: and presently a crescent moon +came, and still further confused them; also the +sand began to have tufts of grass in it; and then, +when they had gone a little farther, there were +beautiful patches of anemones, and hyacinths, and +jonquils, and crown imperials, and they stopped +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +to gather them; and they got among some trees, +and then, as they had nothing to guide them but +the shadows, and these went all sorts of ways, +they lost a great deal of time, and the trees +became of taller growth; but they still ran on +and on till they got into a thick forest where it +was quite dark, and here Mopsa began to cry, +for she was tired.</p> +<p>“If I could only begin to be a queen,” she +said to Jack, “I could go wherever I pleased. +I am not a fairy, and yet I am not a proper +queen. Oh, what shall I do? I cannot go any +farther.”</p> +<p>So Jack gave her some of the seeds of the +melon, though it was so dark that he could +scarcely find the way to her mouth, and then +he took some himself, and they both felt that +they were rested, and Jack comforted Mopsa.</p> +<p>“If you are not a queen yet,” he said, “you +will be by to-morrow morning; for when our +shadows danced on before us yours was so very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +nearly the same height as mine, that I could +hardly see any difference.”</p> +<p>When they reached the end of that great +forest, and found themselves out in all sorts of +moonlight, the first thing they did was to laugh,—the +shadows looked so odd, sticking out in +every direction; and the next thing they did +was to stand back to back, and put their heels +together, and touch their heads together, to see +by the shadow which was the taller; and Jack +was still the least bit in the world taller than +Mopsa; so they knew she was not a queen yet, +and they ate some more melon-seeds, and began +to climb up the mountain.</p> +<p>They climbed till the trees of the forest looked +no bigger than gooseberry bushes, and then they +climbed till the whole forest looked only like a +patch of moss; and then, when they got a little +higher, they saw the wonderful river, a long way +off, and the snow glittering on the peaks overhead; +and while they were looking and wondering +how they should find a pass, the moons +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +all went down, one after the other, and, if +Mopsa had not found some glowworms, they +would have been quite in the dark again. However, +she took a dozen of them, and put them +round Jack’s ankles, so that when he walked +he could see where he was going; and he found +a little sheep-path, and she followed him.</p> +<p>Now they had noticed during the night how +many shooting-stars kept darting about from time +to time, and at last one shot close by them, and +fell in the soft moss on before. There it lay +shining; and Jack, though he began to feel very +tired again, made haste to it, for he wanted to +see what it was like.</p> +<p>It was not what you would have supposed. +It was soft and round, and about the color of +a ripe apricot; it was covered with fur, and in +fact it was evidently alive, and had curled itself +up into a round ball.</p> +<p>“The dear little thing!” said Jack, as he held +it in his hand, and showed it to Mopsa; “how +its heart beats. Is it frightened?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span></div> +<p>“Who are you?” said Mopsa to the thing. +“What is your name?”</p> +<p>The little creature made a sound that seemed +like “Wisp.”</p> +<p>“Uncurl yourself, Wisp,” said Mopsa. “Jack +and I want to look at you.”</p> +<p>So Wisp unfolded himself, and showed two +little black eyes, and spread out two long filmy +wings. He was like a most beautiful bat, and +the light he shed out illuminated their faces.</p> +<p>“It is only one of the air fairies,” said Mopsa. +“Pretty creature! It never did any harm, and +would like to do us good if it knew how, for it +knows that I shall be a queen very soon. Wisp, +if you like, you may go and tell your friends and +relations that we want to cross over the mountains, +and if they can they may help us.”</p> +<p>Upon this Wisp spread out his wings, and +shot off again; and Jack’s feet were so tired +that he sat down, and pulled off one of his +shoes, for he thought there was a stone in it. +So he set the little red jar beside him, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +quite forgot what the stone-woman had said, but +went on shaking his shoe, and buckling it, and +admiring the glowworms round his ankle, till +Mopsa said, “Darling Jack, I am so dreadfully +tired! Give me some more melon-seeds.” Then +he lifted up the jar, and thought it felt very +heavy; and when he put in his hand, jar, and +melon, and seeds were all turned to stone +together.</p> +<p>They were both very sorry, and they sat still +for a minute or two, for they were much too +tired to stir; and then shooting-stars began to +appear in all directions. The fairy bat had told +his friends and relations, and they were coming. +One fell at Mopsa’s feet, another in her lap; +more, more, all about, behind, before, and over +them. And they spread out long filmy wings, +some of them a yard long, till Jack and Mopsa +seemed to be enclosed in a perfect network of +the rays of shooting-stars, and they were both a +good deal frightened. Fifty or sixty shooting-stars, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +with black eyes that could stare, were enough, they +thought, to frighten anybody.</p> +<p>“If we had anything to sit upon,” said Mopsa, +“they could carry us over the pass.” She had +no sooner spoken than the largest of the bats +bit off one of his own long wings, and laid it +at Mopsa’s feet. It did not seem to matter much +to him that he had parted with it, for he shot +out another wing directly, just as a comet shoots +out a ray of light sometimes, when it approaches +the sun.</p> +<p>Mopsa thanked the shooting fairy, and, taking +the wing, began to stretch it, till it was large +enough for her and Jack to sit upon. Then all +the shooting fairies came round it, took its edges +in their mouths, and began to fly away with it +over the mountains. They went slowly, for Jack +and Mopsa were heavy, and they flew very low, +resting now and then; but in the course of time +they carried the wing over the pass, and halfway +down the other side. Then the sun came up; +and the moment he appeared all their lovely +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +apricot-colored light was gone, and they only +looked like common bats, such as you can see +every evening.</p> +<p>They set down Jack and Mopsa, folded up their +long wings, and hung down their heads.</p> +<p>Mopsa thanked them, and said they had been +useful; but still they looked ashamed, and crept +into little corners and crevices of the rock, to +hide.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XIV__REEDS_AND_RUSHES' id='CHAPTER_XIV__REEDS_AND_RUSHES'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.<br /><br />REEDS AND RUSHES.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>’Tis merry, ’tis merry in Fairyland,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Where Fairy birds are singing;</p> +<p>When the court doth sit by the monarch’s side,</p> +<p class='indent2'>With bit and bridle ringing.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p class='ralign'><span class='smcap'>Walter Scott.</span></p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>There</span> were many fruit-trees on that slope +of the mountain, and Jack and Mopsa, as +they came down, gathered some fruit for breakfast, +and did not feel very tired, for the long ride +on the wing had rested them.</p> +<p>They could not see the plain, for a slight blue +mist hung over it; but the sun was hot already, +and as they came down they saw a beautiful bed +of high reeds, and thought they would sit awhile +and rest in it. A rill of clear water ran beside +the bed, so when they had reached it they sat +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +down, and began to consider what they should +do next.</p> +<p>“Jack,” said Mopsa, “did you see anything +particular as you came down with the shooting-stars?”</p> +<p>“No, I saw nothing so interesting as they +were,” answered Jack. “I was looking at them +and watching how they squeaked to one another, +and how they had little hooks in their wings, +with which they held the large wing that we +sat on.”</p> +<p>“But I saw something,” said Mopsa. “Just +as the sun rose I looked down, and in the loveliest +garden I ever saw, and all among trees and +woods, I saw a most beautiful castle. O, Jack! +I am sure that castle is the place I am to live +in, and now we have nothing to do but to find +it. I shall soon be a queen, and there I shall +reign.”</p> +<p>“Then I shall be king there,” said Jack; +“shall I?”</p> +<p>“Yes, if you can,” answered Mopsa. “Of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +course, whatever you can do you may do. And, +Jack, this is a much better fairy country than +either the stony land or the other that we first +came to, for this castle is a real place! It will +not melt away. There the people can work, +they know how to love each other: common +fairies cannot do that, I know. They can laugh +and cry, and I shall teach them several things +that they do not know yet. Oh! do let us make +haste and find the castle.”</p> +<p>So they arose; but they turned the wrong +way, and by mistake walked farther and farther +in among the reeds, whose feathery heads puffed +into Mopsa’s face, and Jack’s coat was all covered +with the fluffy seed.</p> +<p>“This is very odd,” said Jack. “I thought +this was only a small bed of reeds when we +stepped into it; but really we must have walked +a mile already.”</p> +<p>But they walked on and on, till Mopsa grew +quite faint, and her sweet face became very pale, +for she knew that the beds of reeds were spreading +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +faster than they walked, and then they shot +up so high that it was impossible to see over +their heads; so at last Jack and Mopsa were so +tired that they sat down, and Mopsa began to cry.</p> +<p>However, Jack was the braver of the two this +time, and he comforted Mopsa, and told her that +she was nearly a queen, and would never reach +her castle by sitting still. So she got up and +took his hand, and he went on before, parting +the reeds and pulling her after him, till all on +a sudden they heard the sweetest sound in the +world; it was like a bell, and it sounded again +and again.</p> +<p>It was the castle clock, and it was striking +twelve at noon.</p> +<p>As it finished striking they came out at the +farther edge of the great bed of reeds, and there +was the castle straight before them,—a beautiful +castle, standing on the slope of a hill. The grass +all about it was covered with beautiful flowers; +two of the taller turrets were overgrown with +ivy, and a flag was flying on a staff; but everything +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +was so silent and lonely that it made one +sad to look on. As Jack and Mopsa drew near +they trod as gently as they could, and did not +say a word.</p> +<p>All the windows were shut, but there was a +great door in the centre of the building, and they +went towards it, hand in hand.</p> +<p>What a beautiful hall! The great door stood +wide open, and they could see what a delightful +place this must be to live in: it was paved with +squares of blue and white marble, and here and +there carpets were spread, with chairs and tables +upon them. They looked and saw a great dome +overhead, filled with windows of colored glass, +and they cast down blue and golden and rosy +reflections.</p> +<p>“There is my home that I shall live in,” said +Mopsa; and she came close to the door, and +they both looked in, till at last she let go of +Jack’s hand, and stepped over the threshold.</p> +<p>The bell in the tower sounded again more +sweetly than ever, and the instant Mopsa was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +inside there came from behind the fluted columns, +which rose up on every side, the brown doe, followed +by troops of deer and fawns!</p> +<p>“Mopsa! Mopsa!” cried Jack, “come away! +come back!” But Mopsa was too much astonished +to stir, and something seemed to hold Jack +from following; but he looked and looked, till, +as the brown doe advanced, the door of the castle +closed,—Mopsa was shut in, and Jack was left +outside.</p> +<p>So Mopsa had come straight to the place she +thought she had ran away from.</p> +<p>“But I am determined to get her away from +those creatures,” thought Jack; “she does not +want to reign over deer.” And he began to look +about him, hoping to get in. It was of no use: +all the windows in that front of the castle were +high, and when he tried to go round, he came +to a high wall with battlements. Against some +parts of this wall the ivy grew, and looked as +if it might have grown there for ages; its stems +were thicker than his waist, and its branches +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +were spread over the surface like network; so +by means of them he hoped to climb to the top.</p> +<p>He immediately began to try. Oh, how high +the wall was! First he came to several sparrows’ +nests, and very much frightened the sparrows +were; then he reached starlings’ nests, and very +angry the starlings were; but at last, just under +the coping, he came to jackdaws’ nests, and +these birds were very friendly, and pointed out +to him the best little holes for him to put his feet +into. At last he reached the top, and found to +his delight that the wall was three feet thick, and +he could walk upon it quite comfortably, and +look down into a lovely garden, where all the +trees were in blossom, and creepers tossed their +long tendrils from tree to tree, covered with puffs +of yellow, or bells of white, or bunches and knots +of blue or rosy bloom.</p> +<p>He could look down into the beautiful empty +rooms of the castle, and he walked cautiously on +the wall till he came to the west front, and reached +a little casement window that had latticed panes. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +Jack peeped in; nobody was there. He took his +knife, and cut away a little bit of lead to let out +the pane, and it fell with such a crash on the +pavement below that he wondered it did not bring +the deer over to look at what he was about. +Nobody came.</p> +<p>He put in his hand and opened the latchet, and +with very little trouble got down into the room. +Still nobody was to be seen. He thought that +the room, years ago, might have been a fairies’ +school-room, for it was strewn with books, slates, +and all sorts of copybooks. A fine soft dust had +settled down over everything,—pens, papers, and +all. Jack opened a copybook: its pages were +headed with maxims, just as ours are, which +proved that these fairies must have been superior +to such as he had hitherto come among. Jack +read some of them:—</p> +<div class='poem' style='width: 25em'><div class='stanza'> +<p>Turn your back on the light, and you’ll follow a shadow.</p> +<p>The deaf queen Fate has dumb courtiers.</p> +<p>If the hound is your foe, don’t sleep in his kennel.</p> +<p>That that is, is.</p> +</div></div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span></div> +<p>And so on; but nobody came, and no sound was +heard, so he opened the door, and found himself +in a long and most splendid gallery, all +hung with pictures, and spread with a most beautiful +carpet, which was as soft and white as a +piece of wool, and wrought with a beautiful +device. This was the letter M, with a crown +and sceptre, and underneath a beautiful little boat, +exactly like the one in which he had come up the +river. Jack felt sure that this carpet had been +made for Mopsa, and he went along the gallery +upon it till he reached a grand staircase of oak +that was almost black with age, and he stole +gently down it, for he began to feel rather shy, +more especially as he could now see the great +hall under the dome, and that it had a beautiful +lady in it, and many other people, but no deer +at all.</p> +<p>These fairy people were something like the +one-foot-one fairies, but much larger and more +like children; and they had very gentle, happy +faces, and seemed to be extremely glad and gay. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +But seated on a couch, where lovely painted +windows threw down all sorts of rainbow colors +on her, was a beautiful fairy lady, as large as a +woman. She had Mopsa in her arms, and was +looking down upon her with eyes full of love, +while at her side stood a boy, who was exactly +and precisely like Jack himself. He had rather +long light hair and gray eyes, and a velvet jacket. +That was all Jack could see at first, but as he +drew nearer the boy turned, and then Jack felt as +if he was looking at himself in the glass.</p> +<p>Mopsa had been very tired, and now she was +fast asleep, with her head on that lady’s shoulder. +The boy kept looking at her, and he seemed very +happy indeed; so did the lady, and she presently +told him to bring Jack something to eat.</p> +<p>It was rather a curious speech that she made +to him; it was this:—</p> +<p>“Jack, bring Jack some breakfast.”</p> +<p>“What!” thought Jack to himself, “has he +got a face like mine, and a name like mine +too?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span></div> +<p>So that other Jack went away, and presently +came back with a golden plate full of nice things +to eat.</p> +<p>“I know you don’t like me,” he said, as he +came up to Jack with the plate.</p> +<p>“Not like him?” repeated the lady; “and +pray what reason have you for not liking my +royal nephew?”</p> +<p>“O dame!” exclaimed the boy, and laughed.</p> +<p>The lady, on hearing this, turned pale, for she +perceived that she herself had mistaken the one +for the other.</p> +<p>“I see you know how to laugh,” said the real +Jack. “You are wiser people than those whom +I went to first; but the reason I don’t like you +is, that you are so exactly like me.”</p> +<p>“I am not!” exclaimed the boy. “Only hear +him, dame! You mean, I suppose, that you are +so exactly like me. I am sure I don’t know what +you mean by it.”</p> +<p>“Nor I either,” replied Jack, almost in a passion.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span></div> +<p>“It couldn’t be helped, of course,” said the +other Jack.</p> +<p>“Hush! hush!” said the fairy woman; “don’t +wake our dear little Queen. Was it you, my +royal nephew, who spoke last?”</p> +<p>“Yes, dame,” answered the boy, and again he +offered the plate; but Jack was swelling with +indignation, and he gave the plate a push with +his elbow, which scattered the fruit and bread +on the ground.</p> +<p>“I won’t eat it,” he said; but when the other +Jack went and picked it up again, and said, +“Oh, yes, do, old fellow; it’s not my fault, you +know,” he began to consider that it was no use +being cross in Fairyland; so he forgave his +double, and had just finished his breakfast when +Mopsa woke.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XV__THE_QUEENS_WAND' id='CHAPTER_XV__THE_QUEENS_WAND'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.<br /><br />THE QUEEN’S WAND.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>One, two, three, four; one, two, three, four;</p> +<p class='indent2'>’Tis still one, two, three, four.</p> +<p>Mellow and silvery are the tones,</p> +<p class='indent2'>But I wish the bells were more.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p class='ralign'><span class='smcap'>Southey.</span></p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>Mopsa</span> woke: she was rather too big to +be nursed, for she was the size of Jack, +and looked like a sweet little girl of ten years, +but she did not always behave like one; sometimes +she spoke as wisely as a grown-up woman, +and sometimes she changed again and seemed +like a child.</p> +<p>Mopsa lifted up her head and pushed back +her long hair: her coronet had fallen off while +she was in the bed of reeds; and she said to +the beautiful dame,—</p> +<p>“I am a queen now.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span></div> +<p>“Yes, my sweet Queen,” answered the lady, +“I know you are.”</p> +<p>“And you promise that you will be kind to +me till I grow up,” said Mopsa, “and love me, +and teach me how to reign?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” repeated the lady; “and I will love +you too, just as if you were a mortal and I your +mother.”</p> +<p>“For I am only ten years old yet,” said +Mopsa, “and the throne is too big for me to sit +upon; but I am a queen.” And then she paused, +and said, “Is it three o’clock?”</p> +<p>As she spoke, the sweet, clear bell of the castle +sounded three times, and then chimes began to +play: they played such a joyous tune that it +made everybody sing. The dame sang, the crowd +of fairies sang, the boy who was Jack’s double +sang, and Mopsa sang,—only Jack was silent,—and +this was the song:—</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>The prince shall to the chase again,</p> +<p>The dame has got her face again,</p> +<p>The king shall have his place again</p> +<p class='indent2'>Aneath the fairy dome.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span></p> +<p>And all the knights shall woo again,</p> +<p>And all the doves shall coo again,</p> +<p>And all the dreams come true again,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And Jack shall go home.</p> +</div></div> +<p>“We shall see about that!” thought Jack to +himself. And Mopsa, while she sang those last +words, burst into tears, which Jack did not like +to see; but all the fairies were so very glad, so +joyous, and so delighted with her for having +come to be their queen, that after a while she +dried her eyes, and said to the wrong boy,—</p> +<p>“Jack, when I pulled the lining out of your +pocket-book there was a silver fourpence in it.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said the real Jack, “and here it is.”</p> +<p>“Is it real money?” asked Mopsa. “Are you +sure you brought it with you all the way from +your own country?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jack, “quite sure.”</p> +<p>“Then, dear Jack,” answered Mopsa, “will +you give it to me?”</p> +<p>“I will,” said Jack, “if you will send this boy +away.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span></div> +<p>“How can I?” answered Mopsa, surprised. +“Don’t you know what happened when the door +closed? Has nobody told you?”</p> +<p>“I did not see any one after I got into the +place,” said Jack. “There was no one to tell +anything,—not even a fawn, nor the brown doe. +I have only seen down here these fairy people, +and this boy, and this lady.”</p> +<p>“The lady is the brown doe,” answered Mopsa; +“and this boy and the fairies were the fawns.” +Jack was so astonished at this that he stared at +the lady and the boy and the fairies with all +his might.</p> +<p>“The sun came shining in as I stepped inside,” +said Mopsa, “and a long beam fell down +from the fairy dome across my feet. Do you +remember what the apple-woman told us,—how +it was reported that the brown doe and her +nation had a queen whom they shut up, and +never let the sun shine on her? That was not +a kind or true report, and yet it came from +something that really happened.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span></div> +<p>“Yes, I remember,” said Jack; “and if the +sun did shine they were all to be turned into +deer.”</p> +<p>“I dare not tell you all that story yet,” said +Mopsa; “but, Jack, as the brown doe and all +the fawns came up to greet me, and passed by +turns into the sunbeam, they took their own +forms, every one of them, because the spell was +broken. They were to remain in the disguise +of deer till a queen of alien birth should come +to them against her will. I am a queen of +alien birth, and did not I come against my +will?”</p> +<p>“Yes, to be sure,” answered Jack. “We +thought all the time that we were running +away.”</p> +<p>“If ever you come to Fairyland again,” observed +Mopsa, “you can save yourself the +trouble of trying to run away from the old +mother.”</p> +<p>“I shall not ‘come,’” answered Jack, “because +I shall not go,—not for a long while, at least. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +But the boy,—I want to know why this boy +turned into another <span class='smcaplc'>ME</span>?”</p> +<p>“Because he is the heir, of course,” answered +Mopsa.</p> +<p>“But I don’t see that this is any reason at all,” +said Jack.</p> +<p>Mopsa laughed. “That’s because you don’t +know how to argue,” she replied. “Why, the +thing is as plain as possible.”</p> +<p>“It may be plain to you,” persisted Jack, “but +it’s no reason.”</p> +<p>“No reason!” repeated Mopsa, “no reason! +when I like you the best of anything in the world, +and when I am come here to be queen? Of +course, when the spell was broken he took exactly +your form on that account; and very right too.”</p> +<p>“But why?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>Mopsa, however, was like other fairies in this respect,—that +she knew all about Old Mother Fate, +but not about causes and reasons. She believed, +as we do in this world, that</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>That that is, is;</p> +</div></div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span></div> +<p>but the fairies go further than this; they +say:—</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>That that is, is; and when it is, that is the reason that it is.</p> +</div></div> +<p>This sounds like nonsense to us, but it is all right +to them.</p> +<p>So Mopsa, thinking she had explained everything, +said again,—</p> +<p>“And, dear Jack, will you give the silver fourpence +to me?”</p> +<p>Jack took it out; and she got down from the +dame’s knee and took it in the palm of her hand, +laying the other palm upon it.</p> +<p>“It will be very hot,” observed the dame.</p> +<p>“But it will not burn me so as really to hurt, +if I am a real queen,” said Mopsa.</p> +<p>Presently she began to look as if something gave +her pain.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s so hot!” she said to the other Jack; +“so very hot!”</p> +<p>“Never mind, sweet Queen,” he answered; “it +will not hurt you long. Remember my poor +uncle and all his knights.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span></div> +<p>Mopsa still held the little silver coin; but Jack +saw that it hurt her, for two bright tears fell from +her eyes; and in another moment he saw that +it was actually melted, for it fell in glittering drops +from Mopsa’s hand to the marble floor, and there +it lay as soft as quicksilver.</p> +<p>“Pick it up,” said Mopsa to the other Jack; +and he instantly did so, and laid it in her hand +again; and she began gently to roll it backwards +and forwards between her palms till she had +rolled it into a very slender rod, two feet long, +and not nearly so thick as a pin; but it did not +bend, and it shone so brightly that you could +hardly look at it.</p> +<p>Then she held it out towards the real Jack, +and said, “Give this a name.”</p> +<p>“I think it is a——” began the other Jack; +but the dame suddenly stopped him. “Silence, +sire! Don’t you know that what it is first called +that it will be?”</p> +<p>Jack hesitated; he thought if Mopsa was a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +queen the thing ought to be a sceptre; but it certainly +was not at all like a sceptre.</p> +<p>“That thing is a wand,” said he.</p> +<p>“You are a wand,” said Mopsa, speaking to +the silver stick, which was glittering now in a +sunbeam almost as if it were a beam of light +itself. Then she spoke again to Jack:</p> +<p>“Tell me, Jack, what can I do with a wand?”</p> +<p>Again the boy-king began to speak, and the +dame stopped him, and again Jack considered. +He had heard a great deal in his own country +about fairy wands, but he could not remember +that the fairies had done anything particular +with them, so he gave what he thought was +true, but what seemed to him a very stupid +answer:</p> +<p>“You can make it point to anything that you +please.”</p> +<p>The moment he had said this, shouts of ecstasy +filled the hall, and all the fairies clapped their +hands with such hurrahs of delight that he blushed +for joy.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span></div> +<p>The dame also looked truly glad, and as for +the other Jack, he actually turned head over +heels, just as Jack had often done himself on his +father’s lawn.</p> +<p>Jack had merely meant that Mopsa could point +with the wand to anything that she saw; but +he was presently told that what he had meant +was nothing, and that his words were everything.</p> +<p>“I can make it point now,” said Mopsa, “and +it will point aright to anything I please, whether +I know where the thing is or not.”</p> +<p>Again the hall was filled with those cries of +joy, and the sweet, child-like fairies congratulated +each other with “The Queen has got a +wand,—a wand! and she can make it point +wherever she pleases!”</p> +<p>Then Mopsa rose and walked towards the +beautiful staircase, the dame and all the fairies +following. Jack was going too, but the other +Jack held him.</p> +<p>“Where is Mopsa going? and why am I not +to follow?” inquired Jack.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span></div> +<p>“They are going to put on her robes, of +course,” answered the other Jack.</p> +<p>“I am so tired of always hearing you say +‘of course,’” answered Jack; “and I wonder +how it is that you always seem to know what +is going to be done without being told. However, +I suppose you can’t help being odd people.”</p> +<p>The boy-king did not make a direct answer; +he only said, “I like you very much, though +you don’t like me.”</p> +<p>“Why do you like me?” asked Jack.</p> +<p>So he opened his eyes wide with surprise: +“Most boys say Sire to me,” he observed; “at least +they used to do when there were any boys here. +However, that does not signify. Why, of course +I like you, because I am so tired of being always +a fawn, and you brought Mopsa to break the +spell. You cannot think how disagreeable it is +to have no hands, and to be all covered with +hair. Now look at my hands; I can move them +and turn them everywhere, even over my head +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +if I like. Hoofs are good for nothing in comparison; +and we could not talk.”</p> +<p>“Do tell me about it,” said Jack. “How did +you become fawns?”</p> +<p>“I dare not tell you,” said the boy; “and +listen!—I hear Mopsa.”</p> +<p>Jack looked, and certainly Mopsa was coming, +but very strangely, he thought. Mopsa, like all +other fairies, was afraid to whisper a spell with +her eyes open; so a handkerchief was tied across +them, and as she came on she felt her way, +holding by the banisters with one hand, and with +the other, between her finger and thumb, holding +out the silver wand. She felt with her foot for +the edge of the first stair; and Jack heard her +say, “I am much older,—ah! so much older, +now I have got my wand. I can feel sorrow +too, and <i>their</i> sorrow weighs down my heart.”</p> +<p>Mopsa was dressed superbly in a white satin +gown, with a long, long train of crimson velvet +which was glittering with diamonds; it reached +almost from one end of the great gallery to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +other, and had hundreds of fairies to hold it and +keep it in its place. But in her hair were no +jewels, only a little crown made of daisies, and +on her shoulders her robe was fastened with the +little golden image of a boat. These things were +to show the land she had come from and the +vessel she had come in.</p> +<p>So she came slowly, slowly down stairs blindfold, +and muttering to her wand all the time:</p> +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<p>Though the sun shine brightly,</p> +<p>Wand, wand, guide rightly.</p> +</div></div> +<p>So she felt her way down to the great hall. +There the wand turned half round in the hall +toward the great door, and she and Jack and the +other Jack came out into the lawn in front with +all the followers and trainbearers; only the dame +remained behind.</p> +<p>Jack noticed now for the first time that, with +the one exception of the boy-king, all these fairies +were lady-fairies; he also observed that Mopsa, +after the manner of fairy queens, though she +moved slowly and blindfold, was beginning to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +tell a story. This time it did not make him feel +sleepy. It did not begin at the beginning: their +stories never do.</p> +<p>These are the first words he heard, for she +spoke softly and very low, while he walked at +her right hand, and the other Jack on her left:</p> +<p>“And so now I have no wings. But my +thoughts can go up (Jovinian and Roxaletta +could not think). My thoughts are instead of +wings; but they have dropped with me now, as +a lark among the clods of the valley. Wand, do +you bend? Yes, I am following, wand.</p> +<p>“And after that the bird said, ‘I will come +when you call me.’ I never have seen her +moving overhead; perhaps she is out of sight. +Flocks of birds hover over the world, and watch +it high up where the air is thin. There are +zones, but those in the lowest zone are far out +of sight.</p> +<p>“I have not been up there. I have no wings.</p> +<p>“Over the highest of the birds is the place +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +where angels float and gather the children’s souls +as they are set free.</p> +<p>“And so that woman told me,—(Wand, you +bend again, and I will turn at your bending),—that +woman told me how it was: for when the +new king was born, a black fairy with a smiling +face came and sat within the doorway. She had +a spindle, and would always spin. She wanted +to teach them how to spin, but they did not like +her, and they loved to do nothing at all. So +they turned her out.</p> +<p>“But after her came a brown fairy, with a +grave face, and she sat on the black fairy’s stool +and gave them much counsel. They liked that +still less; so they got spindles and spun, for they +said, ‘She will go now, and we shall have the +black fairy again.’ When she did not go they +turned her out also, and after her came a white +fairy, and sat in the same seat. She did nothing +at all, and she said nothing at all; but she had +a sorrowful face, and she looked up. So they +were displeased. They turned her out also; and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +she went and sat by the edge of the lake with +her two sisters.</p> +<p>“And everything prospered over all the land; +till, after shearing-time, the shepherds, because +the king was a child, came to his uncle and +said, ‘Sir, what shall we do with the old wool, +for the new fleeces are in the bales, and there +is no storehouse to put them in?’ So he said, +‘Throw them into the lake.’</p> +<p>“And while they threw them in, a great +flock of finches flew to them, and said, ‘Give +us some of the wool that you do not want; we +should be glad of it to build our nests with.’</p> +<p>“They answered, ‘Go and gather for yourselves; +there is wool on every thorn.’</p> +<p>“Then the black fairy said, ‘They shall be +forgiven this time, because the birds should pick +wool for themselves.’</p> +<p>“So the finches flew away.</p> +<p>“Then the harvest was over, and the reapers +came and said to the child-king’s uncle, ‘Sir, +what shall we do with the new wheat, for the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +old is not half eaten yet, and there is no room +in the granaries?’</p> +<p>“He said, ‘Throw that into the lake also.’</p> +<p>“While they were throwing it in, there came +a great flight of the wood fairies, fairies of passage +from over the sea. They were in the form +of pigeons, and they alighted and prayed them, +‘O, cousins! we are faint with our long flight; +give us some of that corn which you do not +want, that we may peck it and be refreshed.’</p> +<p>“But they said, ‘You may rest on our land, +but our corn is our own. Rest awhile, and go +and get food in your own fields.’</p> +<p>“Then the brown fairy said, ‘They may be +forgiven this once, but yet it is a great unkindness.’</p> +<p>“And as they were going to pour in the last +sackful, there passed a poor mortal beggar, who +had strayed in from the men and women’s world, +and she said, ‘Pray give me some of that wheat, +O fairy people! for I am hungry. I have lost +my way, and there is no money to be earned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +here. Give me some of that wheat, that I may +bake cakes, lest I and my baby should starve.’</p> +<p>“And they said, ‘What is starve? We never +heard that word before, and we cannot wait while +you explain it to us.’</p> +<p>“So they poured it all into the lake; and then +the white fairy said, ‘This cannot be forgiven +them’; and she covered her face with her hands +and wept. Then the black fairy rose and drove +them all before her,—the prince, with his chief +shepherd and his reapers, his courtiers and his +knights; she drove them into the great bed of +reeds, and no one has ever set eyes on them +since. Then the brown fairy went into the palace +where the king’s aunt sat, with all her ladies and +her maids about her, and with the child-king on +her knee.</p> +<p>“It was a very gloomy day.</p> +<p>“She stood in the middle of the hall, and +said, ‘Oh, you cold-hearted and most unkind! +my spell is upon you, and the first ray of sunshine +shall bring it down. Lose your present +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +forms, and be of a more gentle and innocent +race, till a queen of alien birth shall come to +reign over you against her will.’</p> +<p>“As she spoke they crept into corners, and +covered the dame’s head with a veil. And all +that day it was dark and gloomy, and nothing +happened, and all the next day it rained and +rained; and they thrust the dame into a dark +closet, and kept her there for a whole month, +and still not a ray of sunshine came to do them +any damage; but the dame faded and faded in +the dark, and at last they said, ‘She must come +out, or she will die; and we do not believe the +sun will ever shine in our country any more.’ So +they let the poor dame come out; and lo! as +she crept slowly forth under the dome, a piercing +ray of sunlight darted down upon her head, and +in an instant they were all changed into deer, +and the child-king too.</p> +<p>“They are gentle now, and kind; but where +is the prince? where are the fairy knights and +the fairy men?</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span></div> +<p>“Wand! why do you turn?”</p> +<p>Now while Mopsa told her story the wand +continued to bend, and Mopsa, following, was +slowly approaching the foot of a great precipice, +which rose sheer up for more than a hundred +feet. The crowd that followed looked dismayed +at this: they thought the wand must be wrong; +or even if it was right, they could not climb a +precipice.</p> +<p>But still Mopsa walked on blindfold, and the +wand pointed at the rock till it touched it, and +she said, “Who is stopping me?”</p> +<p>They told her, and she called to some of her +ladies to untie the handkerchief. Then Mopsa +looked at the rock, and so did the two Jacks. +There was nothing to be seen but a very tiny +hole. The boy-king thought it led to a bees’ +nest, and Jack thought it was a keyhole, for he +noticed in the rock a slight crack which took +the shape of an arched door.</p> +<p>Mopsa looked earnestly at the hole. “It may +be a keyhole,” she said, “but there is no key.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_XVI__FAILURE' id='CHAPTER_XVI__FAILURE'></a> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.<br /><br />FAILURE.</h2> +</div> +<div class='poem' style='width: 25em'><div class='stanza'> +<p>We are much bound to them that do succeed;</p> +<p class='indent2'>But, in a more pathetic sense, are bound</p> +<p class='indent2'>To such as fail. They all our loss expound;</p> +<p>They comfort us for work that will not speed,</p> +<p>And life—itself a failure. Ay, his deed,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Sweetest in story, who the dusk profound</p> +<p class='indent2'>Of Hades flooded with entrancing sound,</p> +<p>Music’s own tears, was failure. Doth it read</p> +<p>Therefore the worse? Ah, no! so much to dare,</p> +<p class='indent2'>He fronts the regnant Darkness on its throne.—</p> +<p>So much to do; impetuous even there,</p> +<p class='indent2'>He pours out love’s disconsolate sweet moan—</p> +<p>He wins; but few for that his deed recall:</p> +<p>Its power is in the look which costs him all.</p> +</div></div> +<p class='dropcap'><span class='dcap'>At</span> this moment Jack observed that a strange +woman was standing among them, and that +the trainbearing fairies fell back, as if they were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +afraid of her. As no one spoke, he did, and said, +“Good-morning!”</p> +<p>“Good-afternoon!” she answered, correcting +him. “I am the black fairy. Work is a fine +thing. Most people in your country can work.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Jack.</p> +<p>“There are two spades,” continued the fairy +woman, “one for you, and one for your double.”</p> +<p>Jack took one of the spades,—it was small, +and was made of silver; but the other Jack said +with scorn,—</p> +<p>“I shall be a king when I am old enough, and +must I dig like a clown?”</p> +<p>“As you please,” said the black fairy, and +walked away.</p> +<p>Then they all observed that a brown woman +was standing there; and she stepped up and +whispered in the boy-king’s ear. As he listened +his sullen face became good tempered, and at last +he said, in a gentle tone, “Jack, I’m quite ready +to begin if you are.”</p> +<p>“But where are we to dig?” asked Jack.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span></div> +<p>“There,” said a white fairy, stepping up and +setting her foot on the grass just under the little +hole. “Dig down as deep as you can.”</p> +<p>So Mopsa and the crowd stood back, and the +two boys began to dig; and greatly they enjoyed +it, for people can dig so fast in Fairyland.</p> +<p>Very soon the hole was so deep that they had +to jump into it, because they could not reach +the bottom with their spades. “This is very +jolly indeed,” said Jack, when they had dug so +much deeper that they could only see out of the +hole by standing on tiptoe.</p> +<p>“Go on,” said the white fairy; so they dug till +they came to a flat stone, and then she said, “Now +you can stamp. Stamp on the stone, and don’t be +afraid.” So the two Jacks began to stamp, and +in such a little time that she had only half turned +her head round, the flat stone gave way, for there +was a hollow underneath it, and down went the +boys, and utterly disappeared.</p> +<p>Then, while Mopsa and the crowd silently +looked on, the white fairy lightly pushed the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +clods of earth towards the hole with the side of +her foot, and in a very few minutes the hole was +filled in, and that so completely and so neatly, +that when she had spread the turf on it, and +given it a pat with her foot, you could not have +told where it had been. Mopsa said not a word, +for no fairy ever interferes with a stronger +fairy; but she looked on earnestly, and when the +white stranger smiled she was satisfied.</p> +<p>Then the white stranger walked away, and +Mopsa and the fairies sat down on a bank under +some splendid cedar-trees. The beautiful castle +looked fairer than ever in the afternoon sunshine; +a lovely waterfall tumbled with a tinkling noise +near at hand, and the bank was covered with +beautiful wild flowers.</p> +<p>They sat for a long while, and no one spoke: +what they were thinking of is not known, but +sweet Mopsa often sighed.</p> +<p>At last a noise,—a very, very slight noise, as +of the footsteps of people running,—was heard +inside the rock, and then a little quivering was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +seen in the wand. It quivered more and more as +the sound increased. At last that which had +looked like a door began to shake as if some one +was pushing it from within. Then a noise was +distinctly heard as of a key turning in the hole, +and out burst the two Jacks, shouting for joy, +and a whole troop of knights and squires and +serving-men came rushing wildly forth behind +them.</p> +<p>Oh, the joy of that meeting! who shall describe +it? Fairies by dozens came up to kiss the boy-king’s +hand, and Jack shook hands with every +one that could reach him. Then Mopsa proceeded +to the castle between the two Jacks, and the +king’s aunt came out to meet them, and welcomed +her husband with tears of joy; for these +fairies could laugh and cry when they pleased, +and they naturally considered this a great proof +of superiority.</p> +<p>After this a splendid feast was served under the +great dome. The other fairy feasts that Jack had +seen were nothing to it. The prince and his dame +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +sat at one board, but Mopsa sat at the head of the +great table, with the two Jacks, one on each side +of her.</p> +<p>Mopsa was not happy, Jack was sure of that, +for she often sighed; and he thought this strange. +But he did not ask her any questions, and he, with +the boy-king, related their adventures to her: how, +when the stone gave way, they tumbled in and +rolled down a sloping bank till they found themselves +at the entrance of a beautiful cave, which +was all lighted up with torches, and glittering +with stars and crystals of all the colors in the +world. There was a table spread with what +looked like a splendid luncheon in this great cave, +and chairs were set round, but Jack and the boy-king +felt no inclination to eat anything, though +they were hungry, for a whole nation of ants +were creeping up the honey-pots. There were +snails walking about over the table-cloth, and +toads peeping out of some of the dishes.</p> +<p>So they turned away, and, looking for some +other door to lead them farther in, they at last +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +found a very small one,—so small that only one +of them could pass through at a time.</p> +<p>They did not tell Mopsa all that had occurred +on this occasion. It was thus:</p> +<p>The boy-king said, “I shall go in first, of course, +because of my rank.”</p> +<p>“Very well,” said Jack, “I don’t mind. I shall +say to myself that you’ve gone in first to find the +way for me, because you’re my double. Besides, +now I think of it, our Queen always goes last in +a procession; so it’s grand to go last. Pass in, +Jack.”</p> +<p>“No,” answered the other Jack; “now you +have said that I will not. You may go first.”</p> +<p>So they began to quarrel and argue about this, +and it is impossible to say how long they would +have gone on if they had not begun to hear a +terrible and mournful sort of moaning and groaning, +which frightened them both and instantly +made them friends. They took tight hold of one +another’s hand, and again there came by a loud +sighing, and a noise of all sorts of lamentation, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +and it seemed to reach them through the little +door.</p> +<p>Each of the boys would now have been very +glad to go back, but neither liked to speak. At +last Jack thought anything would be less terrible +than listening to those dismal moans, so he suddenly +dashed through the door, and the other +Jack followed.</p> +<p>There was nothing terrible to be seen. They +found themselves in a place like an immensely +long stable; but it was nearly dark, and when +their eyes got used to the dimness, they saw that +it was strewed with quantities of fresh hay, from +which curious things like sticks stuck up in all +directions. What were they?</p> +<p>“They are dry branches of trees,” said the +boy-king.</p> +<p>“They are table-legs turned upside down,” +said Jack: but then the other Jack suddenly perceived +the real nature of the thing, and he +shouted out, “No; they are antlers!”</p> +<p>The moment he said this the moaning ceased, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +hundreds of beautiful antlered heads were lifted +up, and the two boys stood before a splendid +herd of stags; but they had had hardly time to +be sure of this when the beautiful multitude rose +and fled away into the darkness, leaving the two +boys to follow as well as they could.</p> +<p>They were sure they ought to run after the +herd, and they ran and ran, but they soon lost +sight of it, though they heard far on in front +what seemed at first like a pattering of deer’s +feet, but the sound changed from time to time. +It became heavier and louder, and then the clattering +ceased, and it was evidently the tramping +of a great crowd of men. At last they heard +words, very glad and thankful words; people +were crying to one another to make haste, lest +the spell should come upon them again. Then +the two Jacks, still running, came into a grand +hall, which was quite full of knights and all sorts +of fairy men, and there was the boy-king’s uncle, +but he looked very pale. “Unlock the door!” +they cried. “We shall not be safe till we see +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +our new Queen. Unlock the door; we see light +coming through the keyhole.”</p> +<p>The two Jacks came on to the front, and felt +and shook the door. At last the boy-king saw a +little golden key glittering on the floor, just where +the one narrow sunbeam fell that came through +the keyhole; so he snatched it up. It fitted, and +out they all came, as you have been told.</p> +<p>When they had done relating their adventures, +the new Queen’s health was drunk. And then +they drank the health of the boy-king, who stood +up to return thanks, and, as is the fashion there, +he sang a song. Jack thought it the most ridiculous +song he had ever heard; but as everybody +else looked extremely grave, he tried to be grave +too. It was about Cock-Robin and Jenny Wren, +how they made a wedding feast, and how the +wren said she should wear her brown gown, and +the old dog brought a bone to the feast.</p> +<div class='poem' style='width: 25em'><div class='stanza'> +<p>“He had brought them,” he said, “some meat on a bone:</p> +<p>They were welcome to pick it or leave it alone.”</p> +</div></div> +<p>The fairies were very attentive to this song; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +they seemed, if one may judge by their looks, +to think it was rather a serious one. Then they +drank Jack’s health, and afterwards looked at +him as if they expected him to sing too; but as +he did not begin, he presently heard them whispering, +and one asking another, “Do you think +he knows manners?”</p> +<p>So he thought he had better try what he could +do, and he stood up and sang a song that he +had often heard his nurse sing in the nursery at +home.</p> +<div class='poem' style='width: 25em'><div class='stanza'> +<p>One morning, oh! so early, my belovèd, my belovèd,</p> +<p>All the birds were singing blithely, as if never they would cease;</p> +<p>’Twas a thrush sang in my garden, “Hear the story, hear the story!”</p> +<p class='indent10'>And the lark sang, “Give us glory!”</p> +<p class='indent10'>And the dove said, “Give us peace!”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Then I listened, oh! so early, my belovèd, my belovèd,</p> +<p>To that murmur from the woodland of the dove, my dear, the dove;</p> +<p>When the nightingale came after, “Give us fame to sweeten duty!”</p> +<p class='indent10'>When the wren sang, “Give us beauty!”</p> +<p class='indent10'>She made answer, “Give us love!”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span></p> +<p>Sweet is spring, and sweet the morning, my belovèd, my belovèd;</p> +<p>Now for us doth spring, doth morning, wait upon the year’s increase,</p> +<p>And my prayer goes up, “Oh, give us, crowned in youth with marriage glory,</p> +<p class='indent10'>Give for all our life’s dear story,</p> +<p class='indent10'>Give us love, and give us peace!”</p> +</div></div> +<p>“A very good song too,” said the dame, at +the other end of the table; “only you made a +mistake in the first verse. What the dove really +said was, no doubt, ‘Give us peas.’ All kinds +of doves and pigeons are very fond of peas.”</p> +<p>“It isn’t peas, though,” said Jack. However, +the court historian was sent for to write down +the song, and he came with a quill pen, and +wrote it down as the dame said it ought to be.</p> +<p>Now all this time Mopsa sat between the +two Jacks, and she looked very mournful,—she +hardly said a word.</p> +<p>When the feast was over, and everything had +vanished, the musicians came in, for there was +to be dancing; but while they were striking up, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +the white fairy stepped in, and, coming up, whispered +something in Jack’s ear; but he could not +hear what she said, so she repeated it more +slowly, and still he could neither hear nor understand +it.</p> +<p>Mopsa did not seem to like the white fairy; +she leaned her face on her hand and sighed; +but when she found that Jack could not hear +the message, she said, “That is well. Cannot +you let things alone for this one day?” The +fairy then spoke to Mopsa, but she would not +listen; she made a gesture of dislike and moved +away. So then this strange fairy turned and +went out again, but on the door-step she looked +round, and beckoned to Jack to come to her. +So he did; and then, as they two stood together +outside, she made him understand what she had +said. It was this:</p> +<p>“Her name was Jenny, her name was Jenny.”</p> +<p>When Jack understood what she said he felt so +sorrowful; he wondered why she had told him, +and he longed to stay in that great place with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +Queen Mopsa,—his own little Mopsa, whom +he had carried in his pocket, and taken care of, +and loved.</p> +<p>He walked up and down, up and down, outside, +and his heart swelled and his eyes filled with +tears. The bells had said he was to go home, and +the fairy had told him how to go. Mopsa did not +need him, she had so many people to take care +of her; and then there was that boy, so exactly +like himself that she would not miss him. Oh, +how sorrowful it all was! Had he really come +up the fairy river, and seen those strange countries, +and run away with Mopsa over those dangerous +mountains, only to bring her to the very place she +wished to fly from, and there to leave her, knowing +that she wanted him no more, and that she +was quite content?</p> +<p>No; Jack felt that he could not do that. “I +will stay,” he said; “they cannot make me leave +her. That would be too unkind.”</p> +<p>As he spoke, he drew near to the great yawning +door, and looked in. The fairy folk were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +singing inside; he could hear their pretty chirping +voices, and see their beautiful faces, but he +could not bear it, and he turned away.</p> +<p>The sun began to get low, and all the west was +dyed with crimson. Jack dried his eyes, and, not +liking to go in, took one turn more.</p> +<p>“I will go in,” he said; “there is nothing to +prevent me.” He set his foot on the step of the +door, and while he hesitated Mopsa came out to +meet him.</p> +<p>“Jack,” she said, in a sweet mournful tone of +voice. But he could not make any answer; he +only looked at her earnestly, because her lovely +eyes were not looking at him, but far away +towards the west.</p> +<p>“He lives there,” she said, as if speaking to +herself. “He will play there again, in his father’s +garden.”</p> +<p>Then she brought her eyes down slowly from +the rose-flush in the cloud, and looked at him and +said, “Jack.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span></div> +<p>“Yes,” said Jack; “I am here. What is it +that you wish to say?”</p> +<p>She answered, “I am come to give you back +your kiss.”</p> +<p>So she stooped forward as she stood on the +step, and kissed him, and her tears fell on his +cheek.</p> +<p>“Farewell!” she said, and she turned and went +up the steps and into the great hall; and while +Jack gazed at her as she entered, and would +fain have followed, but could not stir, the great +doors closed together again, and he was left +outside.</p> +<p>Then he knew, without having been told, that +he should never enter them any more. He stood +gazing at the castle; but it was still,—no more +fairy music sounded.</p> +<p>How beautiful it looked in the evening sunshine, +and how Jack cried!</p> +<div class='figcenter'> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_9' id='linki_9'></a> +</div> +<img src='images/i007.jpg' alt='' title='' width='392' height='600' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +THE QUEEN’S FAREWELL.<br /> +<br /> +“She stooped forward as she stood on the step, and kissed him.”—<span class='smcap'><a href='#page_234'>Page 234</a>.</span><br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>Suddenly he perceived that reeds were growing +up between him and the great doors: the grass, +which had all day grown about the steps, was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +getting taller; it had long spear-like leaves, it +pushed up long pipes of green stem, and they +whistled.</p> +<p>They were up to his ankles, they were presently +up to his waist; soon they were as high as his +head. He drew back that he might see over them; +they sprang up faster as he retired, and again he +went back. It seemed to him that the castle also +receded; there was a long reach of these great +reeds between it and him, and now they were +growing behind also, and on all sides of him. He +kept moving back and back: it was of no use, +they sprang up and grew yet more tall, till very +shortly the last glimpse of the fairy castle was +hidden from his sorrowful eyes.</p> +<p>The sun was just touching the tops of the +purple mountains when Jack lost sight of Mopsa’s +home; but he remembered how he had penetrated +the bed of reeds in the morning, and he +hoped to have the same good fortune again. So +on and on he walked, pressing his way among +them as well as he could, till the sun went down +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +behind the mountains, and the rosy sky turned +gold color, and the gold began to burn itself +away, and then all on a sudden he came to the +edge of the reed-bed, and walked out upon a +rising ground.</p> +<p>Jack ran up it, looking for the castle. He +could not see it, so he climbed a far higher hill; +still he could not see it. At last, after a toilsome +ascent to the very top of the green mountain, +he saw the castle lying so far, so very far off, +that its peaks and its battlements were on the +edge of the horizon, and the evening mist rose +while he was gazing, so that all its outlines +were lost, and very soon they seemed to mingle +with the shapes of the hill and the forest, till +they had utterly vanished away.</p> +<p>Then he threw himself down on the short +grass. The words of the white fairy sounded in +his ears, “Her name was Jenny”; and he burst +into tears again, and decided to go home.</p> +<p>He looked up into the rosy sky, and held out +his arms, and called, “Jenny! O Jenny! come.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span></div> +<p>In a minute or two he saw a little black mark +overhead, a small speck, and it grew larger, and +larger, and larger still, as it fell headlong down +like a stone. In another instant he saw a red +light and a green light, then he heard the winnowing +noise of the bird’s great wings, and she +alighted at his feet, and said, “Here I am.”</p> +<p>“I wish to go home,” said Jack, hanging +down his head and speaking in a low voice, for +his heart was heavy because of his failure.</p> +<p>“That is well,” answered the bird. She took +Jack on her back, and in three minutes they +were floating among the clouds.</p> +<p>As Jack’s feet were lifted up from Fairyland +he felt a little consoled. He began to have a +curious feeling, as if this had all happened a +good while ago, and then half the sorrow he +had felt faded into wonder, and the feeling still +grew upon him that these things had passed some +great while since, so that he repeated to himself, +“It was a long time ago.”</p> +<p>Then he fell asleep, and did not dream at all, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +nor know anything more till the bird woke +him.</p> +<p>“Wake up now, Jack,” she said; “we are at +home.”</p> +<p>“So soon!” said Jack, rubbing his eyes. “But +it is evening; I thought it would be morning.”</p> +<p>“Fairy time is always six hours in advance +of your time,” said the bird. “I see glowworms +down in the hedge, and the moon is just rising.”</p> +<p>They were falling so fast that Jack dared not +look; but he saw the church, and the wood, +and his father’s house, which seemed to be +starting up to meet him. In two seconds more +the bird alighted, and he stepped down from her +back into the deep grass of his father’s meadow.</p> +<p>“Good-by!” she said; “make haste and run +in, for the dews are falling”; and before he +could ask her one question, or even thank her, +she made a wide sweep over the grass, beat +her magnificent wings, and soared away.</p> +<p>It was all very extraordinary, and Jack felt +shy and ashamed; but he knew he must go +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +home, so he opened the little gate that led into +the garden, and stole through the shrubbery, +hoping that his footsteps would not be heard.</p> +<p>Then he came out on the lawn, where the +flower-beds were, and he observed that the +drawing-room window was open, so he came +softly towards it and peeped in.</p> +<p>His father and mother were sitting there. Jack +was delighted to see them, but he did not say +a word, and he wondered whether they would +be surprised at his having stayed away so long. +The bird had said that they would not.</p> +<p>He drew a little nearer. His mother sat with +her back to the open window, but a candle was +burning, and she was reading aloud. Jack listened +as she read, and knew that this was not in +the least like anything that he had seen in Fairyland, +nor the reading like anything that he had +heard, and he began to forget the boy-king, and +the apple-woman, and even his little Mopsa, more +and more.</p> +<p>At last his father noticed him. He did not look +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +at all surprised, but just beckoned to him with +his finger to come in. So Jack did, and got upon +his father’s knee, where he curled himself up comfortably, +laid his head on his father’s waistcoat, +and wondered what he would think if he should +be told about the fairies in somebody else’s waistcoat +pocket. He thought, besides, what a great +thing a man was; he had never seen anything so +large in Fairyland, nor so important; so, on the +whole, he was glad he had come back, and felt +very comfortable. Then his mother, turning over +the leaf, lifted up her eyes and looked at Jack, +but not as if she was in the least surprised, or +more glad to see him than usual; but she smoothed +the leaf with her hand, and began again to +read, and this time it was about the Shepherd +Lady:—</p> +<div class='poem' style='font-style: italic'><div class='stanza'> +<p class='center'>I.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Who pipes upon the long green hill,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Where meadow grass is deep?</p> +<p>The white lamb bleats but followeth on—</p> +<p class='indent2'>Follow the clean white sheep.</p> +<p>The dear white lady in yon high tower,</p> +<p class='indent2'>She hearkeneth in her sleep.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span></p> +<p>All in long grass the piper stands,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Goodly and grave is he;</p> +<p>Outside the tower, at dawn of day,</p> +<p class='indent2'>The notes of his pipe ring free.</p> +<p>A thought from his heart doth reach to hers:</p> +<p class='indent2'>“Come down, O lady! to me.”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>She lifts her head, she dons her gown:</p> +<p class='indent2'>Ah! the lady is fair;</p> +<p>She ties the girdle on her waist,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And binds her flaxen hair,</p> +<p>And down she stealeth, down and down,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Down the turret stair.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Behold him! With the flock he wons</p> +<p class='indent2'>Along yon grassy lea.</p> +<p>“My shepherd lord, my shepherd love,</p> +<p class='indent2'>What wilt thou, then, with me?</p> +<p>My heart is gone out of my breast,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And followeth on to thee.”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span></p> +<p class='center'>II.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>“The white lambs feed in tender grass:</p> +<p class='indent2'>With them and thee to bide,</p> +<p>How good it were,” she saith at noon;</p> +<p class='indent2'>“Albeit the meads are wide.</p> +<p>Oh! well is me” she saith when day</p> +<p class='indent2'>Draws on to eventide.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Hark! hark! the shepherd’s voice. Oh, sweet!</p> +<p class='indent2'>Her tears drop down like rain.</p> +<p>“Take now this crook, my chosen, my fere</p> +<p class='indent2'>And tend the flock full fain;</p> +<p>Feed them, O lady, and lose not one,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Till I shall come again.”</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Right soft her speech: “My will is thine,</p> +<p class='indent2'>And my reward thy grace!”</p> +<p>Gone are his footsteps over the hill,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Withdrawn his goodly face;</p> +<p>The mournful dusk begins to gather,</p> +<p class='indent2'>The daylight wanes apace.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span></p> +<p class='center'>III.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>On sunny slopes, ah! long the lady</p> +<p class='indent2'>Feedeth her flock at noon;</p> +<p>She leads them down to drink at eve</p> +<p class='indent2'>Where the small rivulets croon.</p> +<p>All night her locks are wet with dew,</p> +<p class='indent2'>Her eyes outwatch the moon.</p> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<p>Over the hills her voice is heard,</p> +<p class='indent2'>She sings when light doth wane:</p> +<p>“My longing heart is full of love.</p> +<p class='indent2'>When shall my loss be gain?</p> +<p>My shepherd lord, I see him not,</p> +<p class='indent2'>But he will come again.”</p> +</div></div> +<p>When she had finished, Jack lifted his face +and said, “Mamma!” Then she came to him +and kissed him, and his father said, “I think +it must be time this man of ours was in bed.”</p> +<p>So he looked earnestly at them both, and as +they still asked him no questions, he kissed and +wished them good-night; and his mother said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +there were some strawberries on the sideboard in +the dining-room, and he might have them for his +supper.</p> +<p>So he ran out into the hall, and was delighted +to find all the house just as usual, and after he +had looked about him he went into his own +room, and said his prayers. Then he got into +his little white bed, and comfortably fell asleep.</p> +<p>That’s all.</p> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: 3.21k2 --> +<!-- timestamp: 2010-06-17 18:04:27 -0500 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mopsa the Fairy, by Jean Ingelow + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOPSA THE FAIRY *** + +***** This file should be named 32867-h.htm or 32867-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/8/6/32867/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Katherine Ward, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mopsa the Fairy + +Author: Jean Ingelow + +Release Date: June 18, 2010 [EBook #32867] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOPSA THE FAIRY *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Katherine Ward, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +MOPSA THE FAIRY + +BY JEAN INGELOW + +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Boston +Little, Brown, and Company +1919 + + +Author's Edition. + + + + +DEDICATED TO MY DEAR LITTLE COUSIN JANE HOLLWAY. + + +[Illustration: THE ENCHANTED BAY. + +"Look at those five grand ones with high prows: they were part of the +Spanish Armada."--PAGE 16.] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + CHAP. PAGE + I. Above the Clouds. 1 + II. Captain Jack. 14 + III. Winding-Up Time. 23 + IV. Bees and Other Fellow-Creatures. 42 + V. The Parrot in His Shawl. 60 + VI. The Town With Nobody in It. 80 + VII. Half-A-Crown. 91 + VIII. A Story. 106 + IX. After The Party. 121 + X. Mopsa Learns Her Letters. 133 + XI. Good-Morning, Sister. 146 + XII. They Run Away From Old Mother Fate. 158 + XIII. Melon Seeds. 174 + XIV. Reeds and Rushes. 187 + XV. The Queen's Wand. 199 + XVI. Failure. 219 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + The Enchanted Bay. Frontispiece + Jack's New Friend. 82 + Jack's Slave. 98 + A Story. 107 + The Queen. 114 + The Apple Woman. 156 + They Run Away From Old Mother Fate. 162 + The Queen's Farewell. 234 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ABOVE THE CLOUDS. + + "And can this be my own world? + 'Tis all gold and snow, + Save where scarlet waves are hurled + Down yon gulf below." + "'Tis thy world, 'tis my world, + City, mead, and shore, + For he that hath his own world + Hath many worlds more." + + +A boy, whom I knew very well, was once going through a meadow, which +was full of buttercups. The nurse and his baby sister were with him; +and when they got to an old hawthorn, which grew in the hedge and was +covered with blossom, they all sat down in its shade, and the nurse +took out three slices of plum-cake, gave one to each of the children, +and kept one for herself. + +While the boy was eating, he observed that this hedge was very high +and thick, and that there was a great hollow in the trunk of the old +thorn-tree, and he heard a twittering, as if there was a nest +somewhere inside; so he thrust his head in, twisted himself round, and +looked up. + +It was a very great thorn-tree, and the hollow was so large that two +or three boys could have stood upright in it; and when he got used to +the dim light in that brown, still place, he saw that a good way above +his head there was a nest,--rather a curious one, too, for it was as +large as a pair of blackbirds would have built,--and yet it was made +of fine white wool and delicate bits of moss; in short, it was like a +goldfinch's nest magnified three times. + +Just then he thought he heard some little voices cry, "Jack! Jack!" +His baby sister was asleep, and the nurse was reading a story-book, so +it could not have been either of them who called. "I must get in +here," said the boy. "I wish this hole was larger." So he began to +wriggle and twist himself through, and just as he pulled in his last +foot, he looked up, and three heads which had been peeping over the +edge of the nest suddenly popped down again. + +"Those heads had no beaks, I am sure," said Jack, and he stood on +tiptoe and poked in one of his fingers. "And the things have no +feathers," he continued; so, the hollow being rather rugged, he +managed to climb up and look in. + +His eyes were not used yet to the dim light; but he was sure those +things were not birds,--no. He poked them, and they took no notice; +but when he snatched one of them out of the nest, it gave a loud +squeak, and said, "O don't, Jack!" as plainly as possible, upon which +he was so frightened that he lost his footing, dropped the thing, and +slipped down himself. Luckily, he was not hurt, nor the thing either; +he could see it quite plainly now: it was creeping about like rather +an old baby, and had on a little frock and pinafore. + +"It's a fairy!" exclaimed Jack to himself. "How curious! and this must +be a fairy's nest. Oh, how angry the old mother will be if this little +thing creeps away and gets out of the hole!" So he looked down. "Oh, +the hole is on the other side," he said; and he turned round, but the +hole was not on the other side; it was not on any side; it must have +closed up all on a sudden, while he was looking into the nest, for, +look whichever way he would, there was no hole at all, excepting a +very little one high up over the nest, which let in a very small +sunbeam. + +Jack was very much astonished, but he went on eating his cake, and was +so delighted to see the young fairy climb up the side of the hollow +and scramble again into her nest, that he laughed heartily; upon which +all the nestlings popped up their heads, and, showing their pretty +white teeth, pointed at the slice of cake. + +"Well," said Jack, "I may have to stay inside here for a long time, +and I have nothing to eat but this cake; however, your mouths are very +small, so you shall have a piece;" and he broke off a small piece, and +put it into the nest, climbing up to see them eat it. + +These young fairies were a long time dividing and munching the cake, +and before they had finished, it began to be rather dark, for a black +cloud came over and covered the little sunbeam. At the same time the +wind rose, and rocked the boughs, and made the old tree creak and +tremble. Then there was thunder and rain, and the little fairies were +so frightened that they got out of the nest and crept into Jack's +pockets. One got into each waistcoat pocket, and the other two were +very comfortable, for he took out his handkerchief and made room for +them in the pocket of his jacket. + +It got darker and darker, till at last Jack could only just see the +hole, and it seemed to be a very long way off. Every time he looked at +it, it was farther off, and at last he saw a thin crescent moon +shining through it. + +"I am sure it cannot be night yet," he said; and he took out one of +the fattest of the young fairies, and held it up towards the hole. + +"Look at that," said he; "what is to be done now? the hole is so far +off that it's night up there, and down here I haven't done eating my +lunch." + +"Well," answered the young fairy, "then why don't you whistle?" + +Jack was surprised to hear her speak in this sensible manner, and in +the light of the moon he looked at her very attentively. + +"When first I saw you in the nest," said he, "you had a pinafore on, +and now you have a smart little apron, with lace round it." + +"That is because I am much older now," said the fairy; "we never take +such a long time to grow up as you do." + +"But your pinafore?" said Jack. + +"Turned into an apron, of course," replied the fairy, "just as your +velvet jacket will turn into a tail-coat when you are old enough." + +"It won't," said Jack. + +"Yes it will," answered the fairy, with an air of superior wisdom. +"Don't argue with me; I am older now than you are,--nearly grown up, +in fact. Put me into your pocket again, and whistle as loudly as you +can." + +Jack laughed, put her in, and pulled out another. "Worse and worse," +he said; "why, this was a boy fairy, and now he has a mustache and a +sword, and looks as fierce as possible!" + +"I think I heard my sister tell you to whistle?" said this fairy, very +sternly. + +"Yes, she did," said Jack. "Well, I suppose I had better do it." So he +whistled very loudly indeed. + +"Why did you leave off so soon?" said another of them, peeping out. + +"Why, if you wish to know," answered Jack, "it was because I thought +something took hold of my legs." + +"Ridiculous child!" cried the last of the four, "how do you think you +are ever to get out, if she doesn't take hold of your legs?" + +Jack thought he would rather have done a long-division sum than have +been obliged to whistle; but he could not help doing it when they told +him, and he felt something take hold of his legs again, and then give +him a jerk, which hoisted him on to its back, where he sat astride, +and wondered whether the thing was a pony; but it was not, for he +presently observed that it had a very slender neck, and then that it +was covered with feathers. It was a large bird, and he presently found +that they were rising towards the hole, which had become so very far +off, and in a few minutes she dashed through the hole, with Jack on +her back and all the fairies in his pockets. + +It was so dark that he could see nothing, and he twined his arms round +the bird's neck, to hold on, upon which this agreeable fowl told him +not to be afraid, and said she hoped he was comfortable. + +"I should be more comfortable," replied Jack, "if I knew how I could +get home again. I don't wish to go home just yet, for I want to see +where we are flying to, but papa and mamma will be frightened if I +never do." + +"Oh no," replied the albatross (for she was an albatross), "you need +not be at all afraid about that. When boys go to Fairyland, their +parents never are uneasy about them." + +"Really?" exclaimed Jack. + +"Quite true," replied the albatross. + +"And so we are going to Fairyland?" exclaimed Jack; "how delightful!" + +"Yes," said the albatross; "the back way, mind; we are only going the +back way. You could go in two minutes by the usual route; but these +young fairies want to go before they are summoned, and therefore you +and I are taking them." And she continued to fly on in the dark sky +for a very long time. + +"They seem to be all fast asleep," said Jack. + +"Perhaps they will sleep till we come to the wonderful river," +replied the albatross; and just then she flew with a great bump +against something that met her in the air. + +"What craft is this that hangs out no light?" said a gruff voice. + +"I might ask the same question of you," answered the albatross, +sullenly. + +"I'm only a poor Will-o'-the-wisp," replied the voice, "and you know +very well that I have but a lantern to show." Thereupon a lantern +became visible, and Jack saw by the light of it a man, who looked old +and tired, and he was so transparent that you could see through him, +lantern and all. + +"I hope I have not hurt you, William," said the albatross; "I will +light up immediately. Good-night." + +"Good-night," answered the Will-o'-the-wisp. "I am going down as fast +as I can; the storm blew me up, and I am never easy excepting in my +native swamps." + +Jack might have taken more notice of Will, if the albatross had not +begun to light up. She did it in this way. First, one of her eyes +began to gleam with a beautiful green light, which cast its rays far +and near, and then, when it was as bright as a lamp, the other eye +began to shine, and the light of that eye was red. In short, she was +lighted up just like a vessel at sea. + +Jack was so happy that he hardly knew which to look at first, there +really were so many remarkable things. + +"They snore," said the albatross, "they are very fast asleep, and +before they wake I should like to talk to you a little." + +She meant that the fairies snored, and so they did, in Jack's +pockets. + +"My name," continued the albatross, "is Jenny. Do you think you shall +remember that? because, when you are in Fairyland and want some one to +take you home again, and call 'Jenny,' I shall be able to come to you; +and I shall come with pleasure, for I like boys better than fairies." + +"Thank you," said Jack. "Oh yes, I shall remember your name, it is +such a very easy one." + +"If it is in the night that you want me, just look up," continued the +albatross, "and you will see a green and a red spark moving in the +air; you will then call Jenny, and I will come; but remember that I +cannot come unless you do call me." + +"Very well," said Jack; but he was not attending, because there was so +much to be seen. + +In the first place, all the stars excepting a few large ones were +gone, and they looked frightened; and as it got lighter, one after the +other seemed to give a little start in the blue sky and go out. And +then Jack looked down and saw, as he thought, a great country, covered +with very jagged snow mountains with astonishingly sharp peaks. Here +and there he saw a very deep lake,--at least he thought it was a lake; +but while he was admiring the mountains, there came an enormous crack +between two of the largest, and he saw the sun come rolling up among +them, and it seemed to be almost smothered. + +"Why, those are clouds!" exclaimed Jack; "and O how rosy they have all +turned! I thought they were mountains." + +"Yes, they are clouds," said the albatross; and then they turned gold +color; and next they began to plunge and tumble, and every one of the +peaks put on a glittering crown; and next they broke themselves to +pieces, and began to drift away. In fact, Jack had been out all night, +and now it was morning. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +CAPTAIN JACK. + + "It has been our lot to sail with many captains, not one + of whom is fit to be a patch on your back."--_Letter of + the Ship's Company of H. M. S. S. Royalist to Captain W. + T. Bate._ + + +All this time the albatross kept dropping down and down like a stone, +till Jack was quite out of breath, and they fell or flew, whichever +you like to call it, straight through one of the great chasms which he +had thought were lakes, and he looked down, as he sat on the bird's +back, to see what the world is like when you hang a good way above it +at sunrise. + +It was a very beautiful sight; the sheep and lambs were still fast +asleep on the green hills, and the sea-birds were asleep in long rows +upon the ledges of the cliffs, with their heads under their wings. + +"Are those young fairies awake yet?" asked the albatross. + +"As sound asleep as ever," answered Jack; "but, Albatross, is not that +the sea which lies under us? You are a sea-bird, I know, but I am not +a sea boy, and I cannot live in the water." + +"Yes, that is the sea," answered the albatross. "Don't you observe +that it is covered with ships?" + +"I see boats and vessels," answered Jack, "and all their sails are +set, but they cannot sail, because there is no wind." + +"The wind never does blow in this great bay," said the bird; "and +those ships would all lie there becalmed till they dropped to pieces +if one of them was not wanted now and then to go up the wonderful +river." + +"But how did they come there?" asked Jack. + +"Some of them had captains who ill-used their cabin-boys, some were +pirate ships, and others were going out on evil errands. The +consequence was, that when they chanced to sail within this great bay +they got becalmed; the fairies came and picked all the sailors out and +threw them into the water; they then took away the flags and pennons +to make their best coats of, threw the ship-biscuits and other +provisions to the fishes, and set all the sails. Many ships which are +supposed by men to have foundered lie becalmed in this quiet sea. Look +at those five grand ones with high prows; they are moored close +together; they were part of the Spanish Armada: and those open boats +with blue sails belonged to the Romans; they sailed with Caesar when he +invaded Britain." + +By this time the albatross was hovering about among the vessels, +making choice of one to take Jack and the fairies up the wonderful +river. + +"It must not be a large one," she said, "for the river in some places +is very shallow." + +Jack would have liked very much to have a fine three-master, all to +himself; but then he considered that he did not know anything about +sails and rigging; he thought it would be just as well to be +contented with whatever the albatross might choose, so he let her set +him down in a beautiful little open boat, with a great carved +figure-head to it. There he seated himself in great state, and the +albatross perched herself on the next bench, and faced him. + +"You remember my name?" asked the albatross. + +"Oh yes," said Jack; but he was not attending,--he was thinking what a +fine thing it was to have such a curious boat all to himself. + +"That's well," answered the bird; "then, in the next place, are those +fairies awake yet?" + +"No, they are not," said Jack; and he took them out of his pockets, +and laid them down in a row before the albatross. + +"They are certainly asleep," said the bird. "Put them away again, and +take great care of them. Mind you don't lose any of them, for I really +don't know what will happen if you do. Now I have one thing more to +say to you, and that is, are you hungry?" + +"Rather," said Jack. + +"Then," replied the albatross, "as soon as you feel _very_ hungry, lie +down in the bottom of the boat and go to sleep. You will dream that +you see before you a roasted fowl, some new potatoes, and an +apple-pie. Mind you don't eat too much in your dream, or you will be +sorry for it when you wake. That is all. Good-by! I must go." + +Jack put his arms round the neck of the bird, and hugged her; then she +spread her magnificent wings and sailed slowly away. At first he felt +very lonely, but in a few minutes he forgot that, because the little +boat began to swim so fast. + +She was not sailing, for she had no sail, and he was not rowing, for +he had no oars; so I am obliged to call her motion swimming, because I +don't know of a better word. In less than a quarter of an hour they +passed close under the bows of a splendid three-decker, a seventy-gun +ship. The gannets who live in those parts had taken possession of +her, and she was so covered with nests that you could not have walked +one step on her deck without treading on them. The father birds were +aloft in the rigging, or swimming in the warm, green sea, and they +made such a clamor when they saw Jack that they nearly woke the +fairies,--nearly, but not quite, for the little things turned round in +Jack's pockets, and sneezed, and began to snore again. + +Then the boat swam past a fine brig. Some sea fairies had just flung +her cargo overboard, and were playing at leap-frog on deck. These were +not at all like Jack's own fairies; they were about the same height +and size as himself, and they had brown faces, and red flannel shirts +and red caps on. A large fleet of the pearly nautilus was collected +close under the vessel's lee. The little creatures were feasting on +what the sea fairies had thrown overboard, and Jack's boat, in its +eagerness to get on, went plunging through them so roughly that +several were capsized. Upon this the brown sea fairies looked over, +and called out angrily, "Boat ahoy!" and the boat stopped. + +"Tell that boat of yours to mind what she is about," said the fairy +sea-captain to Jack. + +Jack touched his hat, and said, "Yes, sir," and then called out to his +boat, "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, running down these little +live fishing-vessels so carelessly. Go at a more gentle pace." + +So it swam more slowly; and Jack, being by this time hungry, curled +himself up in the bottom of the boat, and fell asleep. + +He dreamt directly about a fowl and some potatoes, and he ate a wing, +and then he ate a merry-thought, and then somebody said to him that he +had better not eat any more, but he did,--he ate another wing; and +presently an apple-pie came, and he ate some of that, and then he ate +some more, and then he immediately woke. + +"Now that bird told me not to eat too much," said Jack, "and yet I +have done it. I never felt so full in my life;" and for more than +half an hour he scarcely noticed anything. + +At last he lifted up his head, and saw straight before him two great +brown cliffs, and between them flowed in the wonderful river. Other +rivers flow out, but this river flowed in, and took with it far into +the land dolphins, sword-fish, mullet, sun-fish, and many other +strange creatures; and that is one reason why it was called the magic +river, or the wonderful river. + +At first it was rather wide, and Jack was alarmed to see what +multitudes of soldiers stood on either side to guard the banks, and +prevent any person from landing. + +He wondered how he should get the fairies on shore. However, in about +an hour the river became much narrower, and then Jack saw that the +guards were not real soldiers, but rose-colored flamingoes. There they +stood, in long regiments, among the reeds, and never stirred. They are +the only foot-soldiers the fairies have in their pay; they are very +fierce, and never allow anything but a fairy ship to come up the +river. + +They guarded the banks for miles and miles, many thousands of them, +standing a little way into the water among the flags and rushes; but +at last there were no more reeds and no soldier guards, for the stream +became narrower, and flowed between such steep rocks that no one could +possibly have climbed them. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +WINDING-UP TIME. + + "Wake, baillie, wake! the crafts are out; + Wake!" said the knight, "be quick! + For high street, bye street, over the town + They fight with poker and stick." + Said the squire, "A fight so fell was ne'er + In all thy bailliewick." + What said the old clock in the tower? + "Tick, tick, tick!" + + "Wake, daughter, wake! the hour draws on; + Wake!" quoth the dame, "be quick! + The meats are set, the guests are coming, + The fiddler waxing his stick." + She said, "The bridegroom waiting and waiting + To see thy face is sick." + What said the new clock in her bower? + "Tick, tick, tick!" + + +Jack looked at these hot, brown rocks, first on the left bank and then +on the right, till he was quite tired; but at last the shore on the +right bank became flat, and he saw a beautiful little bay, where the +water was still, and where grass grew down to the brink. + +He was so much pleased at this change, that he cried out hastily, "Oh +how I wish my boat would swim into that bay and let me land!" He had +no sooner spoken than the boat altered her course, as if somebody had +been steering her, and began to make for the bay as fast as she could +go. + +"How odd!" thought Jack. "I wonder whether I ought to have spoken; for +the boat certainly did not intend to come into this bay. However, I +think I will let her alone now, for I certainly do wish very much to +land here." + +As they drew towards the strand, the water got so shallow that you +could see crabs and lobsters walking about at the bottom. At last the +boat's keel grated on the pebbles; and just as Jack began to think of +jumping on shore, he saw two little old women approaching, and gently +driving a white horse before them. + +The horse had panniers, one on each side; and when his feet were in +the water he stood still; and Jack said to one of the old women,--"Will +you be so kind as to tell me whether this is Fairyland?" + +"What does he say?" asked one old woman of the other. + +"I asked if this was Fairyland?" repeated Jack, for he thought the +first old woman might have been deaf. She was very handsomely +dressed in a red satin gown, and did not look in the least like a +washer-woman, though it afterwards appeared that she was one. + +"He says, 'Is this Fairyland?'" she replied; and the other, who had a +blue satin cloak, answered, "Oh, does he?" and then they began to +empty the panniers of many small blue, and pink, and scarlet shirts, +and coats, and stockings; and when they had made them into two little +heaps they knelt down and began to wash them in the river, taking no +notice of him whatever. + +Jack stared at them. They were not much taller than himself, and they +were not taking the slightest care of their handsome clothes; then he +looked at the old white horse, who was hanging his head over the +lovely clear water with a very discontented air. + +At last the blue washer-woman said, "I shall leave off now; I've got a +pain in my works." + +"Do," said the other. "We'll go home and have a cup of tea." Then she +glanced at Jack, who was still sitting in the boat, and said, "Can you +strike?" + +"I can if I choose," replied Jack, a little astonished at this speech. +And the red and blue washer-women wrung out the clothes, put them +again into the panniers, and taking the old horse by the bridle, began +gently to lead him away. + +"I have a great mind to land," thought Jack. "I should not wonder at +all if this is Fairyland. So as the boat came here to please me, I +shall ask it to stay where it is, in case I should want it again." + +So he sprang ashore, and said to the boat, "Stay just where you are, +will you?" and he ran after the old women, calling to them,-- + +"Is there any law to prevent my coming into your country?" + +"Wo!" cried the red-coated old woman, and the horse stopped, while the +blue-coated woman repeated, "Any law? No, not that I know of; but if +you are a stranger here you had better look out." + +"Why?" asked Jack. + +"You don't suppose, do you," she answered, "that our Queen will wind +up strangers?" + +While Jack was wondering what she meant, the other said,-- + +"I shouldn't wonder if he goes eight days. Gee!" and the horse went +on. + +"No, wo!" said the other. + +"No, no. Gee! I tell you," cried the first. + +Upon this, to Jack's intense astonishment, the old horse stopped, and +said, speaking through his nose,-- + +"Now, then, which is it to be? I'm willing to gee, and I'm agreeable +to wo; but what's a fellow to do when you say them both together?" + +"Why, he talks!" exclaimed Jack. + +"It's because he's got a cold in his head," observed one of the +washer-women; "he always talks when he's got a cold, and there's no +pleasing him; whatever you say, he's not satisfied. Gee, Boney, do!" + +"Gee it is, then," said the horse, and began to jog on. + +"He spoke again!" said Jack, upon which the horse laughed, and Jack +was quite alarmed. + +"It appears that your horses don't talk?" observed the blue-coated +woman. + +"Never," answered Jack; "they can't." + +"You mean they won't," observed the old horse; and though he spoke the +words of mankind, it was not in a voice like theirs. Still Jack felt +that his was just the natural tone for a horse, and that it did not +arise only from the length of his nose. "You'll find out some day, +perhaps," he continued, "whether horses can talk or not." + +"Shall I?" said Jack, very earnestly. + +"They'll TELL," proceeded the white horse. "I wouldn't be you when +they tell how you've used them." + +"Have you been ill used?" said Jack, in an anxious tone. + +"Yes, yes, of course he has," one of the women broke in; "but he has +come here to get all right again. This is a very wholesome country for +horses; isn't it, Boney?" + +"Yes," said the horse. + +"Well, then, jog on, there's a dear," continued the old woman. "Why, +you will be young again soon, you know,--young, and gamesome, and +handsome; you'll be quite a colt, by and by, and then we shall set you +free to join your companions in the happy meadows." + +The old horse was so comforted by this kind speech, that he pricked up +his ears and quickened his pace considerably. + +"He was shamefully used," observed one washer-woman. "Look at him, +how lean he is! You can see all his ribs." + +"Yes," said the other, as if apologizing for the poor old horse. "He +gets low-spirited when he thinks of all he has gone through; but he is +a vast deal better already than he was. He used to live in London; his +master always carried a long whip to beat him with, and never spoke +civilly to him." + +"London!" exclaimed Jack; "why that is in my country. How did the +horse get here?" + +"That's no business of yours," answered one of the women. "But I can +tell you he came because he was wanted, which is more than you are." + +"You let him alone," said the horse, in a querulous tone. "I don't +bear any malice." + +"No; he has a good disposition, has Boney," observed the red old +woman. "Pray, are you a boy?" + +"Yes," said Jack. + +"A real boy, that wants no winding up?" inquired the old woman. + +"I don't know what you mean," answered Jack; "but I am a real boy, +certainly." + +"Ah!" she replied. "Well, I thought you were, by the way Boney spoke +to you. How frightened you must be! I wonder what will be done to all +your people for driving, and working, and beating so many beautiful +creatures to death every year that comes? They'll have to pay for it +some day, you may depend." + +Jack was a little alarmed, and answered that he had never been unkind +himself to horses, and he was glad that Boney bore no malice. + +"They worked him, and often drove him about all night in the miserable +streets, and never let him have so much as a canter in a green field," +said one of the women; "but he'll be all right now, only he has to +begin at the wrong end." + +"What do you mean?" said Jack. + +"Why, in this country," answered the old woman, "they begin by being +terribly old and stiff, and they seem miserable and jaded at first, +but by degrees they get young again, as you heard me reminding him." + +"Indeed," said Jack; "and do you like that?" + +"It has nothing to do with me," she answered. "We are only here to +take care of all the creatures that men have ill used. While they are +sick and old, which they are when first they come to us,--after they +are dead, you know,--we take care of them, and gradually bring them up +to be young and happy again." + +"This must be a very nice country to live in, then," said Jack. + +"For horses it is," said the old lady, significantly. + +"Well," said Jack, "it does seem very full of haystacks, certainly, +and all the air smells of fresh grass." + +At this moment they came to a beautiful meadow, and the old horse +stopped, and, turning to the blue-coated woman, said, "Faxa, I think I +could fancy a handful of clover." Upon this Faxa snatched Jack's cap +off his head, and in a very active manner jumped over a little ditch, +and gathering some clover, presently brought it back full, handing it +to the old horse with great civility. + +"You shouldn't be in such a hurry," observed the old horse; "your +weights will be running down some day, if you don't mind." + +"It's all zeal," observed the red-coated woman. + +Just then a little man, dressed like a groom, came running up, out of +breath. "Oh, here you are, Dow!" he exclaimed to the red-coated woman. +"Come along, will you? Lady Betty wants you; it's such a hot day, and +nobody, she says, can fan her so well as you can." + +The red-coated woman, without a word, went off with the groom, and +Jack thought he would go with them, for this Lady Betty could surely +tell him whether the country was called Fairyland, or whether he must +get into his boat and go farther. He did not like either to hear the +way in which Faxa and Dow talked about their works and their weights; +so he asked Faxa to give him his cap, which she did, and he heard a +curious sort of little ticking noise as he came close to her, which +startled him. + +"Oh, this must be Fairyland, I am sure," thought Jack, "for in my +country our pulses beat quite differently from that." + +"Well," said Faxa, rather sharply, "do you find any fault with the way +I go?" + +"No," said Jack, a little ashamed of having listened. "I think you +walk beautifully; your steps are so regular." + +"She's machine-made," observed the old horse, in a melancholy voice, +and with a deep sigh. "In the largest magnifying-glass you'll hardly +find the least fault with her chain. She's not like the goods they +turn out in Clerkenwell." + +Jack was more and more startled, and so glad to get his cap and run +after the groom and Dow to find Lady Betty, that he might be with +ordinary human beings again; but when he got up to them, he found that +Lady Betty was a beautiful brown mare! She was lying in a languid and +rather affected attitude, with a load of fresh hay before her, and +two attendants, one of whom stood holding a parasol over her head, and +the other was fanning her. + +"I'm so glad you are come, my good Dow," said the brown mare. "Don't +you think I am strong enough to-day to set off for the happy +meadows?" + +"Well," said Dow, "I'm afraid not yet; you must remember that it is of +no use your leaving us till you have quite got over the effects of the +fall." + +Just then Lady Betty observed Jack, and said, "Take that boy away; he +reminds me of a jockey." + +The attentive groom instantly started forward, but Jack was too nimble +for him; he ran and ran with all his might, and only wished he had +never left the boat. But still he heard the groom behind him; and in +fact the groom caught him at last, and held him so fast that +struggling was of no use at all. + +"You young rascal!" he exclaimed, as he recovered breath. "How you do +run! It's enough to break your mainspring." + +"What harm did I do?" asked Jack. "I was only looking at the mare." + +"Harm!" exclaimed the groom; "harm indeed! Why, you reminded her of a +jockey. It's enough to hold her back, poor thing!--and we trying so +hard, too, to make her forget what a cruel end she came to in the old +world." + +"You need not hold me so tightly," said Jack, "I shall not run away +again; but," he added, "if this is Fairyland, it is not half such a +nice country as I expected." + +"Fairyland!" exclaimed the groom, stepping back with surprise. "Why, +what made you think of such a thing? This is only one of the border +countries, where things are set right again that people have caused to +go wrong in the world. The world, you know, is what men and women call +their own home." + +"I know," said Jack; "and that's where I came from." Then, as the +groom seemed no longer to be angry, he went on: "And I wish you would +tell me about Lady Betty." + +"She was a beautiful fleet creature, of the racehorse breed," said the +groom; "and she won silver cups for her master, and then they made her +run a steeple-chase, which frightened her, but still she won it; and +then they made her run another, and she cleared some terribly high +hurdles, and many gates and ditches, till she came to an awful one, +and at first she would not take it, but her rider spurred and beat her +till she tried. It was beyond her powers, and she fell and broke both +her forelegs. Then they shot her. After she had died that miserable +death, we had her here, to make her all right again." + +"Is this the only country where you set things right?" asked Jack. + +"Certainly not," answered the groom; "they lie about in all +directions. Why, you might wander for years, and never come to the end +of this one." + +"I am afraid I shall not find the one I am looking for," said Jack, +"if your countries are so large." + +"I don't think our world is much larger than yours," answered the +groom. "But come along: I hear the bell, and we are a good way from +the palace." + +Jack, in fact, heard the violent ringing of a bell at some distance; +and when the groom began to run, he ran beside him, for he thought he +should like to see the palace. As they ran, people gathered from all +sides,--fields, cottages, mills,--till at last there was a little +crowd, among whom Jack saw Dow and Faxa, and they were all making for +a large house, the wide door of which was standing open. Jack stood +with the crowd, and peeped in. There was a woman sitting inside upon a +rocking-chair,--a tall, large woman, with a gold-colored gown on,--and +beside her stood a table, covered with things that looked like keys. + +"What is that woman doing?" said he to Faxa, who was standing close to +him. + +"Winding us up, to be sure," answered Faxa. "You don't suppose, +surely, that we can go forever?" + +"Extraordinary!" said Jack. "Then are you wound up every evening, like +watches?" + +"Unless we have misbehaved ourselves," she answered; "and then she +lets us run down." + +"And what then?" + +"What then?" repeated Faxa, "why, then we have to stop and stand +against a wall, till she is pleased to forgive us, and let our friends +carry us in to be set going again." + +Jack looked in, and saw the people pass in and stand close by the +woman. One after the other she took by the chin with her left hand, +and with her right hand found a key that pleased her. It seemed to +Jack that there was a tiny key-hole in the back of their heads, and +that she put the key in and wound them up. + +"You must take your turn with the others," said the groom. + +"There's no key-hole in my head," said Jack; "besides, I do not want +any woman to wind me up." + +"But you must do as others do," he persisted; "and if you have no +key-hole, our Queen can easily have one made, I should think." + +"Make one in my head!" exclaimed Jack. "She shall do no such thing." + +"We shall see," said Faxa, quietly. And Jack was so frightened that he +set off, and ran back towards the river with all his might. Many of +the people called to him to stop, but they could not run after him, +because they wanted winding up. However, they would certainly have +caught him if he had not been very quick, for before he got to the +river he heard behind him the footsteps of those who had been first +attended to by the Queen, and he had only just time to spring into the +boat when they reached the edge of the water. + +No sooner was he on board than the boat swung round, and got out again +into the middle of the stream; but he could not feel safe till not +only was there a long reach of water between him and the shore, but +till he had gone so far down the river that the beautiful bay had +passed out of sight, and the sun was going down. By this time he began +to feel very tired and sleepy; so, having looked at his fairies, and +found that they were all safe and fast asleep, he laid down in the +bottom of the boat, and fell into a doze, and then into a dream. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +BEES AND OTHER FELLOW-CREATURES. + + The dove laid some little sticks, + Then began to coo; + The gnat took his trumpet up + To play the day through; + The pie chattered soft and long-- + But that she always does; + The bee did all he had to do, + And only said, "Buzz." + + +When Jack at length opened his eyes, he found that it was night, for +the full moon was shining; but it was not at all a dark night, for he +could see distinctly some black birds, that looked like ravens. They +were sitting in a row on the edge of the boat. + +Now that he had fairies in his pockets, he could understand +bird-talk, and he heard one of these ravens saying, "There is no meat +so tender; I wish I could pick their little eyes out." + +"Yes," said another, "fairies are delicate eating indeed. We must +speak Jack fair if we want to get at them." And she heaved up a deep +sigh. + +Jack lay still, and thought he had better pretend to be asleep; but +they soon noticed that his eyes were open, and one of them presently +walked up his leg and bowed, and asked if he was hungry. + +Jack said, "No." + +"No more am I," replied the raven; "not at all hungry." Then she +hopped off his leg, and Jack sat up. + +"And how are the sweet fairies that my young master is taking to their +home?" asked another of the ravens. "I hope they are safe in my young +master's pockets?" + +Jack felt in his pockets. Yes, they were all safe; but he did not take +any of them out, lest the ravens should snatch at them. + +"Eh?" continued the raven, pretending to listen; "did this dear young +gentleman say that the fairies were asleep?" + +"It doesn't amuse me to talk about fairies," said Jack; "but if you +would explain some of the things in this country that I cannot make +out, I should be very glad." + +"What things?" asked the blackest of the ravens. + +"Why," said Jack, "I see a full moon lying down there among the +water-flags, and just going to set, and there is a half-moon overhead +plunging among those great gray clouds, and just this moment I saw a +thin crescent moon peeping out between the branches of that tree." + +"Well," said all the ravens at once, "did the young master never see a +crescent moon in the men and women's world?" + +"Oh yes," said Jack. + +"Did he never see a full moon?" asked the ravens. + +"Yes, of course," said Jack; "but they are the same moon. I could +never see all three of them at the same time." + +The ravens were very much surprised at this, and one of them said,-- + +"If my young master did not see the moons it must have been because he +didn't look. Perhaps my young master slept in a room, and had only one +window; if so, he couldn't see all the sky at once." + +"I tell you, Raven," said Jack, laughing, "that I KNOW there is never +more than one moon in my country, and sometimes there is no moon at +all!" + +Upon this all the ravens hung down their heads, and looked very much +ashamed; for there is nothing that birds hate so much as to be laughed +at, and they believed that Jack was saying this to mock them, and that +he knew what they had come for. So first one and then another hopped +to the other end of the boat and flew away, till at last there was +only one left, and she appeared to be out of spirits, and did not +speak again till he spoke to her. + +"Raven," said Jack, "there's something very cold and slippery lying +at the bottom of the boat. I touched it just now, and I don't like it +at all." + +"It's a water-snake," said the raven; and she stooped and picked up a +long thing with her beak, which she threw out, and then looked over. +"The water swarms with them, wicked, murderous creatures; they smell +the young fairies, and they want to eat them." + +Jack was so thrown off his guard that he snatched one fairy out, just +to make sure that it was safe. It was the one with the mustache; and, +alas! in one instant the raven flew at it, got it out of his hand, and +pecked off its head before it had time to wake or Jack to rescue it. +Then, as she slowly rose, she croaked, and said to Jack, "You'll catch +it for this, my young master!" and she flew to the bough of a tree, +where she finished eating the fairy, and threw his little empty coat +into the river. + +On this Jack began to cry bitterly, and to think what a foolish boy he +had been. He was the more sorry because he did not even know that +poor little fellow's name. But he had heard the others calling by name +to their companions, and very grand names they were too. One was +Jovinian,--he was a very fierce-looking gentleman; the other two were +Roxaletta and Mopsa. + +Presently, however, Jack forgot to be unhappy, for two of the moons +went down, and then the sun rose, and he was delighted to find that +however many moons there might be, there was only one sun, even in the +country of the wonderful river. + +So on and on they went; but the river was very wide, and the waves +were boisterous. On the right brink was a thick forest of trees, with +such heavy foliage that a little way off they looked like a bank, +green, and smooth, and steep; but as the light became clearer, Jack +could see here and there the great stems, and see creatures like +foxes, wild boars, and deer, come stealing down to drink in the +river. + +It was very hot here; not at all like the spring weather he had left +behind. And as the low sunbeams shone into Jack's face he said +hastily, without thinking of what would occur, "I wish I might land +among those lovely glades on the left bank." + +No sooner said than the boat began to make for the left bank, and the +nearer they got towards it the more beautiful it became; but also the +more stormy were the reaches of water they had to traverse. + +A lovely country indeed! It sloped gently down to the water's edge, +and beautiful trees were scattered over it, soft, mossy grass grew +everywhere, great old laburnum trees stretched their boughs down in +patches over the water, and higher up camellias, almost as large as +hawthorns, grew together and mingled their red and white flowers. + +The country was not so open as a park,--it was more like a half-cleared +woodland; but there was a wide space just where the boat was steering +for, that had no trees, only a few flowering shrubs. Here groups of +strange-looking people were bustling about, and there were shrill +fifes sounding, and drums. + +Farther back he saw rows of booths or tents under the shade of the +trees. + +In another place some people dressed like gypsies had made fires of +sticks just at the skirts of the woodland, and were boiling their +pots. Some of these had very gaudy tilted carts, hung all over with +goods, such as baskets, brushes, mats, little glasses, pottery, and +beads. + +It seemed to be a kind of fair, to which people had gathered from all +parts; but there was not one house to be seen. All the goods were +either hung upon trees or collected in strange-looking tents. + +The people were not all of the same race; indeed, he thought the only +human beings were the gypsies, for the folks who had tents were no +taller than himself. + +How hot it was that morning! and as the boat pushed itself into a +little creek, and made its way among the beds of yellow and purple +iris which skirted the brink, what a crowd of dragon-flies and large +butterflies rose from them! + +"Stay where you are!" cried Jack to the boat; and at that instant such +a splendid moth rose slowly, that he sprang on shore after it, and +quite forgot the fair and the people in his desire to follow it. + +The moth settled on a great red honey-flower, and he stole up to look +at it. As large as a swallow, it floated on before him. Its wings were +nearly black, and they had spots of gold on them. + +When it rose again Jack ran after it, till he found himself close to +the rows of tents where the brown people stood; and they began to cry +out to him, "What'll you buy? what'll you buy, sir?" and they crowded +about him, so that he soon lost sight of the moth, and forgot +everything else in his surprise at the booths. + +They were full of splendid things,--clocks and musical boxes, strange +china ornaments, embroidered slippers, red caps, and many kinds of +splendid silks and small carpets. In other booths were swords and +dirks, glittering with jewels; and the chatter of the people when they +talked together was not in a language that Jack could understand. + +Some of the booths were square, and evidently made of common canvas, +for when you went into them, and the sun shone, you could distinctly +see the threads. + +But scattered a little farther on in groups were some round tents, +which were far more curious. They were open on all sides, and +consisted only of a thick canopy overhead, which was supported by one +beautiful round pillar in the middle. + +Outside the canopy was white or brownish; but when Jack stood under +these tents, he saw that they were lined with splendid flutings of +brown or pink silk: what looked like silk, at least, for it was +impossible to be sure whether these were real tents or gigantic +mushrooms. + +They varied in size, also, as mushrooms do, and in shape: some were +large enough for twenty people to stand under them, and had flat tops +with a brown lining; others had dome-shaped roofs; these were lined +with pink, and would only shelter six or seven. + +The people who sold in these tents were as strange as their neighbors; +each had a little high cap on his head, in shape just like a beehive, +and it was made of straw, and had a little hole in front. In fact, +Jack very soon saw bees flying in and out, and it was evident that +these people had their honey made on the premises. They were chiefly +selling country produce. They had cheeses so large as to reach to +their waists, and the women trundled them along as boys do their +hoops. They sold a great many kinds of seed, too, in wooden bowls, and +cakes and good things to eat, such as gilt gingerbread. Jack bought +some of this, and found it very nice indeed. But when he took out his +money to pay for it, the little man looked rather strangely at it, and +turned it over with an air of disgust. Then Jack saw him hand it to +his wife, who also seemed to dislike it; and presently Jack observed +that they followed him about, first on one side, then on the other. +At last, the little woman slipped her hand into his pocket, and Jack, +putting his hand in directly, found his sixpence had been returned. + +"Why, you've given me back my money!" he said. + +The little woman put her hands behind her. "I do not like it," she +said; "it's dirty; at least, it's not new." + +"No, it's not new," said Jack, a good deal surprised, "but it is a +good sixpence." + +"The bees don't like it," continued the little woman. "They like +things to be neat and new, and that sixpence is bent." + +"What shall I give you then?" said Jack. + +The good little woman laughed and blushed. "This young gentleman has a +beautiful whistle round his neck," she observed, politely, but did not +ask for it. + +Jack had a dog-whistle, so he took it off and gave it to her. + +"Thank you for the bees," she said. "They love to be called home when +we've collected flowers for them." + +So she made a pretty little courtesy, and went away to her customers. + +There were some very strange creatures also, about the same height as +Jack, who had no tents, and seemed there to buy, not to sell. Yet they +looked poorer than the other folks, and they were also very cross and +discontented; nothing pleased them. Their clothes were made of moss, +and their mantles of feathers; and they talked in a queer whistling +tone of voice, and carried their skinny little children on their backs +and on their shoulders. + +They were treated with great respect by the people in the tents; and +when Jack asked his friend to whom he had given the whistle what they +were, and where they got so much money as they had, she replied that +they lived over the hills, and were afraid to come in their best +clothes. They were rich and powerful at home, and they came shabbily +dressed, and behaved humbly, lest their enemies should envy them. It +was very dangerous, she said, to fairies to be envied. + +Jack wanted to listen to their strange whistling talk, but he could +not for the noise and cheerful chattering of the brown folks, and more +still for the screaming and talking of parrots. + +Among the goods were hundreds of splendid gilt cages, which were hung +by long gold chains from the trees. Each cage contained a parrot and +his mate, and they all seemed to be very unhappy indeed. + +The parrots could talk, and they kept screaming to the discontented +women to buy things for them, and trying very hard to attract +attention. + +One old parrot made himself quite conspicuous by these efforts. He +flung himself against the wires of his cage, he squalled, he screamed, +he knocked the floor with his beak, till Jack and one of the customers +came running up to see what was the matter. + +"What do you make such a fuss for?" cried the discontented woman. +"You've set your cage swinging with knocking yourself about; and what +good does that do? I cannot break the spell and open it for you." + +"I know that," answered the parrot, sobbing; "but it hurts my feelings +so that you should take no notice of me now that I have come down in +the world." + +"Yes," said the parrot's mate, "it hurts our feelings." + +"I haven't forgotten you," answered the woman, more crossly than ever; +"I was buying a measure of maize for you when you began to make such a +noise." + +Jack thought this was the queerest conversation he had ever heard in +his life; and he was still more surprised when the bird answered,-- + +"I would much rather you would buy me a pocket-handkerchief. Here we +are, shut up, without a chance of getting out, and with nobody to pity +us; and we can't even have the comfort of crying, because we've got +nothing to wipe our eyes with." + +"But at least," replied the woman, "you CAN cry now if you please, and +when you had your other face you could not." + +"Buy me a handkerchief," sobbed the parrot. + +"I can't afford both," whined the cross woman, "and I've paid now for +the maize." So saying, she went back to the tent to fetch her present +to the parrots; and as their cage was still swinging Jack put out his +hand to steady it for them, and the instant he did so they became +perfectly silent, and all the other parrots on that tree, who had been +flinging themselves about in their cages, left off screaming, and +became silent too. + +The old parrot looked very cunning. His cage hung by such a long gold +chain that it was just on a level with Jack's face, and so many odd +things had happened that day that it did not seem more odd than usual +to hear him say, in a tone of great astonishment,-- + +"It's a BOY, if ever there was one!" + +"Yes," said Jack; "I'm a boy." + +"You won't go yet, will you?" said the parrot. + +"No, don't," said a great many other parrots. Jack agreed to stay a +little while, upon which they all thanked him. + +"I had no notion you were a boy till you touched my cage," said the +old parrot. + +Jack did not know how this could have told him, so he only answered, +"Indeed!" + +"I'm a fairy," observed the parrot, in a confidential tone. "We are +imprisoned here by our enemies the gypsies." + +"So we are," answered a chorus of other parrots. + +"I'm sorry for that," replied Jack. "I'm friends with the fairies." + +"Don't tell," said the parrot, drawing a film over his eyes, and +pretending to be asleep. At that moment his friend in the moss +petticoat and feather cloak came up with a little measure of maize, +and poured it into the cage. + +"Here, neighbor," she said; "I must say good-by now, for the gypsy is +coming this way, and I want to buy some of her goods." + +"Well, thank you," answered the parrot, sobbing again; "but I could +have wished it had been a pocket-handkerchief." + +"I'll lend you my handkerchief," said Jack. "Here!" And he drew it +out, and pushed it between the wires. + +The parrot and his wife were in a great hurry to get Jack's +handkerchief. They pulled it in very hastily; but instead of using it +they rolled it up into a ball, and the parrot-wife tucked it under her +wing. + +"It makes me tremble all over," said she, "to think of such good +luck." + +"I say," observed the parrot to Jack, "I know all about it now. You've +got some of my people in your pockets,--not of my own tribe, but +fairies." + +By this Jack was sure that the parrot really was a fairy himself, and +he listened to what he had to say the more attentively. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE PARROT IN HIS SHAWL. + + That handkerchief + Did an Egyptian to my mother give; + She was a charmer, and could almost read + The thoughts of people.--_Othello._ + + +"That gypsy woman who is coming with her cart," said the parrot, "is a +fairy too, and very malicious. It was she and others of her tribe who +caught us and put us into these cages, for they are more powerful than +we. Mind you do not let her allure you into the woods, nor wheedle you +or frighten you into giving her any of those fairies." + +"No," said Jack; "I will not." + +"She sold us to the brown people," continued the parrot. "Mind you do +not buy anything of her, for your money in her palm would act as a +charm against you." + +"She has a baby," observed the parrot-wife, scornfully. + +"Yes, a baby," repeated the old parrot; "and I hope by means of that +baby to get her driven away, and perhaps get free myself. I shall try +to put her in a passion. Here she comes." + +There she was indeed, almost close at hand. She had a little cart; her +goods were hung all about it, and a small horse drew it slowly on, and +stopped when she got a customer. + +Several gypsy children were with her, and as the people came running +together over the grass to see her goods, she sang a curious kind of +song, which made them wish to buy them. + +Jack turned from the parrot's cage as she came up. He had heard her +singing a little way off, and now, before she began again, he felt +that already her searching eyes had found him out, and taken notice +that he was different from the other people. + +When she began to sing her selling song, he felt a most curious +sensation. He felt as if there were some cobwebs before his face, and +he put up his hand as if to clear them away. There were no real +cobwebs, of course; and yet he again felt as if they floated from the +gypsy woman to him, like gossamer threads, and attracted him towards +her. So he gazed at her, and she at him, till Jack began to forget how +the parrot had warned him. + +He saw her baby too, wondered whether it was heavy for her to carry, +and wished he could help her. I mean, he saw that she had a baby on +her arm. It was wrapped in a shawl, and had a handkerchief over its +face. She seemed very fond of it, for she kept hushing it; and Jack +softly moved nearer and nearer to the cart, till the gypsy woman +smiled, and suddenly began to sing,-- + + My good man--he's an old, old man + And my good man got a fall, + To buy me a bargain so fast he ran + When he heard the gypsies call: + "Buy, buy brushes, + Baskets wrought o' rushes. + Buy them, buy them, take them, try them, + Buy, dames all." + + My old man, he has money and land, + And a young, young wife am I. + Let him put the penny in my white hand + When he hears the gypsies cry: + "Buy, buy laces, + Veils to screen your faces. + Buy them, buy them, take and try them. + Buy, maids, buy." + +When the gypsy had finished her song, Jack felt as if he was covered +all over with cobwebs; but he could not move away, and he did not mind +them now. All his wish was to please her, and get close to her; so +when she said, in a soft, wheedling voice, "What will you please to +buy, my pretty gentleman?" he was just going to answer that he would +buy anything she recommended, when, to his astonishment and +displeasure, for he thought it very rude, the parrot suddenly burst +into a violent fit of coughing, which made all the customers stare. +"That's to clear my throat," he said, in a most impertinent tone of +voice; and then he began to beat time with his foot, and sing, or +rather scream out, an extremely saucy imitation of the gypsy's song, +and all his parrot friends in the other cages joined in the chorus. + + My fair lady's a dear, dear lady-- + I walked by her side to woo. + In a garden alley, so sweet and shady, + She answered, "I love not you, + John, John Brady," + Quoth my dear lady, + "Pray now, pray now, go your way now, + Do, John, do!" + +At first the gypsy did not seem to know where that mocking song came +from, but when she discovered that it was her prisoner, the old +parrot, who was thus daring to imitate her, she stood silent and +glared at him, and her face was almost white with rage. + +When he came to the end of the verse he pretended to burst into a +violent fit of sobbing and crying, and screeched out to his wife, +"Mate! mate! hand up my handkerchief. Oh! oh! it's so affecting, this +song is." + +Upon this the other parrot pulled Jack's handkerchief from under her +wing, hobbled up, and began, with a great show of zeal, to wipe his +horny beak with it. But this was too much for the gypsy; she took a +large brush from her cart, and flung it at the cage with all her +might. + +This set it violently swinging backwards and forwards, but did not +stop the parrot, who screeched out, "How delightful it is to be +swung!" And then he began to sing another verse in the most impudent +tone possible, and with a voice that seemed to ring through Jack's +head, and almost pierce it:-- + + Yet my fair lady's my own, own lady, + For I passed another day; + While making her moan, she sat all alone, + And thus and thus did she say: + "John, John Brady," + Quoth my dear lady, + "Do now, do now, once more woo now, + Pray, John, pray!" + +"It's beautiful!" screeched the parrot-wife, "and so ap-pro-pri-ate." +Jack was delighted when she managed slowly to say this long word with +her black tongue, and he burst out laughing. In the mean time a good +many of the brown people came running together, attracted by the noise +of the parrots and the rage of the gypsy, who flung at his cage, one +after the other, all the largest things she had in her cart. But +nothing did the parrot any harm; the more violently his cage swung, +the louder he sang, till at last the wicked gypsy seized her poor +little young baby, who was lying in her arms, rushed frantically at +the cage as it flew swiftly through the air towards her, and struck at +it with the little creature's head. "Oh, you cruel, cruel woman!" +cried Jack, and all the small mothers who were standing near with +their skinny children on their shoulders, screamed out with terror and +indignation; but only for one instant, for the handkerchief flew off +that had covered its face, and was caught in the wires of the cage, +and all the people saw that it was not a real baby at all, but a +bundle of clothes, and its head was a turnip. + +Yes, a turnip! You could see that as plainly as possible, for though +the green leaves had been cut off, their stalks were visible through +the lace cap that had been tied on it. + +Upon this all the crowd pressed closer, throwing her baskets, and +brushes, and laces, and beads at the gypsy, and calling out, "We will +have none of your goods, you false woman! Give us back our money, or +we will drive you out of the fair. You've stuck a stick into a turnip, +and dressed it up in baby clothes. You're a cheat! a cheat!" + +"My sweet gentlemen, my kind ladies," began the gypsy; but baskets and +brushes flew at her so fast that she was obliged to sit down on the +grass and hold up the sham baby to screen her face. + +While this was going on, Jack felt that the cobwebs which had seemed +to float about his face were all gone; he did not care at all any more +about the gypsy, and began to watch the parrots with great attention. + +He observed that when the handkerchief stuck between the cage wires, +the parrots caught it, and drew it inside; and then Jack saw the +cunning old bird himself lay it on the floor, fold it crosswise like +a shawl, and put it on his wife. + +Then she jumped upon the perch, and held it with one foot, looking +precisely like an old lady with a parrot's head. Then he folded Jack's +handkerchief in the same way, put it on, and got upon the perch beside +his wife, screaming out, in his most piercing tone,-- + +"I like shawls; they're so becoming." + +Now the gypsy did not care at all what those inferior people thought +of her, and she was calmly counting out their money, to return it; but +she was very desirous to make Jack forget her behavior, and had begun +to smile again, and tell him she had only been joking, when the parrot +spoke, and, looking up, she saw the two birds sitting side by side, +and the parrot-wife was screaming in her mate's ear, though neither of +them was at all deaf,-- + +"If Jack lets her allure him into the woods, he'll never come out +again. She'll hang him up in a cage, as she did us. I say, how does +my shawl fit?" + +So saying, the parrot-wife whisked herself round on the perch, and lo! +in the corner of the handkerchief were seen some curious letters, +marked in red. When the crowd saw these, they drew a little farther +off, and glanced at one another with alarm. + +"You look charming, my dear; it fits well!" screamed the old parrot in +answer. "A word in your ear; 'Share and share alike' is a fine +motto." + +"What do you mean by all this?" said the gypsy, rising, and going with +slow steps to the cage, and speaking cautiously. + +"Jack," said the parrot, "do they ever eat handkerchiefs in your part +of the country?" + +"No, never," answered Jack. + +"Hold your tongue and be reasonable," said the gypsy, trembling. "What +do you want? I'll do it, whatever it is." + +"But do they never pick out the marks?" continued the parrot. "O +Jack! are you sure they never pick out the marks?" + +"The marks?" said Jack, considering. "Yes, perhaps they do." + +"Stop!" cried the gypsy, as the old parrot made a peck at the strange +letters. "Oh! you're hurting me. What do you want? I say again, tell +me what you want, and you shall have it." + +"We want to get out," replied the parrot; "you must undo the spell." + +"Then give me my handkerchief," answered the gypsy, "to bandage my +eyes. I dare not say the words with my eyes open. You had no business +to steal it. It was woven by human hands, so that nobody can see +through it; and if you don't give it to me, you'll never get out,--no, +never!" + +"Then," said the old parrot, tossing his shawl off, "you may have +Jack's handkerchief; it will bandage your eyes just as well. It was +woven over the water, as yours was." + +"It won't do!" cried the gypsy, in terror; "give me my own." + +"I tell you," answered the parrot, "that you shall have Jack's +handkerchief; you can do no harm with that." + +By this time the parrots all around had become perfectly silent, and +none of the people ventured to say a word, for they feared the malice +of the gypsy. She was trembling dreadfully, and her dark eyes, which +had been so bright and piercing, had become dull and almost dim; but +when she found there was no help for it, she said,-- + +"Well, pass out Jack's handkerchief. I will set you free if you will +bring out mine with you." + +"Share and share alike," answered the parrot; "you must let all my +friends out too." + +"Then I won't let you out," answered the gypsy. "You shall come out +first, and give me my handkerchief, or not one of their cages will I +undo. So take your choice." + +"My friends, then," answered the brave old parrot; and he poked +Jack's handkerchief out to her through the wires. + +The wondering crowd stood by to look, and the gypsy bandaged her eyes +tightly with the handkerchief; and then, stooping low, she began to +murmur something and clap her hands--softly at first, but by degrees +more and more violently. The noise was meant to drown the words she +muttered; but as she went on clapping, the bottom of cage after cage +fell clattering down. Out flew the parrots by hundreds, screaming and +congratulating one another; and there was such a deafening din that +not only the sound of her spell, but the clapping of her hands, was +quite lost in it. + +But all this time Jack was very busy; for the moment the gypsy had +tied up her eyes, the old parrot snatched the real handkerchief off +his wife's shoulders, and tied it round her neck. Then she pushed out +her head through the wires, and the old parrot called to Jack, and +said, "Pull!" + +Jack took the ends of the handkerchief, pulled terribly hard, and +stopped. "Go on! go on!" screamed the old parrot. + +"I shall pull her head off," cried Jack. + +"No matter," cried the parrot; "no matter,--only pull." + +Well, Jack did pull, and he actually did pull her head off! nearly +tumbling backward himself as he did it; but he saw what the whole +thing meant then, for there was another head inside,--a fairy's head. + +Jack flung down the old parrot's head and great beak, for he saw that +what he had to do was to clear the fairy of its parrot covering. The +poor little creature seemed nearly dead, it was so terribly squeezed +in the wires. It had a green gown or robe on, with an ermine collar; +and Jack got hold of this dress, stripped the fairy out of the parrot +feathers, and dragged her through,--velvet robe, and crimson girdle, +and little yellow shoes. She was very much exhausted, but a kind brown +woman took her instantly, and laid her in her bosom. She was a +splendid little creature, about half a foot long. + +"There's a brave boy!" cried the parrot. Jack glanced round, and saw +that not all the parrots were free yet, the gypsy was still muttering +her spell. + +He returned the handkerchief to the parrot, who put it round his own +neck, and again Jack pulled. But oh! what a tough old parrot that was, +and how Jack tugged before his cunning head would come off! It did, +however, at last; and just as a fine fairy was pulled through, leaving +his parrot skin and the handkerchief behind him, the gypsy untied her +eyes, and saw what Jack had done. + +"Give me my handkerchief!" she screamed, in despair. + +"It's in the cage, gypsy," answered Jack; "you can get it yourself. +Say your words again." + +But the gypsy's spell would only open places where she had confined +fairies, and no fairies were in the cage now. + +"No, no, no!" she screamed; "too late! Hide me! O good people, hide +me!" + +But it was indeed too late. The parrots had been wheeling in the air, +hundreds and hundreds of them, high above her head; and as she ceased +speaking, she fell shuddering on the ground, drew her cloak over her +face, and down they came, swooping in one immense flock, and settled +so thickly all over her that she was completely covered; from her +shoes to her head not an atom of her was to be seen. + +All the people stood gravely looking on. So did Jack, but he could not +see much for the fluttering of the parrots, nor hear anything for +their screaming voices; but at last he made one of the cross people +hear when he shouted to her, "What are they going to do to the poor +gypsy?" + +"Make her take her other form," she replied; "and then she cannot hurt +us while she stays in our country. She is a fairy, as we have just +found out, and all fairies have two forms." + +"Oh!" said Jack; but he had no time for more questions. + +The screaming and fighting, and tossing about of little bits of cloth +and cotton, ceased; a black lump heaved itself up from the ground +among the parrots; and as they flew aside, an ugly great condor, with +a bare neck, spread out its wings, and, skimming the ground, sailed +slowly away. + +"They have pecked her so that she can hardly rise," exclaimed the +parrot fairy. "Set me on your shoulder, Jack, and let me see the end +of it." + +Jack set him there; and his little wife, who had recovered herself, +sprang from her friend the brown woman, and sat on the other shoulder. +He then ran on,--the tribe of brown people and mushroom people, and +the feather-coated folks running too,--after the great black bird, who +skimmed slowly on before them till she got to the gypsy carts, when +out rushed the gypsies, armed with poles, milking-stools, spades, and +everything they could get hold of to beat back the people and the +parrots from hunting their relation, who had folded her tired wings, +and was skulking under a cart, with ruffled feathers and a scowling +eye. + +Jack was so frightened at the violent way in which the gypsies and the +other tribes were knocking each other about, that he ran off, thinking +he had seen enough of such a dangerous country. + +As he passed the place where that evil-minded gypsy had been changed, +he found the ground strewed with little bits of her clothes. Many +parrots were picking them up, and poking them into the cage where the +handkerchief was; and presently another parrot came with a lighted +brand, which she had pulled from one of the gypsies' fires. + +"That's right," said the fairy on Jack's shoulder, when he saw his +friend push the brand between the wires of what had been his cage, and +set the gypsy's handkerchief on fire, and all the bits of her clothes +with it. "She won't find much of herself here," he observed, as Jack +went on. "It will not be very easy to put herself together again." + +So Jack moved away. He was tired of the noise and confusion; and the +sun was just setting as he reached the little creek where his boat +lay. + +Then the parrot fairy and his wife sprang down, and kissed their hands +to him as he stepped on board, and pushed the boat off. He saw, when +he looked back, that a great fight was still going on; so he was glad +to get away, and he wished his two friends good-by, and set off, the +old parrot fairly calling after him, "My relations have put some of +our favorite food on board for you." Then they again thanked him for +his good help, and sprang into a tree, and the boat began to go down +the wonderful river. + +"This has been a most extraordinary day," thought Jack; "the strangest +day I have had yet." And after he had eaten a good supper of what the +parrots had brought, he felt so tired and sleepy that he laid down in +the boat, and presently fell fast asleep. His fairies were sound +asleep too in his pockets, and nothing happened of the least +consequence; so he slept comfortably till morning. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE TOWN WITH NOBODY IN IT. + + "Master," quoth the auld hound, + "Where will ye go?" + "Over moss, over muir. + To court my new jo." + "Master, though the night be merk, + I'se follow through the snow. + + "Court her, master, court her, + So shall ye do weel; + But and ben she'll guide the house, + I'se get milk and meal. + Ye'se get lilting while she sits + With her rock and reel." + + "For, oh! she has a sweet tongue, + And een that look down, + A gold girdle for her waist, + And a purple gown. + She has a good word forbye + Fra a' folk in the town." + + +Soon after sunrise they came to a great city, and it was perfectly +still. There were grand towers and terraces, wharves, too, and a +large market, but there was nobody anywhere to be seen. Jack thought +that might be because it was so early in the morning; and when the +boat ran itself up against a wooden wharf and stopped, he jumped +ashore, for he thought this must be the end of his journey. A +delightful town it was, if only there had been any people in it! The +market-place was full of stalls, on which were spread toys, baskets, +fruit, butter, vegetables, and all the other things that are usually +sold in a market. + +Jack walked about in it. Then he looked in at the open doors of the +houses, and at last, finding that they were all empty, he walked into +one, looked at the rooms, examined the picture-books, rang the bells, +and set the musical-boxes going. Then, after he had shouted a good +deal, and tried in vain to make some one hear, he went back to the +edge of the river where his boat was lying, and the water was so +delightfully clear and calm, that he thought he would bathe. So he +took off his clothes, and folding them very carefully, so as not to +hurt the fairies, laid them down beside a hay-cock, and went in, and +ran about and paddled for a long time,--much longer than there was any +occasion for; but then he had nothing to do. + +When at last he had finished, he ran to the hay-cock and began to +dress himself; but he could not find his stockings, and after looking +about for some time he was obliged to put on his clothes without them, +and he was going to put his boots on his bare feet, when, walking to +the other side of the hay-cock, he saw a little old woman about as +large as himself. She had a pair of spectacles on, and she was +knitting. + +She looked so sweet-tempered that Jack asked her if she knew anything +about his stockings. + +"It will be time enough to ask for them when you have had your +breakfast," said she. "Sit down. Welcome to our town. How do you like +it?" + +[Illustration: JACK'S NEW FRIEND. + +"She had a pair of spectacles on, and she was knitting."--PAGE 82.] + +"I should like it very much indeed," said Jack, "if there was anybody +in it." + +"I'm glad of that," said the woman. "You've seen a good deal of it; +but it pleases me to find that you are a very honest boy. You did not +take anything at all. I am honest too." + +"Yes," said Jack, "of course you are." + +"And as I am pleased with you for being honest," continued the little +woman, "I shall give you some breakfast out of my basket." So she took +out a saucer full of honey, a roll of bread, and a cup of milk. + +"Thank you," said Jack, "but I am not a beggar-boy; I have got a +half-crown, a shilling, a sixpence, and two pence; so I can buy this +breakfast of you, if you like. You look very poor." + +"Do I?" said the little woman, softly; and she went on knitting, and +Jack began to eat the breakfast. + +"I wonder what has become of my stockings," said Jack. + +"You will never see them any more," said the old woman. "I threw them +into the river, and they floated away." + +"Why did you?" asked Jack. + +The little woman took no notice; but presently she had finished a +beautiful pair of stockings, and she handed them to Jack, and said,-- + +"Is that like the pair you lost?" + +"Oh no," said Jack; "these are much more beautiful stockings than +mine." + +"Do you like them as well?" asked the fairy woman. + +"I like them much better," said Jack, putting them on. "How clever you +are!" + +"Would you like to wear these," said the woman, "instead of yours?" + +She gave Jack such a strange look when she said this, that he was +afraid to take them, and answered,-- + +"I shouldn't like to wear them if you think I had better not." + +"Well," she answered, "I am very honest, as I told you; and therefore +I am obliged to say that if I were you I would not wear those +stockings on any account." + +"Why not?" said Jack; for she looked so sweet-tempered that he could +not help trusting her. + +"Why not?" repeated the fairy; "why, because when you have those +stockings on, your feet belong to me." + +"Oh!" said Jack. "Well, if you think that matters, I'll take them off +again. Do you think it matters?" + +"Yes," said the fairy woman; "it matters, because I am a slave, and my +master can make me do whatever he pleases, for I am completely in his +power. So, if he found out that I had knitted these stockings for you, +he would make me order you to walk into his mill,--the mill which +grinds the corn for the town; and there you would have to grind and +grind till I got free again." + +When Jack heard this, he pulled off the beautiful stockings, and laid +them on the old woman's lap. Upon this she burst out crying, as if +her heart would break. + +"If my fairies that I have in my pocket would only wake," said Jack, +"I would fight your master; for if he is no bigger than you are, +perhaps I could beat him, and get you away." + +"No, Jack," said the little woman; "that would be of no use. The only +thing you could do would be to buy me; for my cruel master has said +that if ever I am late again he shall sell me in the slave market to +the brown people, who work underground. And, though I am dreadfully +afraid of my master, I mean to be late to-day, in hopes (as you are +kind, and as you have some money) that you will come to the +slave-market and buy me. Can you buy me, Jack, to be your slave?" + +"I don't want a slave," said Jack; "and, besides, I have hardly any +money to buy you with." + +"But it is real money," said the fairy woman, "not like what my master +has. His money has to be made every week, for if there comes a hot +day it cracks, so it never has time to look old, as your half-crown +does; and that is how we know the real money, for we cannot imitate +anything that is old. Oh, now, now it is twelve o'clock! now I am late +again! and though I said I would do it, I am so frightened!" + +So saying, the little woman ran off towards the town, wringing her +hands, and Jack ran beside her. + +"How am I to find your master?" he said. + +"O Jack, buy me! buy me!" cried the fairy woman. "You will find me in +the slave-market. Bid high for me. Go back and put your boots on, and +bid high." + +Now Jack had nothing on his feet, so he left the poor little woman to +run into the town by herself, and went back to put his boots on. They +were very uncomfortable, as he had no stockings; but he did not much +mind that, and he counted his money. There was the half-crown that his +grandmamma had given him on his birthday, there was a shilling, a +sixpence, and two pence, besides a silver fourpenny-piece which he had +forgotten. He then marched into the town; and now it was quite full of +people,--all of them little men and women about his own height. They +thought he was somebody of consequence, and they called out to him to +buy their goods. And he bought some stockings, and said, "What I want +to buy now is a slave." + +So they showed him the way to the slave-market, and there whole rows +of odd-looking little people were sitting, while in front of them +stood the slaves. + +Now Jack had observed as he came along how very disrespectful the dogs +of that town were to the people. They had a habit of going up to them +and smelling at their legs, and even gnawing their feet as they sat +before the little tables selling their wares; and what made this more +surprising was that the people did not always seem to find out when +they were being gnawed. But the moment the dogs saw Jack they came and +fawned on him, and two old hounds followed him all the way to the +slave-market; and when he took a seat one of them laid down at his +feet, and said, "Master, set your handsome feet on my back, that they +may be out of the dust." + +"Don't be afraid of him," said the other hound; "he won't gnaw your +feet. He knows well enough that they are real ones." + +"Are the other people's feet not real?" asked Jack. + +"Of course not," said the hound. "They had a feud long ago with the +fairies, and they all went one night into a great corn-field which +belonged to these enemies of theirs, intending to steal the corn. So +they made themselves invisible, as they are always obliged to do till +twelve o'clock at noon; but before morning dawn, the wheat being quite +ripe, down came the fairies with their sickles, surrounded the field, +and cut the corn. So all their legs of course got cut off with it, for +when they are invisible they cannot stir. Ever since that they have +been obliged to make their legs of wood." + +While the hound was telling this story Jack looked about, but he did +not see one slave who was in the least like his poor little friend, +and he was beginning to be afraid that he should not find her, when he +heard two people talking together. + +"Good-day!" said one. "So you have sold that good-for-nothing slave of +yours?" + +"Yes," answered a very cross-looking old man. "She was late again this +morning, and came to me crying and praying to be forgiven; but I was +determined to make an example of her, so I sold her at once to +Clink-of-the-Hole, and he has just driven her away to work in his +mine." + +Jack, on hearing this, whispered to the hound at his feet, "If you +will guide me to Clink's hole, you shall be my dog." + +"Master, I will do my best," answered the hound; and he stole softly +out of the market, Jack following him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +HALF-A-CROWN. + + So useful it is to have money, heigh ho! + So useful it is to have money! + + A. H. CLOUGH. + + +The old hound went straight through the town, smelling Clink's +footsteps, till he came into a large field of barley; and there, +sitting against a sheaf, for it was harvest time, they found +Clink-of-the-Hole. He was a very ugly little brown man, and he was +smoking a pipe in the shade; while crouched near him was the poor +little woman, with her hands spread before her face. + +"Good-day, sir," said Clink to Jack. "You are a stranger here, no +doubt?" + +"Yes," said Jack; "I only arrived this morning." + +"Have you seen the town?" asked Clink, civilly; "there is a very fine +market." + +"Yes, I have seen the market," answered Jack. "I went into it to buy a +slave, but I did not see one that I liked." + +"Ah!" said Clink; "and yet they had some very fine articles." Here he +pointed to the poor little woman, and said, "Now that's a useful body +enough, and I had her very cheap." + +"What did you give for her?" said Jack, sitting down. + +"Three pitchers," said Clink, "and fifteen cups and saucers, and two +shillings in the money of the town." + +"Is their money like this?" said Jack, taking out his shilling. + +When Clink saw the shilling he changed color, and said, very +earnestly, "Where did you get that, dear sir?" + +"Oh, it was given me," said Jack, carelessly. + +Clink looked hard at the shilling, and so did the fairy woman, and +Jack let them look some time, for he amused himself with throwing it +up several times and catching it. At last he put it back in his +pocket, and then Clink heaved a deep sigh. Then Jack took out a penny, +and began to toss that up, upon which, to his great surprise, the +little brown man fell on his knees, and said, "Oh, a shilling and a +penny,--a shilling and a penny of mortal coin! What would I not give +for a shilling and a penny!" + +"I don't believe you have got anything to give," said Jack, cunningly; +"I see nothing but that ring on your finger, and the old woman." + +"But I have a great many things at home, sir," said the brown man, +wiping his eyes; "and besides, that ring would be cheap at a +shilling,--even a shilling of mortal coin." + +"Would the slave be cheap at a penny?" said Jack. + +"Would you give a penny for her, dear sir?" inquired Clink, trembling +with eagerness. + +"She is honest," answered Jack; "ask her whether I had better buy her +with this penny." + +"It does not matter what she says," replied the brown man; "I would +sell twenty such as she is for a penny,--a real one." + +"Ask her," repeated Jack; and the poor little woman wept bitterly, but +she said, "No." + +"Why not?" asked Jack; but she only hung down her head and cried. + +"I'll make you suffer for this," said the brown man. But when Jack +took out the shilling, and said, "Shall I buy you with this, slave?" +his eyes actually shot out sparks, he was so eager. + +"Speak!" he said to the fairy woman; "and if you don't say 'Yes,' I'll +strike you." + +"He cannot buy me with that," answered the fairy woman, "unless it is +the most valuable coin he has got." + +The brown man, on hearing this, rose up in a rage, and was just going +to strike her a terrible blow, when Jack cried out, "Stop!" and took +out his half-crown. + +"Can I buy you with this?" said he; and the fairy woman answered, +"Yes." + +Upon this Clink drew a long breath, and his eyes grew bigger and +bigger as he gazed at the half-crown. + +"Shall she be my slave forever, and not yours," said Jack, "if I give +you this?" + +"She shall," said the brown man. And he made such a low bow, as he +took the money, that his head actually knocked the ground. Then he +jumped up; and, as if he was afraid Jack should repent of his bargain, +he ran off towards the hole in the hill with all his might, shouting +for joy as he went. + +"Slave," said Jack, "that is a very ragged old apron that you have +got, and your gown is quite worn out. Don't you think we had better +spend my shilling in buying you some new clothes? You look so very +shabby." + +"Do I?" said the fairy woman, gently. "Well, master, you will do as +you please." + +"But you know better than I do," said Jack, "though you are my +slave." + +"You had better give me the shilling, then," answered the little old +woman; "and then I advise you to go back to the boat, and wait there +till I come." + +"What!" said Jack; "can you go all the way back into the town again? I +think you must be tired, for you know you are so very old." + +The fairy woman laughed when Jack said this, and she had such a sweet +laugh that he loved to hear it; but she took the shilling, and trudged +off to the town, and he went back to the boat, his hound running after +him. + +He was a long time going, for he ran a good many times after +butterflies, and then he climbed up several trees; and altogether he +amused himself for such a long while that when he reached the boat his +fairy woman was there before him. So he stepped on board, the hound +followed, and the boat immediately began to swim on. + +"Why, you have not bought any new clothes!" said Jack to his slave. + +"No, master," answered the fairy woman; "but I have bought what I +wanted." And she took out of her pocket a little tiny piece of +purple ribbon, with a gold-colored satin edge, and a very small +tortoise-shell comb. + +When Jack saw these he was vexed, and said, "What do you mean by being +so silly? I can't scold you properly, because I don't know what name +to call you by, and I don't like to say 'Slave,' because that sounds +so rude. Why, this bit of ribbon is such a little bit that it's of no +use at all. It's not large enough even to make one mitten of." + +"Isn't it?" said the slave. "Just take hold of it, master, and let us +see if it will stretch." + +So Jack did. And she pulled, and he pulled, and very soon the silk had +stretched till it was nearly as large as a handkerchief; and then she +shook it, and they pulled again. "This is very good fun," said Jack; +"why now it is as large as an apron." + +So she shook it again, and gave it a twitch here and a pat there; and +then they pulled again, and the silk suddenly stretched so wide that +Jack was very nearly falling overboard. So Jack's slave pulled off her +ragged gown and apron, and put it on. It was a most beautiful robe of +purple silk; it had a gold border, and it just fitted her. + +[Illustration: JACK'S SLAVE. + +"These are fairies," said Jack's slave; "but what are you?"--PAGE 99.] + +"That will do," she said. And then she took out the little tortoise-shell +comb, pulled off her cap, and threw it into the river. She had a little +knot of soft, gray hair, and she let it down, and began to comb. And as +she combed the hair got much longer and thicker, till it fell in waves +all about her throat. Then she combed again, and it all turned +gold-color, and came tumbling down to her waist; and then she stood up +in the boat, and combed once more, and shook out the hair, and there was +such a quantity that it reached down to her feet, and she was so +covered with it that you could not see one bit of her, excepting her +eyes, which peeped out, and looked bright and full of tears. + +Then she began to gather up her lovely locks; and when she had dried +her eyes with them, she said, "Master, do you know what you have done? +look at me now!" So she threw back the hair from her face, and it was +a beautiful young face; and she looked so happy that Jack was glad he +had bought her with his half-crown,--so glad that he could not help +crying, and the fair slave cried too; and then instantly the little +fairies woke, and sprang out of Jack's pockets. As they did so, +Jovinian cried out, "Madam, I am your most humble servant"; and +Roxaletta said, "I hope your Grace is well"; but the third got on +Jack's knee, and took hold of the buttons of his waistcoat, and when +the lovely slave looked at her, she hid her face and blushed with +pretty childish shyness. + +"These are fairies," said Jack's slave; "but what are you?" + +"Jack kissed me," said the little thing; "and I want to sit on his +knee." + +"Yes," said Jack; "I took them out, and laid them in a row, to see +that they were safe, and this one I kissed, because she looked such a +little dear." + +"Was she not like the others, then?" asked the slave. + +"Yes," said Jack; "but I liked her the best; she was my favorite." + +Now, the instant these three fairies sprang out of Jack's pockets, +they got very much larger; in fact, they became fully grown,--that is +to say, they measured exactly one foot one inch in height, which, as +most people know, is exactly the proper height for fairies of that +tribe. The two who had sprung out first were very beautifully dressed. +One had a green velvet coat, and a sword, the hilt of which was +incrusted with diamonds. The second had a white spangled robe, and the +loveliest rubies and emeralds round her neck and in her hair; but the +third, the one who sat on Jack's knee, had a white frock and a blue +sash on. She had soft, fat arms, and a face just like that of a sweet +little child. + +When Jack's slave saw this, she took the little creature on her +knee, and said to her, "How comes it that you are not like your +companions?" + +And she answered, in a pretty lisping voice, "It's because Jack kissed +me." + +"Even so it must be," answered the slave; "the love of a mortal works +changes indeed. It is not often that we win anything so precious. +Here, master, let her sit on your knee sometimes, and take care of +her, for she cannot now take the same care of herself that others of +her race are capable of." + +So Jack let little Mopsa sit on his knee; and when he was tired of +admiring his slave, and wondering at the respect with which the other +two fairies treated her, and at their cleverness in getting +water-lilies for her, and fanning her with feathers, he curled himself +up in the bottom of the boat with his own little favorite, and taught +her how to play at cat's-cradle. + +When they had been playing some time, and Mopsa was getting quite +clever at the game, the lovely slave said, "Master, it is a long time +since you spoke to me." + +"And yet," said Jack, "there is something that I particularly want to +ask you about." + +"Ask it then," she replied. + +"I don't like to have a slave," answered Jack; "and as you are so +clever, don't you think you can find out how to be free again?" + +"I am very glad you asked me about that," said the fairy woman. "Yes, +master, I wish very much to be free; and as you were so kind as to +give the most valuable piece of real money you possessed in order to +buy me, I can be free if you can think of anything that you really +like better than that half-crown, and if I can give it you." + +"Oh, there are many things," said Jack. "I like going up this river +to Fairyland much better." + +"But you are going there, master," said the fairy woman; "you were on +the way before I met with you." + +"I like this little child better," said Jack; "I love this little +Mopsa. I should like her to belong to me." + +"She is yours," answered the fairy woman; "she belongs to you already. +Think of something else." + +Jack thought again, and was so long about it that at last the +beautiful slave said to him, "Master, do you see those purple +mountains?" + +Jack turned round in the boat, and saw a splendid range of purple +mountains, going up and up. They were very great and steep, each had a +crown of snow, and the sky was very red behind them, for the sun was +going down. + +"At the other side of those mountains is Fairyland," said the slave; +"but if you cannot think of something that you should like better to +have than your half-crown, I can never enter in. The river flows +straight up to yonder steep precipice, and there is a chasm in it +which pierces it, and through which the river runs down beneath, among +the very roots of the mountains, till it comes out at the other side. +Thousands and thousands of the small people will come when they see +the boat, each with a silken thread in his hand; but if there is a +slave in it, not all their strength and skill can tow it through. Look +at those rafts on the river; on them are the small people coming up." + +Jack looked, and saw that the river was spotted with rafts, on which +were crowded brown fairy sailors, each one with three green stripes on +his sleeve, which looked like good conduct marks. All these sailors +were chattering very fast, and the rafts were coming down to meet the +boat. + +"All these sailors to tow my slave!" said Jack. "I wonder, I do +wonder, what you are?" But the fairy woman only smiled, and Jack went +on: "I have thought of something that I should like much better than +my half-crown. I should like to have a little tiny bit of that purple +gown of yours with the gold border." + +Then the fairy woman said, "I thank you, master. Now I can be free." +So she told Jack to lend her his knife, and with it she cut off a very +small piece of the skirt of her robe, and gave it to him. "Now mind," +she said, "I advise you never to stretch this unless you want to make +some particular thing of it, for then it will only stretch to the +right size; but if you merely begin to pull it for your own amusement, +it will go on stretching and stretching, and I don't know where it +will stop." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A STORY. + + In the night she told a story, + In the night and all night through, + While the moon was in her glory, + And the branches dropped with dew. + + 'Twas my life she told, and round it + Rose the years as from a deep; + In the world's great heart she found it, + Cradled like a child asleep. + + In the night I saw her weaving + By the misty moonbeam cold, + All the weft her shuttle cleaving + With a sacred thread of gold. + + Ah! she wept me tears of sorrow, + Lulling tears so mystic sweet; + Then she wove my last to-morrow, + And her web lay at my feet. + + Of my life she made the story: + I must weep--so soon 'twas told! + But your name did lend it glory, + And your love its thread of gold! + + +By this time, as the sun had gone down, and none of the moons had +risen, it would have been dark but that each of the rafts was rigged +with a small mast that had a lantern hung to it. + +By the light of these lanterns Jack saw crowds of little brown faces; +and presently many rafts had come up to the boat, which was now +swimming very slowly. Every sailor in every raft fastened to the +boat's side a silken thread; then the rafts were rowed to shore, and +the sailors jumped out, and began to tow the boat along. + +[Illustration: A STORY.--PAGE 106.] + +These crimson threads looked no stronger than the silk that ladies sew +with, yet by means of them the small people drew the boat along +merrily. There were so many of them that they looked like an army as +they marched in the light of the lanterns and torches. Jack thought +they were very happy, though the work was hard, for they shouted and +sang. + +The fairy woman looked more beautiful than ever now, and far more +stately. She had on a band of precious stones to bind back her hair, +and they shone so brightly in the night that her features could be +clearly seen. + +Jack's little favorite was fast asleep, and the other two fairies had +flown away. He was beginning to feel rather sleepy himself, when he +was roused by the voice of his free lady, who said to him, "Jack, +there is no one listening now, so I will tell you my story. I am the +Fairy Queen!" + +Jack opened his eyes very wide, but he was so much surprised that he +did not say a word. + +"One day, long, long ago," said the Queen, "I was discontented with my +own happy country. I wished to see the world, so I set forth with a +number of the one-foot-one fairies, and went down the wonderful river, +thinking to see the world. + +"So we sailed down the river till we came to that town which you know +of; and there, in the very middle of the stream, stood a tower,--a +tall tower, built upon a rock. + +"Fairies are afraid of nothing but of other fairies, and we did not +think this tower was fairy-work, so we left our ship and went up the +rock and into the tower, to see what it was like; but just as we had +descended into the dungeon keep, we heard the gurgling of water +overhead, and down came the tower. It was nothing but water enchanted +into the likeness of stone, and we all fell down with it into the very +bed of the river. + +"Of course we were not drowned, but there we were obliged to lie, for +we have no power out of our own element; and the next day the +towns-people came down with a net and dragged the river, picked us all +out of the meshes, and made us slaves. The one-foot-one fairies got +away shortly; but from that day to this, in sorrow and distress, I +have had to serve my masters. Luckily, my crown had fallen off in the +water, so I was not known to be the Queen; but till you came, Jack, I +had almost forgotten that I had ever been happy and free, and I had +hardly any hope of getting away." + +"How sorry your people must have been," said Jack, "when they found +you did not come home again." + +"No," said the Queen: "they only went to sleep, and they will not wake +till to-morrow morning, when I pass in again. They will think I have +been absent for a day, and so will the apple-woman. You must not +undeceive them; if you do, they will be very angry." + +"And who is the apple-woman?" inquired Jack; but the Queen blushed, +and pretended not to hear the question, so he repeated,-- + +"Queen, who is the apple-woman?" + +"I've only had her for a very little while," said the Queen, +evasively. + +"And how long do you think you have been a slave. Queen?" asked Jack. + +"I don't know," said the Queen. "I have never been able to make up my +mind about that." + +And now all the moons began to shine, and all the trees lighted +themselves up, for almost every leaf had a glowworm or a fire-fly on +it, and the water was full of fishes that had shining eyes. And now +they were close to the steep mountain side; and Jack looked and saw an +opening in it, into which the river ran. It was a kind of cave, +something like a long, long church with a vaulted roof, only the +pavement of it was that magic river, and a narrow towing-path ran on +either side. + +As they entered the cave there was a hollow, murmuring sound, and the +Queen's crown became so bright that it lighted up the whole boat; at +the same time she began to tell Jack a wonderful story, which he liked +very much to hear, but every fresh thing she said he forgot what had +gone before; and at last, though he tried very hard to listen, he was +obliged to go to sleep; and he slept soundly, and never dreamed of +anything, till it was morning. + +He saw such a curious sight when he woke! They had been going through +this underground cavern all night, and now they were approaching its +opening on the other side. This opening, because they were a good way +from it yet, looked like a lovely little round window of blue and +yellow and green glass, but as they drew on he could see far-off +mountains, blue sky, and a country all covered with sunshine. + +He heard singing, too, such as fairies make; and he saw some beautiful +people, such as those fairies whom he had brought with him. They were +coming along the towing-path. They were all lady fairies; but they +were not very polite, for as each one came up she took a silken rope +out of a brown sailor's hand, and gave him a shove which pushed him +into the water. In fact, the water became filled with such swarms of +these sailors that the boat could hardly get on. But the poor little +brown fellows did not seem to mind this conduct, for they plunged and +shook themselves about, scattering a good deal of spray. Then they all +suddenly dived, and when they came up again they were ducks,--nothing +but brown ducks, I assure you, with green stripes on their wings; and +with a great deal of quacking and floundering, they all began to swim +back again as fast as they could. + +Then Jack was a good deal vexed, and he said to himself, "If nobody +thanks the ducks for towing us I will"; so he stood up in the boat and +shouted, "Thank you, ducks; we are very much obliged to you!" But +neither the Queen nor these new towers took the least notice, and +gradually the boat came out of that dim cave and entered Fairyland, +while the river became so narrow that you could hear the song of the +towers quite easily; those on the right bank sang the first verse, and +those on the left bank answered:-- + + Drop, drop from the leaves of lign aloes, + O honey-dew! drop from the tree. + Float up through your clear river shallows, + White lilies, beloved of the bee. + + Let the people, O Queen! say, and bless thee, + Her bounty drops soft as the dew, + And spotless in honor confess thee, + As lilies are spotless in hue. + + On the roof stands yon white stork awaking, + His feathers flush rosy the while, + For, lo! from the blushing east breaking, + The sun sheds the bloom of his smile. + + Let them boast of thy word, "It is certain; + We doubt it no more," let them say, + "Than to-morrow that night's dusky curtain + Shall roll back its folds for the day." + +"Master," whispered the old hound, who was lying at Jack's feet. + +"Well," said Jack. + +"They didn't invent that song themselves," said the hound; "the old +apple-woman taught it to them,--the woman whom they love because she +can make them cry." + +Jack was rather ashamed of the hound's rudeness in saying this; but +the Queen took no notice. And now they had reached a little +landing-place, which ran out a few feet into the river, and was +strewed thickly with cowslips and violets. + +[Illustration: THE QUEEN. + +"Here the boat stopped, and the Queen rose and got out."--PAGE 114.] + +Here the boat stopped, and the Queen rose and got out. + +Jack watched her. A whole crowd of one-foot-one fairies came down a +garden to meet her, and he saw them conduct her to a beautiful tent, +with golden poles and a silken covering; but nobody took the slightest +notice of him, or of little Mopsa, or of the hound, and after a long +silence the hound said, "Well, master, don't you feel hungry? Why +don't you go with the others and have some breakfast?" + +"The Queen didn't invite me," said Jack. + +"But do you feel as if you couldn't go?" asked the hound. + +"Of course not," answered Jack; "but perhaps I may not." + +"Oh, yes, master," replied the hound; "whatever you _can_ do in +Fairyland you _may_ do." + +"Are you sure of that?" asked Jack. + +"Quite sure, master," said the hound; "and I am hungry too." + +"Well," said Jack, "I will go there and take Mopsa. She shall ride on +my shoulder; you may follow." + +So he walked up that beautiful garden till he came to the great tent. +A banquet was going on inside. All the one-foot-one fairies sat down +the sides of the table, and at the top sat the Queen on a larger +chair; and there were two empty chairs, one on each side of her. + +Jack blushed; but the hound whispering again, "Master, whatever you +can do you may do," he came slowly up the table towards the Queen, who +was saying, as he drew near, "Where is our trusty and well-beloved, +the apple-woman?" And she took no notice of Jack; so, though he could +not help feeling rather red and ashamed, he went and sat in the chair +beside her with Mopsa still on his shoulder. Mopsa laughed for joy +when she saw the feast. The Queen said, "O Jack, I am so glad to see +you!" and some of the one-foot-one fairies cried out, "What a +delightful little creature that is! She can laugh! Perhaps she can +also cry!" + +Jack looked about, but there was no seat for Mopsa; and he was afraid +to let her run about on the floor, lest she should be hurt. + +There was a very large dish standing before the Queen; for though the +people were small, the plates and dishes were exactly like those we +use, and of the same size. + +This dish was raised on a foot, and filled with grapes and peaches. +Jack wondered at himself for doing it, but he saw no other place for +Mopsa; so he took out the fruit, laid it round the dish, and set his +own little one-foot-one in the dish. + +Nobody looked in the least surprised; and there she sat very happily, +biting an apple with her small white teeth. + +Then, as they brought him nothing to eat, Jack helped himself from +some of the dishes before him, and found that a fairy breakfast was +very nice indeed. + +In the meantime there was a noise outside, and in stumped an elderly +woman. She had very thick boots on, a short gown of red print, an +orange cotton handkerchief over her shoulders, and a black silk +bonnet. She was exactly the same height as the Queen,--for of course +nobody in Fairyland is allowed to be any bigger than the Queen; so, if +they are not children when they arrive, they are obliged to shrink. + +"How are you, dear?" said the Queen. + +"I am as well as can be expected," answered the apple-woman, sitting +down in the empty chair. "Now, then, where's my tea? They're never +ready with my cup of tea." + +Two attendants immediately brought a cup of tea, and set it down +before the apple-woman, with a plate of bread and butter; and she +proceeded to pour it into the saucer, and blow it, because it was hot. +In so doing her wandering eyes caught sight of Jack and little Mopsa, +and she set down the saucer, and looked at them with attention. + +Now Mopsa, I am sorry to say, was behaving so badly that Jack was +quite ashamed of her. First, she got out of her dish, took something +nice out of the Queen's plate with her fingers, and ate it; and then, +as she was going back, she tumbled over a melon, and upset a glass of +red wine, which she wiped up with her white frock; after which she got +into her dish again, and there she sat smiling, and daubing her pretty +face with a piece of buttered muffin. + +"Mopsa," said Jack, "you are very naughty; if you behave in this way, +I shall never take you out to parties again." + +"Pretty lamb!" said the apple-woman; "It's just like a child." And +then she burst into tears, and exclaimed, sobbing, "It's many a long +day since I've seen a child. Oh dear! oh deary me!" + +Upon this, to the astonishment of Jack, every one of the guests began +to cry and sob too. + +"Oh dear! oh dear!" they said to one another, "we're crying; we can +cry just as well as men and women. Isn't it delightful? What a luxury +it is to cry, to be sure!" + +They were evidently quite proud of it; and when Jack looked at the +Queen for an explanation, she only gave him a still little smile. + +But Mopsa crept along the table to the apple-woman, let her take her +and hug her, and seemed to like her very much; for as she sat on her +knee, she patted her brown face with a little dimpled hand. + +"I should like vastly well to be her nurse," said the apple-woman, +drying her eyes, and looking at Jack. + +"If you'll always wash her, and put clean frocks on her, you may," +said Jack; "for just look at her,--what a figure she is already!" + +Upon this the apple-woman laughed for joy, and again every one else +did the same. The fairies can only laugh and cry when they see mortals +do so. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +AFTER THE PARTY. + + _Stephano._--This will prove a brave kingdom to me, + Where I shall have my music for nothing. + + _The Tempest._ + + +When breakfast was over, the guests got up, one after the other, +without taking the least notice of the Queen; and the tent began to +get so thin and transparent that you could see the trees and the sky +through it. At last, it looked only like a colored mist, with blue, +and green, and yellow stripes, and then it was gone; and the table and +all the things on it began to go in the same way. Only Jack, and the +apple-woman, and Mopsa were left, sitting on their chairs, with the +Queen between them. + +Presently, the Queen's lips began to move, and her eyes looked +straight before her, as she sat upright in her chair. Whereupon the +apple-woman snatched up Mopsa, and, seizing Jack's hand, hurried him +off, exclaiming, "Come away! come away! She is going to tell one of +her stories; and if you listen, you'll be obliged to go to sleep, and +sleep nobody knows how long." + +Jack did not want to go to sleep; he wished to go down to the river +again, and see what had become of his boat, for he had left his cap +and several other things in it. + +So he parted from the apple-woman,--who took Mopsa with her, and said +he would find her again when he wanted her at her apple-stall,--and +went down to the boat, where he saw that his faithful hound was there +before him. + +"It was lucky, master, that I came when I did," said the hound, "for a +dozen or so of those one-foot-one fellows were just shoving it off, +and you will want it at night to sleep in." + +"Yes," said Jack; "and I can stretch the bit of purple silk to make a +canopy over head,--a sort of awning,--for I should not like to sleep +in tents or palaces that are inclined to melt away." + +So the hound with his teeth, and Jack with his hands, pulled and +pulled at the silk till it was large enough to make a splendid canopy, +like a tent; and it reached down to the water's edge, and roofed in +all the after part of the boat. + +So now he had a delightful little home of his own; and there was no +fear of its being blown away, for no wind ever blows in Fairyland. All +the trees are quite still, no leaf rustles, and the flowers lie on the +ground exactly where they fall. + +After this Jack told the hound to watch his boat, and went himself in +search of the apple-woman. Not one fairy was to be seen, any more than +if he had been in his own country, and he wandered down the green +margin of the river till he saw the apple-woman sitting at a small +stall with apples on it, and cherries tied to sticks, and some +dry-looking nuts. She had Mopsa on her knee, and had washed her face, +and put a beautiful clean white frock on her. + +"Where are all the fairies gone to?" asked Jack. + +"I never take any notice of that common trash and their doings," she +answered. "When the Queen takes to telling her stories they are +generally frightened, and go and sit in the tops of the trees." + +"But you seem very fond of Mopsa," said Jack, "and she is one of them. +You will help me to take care of her, won't you, tills she grows a +little older?" + +"Grows!" said the apple-woman, laughing. "Grows! Why you don't think, +surely, that she will ever be any different from what she is now?" + +"I thought she would grow up," said Jack. + +"They never change so long as they last," answered the apple-woman, +"when once they are one-foot-one high." + +"Mopsa," said Jack, "come here, and I'll measure you." + +Mopsa came dancing towards Jack, and he tried to measure her, first +with a yard measure that the apple-woman took out of her pocket, and +then with a stick, and then with a bit of string; but Mopsa would not +stand steady, and at last it ended in their having a good game of +romps together, and a race; but when he carried her back, sitting on +his shoulder, he was sorry to see that the apple-woman was crying +again, and he asked her kindly what she did it for. + +"It is because," she answered, "I shall never see my own country any +more, nor any men and women and children, excepting such as by a rare +chance stray in for a little while as you have done." + +"I can go back whenever I please," said Jack. "Why don't you?" + +"Because I came in of my own good-will, after I had had fair warning +that if I came at all it would end in my staying always. Besides, I +don't know that I exactly wish to go home again: I should be afraid." + +"Afraid of what?" asked Jack. + +"Why, there's the rain and the cold, and not having anything to eat +excepting what you earn. And yet," said the apple-woman, "I have three +boys of my own at home; one of them must be nearly a man by this time, +and the youngest is about as old as you are. If I went home I might +find one or more of those boys in jail, and then how miserable I +should be." + +"But you are not happy as it is," said Jack. "I have seen you cry." + +"Yes," said the apple-woman; "but now I live here I don't care about +anything so much as I used to do. 'May I have a satin gown and a +coach?' I asked, when first I came. 'You may have a hundred and fifty +satin gowns if you like,' said the Queen, 'and twenty coaches with six +cream-colored horses to each.' But when I had been here a little time, +and found I could have everything I wished for, and change it as +often as I pleased, I began not to care for anything; and at last I +got so sick of all their grand things that I dressed myself in my own +clothes that I came in, and made up my mind to have a stall and sit at +it, as I used to do, selling apples. And I used to say to myself, 'I +have but to wish with all my heart to go home, and I can go, I know +that;' but oh dear! oh dear! I couldn't wish enough, for it would come +into my head that I should be poor, or that my boys would have +forgotten me, or that my neighbors would look down on me, and so I +always put off wishing for another day. Now here is the Queen coming. +Sit down on the grass and play with Mopsa. Don't let her see us +talking together, lest she should think I have been telling you things +which you ought not to know." + +Jack looked, and saw the Queen coming slowly towards them, with her +hands held out before her, as if it was dark. She felt her way, yet +her eyes were wide open, and she was telling her stories all the +time. + +"Don't you listen to a word she says," whispered the apple-woman; and +then, in order that Jack might not hear what the Queen was talking +about, she began to sing. + +She had no sooner begun than up from the river came swarms of +one-foot-one fairies to listen, and hundreds of them dropped down from +the trees. The Queen, too, seemed to attend as they did, though she +kept murmuring her story all the time; and nothing that any of them +did appeared to surprise the apple-woman,--she sang as if nobody was +taking any notice at all:-- + + When I sit on market-days amid the comers and the goers, + Oh! full oft I have a vision of the days without alloy, + And a ship comes up the river with a jolly gang of towers, + And a "pull'e haul'e, pull'e haul'e, yoy! heave, hoy!" + + There is busy talk around me, all about mine ears it hummeth, + But the wooden wharves I look on, and a dancing, heaving buoy, + For 'tis tidetime in the river, and she cometh--oh, she cometh! + With a "pull'e haul'e, pull'e haul'e, yoy! heave, hoy!" + + Then I hear the water washing, never golden waves were brighter, + And I hear the capstan creaking--'tis a sound that cannot cloy. + Bring her to, to ship her lading, brig or schooner, sloop or + lighter, + With a "pull'e haul'e, pull'e haule, yoy! heave, hoy!" + + "Will ye step aboard, my dearest? for the high seas lie before us." + So I sailed adown the river in those days without alloy. + We are launched! But when, I wonder, shall a sweeter sound float + o'er us + Than yon "pull'e haul'e, pull'e haul'e, yoy! heave, hoy!" + +As the apple-woman left off singing, the Queen moved away, still +murmuring the words of her story, and Jack said,-- + +"Does the Queen tell stories of what has happened, or of what is going +to happen?" + +"Why, of what is going to happen, of course," replied the woman. +"Anybody could tell the other sort." + +"Because I heard a little of it," observed Jack. "I thought she was +talking of me. She said 'So he took the measure, and Mopsa stood +still for once, and he found she was only one foot high, and she grew +a great deal after that. Yes, she can grow.'" + +"That's a fine hearing, and a strange hearing," said the apple-woman; +"and what did she mutter next?" + +"Of how she heard me sobbing," replied Jack; "and while you went on +about stepping on board the ship, she said, 'He was very good to me, +dear little fellow! But Fate is the name of my old mother, and she +reigns here. Oh, she reigns! The fatal F is in her name, and I cannot +take it out!'" + +"Ah!" replied the apple-woman, "they all say that, and that they are +fays, and that mortals call their history fable; they are always +crying out for an alphabet without the fatal F." + +"And then she told how she heard Mopsa sobbing too," said Jack; +"sobbing among the reeds and rushes by the river side." + +"There are no reeds, and no rushes either, here," said the +apple-woman, "and I have walked the river from end to end. I don't +think much of that part of the story. But you are sure she said that +Mopsa was short of her proper height?" + +"Yes, and that she would grow; but that's nothing. In my country we +always grow." + +"Hold your tongue about you country!" said the apple-woman, sharply. +"Do you want to make enemies of them all?" + +Mopsa had been listening to this, and now she said, "I don't love the +Queen. She slapped my arm as she went by, and it hurts." + +Mopsa showed her little fat arm as she spoke, and there was a red +place on it. + +"That's odd, too," said the apple-woman; "there's nothing red in a +common fairy's veins. They have sap in them: that's why they can't +blush." + +Just then the sun went down, and Mopsa got up on the apple-woman's +lap, and went to sleep; and Jack, being tired, went to his boat and +lay down under the purple canopy, his old hound lying at his feet to +keep guard over him. + +The next morning, when he woke, a pretty voice called to him, "Jack! +Jack!" and he opened his eyes and saw Mopsa. The apple-woman had +dressed her in a clean frock and blue shoes, and her hair was so long! +She was standing on the landing-place, close to him. "O Jack! I'm so +big," she said. "I grew in the night; look at me." + +Jack looked. Yes, Mopsa had grown indeed; she had only just reached to +his knee the day before, and now her little bright head, when he +measured her, came as high as the second button of his waistcoat. + +"But I hope you will not go on growing so fast as this," said Jack, +"or you will be as tall as my mamma is in a week or two,--much too big +for me to play with." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MOPSA LEARNS HER LETTERS. + + A----apple-pie. + B----bit it. + + +"How ashamed I am," Jack said, "to think that you don't know even your +letters!" + +Mopsa replied that she thought that did not signify, and then she and +Jack began to play at jumping from the boat on to the bank, and back +again; and afterwards, as not a single fairy could be seen, they had +breakfast with the apple-woman. + +"Where is the Queen?" asked Jack. + +The apple-woman answered, "It's not the fashion to ask questions in +Fairyland." + +"That's a pity," said Jack, "for there are several things that I +particularly want to know about this country. Mayn't I even ask how +big it is?" + +"How big?" said Mopsa,--little Mopsa looking as wise as possible. +"Why, the same size as your world, of course." + +Jack laughed. "It's the same world that you call yours," continued +Mopsa; "and when I'm a little older, I'll explain it all to you." + +"If it's our world," said Jack, "why are none of us in it, excepting +me and the apple-woman?" + +"That's because you've got something in your world that you call +TIME," said Mopsa; "so you talk about NOW, and you talk about THEN." + +"And don't you?" asked Jack. + +"I do if I want to make you understand," said Mopsa. + +The apple-woman laughed, and said, "To think of the pretty thing +talking so queen-like already! Yes, that's right, and just what the +grown-up fairies say. Go on, and explain it to him if you can." + +"You know," said Mopsa, "that your people say there was a time when +there were none of them in the world,--a time before they were made. +Well, THIS is that time. This is long ago." + +"Nonsense!" said Jack. "Then how do I happen to be here?" + +"Because," said Mopsa, "when the albatross brought you, she did not +fly with you a long way off, but a long way back,--hundreds and +hundreds of years. This is your world, as you can see; but none of +your people are here, because they are not made yet. I don't think any +of them will be made for a thousand years." + +"But I saw the old ships," answered Jack, "in the enchanted bay." + +"That was a border country," said Mopsa. "I was asleep while you went +through those countries; but these are the real Fairylands." + +Jack was very much surprised when he heard Mopsa say these strange +things; and as he looked at her, he felt that a sleep was coming over +him, and he could not hold up his head. He felt how delightful it was +to go to sleep; and though the apple-woman sprang to him, when she +observed that he was shutting his eyes, and though he heard her +begging and entreating him to keep awake, he did not want to do so; +but he let his head sink down on the mossy grass, which was as soft as +a pillow, and there, under the shade of a Guelder rose-tree, that kept +dropping its white flowerets all over him, he had this dream: + +He thought that Mopsa came running up to him, as he stood by the +river, and that he said to her, "Oh, Mopsa, how old we are! We have +lived back to the times before Adam and Eve!" + +"Yes," said Mopsa; "but I don't feel old. Let us go down the river, +and see what we can find." + +So they got into the boat, and it floated into the middle of the +river, and then made for the opposite bank, where the water was warm +and very muddy, and the river became so very wide that it seemed to be +afternoon when they got near enough to see it clearly; and what they +saw was a boggy country, green, and full of little rills; but the +water,--which, as I told you, was thick and muddy,--the water was full +of small holes! You never saw water with eyelet-holes in it; but Jack +did. On all sides of the boat he saw holes moving about in pairs, and +some were so close that he looked and saw their lining: they were +lined with pink, and they snorted! Jack was afraid, but he considered +that this was such a long time ago that the holes, whatever they were, +could not hurt him; but it made him start, notwithstanding, when a +huge flat-head reared itself up close to the boat, and he found that +the holes were the nostrils of creatures who kept all the rest of +themselves under water. + +In a minute or two, hundreds of ugly flat-heads popped up, and the +boat danced among them as they floundered about in the water. + +"I hope they won't upset us," said Jack. "I wish you would land." + +Mopsa said she would rather not, because she did not like the hairy +elephants. + +"There are no such things as hairy elephants," said Jack, in his +dream; but he had hardly spoken when out of a wood close at hand some +huge creatures, far larger than our elephants, came jogging down to +the water. There were forty or fifty of them, and they were covered +with what looked like tow. In fact, so coarse was their shaggy hair +that they looked as if they were dressed in door-mats; and when they +stood still and shook themselves, such clouds of dust flew out that, +as it swept over the river, it almost stifled Jack and Mopsa. + +"Odious!" exclaimed Jack, sneezing. "What terrible creatures these +are!" + +"Well," answered Mopsa, at the other end of the boat (but he could +hardly see her for the dust), "then why do you dream of them?" + +Jack had just decided to dream of something else, when, with a noise +greater than fifty trumpets, the elephants, having shaken out all the +dust, came thundering down to the water to bathe in the liquid mud. +They shook the whole country as they plunged; but that was not all. +The awful river-horses rose up, and, with shrill screams, fell upon +them, and gave them battle; while up from every rill peeped above the +rushes frogs as large as oxen, and with blue and green eyes that +gleamed like the eyes of cats. + +The frogs croaking, and the shrill trumpeting of the elephants, +together with the cries of the river-horses, as all these creatures +fought with horn and tusk, and fell on one another, lashing the water +into whirlpools, among which the boat danced up and down like a +cork,--the blinding spray, and the flapping about of great bats over +the boat and in it,--so confused Jack, that Mopsa had spoken to him +several times before he answered. + +"O Jack!" she said, at last; "if you can't dream any better, I must +call the Craken." + +"Very well," said Jack. "I'm almost wrapped up and smothered in bats' +wings, so call anything you please." + +Thereupon Mopsa whistled softly, and in a minute or two he saw, almost +spanning the river, a hundred yards off, a thing like a rainbow, or a +slender bridge, or still more, like one ring or coil of an enormous +serpent; and presently the creature's head shot up like a fountain, +close to the boat, almost as high as a ship's mast. It was the Craken; +and when Mopsa saw it, she began to cry, and said, "We are caught in +this crowd of creatures, and we cannot get away from the land of +dreams. Do help us, Craken!" + +Some of the bats that hung to the edges of the boat had wings as large +as sails; and the first thing the Craken did was to stoop its lithe +neck, pick two or three of them off, and eat them. + +"You can swim your boat home under my coils where the water is calm," +the Craken said, "for she is so extremely old now, that if you do not +take care she will drop to pieces before you get back to the present +time." + +Jack knew it was of no use saying anything to this formidable +creature, before whom the river-horses and the elephants were rushing +to the shore; but when he looked and saw down the river rainbow behind +rainbow,--I mean coil behind coil,--glittering in the sun, like so +many glorious arches that did not reach to the banks, he felt +extremely glad that this was a dream, and besides that, he thought to +himself, "It's only a fabled monster." + +"No, it's only a fable to these times," said Mopsa, answering his +thought; "but in spite of that we shall have to go through all the +rings." + +They went under one,--silver, green, and blue, and gold. The water +dripped from it upon them, and the boat trembled, either because of +its great age, or because it felt the rest of the coil underneath. + +A good way off was another coil, and they went so safely under that, +that Jack felt himself getting used to Crakens, and not afraid. Then +they went under thirteen more. These kept getting nearer and nearer +together, but, besides that, the fourteenth had not quite such a high +span as the former ones; but there were a great many to come, and yet +they got lower and lower. + +Both Jack and Mopsa noticed this, but neither said a word. The +thirtieth coil brushed Jack's cap off, then they had to stoop to pass +under the two next, and then they had to lie down in the bottom of the +boat, and they got through with the greatest difficulty; but still +before them was another! The boat was driving straight towards it, and +it lay so close to the water that the arch it made was only a foot +high. When Jack saw it, he called out, "No! that I cannot bear. +Somebody else may do the rest of this dream. I shall jump overboard." + +Mopsa seemed to answer in quite a pleasant voice, as if she was not +afraid,-- + +"No, you'd much better wake." And then she went on, "Jack! Jack! why +don't you wake!" + +Then all on a sudden Jack opened his eyes, and found that he was lying +quietly on the grass, that little Mopsa really had asked him why he +did not wake. He saw the Queen too, standing by, looking at him, and +saying to herself, "_I_ did not put him to sleep. _I_ did not put him +to sleep." + +"We don't want any more stories to-day, Queen," said the apple-woman, +in a disrespectful tone, and she immediately began to sing, clattering +some tea-things all the time, for a kettle was boiling on some sticks, +and she was going to make tea out of doors:-- + + The marten flew to the finch's nest, + Feathers, and moss, and a wisp of hay: + "The arrow it sped to thy brown mate's breast; + Low in the broom is thy mate to-day." + + "Liest thou low, love? low in the broom? + Feathers and moss, and a wisp of hay, + Warm the white eggs till I learn his doom." + She beateth her wings, and away, away. + + "Ah, my sweet singer, thy days are told + (Feathers and moss, and a wisp of hay)! + Thine eyes are dim, and the eggs grow cold. + O mournful morrow! O dark to-day!" + + The finch flew back to her cold, cold nest, + Feathers and moss, and a wisp of hay, + Mine is the trouble that rent her breast, + And home is silent, and love is clay. + +Jack felt very tired indeed,--as much tired as if he had really been +out all day on the river, and gliding under the coils of the Craken. +He however rose up, when the apple-woman called him, and drank his +tea, and had some fairy bread with it, which refreshed him very much. + +After tea he measured Mopsa again, and found that she had grown up to +a higher button. She looked much wiser too, and when he said she must +be taught to read she made no objection, so he arranged daisies and +buttercups into the forms of the letters, and she learnt nearly all of +them that one evening, while crowds of the one-foot-one fairies looked +on, hanging from the boughs and sitting in the grass, and shouting +out the names of the letters as Mopsa said them. They were very +polite to Jack, for they gathered all these flowers for him, and +emptied them from their little caps at his feet as fast as he wanted +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +GOOD-MORNING, SISTER. + + Sweet is childhood--childhood's over, + Kiss and part. + Sweet is youth; but youth's a rover-- + So's my heart. + Sweet is rest; but by all showing + Toil is nigh. + We must go. Alas! the going, + Say "good-bye." + + +Jack crept under his canopy, went to sleep early that night, and did +not wake till the sun had risen, when the apple-woman called him, and +said breakfast was nearly ready. + +The same thing never happens twice in Fairyland, so this time the +breakfast was not spread in a tent, but on the river. The Queen had +cut off a tiny piece of her robe, the one-foot-one fairies had +stretched it till it was very large, and then they had spread it on +the water, where it floated and lay like a great carpet of purple and +gold. One corner of it was moored to the side of Jack's boat; but he +had not observed this, because of his canopy. However, that was now +looped up by the apple-woman, and Jack and Mopsa saw what was going +on. + +Hundreds of swans had been towing the carpet along, and were still +holding it with their beaks, while a crowd of doves walked about on +it, smoothing out the creases and patting it with their pretty pink +feet till it was quite firm and straight. The swans then swam away, +and they flew away. + +Presently troops of fairies came down to the landing-place, jumped +into Jack's boat without asking leave, and so got on to the carpet, +while at the same time a great tree which grew on the bank began to +push out fresh leaves, as large as fans, and shoot out long branches, +which again shot out others, till very soon there was shade all over +the carpet,--a thick shadow as good as a tent, which was very +pleasant, for the sun was already hot. + +When the Queen came down, the tree suddenly blossomed out with +thousands of red and white flowers. + +"You must not go on to that carpet," said the apple-woman; "let us sit +still in the boat, and be served here." She whispered this as the +Queen stepped into the boat. + +"Good-morning, Jack," said the Queen. "Good-morning, dear." This was +to the apple-woman; and then she stood still for a moment and looked +earnestly at little Mopsa, and sighed. + +"Well," she said to her, "don't you mean to speak to me?" Then Mopsa +lifted up her pretty face and blushed very rosy red, and said, in a +shy voice, "Good morning----sister." + +"I said so!" exclaimed the Queen; "I said so!" and she lifted up her +beautiful eyes, and murmured out, "What is to be done now?" + +"Never mind, Queen dear," said Jack. "If it was rude of Mopsa to say +that, she is such a little young thing that she does not know +better." + +"It was not rude," said Mopsa, and she laughed and blushed again. "It +was not rude, and I am not sorry." + +As she said this the Queen stepped on to the carpet, and all the +flowers began to drop down. They were something like camellias, and +there were thousands of them. + +The fairies collected them in little heaps. They had no tables and +chairs, nor any plates and dishes for this breakfast; but the Queen +sat down on the carpet close to Jack's boat, and leaned her cheek on +her hand, and seemed to be lost in thought. The fairies put some +flowers into her lap, then each took some, and they all sat down and +looked at the Queen, but she did not stir. + +At last Jack said, "When is the breakfast coming?" + +"This is the breakfast," said the apple-woman; "these flowers are most +delicious eating. You never tasted anything so good in your life; but +we don't begin till the Queen does." + +Quantities of blossoms had dropped into the boat. Several fairies +tumbled into it almost head over heels, they were in such a hurry, and +they heaped them into Mopsa's lap, but took no notice of Jack, nor of +the apple-woman either. + +At last, when every one had waited some time, the Queen pulled a petal +off one flower, and began to eat, so every one else began; and what +the apple-woman had said was quite true. Jack knew that he never had +tasted anything half so nice, and he was quite sorry when he could not +eat any more. So, when every one had finished, the Queen leaned her +arm on the edge of the boat, and, turning her lovely face towards +Mopsa, said, "I want to whisper to you, sister." + +"Oh!" said Mopsa, "I wish I was in Jack's waistcoat pocket again; but +I'm so big now." And she took hold of the two sides of his velvet +jacket, and hid her face between them. + +"My old mother sent a message last night," continued the Queen, in a +soft, sorrowful voice. "She is much more powerful than we are." + +"What is the message?" asked Mopsa; but she still hid her face. + +So the Queen moved over, and put her lips close to Mopsa's ear, and +repeated it: "There cannot be two Queens in one hive." + +"If Mopsa leaves the hive, a fine swarm will go with her," said the +apple-woman. "I shall, for one; that I shall!" + +"No!" answered the Queen. "I hope not, dear; for you know well that +this is my old mother's doing, not mine." + +"Oh!" said Mopsa; "I feel as if I must tell a story too, just as the +Queen does." But the apple-woman broke out in a very cross voice, +"It's not at all like Fairyland, if you go on in this way, and I would +as lieve be out of it as in it." Then she began to sing, that she and +Jack might not hear Mopsa's story:-- + + On the rocks by Aberdeen, + Where the whislin' wave had been, + As I wandered and at e'en + Was eerie; + There I saw thee sailing west, + And I ran with joy opprest-- + Ay, and took out all my best, + My dearie. + + Then I busked mysel' wi' speed, + And the neighbors cried "What need? + 'Tis a lass in any weed + Aye bonny!" + Now my heart, my heart is sair. + What's the good, though I be fair, + For thou'lt never see me mair, + Man Johnnie! + +While the apple-woman sang Mopsa finished her story; and the Queen +untied the fastening which held her carpet to the boat, and went +floating upon it down the river. + +"Good-by," she said, kissing her hand to them. "I must go and prepare +for the deputation." + +So Jack and Mopsa played about all the morning, sometimes in the boat +and sometimes on the shore, while the apple-woman sat on the grass, +with her arms folded, and seemed to be lost in thought. At last she +said to Jack, "What was the name of the great bird that carried you +two here?" + +"I have forgotten," answered Jack. "I've been trying to remember ever +since we heard the Queen tell her first story, but I cannot." + +"I remember," said Mopsa. + +"Tell it then," replied the apple-woman; but Mopsa shook her head. + +"I don't want Jack to go," she answered. + +"I don't want to go, nor that you should," said Jack. + +"But the Queen said, 'there cannot be two queens in one hive,' and +that means that you are going to be turned out of this beautiful +country." + +"The other fairy lands are just as nice," answered Mopsa; "she can +only turn me out of this one." + +"I never heard of more than one Fairyland," observed Jack. + +"It's my opinion," said the apple-woman, "that there are hundreds! And +those one-foot-one fairies are such a saucy set, that if I were you I +should be very glad to get away from them. You've been here a very +little while as yet, and you've no notion what goes on when the leaves +begin to drop." + +"Tell us," said Jack. + +"Well, you must know," answered the apple-woman, "that fairies cannot +abide cold weather; so, when the first rime frost comes, they bury +themselves." + +"Bury themselves?" repeated Jack. + +"Yes, I tell you, they bury themselves. You've seen fairy rings, of +course, even in your own country; and here the fields are full of +them. Well, when it gets cold, a company of fairies forms itself into +a circle, and every one digs a little hole. The first that has +finished jumps into his hole, and his next neighbor covers him up, +and then jumps into his own little hole, and he gets covered up in his +turn, till at last there is only one left, and he goes and joins +another circle, hoping he shall have better luck than to be last +again. I've often asked them why they do that, but no fairy can ever +give a reason for anything. They always say that old Mother Fate makes +them do it. When they come up again, they are not fairies at all, but +the good ones are mushrooms, and the bad ones are toadstools." + +"Then you think there are no one-foot-one fairies in the other +countries," said Jack. + +"Of course not," answered the apple-woman; "all the fairy lands are +different. It's only the queens that are alike." + +"I wish the fairies would not disappear for hours," said Jack. "They +all seem to run off and hide themselves." + +"That's their way," answered the apple-woman. "All fairies are part of +their time in the shape of human creatures, and the rest of it in the +shape of some animal. These can turn themselves, when they please, +into Guinea-fowl. In the heat of the day they generally prefer to be +in that form, and they sit among the leaves of the trees. + +[Illustration: THE APPLE WOMAN. + +"So she began to sing."--PAGE 156.] + +"A great many are now with the Queen, because there is a deputation +coming; but if I were to begin to sing, such a flock of Guinea-hens +would gather round, that the boughs of the trees would bend with their +weight, and they would light on the grass all about so thickly that +not a blade of grass would be seen as far as the song was heard." + +So she began to sing, and the air was darkened by great flocks of +these Guinea-fowl. They alighted just as she had said, and kept time +with their heads and their feet, nodding like a crowd of mandarins; +and yet it was nothing but a stupid old song that you would have +thought could have no particular meaning for them. + + +LIKE A LAVEROCK IN THE LIFT. + + I. + + It's we two, it's we two, it's we two for aye, + All the world and we two, and Heaven be our stay. + Like a laverock in the lift, sing, O bonny bride! + All the world was Adam once, with Eve by his side. + + II. + + What's the world, my lass, my love!--what can it do? + I am thine, and thou art mine; life is sweet and new. + If the world have missed the mark, let it stand by, + For we two have gotten leave, and once more we'll try. + + III. + + Like a laverock in the lift, sing, O bonny bride! + It's we two, it's we two, happy side by side. + Take a kiss from me thy man; now the song begins: + "All is made afresh for us, and the brave heart wins." + + IV. + + When the darker days come, and no sun will shine, + Thou shalt dry my tears, lass, and I'll dry thine. + It's we two, it's we two, while the world's away, + Sitting by the golden sheaves on our wedding-day. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THEY RUN AWAY FROM OLD MOTHER FATE. + + A land that living warmth disowns, + It meets my wondering ken; + A land where all the men are stones, + Or all the stones are men. + + +Before the apple-woman had finished, Jack and Mopsa saw the Queen +coming in great state, followed by thousands of the one-foot-one +fairies, and leading by a ribbon round its neck a beautiful brown doe. +A great many pretty fawns were walking among the fairies. + +"Here's the deputation," said the apple-woman; but as the Guinea-fowl +rose like a cloud at the approach of the Queen, and the fairies and +fawns pressed forward, there was a good deal of noise and confusion, +during which Mopsa stepped up close to Jack, and whispered in his ear, +"Remember, Jack, whatever you can do you may do." + +Then the brown doe laid down at Mopsa's feet, and the Queen began:-- + +"Jack and Mopsa, I love you both. I had a message last night from my +old mother, and I told you what it was." + +"Yes, Queen," said Mopsa, "you did." + +"And now," continued the Queen, "she has sent this beautiful brown doe +from the country beyond the lake, where they are in the greatest +distress for a queen, to offer Mopsa the crown; and, Jack, it is fated +that Mopsa is to reign there, so you had better say no more about +it." + +"I don't want to be a queen," said Mopsa, pouting; "I want to play +with Jack." + +"You are a queen already," answered the real Queen; "at least, you +will be in a few days. You are so much grown, even since the morning, +that you come up nearly to Jack's shoulder. In four days you will be +as tall as I am; and it is quite impossible that any one of fairy +birth should be as tall as a queen in her own country." + +"But I don't see what stags and does can want with a queen," said +Jack. + +"They were obliged to turn into deer," said the Queen, "when they +crossed their own border; but they are fairies when they are at home, +and they want Mopsa, because they are always obliged to have a queen +of alien birth." + +"If I go," said Mopsa, "shall Jack go too?" + +"Oh, no," answered the Queen; "Jack and the apple-woman are my +subjects." + +"Apple-woman," said Jack, "tell us what you think; shall Mopsa go to +this country?" + +"Why, child," said the apple-woman, "go away from here she must; but +she need not go off with the deer, I suppose, unless she likes. They +look gentle and harmless; but it is very hard to get at the truth in +this country, and I've heard queer stories about them." + +"Have you?" said the Queen. "Well, you can repeat them if you like; +but remember that the poor brown doe cannot contradict them." + +So the apple-woman said, "I have heard, but I don't know how true it +is, that in that country they shut up their queen in a great castle, +and cover her with a veil, and never let the sun shine on her; for if +by chance the least little sunbeam should light on her she would turn +into a doe directly, and all the nation would turn with her, and stay +so." + +"I don't want to be shut up in a castle," said Mopsa. + +"But is it true?" asked Jack. + +"Well," said the apple-woman, "as I told you before, I cannot make out +whether it's true or not, for all these stags and fawns look very +mild, gentle creatures." + +"I won't go," said Mopsa; "I would rather run away." + +All this time the Queen with the brown doe had been gently pressing +with the crowd nearer and nearer to the brink of the river, so that +now Jack and Mopsa, who stood facing them, were quite close to the +boat; and while they argued and tried to make Mopsa come away, Jack +suddenly whispered to her to spring into the boat, which she did, and +he after her, and at the same time he cried out,-- + +"Now, boat, if you are my boat, set off as fast as you can, and let +nothing of fairy birth get on board of you." + +No sooner did he begin to speak than the boat swung itself away from +the edge, and almost in a moment it was in the very middle of the +river, and beginning to float gently down with the stream. + +[Illustration: THEY RUN AWAY FROM OLD MOTHER FATE. + +"The boat swung itself away from the edge, and almost in a moment it was +in the very middle of the river."--PAGE 162.] + +Now, as I have told you before, that river runs up the country instead +of down to the sea, so Jack and Mopsa floated still farther up into +Fairyland; and they saw the Queen, and the apple-woman, and all the +crowd of fawns and fairies walking along the bank of the river, +keeping exactly to the same pace that the boat went; and this went on +for hours and hours, so that there seemed to be no chance that Jack +and Mopsa could land; and they heard no voices at all, nor any sound +but the baying of the old hound, who could not swim out to them, +because Jack had forbidden the boat to take anything of fairy birth on +board of her. + +Luckily the bottom of the boat was full of those delicious flowers +that had dropped into it at breakfast-time, so there was plenty of +nice food for Jack and Mopsa; and Jack noticed, when he looked at her +towards evening, that she was now nearly as tall as himself, and that +her lovely brown hair floated down to her ankles. + +"Jack," she said, before it grew dusk, "will you give me your little +purse that has the silver fourpence in it?" + +Now Mopsa had often played with this purse. It was lined with a nice +piece of pale green silk, and when Jack gave it to her she pulled the +silk out, and shook it, and patted it, and stretched it, just as the +Queen had done, and it came into a most lovely cloak, which she tied +round her neck. Then she twisted up her long hair into a coil, and +fastened it round her head, and called to the fire-flies which were +beginning to glitter on the trees to come, and they came and alighted +in a row upon the coil, and turned into diamonds directly. So now +Mopsa had got a crown and a robe, and she was so beautiful that Jack +thought he should never be tired of looking at her; but it was nearly +dark now, and he was so sleepy and tired that he could not keep his +eyes open, though he tried very hard, and he began to blink, and then +he began to nod, and at last he fell fast asleep, and did not awake +till the morning. + +Then he sat up in the boat, and looked about him. A wonderful country, +indeed!--no trees, no grass, no houses, nothing but red stones and red +sand,--and Mopsa was gone. Jack jumped on shore, for the boat had +stopped, and was close to the brink of the river. He looked about for +some time, and at last, in the shadow of a pale brown rock, he found +her; and oh! delightful surprise, the apple-woman was there too. She +was saying, "O my bones! Dearie, dearie me, how they do ache!" That +was not surprising, for she had been out all night. She had walked +beside the river with the Queen and her tribe till they came to a +little tinkling stream, which divides their country from the sandy +land, and there they were obliged to stop; they could not cross it. +But the apple-woman sprang over, and, though the Queen told her she +must come back again in twenty-four hours, she did not appear to be +displeased. Now the Guinea-hens, when they had come to listen, the day +before, to the apple-woman's song, had brought each of them a grain of +maize in her beak, and had thrown it into her apron; so when she got +up she carried it with her gathered up there, and now she had been +baking some delicious little cakes on a fire of dry sticks that the +river had drifted down, and Mopsa had taken a honeycomb from the rock, +so that they all had a very nice breakfast. And the apple-woman gave +them a great deal of good advice, and told them if they wished to +remain in Fairyland, and not be caught by the brown doe and her +followers, they must cross over the purple mountains. "For on the +other side of those peaks," she said, "I have heard that fairies live +who have the best of characters for being kind and just. I am sure +they would never shut up a poor queen in a castle. + +"But the best thing you could do, dear," she said to Mopsa, "would be +to let Jack call the bird, and make her carry you back to his own +country." + +"The Queen is not at all kind," said Jack; "I have been very kind to +her, and she should have let Mopsa stay." + +"No, Jack, she could not," said Mopsa; "but I wish I had not grown so +fast, and I don't like to go to your country. I would rather run +away." + +"But who is to tell us where to run?" asked Jack. + +"Oh," said Mopsa, "some of these people." + +"I don't see anybody," said Jack, looking about him. + +Mopsa pointed to a group of stones, and then to another group, and +as Jack looked he saw that in shape they were something like +people,--stone people. One stone was a little like an old man with +a mantle over him, and he was sitting on the ground with his knees up +nearly to his chin. Another was like a woman with a hood on, and +she seemed to be leaning her chin on her hand. Close to these stood +something very much like a cradle in shape; and beyond were stones +that resembled a flock of sheep lying down on the bare sand, with +something that reminded Jack of the figure of a man lying asleep +near them, with his face to the ground. + +That was a very curious country; all the stones reminded you of people +or of animals, and the shadows that they cast were much more like than +the stones themselves. There were blocks with things that you might +have mistaken for stone ropes twisted round them; but, looking at the +shadows, you could see distinctly that they were trees, and that what +coiled round were snakes. Then there was a rocky prominence, at one +side of which was something like a sitting figure, but its shadow, +lying on the ground, was that of a girl with a distaff. Jack was very +much surprised at all this; Mopsa was not. She did not see, she said, +that one thing was more wonderful than another. All the fairy lands +were wonderful, but the men-and-women world was far more so. She and +Jack went about among the stones all day, and as the sun got low both +the shadows and the blocks themselves became more and more like +people, and if you went close you could now see features, very sweet, +quiet features, but the eyes were all shut. + +By this time the apple-woman began to feel very sad. She knew she +should soon have to leave Jack and Mopsa, and she said to Mopsa, as +they finished their evening meal, "I wish you would ask the +inhabitants a few questions, dear, before I go, for I want to know +whether they can put you in the way how to cross the purple +mountains." + +Jack said nothing, for he thought he would see what Mopsa was going to +do; so when she got up and went towards the shape that was like a +cradle he followed, and the apple-woman too. Mopsa went to the figure +that sat by the cradle. It was a stone yet, but when Mopsa laid her +little warm hand on its bosom it smiled. + +"Dear," said Mopsa, "I wish you would wake." + +A curious little sound was now heard, but the figure did not move, and +the apple-woman lifted Mopsa on to the lap of the statue; then she put +her arms round its neck, and spoke to it again very distinctly: "Dear! +why don't you wake? You had better wake now; the baby's crying." + +Jack now observed that the sound he had heard was something like the +crying of a baby. He also heard the figure answering Mopsa. It said, +"I am only a stone!" + +"Then," said Mopsa, "I am not a queen yet. I cannot wake her. Take me +down." + +"I am not warm," said the figure; and that was quite true, and yet she +was not a stone now which reminded one of a woman, but a woman that +reminded one of a stone. + +All the west was very red with the sunset, and the river was red too, +and Jack distinctly saw some of the coils of rope glide down from the +trees and slip into the water; next he saw the stones that had looked +like sheep raise up their heads in the twilight, and then lift +themselves and shake their woolly sides. At that instant the large +white moon heaved up her pale face between two dark blue hills, and +upon this the statue put out its feet and gently rocked the cradle. + +Then it spoke again to Mopsa: "What was it that you wished me to tell +you?" + +"How to find the way over those purple mountains," said Mopsa. + +"You must set off in an hour, then," said the woman; and she had +hardly anything of the stone about her now. "You can easily find it by +night without any guide, but nothing can ever take you to it by +day." + +"But we would rather stay a few days in this curious country," said +Jack; "let us wait at least till to-morrow night." + +The statue at this moment rubbed her hands together, as if they still +felt cold and stiff. "You are quite welcome to stay," she observed; +"but you had better not." + +"Why not?" persisted Jack. + +"Father," said the woman, rising and shaking the figure next to her by +the sleeve, "Wake up!" What had looked like an old man was a real old +man now, and he got up and began to gather sticks to make a fire, and +to pick up the little brown stones which had been scattered about all +day, but which now were berries of coffee; the larger ones, which you +might find here and there, were rasped rolls. Then the woman answered +Jack, "Why not? Why, because it's full moon to-night at midnight, and +the moment the moon is past the full your Queen, whose country you +have just left, will be able to cross over the little stream, and she +will want to take you and that other mortal back. She can do it, of +course, if she pleases; and we can afford you no protection, for by +that time we shall be stones again. We are only people two hours out +of the twenty-four." + +"That is very hard," observed Jack. + +"No," said the woman, in a tone of indifference; "it comes to the same +thing, as we live twelve times as long as others do." + +By this time the shepherd was gently driving his flock down to the +water, and round fifty little fires groups of people were sitting +roasting coffee, while cows were lowing to be milked, and girls with +distaffs were coming to them slowly, for no one was in a hurry there. +They say in that country that they wish to enjoy their day quietly, +because it is so short. + +"Can you tell us anything of the land beyond the mountains?" asked +Jack. + +"Yes," said the woman. "Of all fairy lands it is the best; the people +are the gentlest and kindest." + +"Then I had better take Mopsa there than down the river?" said Jack. + +"You can't take her down the river," replied the woman; and Jack +thought she laughed and was glad of that. + +"Why not?" asked Jack. "I have a boat." + +"Yes, sir," answered the woman; "but where is it now?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +MELON SEEDS. + + _Rosalind._--Well, this is the forest of Arden. + + _Touchstone._--Ay, now am I in Arden: the more fool I; + when I was at home I was in a better place; but travellers + must be content. + + _As you Like it._ + + +"Where is it now?" said the stone-woman; and when Jack heard that he +ran down to the river, and looked right and looked left. At last he +saw his boat,--a mere speck in the distance, it had floated so far. + +He called it, but it was far beyond the reach of his voice; and Mopsa, +who had followed him, said,-- + +"It does not signify, Jack, for I feel that no place is the right +place for me but that country beyond the purple mountains, and I +shall never be happy unless we go there." + +So they walked back towards the stone-people hand in hand, and the +apple-woman presently joined them. She was crying gently, for she knew +that she must soon pass over the little stream, and part with these +whom she called her dear children. Jack had often spoken to her that +day about going home to her own country, but she said it was too late +to think of that now, and she must end her days in the land of Faery. + +The kind stone-people asked them to come and sit by their little fire; +and in the dusk the woman whose baby had slept in a stone cradle took +it up and began to sing to it. She seemed astonished when she heard +that the apple-woman had power to go home if she could make up her +mind to do it; and as she sang she looked at her with wonder and +pity. + + Little babe, while burns the west, + Warm thee, warm thee in my breast; + While the moon doth shine her best, + And the dews distil not. + + All the land so sad, so fair-- + Sweet its toils are, blest its care. + Child, we may not enter there! + Some there are that will not. + + Fain would I thy margins know, + Land of work, and land of snow; + Land of life, whose rivers flow + On, and on, and stay not. + + Fain would I thy small limbs fold, + While the weary hours are told, + Little babe in cradle cold. + Some there are that may not. + +"You are not exactly fairies, I suppose?" said Jack. "If you were, you +could go to our country when you pleased." + +"No," said the woman; "we are not exactly fairies; but we shall be +more like them when our punishment is over." + +"I am sorry you are punished," answered Jack, "for you seem very nice, +kind people." + +"We were not always kind," answered the woman; "and perhaps we are +only kind now because we have no time, and no chance of being +otherwise. I'm sure I don't know about that. We were powerful once, +and we did a cruel deed. I must not tell you what it was. We were told +that our hearts were all as cold as stones,--and I suppose they +were,--and we were doomed to be stones all our lives, excepting for +the two hours of twilight. There was no one to sow the crops, or water +the grass, so it all failed, and the trees died, and our houses fell, +and our possessions were stolen from us." + +"It is a very sad thing," observed the apple-woman; and then she said +that she must go, for she had a long way to walk before she should +reach the little brook that led to the country of her own queen; so +she kissed the two children, Jack and Mopsa, and they begged her again +to think better of it, and return to her own land. But she said No; +she had no heart for work now, and could not bear either cold or +poverty. + +Then the woman who was hugging her little baby, and keeping it cosy +and warm, began to tell Jack and Mopsa that it was time they should +begin to run away to the country over the purple mountains, or else +the Queen would overtake them and be very angry with them; so, with +many promises that they would mind her directions, they set off hand +in hand to run; but before they left her they could see plainly that +she was beginning to turn again into stone. However, she had given +them a slice of melon with the seeds in it. It had been growing on the +edge of the river, and was stone in the day-time, like everything +else. "When you are tired," she said, "eat the seeds, and they will +enable you to go running on. You can put the slice into this little +red pot, which has string handles to it, and you can hang it on your +arm. While you have it with you it will not turn to stone, but if you +lay it down it will, and then it will be useless." + +So, as I said before, Jack and Mopsa set off hand in hand to run; and +as they ran all the things and people gradually and softly settled +themselves to turn into stone again. Their cloaks and gowns left off +fluttering, and hung stiffly; and then they left off their +occupations, and sat down, or laid down themselves; and the sheep and +cattle turned stiff and stone-like too, so that in a very little while +all that country was nothing but red stones and red sand, just as it +had been in the morning. + +Presently the full moon, which had been hiding behind a cloud, came +out, and they saw their shadows, which fell straight before them; so +they ran on hand in hand very merrily till the half-moon came up, and +the shadows she made them cast fell sideways. This was rather awkward, +because as long as only the full moon gave them shadows, they had but +to follow them, in order to go straight towards the purple mountains. +Now they were not always sure which were her shadows: and presently a +crescent moon came, and still further confused them; also the sand +began to have tufts of grass in it; and then, when they had gone a +little farther, there were beautiful patches of anemones, and +hyacinths, and jonquils, and crown imperials, and they stopped to +gather them; and they got among some trees, and then, as they had +nothing to guide them but the shadows, and these went all sorts of +ways, they lost a great deal of time, and the trees became of taller +growth; but they still ran on and on till they got into a thick forest +where it was quite dark, and here Mopsa began to cry, for she was +tired. + +"If I could only begin to be a queen," she said to Jack, "I could go +wherever I pleased. I am not a fairy, and yet I am not a proper queen. +Oh, what shall I do? I cannot go any farther." + +So Jack gave her some of the seeds of the melon, though it was so dark +that he could scarcely find the way to her mouth, and then he took +some himself, and they both felt that they were rested, and Jack +comforted Mopsa. + +"If you are not a queen yet," he said, "you will be by to-morrow +morning; for when our shadows danced on before us yours was so very +nearly the same height as mine, that I could hardly see any +difference." + +When they reached the end of that great forest, and found themselves +out in all sorts of moonlight, the first thing they did was to +laugh,--the shadows looked so odd, sticking out in every direction; +and the next thing they did was to stand back to back, and put their +heels together, and touch their heads together, to see by the shadow +which was the taller; and Jack was still the least bit in the world +taller than Mopsa; so they knew she was not a queen yet, and they ate +some more melon-seeds, and began to climb up the mountain. + +They climbed till the trees of the forest looked no bigger than +gooseberry bushes, and then they climbed till the whole forest looked +only like a patch of moss; and then, when they got a little higher, +they saw the wonderful river, a long way off, and the snow glittering +on the peaks overhead; and while they were looking and wondering how +they should find a pass, the moons all went down, one after the +other, and, if Mopsa had not found some glowworms, they would have +been quite in the dark again. However, she took a dozen of them, and +put them round Jack's ankles, so that when he walked he could see +where he was going; and he found a little sheep-path, and she followed +him. + +Now they had noticed during the night how many shooting-stars kept +darting about from time to time, and at last one shot close by them, +and fell in the soft moss on before. There it lay shining; and Jack, +though he began to feel very tired again, made haste to it, for he +wanted to see what it was like. + +It was not what you would have supposed. It was soft and round, and +about the color of a ripe apricot; it was covered with fur, and in +fact it was evidently alive, and had curled itself up into a round +ball. + +"The dear little thing!" said Jack, as he held it in his hand, and +showed it to Mopsa; "how its heart beats. Is it frightened?" + +"Who are you?" said Mopsa to the thing. "What is your name?" + +The little creature made a sound that seemed like "Wisp." + +"Uncurl yourself, Wisp," said Mopsa. "Jack and I want to look at +you." + +So Wisp unfolded himself, and showed two little black eyes, and spread +out two long filmy wings. He was like a most beautiful bat, and the +light he shed out illuminated their faces. + +"It is only one of the air fairies," said Mopsa. "Pretty creature! It +never did any harm, and would like to do us good if it knew how, for +it knows that I shall be a queen very soon. Wisp, if you like, you may +go and tell your friends and relations that we want to cross over the +mountains, and if they can they may help us." + +Upon this Wisp spread out his wings, and shot off again; and Jack's +feet were so tired that he sat down, and pulled off one of his shoes, +for he thought there was a stone in it. So he set the little red jar +beside him, and quite forgot what the stone-woman had said, but went +on shaking his shoe, and buckling it, and admiring the glowworms round +his ankle, till Mopsa said, "Darling Jack, I am so dreadfully tired! +Give me some more melon-seeds." Then he lifted up the jar, and thought +it felt very heavy; and when he put in his hand, jar, and melon, and +seeds were all turned to stone together. + +They were both very sorry, and they sat still for a minute or two, for +they were much too tired to stir; and then shooting-stars began to +appear in all directions. The fairy bat had told his friends and +relations, and they were coming. One fell at Mopsa's feet, another in +her lap; more, more, all about, behind, before, and over them. And +they spread out long filmy wings, some of them a yard long, till Jack +and Mopsa seemed to be enclosed in a perfect network of the rays of +shooting-stars, and they were both a good deal frightened. Fifty or +sixty shooting-stars, with black eyes that could stare, were enough, +they thought, to frighten anybody. + +"If we had anything to sit upon," said Mopsa, "they could carry us +over the pass." She had no sooner spoken than the largest of the bats +bit off one of his own long wings, and laid it at Mopsa's feet. It did +not seem to matter much to him that he had parted with it, for he shot +out another wing directly, just as a comet shoots out a ray of light +sometimes, when it approaches the sun. + +Mopsa thanked the shooting fairy, and, taking the wing, began to +stretch it, till it was large enough for her and Jack to sit upon. +Then all the shooting fairies came round it, took its edges in their +mouths, and began to fly away with it over the mountains. They went +slowly, for Jack and Mopsa were heavy, and they flew very low, resting +now and then; but in the course of time they carried the wing over the +pass, and halfway down the other side. Then the sun came up; and the +moment he appeared all their lovely apricot-colored light was gone, +and they only looked like common bats, such as you can see every +evening. + +They set down Jack and Mopsa, folded up their long wings, and hung +down their heads. + +Mopsa thanked them, and said they had been useful; but still they +looked ashamed, and crept into little corners and crevices of the +rock, to hide. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +REEDS AND RUSHES. + + 'Tis merry, 'tis merry in Fairyland, + Where Fairy birds are singing; + When the court doth sit by the monarch's side, + With bit and bridle ringing. + + WALTER SCOTT. + + +There were many fruit-trees on that slope of the mountain, and Jack +and Mopsa, as they came down, gathered some fruit for breakfast, and +did not feel very tired, for the long ride on the wing had rested +them. + +They could not see the plain, for a slight blue mist hung over it; but +the sun was hot already, and as they came down they saw a beautiful +bed of high reeds, and thought they would sit awhile and rest in it. A +rill of clear water ran beside the bed, so when they had reached it +they sat down, and began to consider what they should do next. + +"Jack," said Mopsa, "did you see anything particular as you came down +with the shooting-stars?" + +"No, I saw nothing so interesting as they were," answered Jack. "I was +looking at them and watching how they squeaked to one another, and how +they had little hooks in their wings, with which they held the large +wing that we sat on." + +"But I saw something," said Mopsa. "Just as the sun rose I looked +down, and in the loveliest garden I ever saw, and all among trees and +woods, I saw a most beautiful castle. O, Jack! I am sure that castle +is the place I am to live in, and now we have nothing to do but to +find it. I shall soon be a queen, and there I shall reign." + +"Then I shall be king there," said Jack; "shall I?" + +"Yes, if you can," answered Mopsa. "Of course, whatever you can do +you may do. And, Jack, this is a much better fairy country than either +the stony land or the other that we first came to, for this castle is +a real place! It will not melt away. There the people can work, they +know how to love each other: common fairies cannot do that, I know. +They can laugh and cry, and I shall teach them several things that +they do not know yet. Oh! do let us make haste and find the castle." + +So they arose; but they turned the wrong way, and by mistake walked +farther and farther in among the reeds, whose feathery heads puffed +into Mopsa's face, and Jack's coat was all covered with the fluffy +seed. + +"This is very odd," said Jack. "I thought this was only a small bed of +reeds when we stepped into it; but really we must have walked a mile +already." + +But they walked on and on, till Mopsa grew quite faint, and her sweet +face became very pale, for she knew that the beds of reeds were +spreading faster than they walked, and then they shot up so high that +it was impossible to see over their heads; so at last Jack and Mopsa +were so tired that they sat down, and Mopsa began to cry. + +However, Jack was the braver of the two this time, and he comforted +Mopsa, and told her that she was nearly a queen, and would never reach +her castle by sitting still. So she got up and took his hand, and he +went on before, parting the reeds and pulling her after him, till all +on a sudden they heard the sweetest sound in the world; it was like a +bell, and it sounded again and again. + +It was the castle clock, and it was striking twelve at noon. + +As it finished striking they came out at the farther edge of the great +bed of reeds, and there was the castle straight before them,--a +beautiful castle, standing on the slope of a hill. The grass all about +it was covered with beautiful flowers; two of the taller turrets were +overgrown with ivy, and a flag was flying on a staff; but everything +was so silent and lonely that it made one sad to look on. As Jack and +Mopsa drew near they trod as gently as they could, and did not say a +word. + +All the windows were shut, but there was a great door in the centre of +the building, and they went towards it, hand in hand. + +What a beautiful hall! The great door stood wide open, and they could +see what a delightful place this must be to live in: it was paved with +squares of blue and white marble, and here and there carpets were +spread, with chairs and tables upon them. They looked and saw a great +dome overhead, filled with windows of colored glass, and they cast +down blue and golden and rosy reflections. + +"There is my home that I shall live in," said Mopsa; and she came +close to the door, and they both looked in, till at last she let go of +Jack's hand, and stepped over the threshold. + +The bell in the tower sounded again more sweetly than ever, and the +instant Mopsa was inside there came from behind the fluted columns, +which rose up on every side, the brown doe, followed by troops of deer +and fawns! + +"Mopsa! Mopsa!" cried Jack, "come away! come back!" But Mopsa was too +much astonished to stir, and something seemed to hold Jack from +following; but he looked and looked, till, as the brown doe advanced, +the door of the castle closed,--Mopsa was shut in, and Jack was left +outside. + +So Mopsa had come straight to the place she thought she had ran away +from. + +"But I am determined to get her away from those creatures," thought +Jack; "she does not want to reign over deer." And he began to look +about him, hoping to get in. It was of no use: all the windows in that +front of the castle were high, and when he tried to go round, he came +to a high wall with battlements. Against some parts of this wall the +ivy grew, and looked as if it might have grown there for ages; its +stems were thicker than his waist, and its branches were spread over +the surface like network; so by means of them he hoped to climb to the +top. + +He immediately began to try. Oh, how high the wall was! First he came +to several sparrows' nests, and very much frightened the sparrows +were; then he reached starlings' nests, and very angry the starlings +were; but at last, just under the coping, he came to jackdaws' nests, +and these birds were very friendly, and pointed out to him the best +little holes for him to put his feet into. At last he reached the top, +and found to his delight that the wall was three feet thick, and he +could walk upon it quite comfortably, and look down into a lovely +garden, where all the trees were in blossom, and creepers tossed their +long tendrils from tree to tree, covered with puffs of yellow, or +bells of white, or bunches and knots of blue or rosy bloom. + +He could look down into the beautiful empty rooms of the castle, and +he walked cautiously on the wall till he came to the west front, and +reached a little casement window that had latticed panes. Jack peeped +in; nobody was there. He took his knife, and cut away a little bit of +lead to let out the pane, and it fell with such a crash on the +pavement below that he wondered it did not bring the deer over to look +at what he was about. Nobody came. + +He put in his hand and opened the latchet, and with very little +trouble got down into the room. Still nobody was to be seen. He +thought that the room, years ago, might have been a fairies' +school-room, for it was strewn with books, slates, and all sorts of +copybooks. A fine soft dust had settled down over everything,--pens, +papers, and all. Jack opened a copybook: its pages were headed with +maxims, just as ours are, which proved that these fairies must have +been superior to such as he had hitherto come among. Jack read some of +them:-- + + Turn your back on the light, and you'll follow a shadow. + The deaf queen Fate has dumb courtiers. + If the hound is your foe, don't sleep in his kennel. + That that is, is. + +And so on; but nobody came, and no sound was heard, so he opened the +door, and found himself in a long and most splendid gallery, all hung +with pictures, and spread with a most beautiful carpet, which was as +soft and white as a piece of wool, and wrought with a beautiful +device. This was the letter M, with a crown and sceptre, and +underneath a beautiful little boat, exactly like the one in which he +had come up the river. Jack felt sure that this carpet had been made +for Mopsa, and he went along the gallery upon it till he reached a +grand staircase of oak that was almost black with age, and he stole +gently down it, for he began to feel rather shy, more especially as he +could now see the great hall under the dome, and that it had a +beautiful lady in it, and many other people, but no deer at all. + +These fairy people were something like the one-foot-one fairies, but +much larger and more like children; and they had very gentle, happy +faces, and seemed to be extremely glad and gay. But seated on a +couch, where lovely painted windows threw down all sorts of rainbow +colors on her, was a beautiful fairy lady, as large as a woman. She +had Mopsa in her arms, and was looking down upon her with eyes full of +love, while at her side stood a boy, who was exactly and precisely +like Jack himself. He had rather long light hair and gray eyes, and a +velvet jacket. That was all Jack could see at first, but as he drew +nearer the boy turned, and then Jack felt as if he was looking at +himself in the glass. + +Mopsa had been very tired, and now she was fast asleep, with her head +on that lady's shoulder. The boy kept looking at her, and he seemed +very happy indeed; so did the lady, and she presently told him to +bring Jack something to eat. + +It was rather a curious speech that she made to him; it was this:-- + +"Jack, bring Jack some breakfast." + +"What!" thought Jack to himself, "has he got a face like mine, and a +name like mine too?" + +So that other Jack went away, and presently came back with a golden +plate full of nice things to eat. + +"I know you don't like me," he said, as he came up to Jack with the +plate. + +"Not like him?" repeated the lady; "and pray what reason have you for +not liking my royal nephew?" + +"O dame!" exclaimed the boy, and laughed. + +The lady, on hearing this, turned pale, for she perceived that she +herself had mistaken the one for the other. + +"I see you know how to laugh," said the real Jack. "You are wiser +people than those whom I went to first; but the reason I don't like +you is, that you are so exactly like me." + +"I am not!" exclaimed the boy. "Only hear him, dame! You mean, I +suppose, that you are so exactly like me. I am sure I don't know what +you mean by it." + +"Nor I either," replied Jack, almost in a passion. + +"It couldn't be helped, of course," said the other Jack. + +"Hush! hush!" said the fairy woman; "don't wake our dear little Queen. +Was it you, my royal nephew, who spoke last?" + +"Yes, dame," answered the boy, and again he offered the plate; but +Jack was swelling with indignation, and he gave the plate a push with +his elbow, which scattered the fruit and bread on the ground. + +"I won't eat it," he said; but when the other Jack went and picked it +up again, and said, "Oh, yes, do, old fellow; it's not my fault, you +know," he began to consider that it was no use being cross in +Fairyland; so he forgave his double, and had just finished his +breakfast when Mopsa woke. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE QUEEN'S WAND. + + One, two, three, four; one, two, three, four; + 'Tis still one, two, three, four. + Mellow and silvery are the tones, + But I wish the bells were more. + + SOUTHEY. + + +Mopsa woke: she was rather too big to be nursed, for she was the size +of Jack, and looked like a sweet little girl of ten years, but she did +not always behave like one; sometimes she spoke as wisely as a +grown-up woman, and sometimes she changed again and seemed like a +child. + +Mopsa lifted up her head and pushed back her long hair: her coronet +had fallen off while she was in the bed of reeds; and she said to the +beautiful dame,-- + +"I am a queen now." + +"Yes, my sweet Queen," answered the lady, "I know you are." + +"And you promise that you will be kind to me till I grow up," said +Mopsa, "and love me, and teach me how to reign?" + +"Yes," repeated the lady; "and I will love you too, just as if you +were a mortal and I your mother." + +"For I am only ten years old yet," said Mopsa, "and the throne is too +big for me to sit upon; but I am a queen." And then she paused, and +said, "Is it three o'clock?" + +As she spoke, the sweet, clear bell of the castle sounded three times, +and then chimes began to play: they played such a joyous tune that it +made everybody sing. The dame sang, the crowd of fairies sang, the +boy who was Jack's double sang, and Mopsa sang,--only Jack was +silent,--and this was the song:-- + + The prince shall to the chase again, + The dame has got her face again, + The king shall have his place again + Aneath the fairy dome. + + And all the knights shall woo again, + And all the doves shall coo again, + And all the dreams come true again, + And Jack shall go home. + +"We shall see about that!" thought Jack to himself. And Mopsa, while +she sang those last words, burst into tears, which Jack did not like +to see; but all the fairies were so very glad, so joyous, and so +delighted with her for having come to be their queen, that after a +while she dried her eyes, and said to the wrong boy,-- + +"Jack, when I pulled the lining out of your pocket-book there was a +silver fourpence in it." + +"Yes," said the real Jack, "and here it is." + +"Is it real money?" asked Mopsa. "Are you sure you brought it with you +all the way from your own country?" + +"Yes," said Jack, "quite sure." + +"Then, dear Jack," answered Mopsa, "will you give it to me?" + +"I will," said Jack, "if you will send this boy away." + +"How can I?" answered Mopsa, surprised. "Don't you know what happened +when the door closed? Has nobody told you?" + +"I did not see any one after I got into the place," said Jack. "There +was no one to tell anything,--not even a fawn, nor the brown doe. I +have only seen down here these fairy people, and this boy, and this +lady." + +"The lady is the brown doe," answered Mopsa; "and this boy and the +fairies were the fawns." Jack was so astonished at this that he stared +at the lady and the boy and the fairies with all his might. + +"The sun came shining in as I stepped inside," said Mopsa, "and a long +beam fell down from the fairy dome across my feet. Do you remember +what the apple-woman told us,--how it was reported that the brown doe +and her nation had a queen whom they shut up, and never let the sun +shine on her? That was not a kind or true report, and yet it came from +something that really happened." + +"Yes, I remember," said Jack; "and if the sun did shine they were all +to be turned into deer." + +"I dare not tell you all that story yet," said Mopsa; "but, Jack, as +the brown doe and all the fawns came up to greet me, and passed by +turns into the sunbeam, they took their own forms, every one of them, +because the spell was broken. They were to remain in the disguise of +deer till a queen of alien birth should come to them against her will. +I am a queen of alien birth, and did not I come against my will?" + +"Yes, to be sure," answered Jack. "We thought all the time that we +were running away." + +"If ever you come to Fairyland again," observed Mopsa, "you can save +yourself the trouble of trying to run away from the old mother." + +"I shall not 'come,'" answered Jack, "because I shall not go,--not for +a long while, at least. But the boy,--I want to know why this boy +turned into another ME?" + +"Because he is the heir, of course," answered Mopsa. + +"But I don't see that this is any reason at all," said Jack. + +Mopsa laughed. "That's because you don't know how to argue," she +replied. "Why, the thing is as plain as possible." + +"It may be plain to you," persisted Jack, "but it's no reason." + +"No reason!" repeated Mopsa, "no reason! when I like you the best of +anything in the world, and when I am come here to be queen? Of course, +when the spell was broken he took exactly your form on that account; +and very right too." + +"But why?" asked Jack. + +Mopsa, however, was like other fairies in this respect,--that she knew +all about Old Mother Fate, but not about causes and reasons. She +believed, as we do in this world, that + + That that is, is; + +but the fairies go further than this; they say:-- + + That that is, is; and when it is, that is the reason that it is. + +This sounds like nonsense to us, but it is all right to them. + +So Mopsa, thinking she had explained everything, said again,-- + +"And, dear Jack, will you give the silver fourpence to me?" + +Jack took it out; and she got down from the dame's knee and took it in +the palm of her hand, laying the other palm upon it. + +"It will be very hot," observed the dame. + +"But it will not burn me so as really to hurt, if I am a real queen," +said Mopsa. + +Presently she began to look as if something gave her pain. + +"Oh, it's so hot!" she said to the other Jack; "so very hot!" + +"Never mind, sweet Queen," he answered; "it will not hurt you long. +Remember my poor uncle and all his knights." + +Mopsa still held the little silver coin; but Jack saw that it hurt +her, for two bright tears fell from her eyes; and in another moment he +saw that it was actually melted, for it fell in glittering drops from +Mopsa's hand to the marble floor, and there it lay as soft as +quicksilver. + +"Pick it up," said Mopsa to the other Jack; and he instantly did so, +and laid it in her hand again; and she began gently to roll it +backwards and forwards between her palms till she had rolled it into a +very slender rod, two feet long, and not nearly so thick as a pin; but +it did not bend, and it shone so brightly that you could hardly look +at it. + +Then she held it out towards the real Jack, and said, "Give this a +name." + +"I think it is a----" began the other Jack; but the dame suddenly +stopped him. "Silence, sire! Don't you know that what it is first +called that it will be?" + +Jack hesitated; he thought if Mopsa was a queen the thing ought to be +a sceptre; but it certainly was not at all like a sceptre. + +"That thing is a wand," said he. + +"You are a wand," said Mopsa, speaking to the silver stick, which was +glittering now in a sunbeam almost as if it were a beam of light +itself. Then she spoke again to Jack: + +"Tell me, Jack, what can I do with a wand?" + +Again the boy-king began to speak, and the dame stopped him, and again +Jack considered. He had heard a great deal in his own country about +fairy wands, but he could not remember that the fairies had done +anything particular with them, so he gave what he thought was true, +but what seemed to him a very stupid answer: + +"You can make it point to anything that you please." + +The moment he had said this, shouts of ecstasy filled the hall, and +all the fairies clapped their hands with such hurrahs of delight that +he blushed for joy. + +The dame also looked truly glad, and as for the other Jack, he +actually turned head over heels, just as Jack had often done himself +on his father's lawn. + +Jack had merely meant that Mopsa could point with the wand to anything +that she saw; but he was presently told that what he had meant was +nothing, and that his words were everything. + +"I can make it point now," said Mopsa, "and it will point aright to +anything I please, whether I know where the thing is or not." + +Again the hall was filled with those cries of joy, and the sweet, +child-like fairies congratulated each other with "The Queen has got a +wand,--a wand! and she can make it point wherever she pleases!" + +Then Mopsa rose and walked towards the beautiful staircase, the dame +and all the fairies following. Jack was going too, but the other Jack +held him. + +"Where is Mopsa going? and why am I not to follow?" inquired Jack. + +"They are going to put on her robes, of course," answered the other +Jack. + +"I am so tired of always hearing you say 'of course,'" answered Jack; +"and I wonder how it is that you always seem to know what is going to +be done without being told. However, I suppose you can't help being +odd people." + +The boy-king did not make a direct answer; he only said, "I like you +very much, though you don't like me." + +"Why do you like me?" asked Jack. + +So he opened his eyes wide with surprise: "Most boys say Sire to me," +he observed; "at least they used to do when there were any boys here. +However, that does not signify. Why, of course I like you, because I +am so tired of being always a fawn, and you brought Mopsa to break the +spell. You cannot think how disagreeable it is to have no hands, and +to be all covered with hair. Now look at my hands; I can move them and +turn them everywhere, even over my head if I like. Hoofs are good for +nothing in comparison; and we could not talk." + +"Do tell me about it," said Jack. "How did you become fawns?" + +"I dare not tell you," said the boy; "and listen!--I hear Mopsa." + +Jack looked, and certainly Mopsa was coming, but very strangely, he +thought. Mopsa, like all other fairies, was afraid to whisper a spell +with her eyes open; so a handkerchief was tied across them, and as she +came on she felt her way, holding by the banisters with one hand, and +with the other, between her finger and thumb, holding out the silver +wand. She felt with her foot for the edge of the first stair; and Jack +heard her say, "I am much older,--ah! so much older, now I have got my +wand. I can feel sorrow too, and _their_ sorrow weighs down my +heart." + +Mopsa was dressed superbly in a white satin gown, with a long, long +train of crimson velvet which was glittering with diamonds; it reached +almost from one end of the great gallery to the other, and had +hundreds of fairies to hold it and keep it in its place. But in her +hair were no jewels, only a little crown made of daisies, and on her +shoulders her robe was fastened with the little golden image of a +boat. These things were to show the land she had come from and the +vessel she had come in. + +So she came slowly, slowly down stairs blindfold, and muttering to her +wand all the time: + + Though the sun shine brightly, + Wand, wand, guide rightly. + +So she felt her way down to the great hall. There the wand turned half +round in the hall toward the great door, and she and Jack and the +other Jack came out into the lawn in front with all the followers and +trainbearers; only the dame remained behind. + +Jack noticed now for the first time that, with the one exception of +the boy-king, all these fairies were lady-fairies; he also observed +that Mopsa, after the manner of fairy queens, though she moved slowly +and blindfold, was beginning to tell a story. This time it did not +make him feel sleepy. It did not begin at the beginning: their stories +never do. + +These are the first words he heard, for she spoke softly and very low, +while he walked at her right hand, and the other Jack on her left: + +"And so now I have no wings. But my thoughts can go up (Jovinian and +Roxaletta could not think). My thoughts are instead of wings; but they +have dropped with me now, as a lark among the clods of the valley. +Wand, do you bend? Yes, I am following, wand. + +"And after that the bird said, 'I will come when you call me.' I never +have seen her moving overhead; perhaps she is out of sight. Flocks of +birds hover over the world, and watch it high up where the air is +thin. There are zones, but those in the lowest zone are far out of +sight. + +"I have not been up there. I have no wings. + +"Over the highest of the birds is the place where angels float and +gather the children's souls as they are set free. + +"And so that woman told me,--(Wand, you bend again, and I will turn at +your bending),--that woman told me how it was: for when the new king +was born, a black fairy with a smiling face came and sat within the +doorway. She had a spindle, and would always spin. She wanted to teach +them how to spin, but they did not like her, and they loved to do +nothing at all. So they turned her out. + +"But after her came a brown fairy, with a grave face, and she sat on +the black fairy's stool and gave them much counsel. They liked that +still less; so they got spindles and spun, for they said, 'She will go +now, and we shall have the black fairy again.' When she did not go +they turned her out also, and after her came a white fairy, and sat in +the same seat. She did nothing at all, and she said nothing at all; +but she had a sorrowful face, and she looked up. So they were +displeased. They turned her out also; and she went and sat by the +edge of the lake with her two sisters. + +"And everything prospered over all the land; till, after shearing-time, +the shepherds, because the king was a child, came to his uncle and +said, 'Sir, what shall we do with the old wool, for the new fleeces +are in the bales, and there is no storehouse to put them in?' So he +said, 'Throw them into the lake.' + +"And while they threw them in, a great flock of finches flew to them, +and said, 'Give us some of the wool that you do not want; we should be +glad of it to build our nests with.' + +"They answered, 'Go and gather for yourselves; there is wool on every +thorn.' + +"Then the black fairy said, 'They shall be forgiven this time, because +the birds should pick wool for themselves.' + +"So the finches flew away. + +"Then the harvest was over, and the reapers came and said to the +child-king's uncle, 'Sir, what shall we do with the new wheat, for +the old is not half eaten yet, and there is no room in the +granaries?' + +"He said, 'Throw that into the lake also.' + +"While they were throwing it in, there came a great flight of the wood +fairies, fairies of passage from over the sea. They were in the form +of pigeons, and they alighted and prayed them, 'O, cousins! we are +faint with our long flight; give us some of that corn which you do not +want, that we may peck it and be refreshed.' + +"But they said, 'You may rest on our land, but our corn is our own. +Rest awhile, and go and get food in your own fields.' + +"Then the brown fairy said, 'They may be forgiven this once, but yet +it is a great unkindness.' + +"And as they were going to pour in the last sackful, there passed a +poor mortal beggar, who had strayed in from the men and women's world, +and she said, 'Pray give me some of that wheat, O fairy people! for I +am hungry. I have lost my way, and there is no money to be earned +here. Give me some of that wheat, that I may bake cakes, lest I and my +baby should starve.' + +"And they said, 'What is starve? We never heard that word before, and +we cannot wait while you explain it to us.' + +"So they poured it all into the lake; and then the white fairy said, +'This cannot be forgiven them'; and she covered her face with her +hands and wept. Then the black fairy rose and drove them all before +her,--the prince, with his chief shepherd and his reapers, his +courtiers and his knights; she drove them into the great bed of reeds, +and no one has ever set eyes on them since. Then the brown fairy went +into the palace where the king's aunt sat, with all her ladies and her +maids about her, and with the child-king on her knee. + +"It was a very gloomy day. + +"She stood in the middle of the hall, and said, 'Oh, you cold-hearted +and most unkind! my spell is upon you, and the first ray of sunshine +shall bring it down. Lose your present forms, and be of a more gentle +and innocent race, till a queen of alien birth shall come to reign +over you against her will.' + +"As she spoke they crept into corners, and covered the dame's head +with a veil. And all that day it was dark and gloomy, and nothing +happened, and all the next day it rained and rained; and they thrust +the dame into a dark closet, and kept her there for a whole month, and +still not a ray of sunshine came to do them any damage; but the dame +faded and faded in the dark, and at last they said, 'She must come +out, or she will die; and we do not believe the sun will ever shine in +our country any more.' So they let the poor dame come out; and lo! as +she crept slowly forth under the dome, a piercing ray of sunlight +darted down upon her head, and in an instant they were all changed +into deer, and the child-king too. + +"They are gentle now, and kind; but where is the prince? where are the +fairy knights and the fairy men? + +"Wand! why do you turn?" + +Now while Mopsa told her story the wand continued to bend, and Mopsa, +following, was slowly approaching the foot of a great precipice, which +rose sheer up for more than a hundred feet. The crowd that followed +looked dismayed at this: they thought the wand must be wrong; or even +if it was right, they could not climb a precipice. + +But still Mopsa walked on blindfold, and the wand pointed at the rock +till it touched it, and she said, "Who is stopping me?" + +They told her, and she called to some of her ladies to untie the +handkerchief. Then Mopsa looked at the rock, and so did the two Jacks. +There was nothing to be seen but a very tiny hole. The boy-king +thought it led to a bees' nest, and Jack thought it was a keyhole, for +he noticed in the rock a slight crack which took the shape of an +arched door. + +Mopsa looked earnestly at the hole. "It may be a keyhole," she said, +"but there is no key." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +FAILURE. + + We are much bound to them that do succeed; + But, in a more pathetic sense, are bound + To such as fail. They all our loss expound; + They comfort us for work that will not speed, + And life--itself a failure. Ay, his deed, + Sweetest in story, who the dusk profound + Of Hades flooded with entrancing sound, + Music's own tears, was failure. Doth it read + Therefore the worse? Ah, no! so much to dare, + He fronts the regnant Darkness on its throne.-- + So much to do; impetuous even there, + He pours out love's disconsolate sweet moan-- + He wins; but few for that his deed recall: + Its power is in the look which costs him all. + + +At this moment Jack observed that a strange woman was standing among +them, and that the trainbearing fairies fell back, as if they were +afraid of her. As no one spoke, he did, and said, "Good-morning!" + +"Good-afternoon!" she answered, correcting him. "I am the black fairy. +Work is a fine thing. Most people in your country can work." + +"Yes," said Jack. + +"There are two spades," continued the fairy woman, "one for you, and +one for your double." + +Jack took one of the spades,--it was small, and was made of silver; +but the other Jack said with scorn,-- + +"I shall be a king when I am old enough, and must I dig like a +clown?" + +"As you please," said the black fairy, and walked away. + +Then they all observed that a brown woman was standing there; and she +stepped up and whispered in the boy-king's ear. As he listened his +sullen face became good tempered, and at last he said, in a gentle +tone, "Jack, I'm quite ready to begin if you are." + +"But where are we to dig?" asked Jack. + +"There," said a white fairy, stepping up and setting her foot on the +grass just under the little hole. "Dig down as deep as you can." + +So Mopsa and the crowd stood back, and the two boys began to dig; and +greatly they enjoyed it, for people can dig so fast in Fairyland. + +Very soon the hole was so deep that they had to jump into it, because +they could not reach the bottom with their spades. "This is very jolly +indeed," said Jack, when they had dug so much deeper that they could +only see out of the hole by standing on tiptoe. + +"Go on," said the white fairy; so they dug till they came to a flat +stone, and then she said, "Now you can stamp. Stamp on the stone, and +don't be afraid." So the two Jacks began to stamp, and in such a +little time that she had only half turned her head round, the flat +stone gave way, for there was a hollow underneath it, and down went +the boys, and utterly disappeared. + +Then, while Mopsa and the crowd silently looked on, the white fairy +lightly pushed the clods of earth towards the hole with the side of +her foot, and in a very few minutes the hole was filled in, and that +so completely and so neatly, that when she had spread the turf on it, +and given it a pat with her foot, you could not have told where it had +been. Mopsa said not a word, for no fairy ever interferes with a +stronger fairy; but she looked on earnestly, and when the white +stranger smiled she was satisfied. + +Then the white stranger walked away, and Mopsa and the fairies sat +down on a bank under some splendid cedar-trees. The beautiful castle +looked fairer than ever in the afternoon sunshine; a lovely waterfall +tumbled with a tinkling noise near at hand, and the bank was covered +with beautiful wild flowers. + +They sat for a long while, and no one spoke: what they were thinking +of is not known, but sweet Mopsa often sighed. + +At last a noise,--a very, very slight noise, as of the footsteps of +people running,--was heard inside the rock, and then a little +quivering was seen in the wand. It quivered more and more as the +sound increased. At last that which had looked like a door began to +shake as if some one was pushing it from within. Then a noise was +distinctly heard as of a key turning in the hole, and out burst the +two Jacks, shouting for joy, and a whole troop of knights and squires +and serving-men came rushing wildly forth behind them. + +Oh, the joy of that meeting! who shall describe it? Fairies by dozens +came up to kiss the boy-king's hand, and Jack shook hands with every +one that could reach him. Then Mopsa proceeded to the castle between +the two Jacks, and the king's aunt came out to meet them, and welcomed +her husband with tears of joy; for these fairies could laugh and cry +when they pleased, and they naturally considered this a great proof of +superiority. + +After this a splendid feast was served under the great dome. The other +fairy feasts that Jack had seen were nothing to it. The prince and his +dame sat at one board, but Mopsa sat at the head of the great table, +with the two Jacks, one on each side of her. + +Mopsa was not happy, Jack was sure of that, for she often sighed; and +he thought this strange. But he did not ask her any questions, and he, +with the boy-king, related their adventures to her: how, when the +stone gave way, they tumbled in and rolled down a sloping bank till +they found themselves at the entrance of a beautiful cave, which was +all lighted up with torches, and glittering with stars and crystals of +all the colors in the world. There was a table spread with what looked +like a splendid luncheon in this great cave, and chairs were set +round, but Jack and the boy-king felt no inclination to eat anything, +though they were hungry, for a whole nation of ants were creeping up +the honey-pots. There were snails walking about over the table-cloth, +and toads peeping out of some of the dishes. + +So they turned away, and, looking for some other door to lead them +farther in, they at last found a very small one,--so small that only +one of them could pass through at a time. + +They did not tell Mopsa all that had occurred on this occasion. It was +thus: + +The boy-king said, "I shall go in first, of course, because of my +rank." + +"Very well," said Jack, "I don't mind. I shall say to myself that +you've gone in first to find the way for me, because you're my double. +Besides, now I think of it, our Queen always goes last in a +procession; so it's grand to go last. Pass in, Jack." + +"No," answered the other Jack; "now you have said that I will not. You +may go first." + +So they began to quarrel and argue about this, and it is impossible to +say how long they would have gone on if they had not begun to hear a +terrible and mournful sort of moaning and groaning, which frightened +them both and instantly made them friends. They took tight hold of one +another's hand, and again there came by a loud sighing, and a noise of +all sorts of lamentation, and it seemed to reach them through the +little door. + +Each of the boys would now have been very glad to go back, but neither +liked to speak. At last Jack thought anything would be less terrible +than listening to those dismal moans, so he suddenly dashed through +the door, and the other Jack followed. + +There was nothing terrible to be seen. They found themselves in a +place like an immensely long stable; but it was nearly dark, and when +their eyes got used to the dimness, they saw that it was strewed with +quantities of fresh hay, from which curious things like sticks stuck +up in all directions. What were they? + +"They are dry branches of trees," said the boy-king. + +"They are table-legs turned upside down," said Jack: but then the +other Jack suddenly perceived the real nature of the thing, and he +shouted out, "No; they are antlers!" + +The moment he said this the moaning ceased, hundreds of beautiful +antlered heads were lifted up, and the two boys stood before a +splendid herd of stags; but they had had hardly time to be sure of +this when the beautiful multitude rose and fled away into the +darkness, leaving the two boys to follow as well as they could. + +They were sure they ought to run after the herd, and they ran and ran, +but they soon lost sight of it, though they heard far on in front what +seemed at first like a pattering of deer's feet, but the sound changed +from time to time. It became heavier and louder, and then the +clattering ceased, and it was evidently the tramping of a great crowd +of men. At last they heard words, very glad and thankful words; people +were crying to one another to make haste, lest the spell should come +upon them again. Then the two Jacks, still running, came into a grand +hall, which was quite full of knights and all sorts of fairy men, and +there was the boy-king's uncle, but he looked very pale. "Unlock the +door!" they cried. "We shall not be safe till we see our new Queen. +Unlock the door; we see light coming through the keyhole." + +The two Jacks came on to the front, and felt and shook the door. At +last the boy-king saw a little golden key glittering on the floor, +just where the one narrow sunbeam fell that came through the keyhole; +so he snatched it up. It fitted, and out they all came, as you have +been told. + +When they had done relating their adventures, the new Queen's health +was drunk. And then they drank the health of the boy-king, who stood +up to return thanks, and, as is the fashion there, he sang a song. +Jack thought it the most ridiculous song he had ever heard; but as +everybody else looked extremely grave, he tried to be grave too. It +was about Cock-Robin and Jenny Wren, how they made a wedding feast, +and how the wren said she should wear her brown gown, and the old dog +brought a bone to the feast. + + "He had brought them," he said, "some meat on a bone: + They were welcome to pick it or leave it alone." + +The fairies were very attentive to this song; they seemed, if one may +judge by their looks, to think it was rather a serious one. Then they +drank Jack's health, and afterwards looked at him as if they expected +him to sing too; but as he did not begin, he presently heard them +whispering, and one asking another, "Do you think he knows manners?" + +So he thought he had better try what he could do, and he stood up and +sang a song that he had often heard his nurse sing in the nursery at +home. + + One morning, oh! so early, my beloved, my beloved, + All the birds were singing blithely, as if never they would cease; + 'Twas a thrush sang in my garden, "Hear the story, hear the story!" + And the lark sang, "Give us glory!" + And the dove said, "Give us peace!" + + Then I listened, oh! so early, my beloved, my beloved, + To that murmur from the woodland of the dove, my dear, the dove; + When the nightingale came after, "Give us fame to sweeten duty!" + When the wren sang, "Give us beauty!" + She made answer, "Give us love!" + + Sweet is spring, and sweet the morning, my beloved, my beloved; + Now for us doth spring, doth morning, wait upon the year's + increase, + And my prayer goes up, "Oh, give us, crowned in youth with marriage + glory, + Give for all our life's dear story, + Give us love, and give us peace!" + +"A very good song too," said the dame, at the other end of the table; +"only you made a mistake in the first verse. What the dove really said +was, no doubt, 'Give us peas.' All kinds of doves and pigeons are very +fond of peas." + +"It isn't peas, though," said Jack. However, the court historian was +sent for to write down the song, and he came with a quill pen, and +wrote it down as the dame said it ought to be. + +Now all this time Mopsa sat between the two Jacks, and she looked very +mournful,--she hardly said a word. + +When the feast was over, and everything had vanished, the musicians +came in, for there was to be dancing; but while they were striking +up, the white fairy stepped in, and, coming up, whispered something +in Jack's ear; but he could not hear what she said, so she repeated it +more slowly, and still he could neither hear nor understand it. + +Mopsa did not seem to like the white fairy; she leaned her face on her +hand and sighed; but when she found that Jack could not hear the +message, she said, "That is well. Cannot you let things alone for this +one day?" The fairy then spoke to Mopsa, but she would not listen; she +made a gesture of dislike and moved away. So then this strange fairy +turned and went out again, but on the door-step she looked round, and +beckoned to Jack to come to her. So he did; and then, as they two +stood together outside, she made him understand what she had said. It +was this: + +"Her name was Jenny, her name was Jenny." + +When Jack understood what she said he felt so sorrowful; he wondered +why she had told him, and he longed to stay in that great place with +Queen Mopsa,--his own little Mopsa, whom he had carried in his pocket, +and taken care of, and loved. + +He walked up and down, up and down, outside, and his heart swelled and +his eyes filled with tears. The bells had said he was to go home, and +the fairy had told him how to go. Mopsa did not need him, she had so +many people to take care of her; and then there was that boy, so +exactly like himself that she would not miss him. Oh, how sorrowful it +all was! Had he really come up the fairy river, and seen those strange +countries, and run away with Mopsa over those dangerous mountains, +only to bring her to the very place she wished to fly from, and there +to leave her, knowing that she wanted him no more, and that she was +quite content? + +No; Jack felt that he could not do that. "I will stay," he said; "they +cannot make me leave her. That would be too unkind." + +As he spoke, he drew near to the great yawning door, and looked in. +The fairy folk were singing inside; he could hear their pretty +chirping voices, and see their beautiful faces, but he could not bear +it, and he turned away. + +The sun began to get low, and all the west was dyed with crimson. Jack +dried his eyes, and, not liking to go in, took one turn more. + +"I will go in," he said; "there is nothing to prevent me." He set his +foot on the step of the door, and while he hesitated Mopsa came out to +meet him. + +"Jack," she said, in a sweet mournful tone of voice. But he could not +make any answer; he only looked at her earnestly, because her lovely +eyes were not looking at him, but far away towards the west. + +"He lives there," she said, as if speaking to herself. "He will play +there again, in his father's garden." + +Then she brought her eyes down slowly from the rose-flush in the +cloud, and looked at him and said, "Jack." + +"Yes," said Jack; "I am here. What is it that you wish to say?" + +She answered, "I am come to give you back your kiss." + +So she stooped forward as she stood on the step, and kissed him, and +her tears fell on his cheek. + +"Farewell!" she said, and she turned and went up the steps and into +the great hall; and while Jack gazed at her as she entered, and would +fain have followed, but could not stir, the great doors closed +together again, and he was left outside. + +Then he knew, without having been told, that he should never enter +them any more. He stood gazing at the castle; but it was still,--no +more fairy music sounded. + +How beautiful it looked in the evening sunshine, and how Jack cried! + +[Illustration: THE QUEEN'S FAREWELL. + +"She stooped forward as she stood on the step, and kissed him."--PAGE +234.] + +Suddenly he perceived that reeds were growing up between him and the +great doors: the grass, which had all day grown about the steps, was +getting taller; it had long spear-like leaves, it pushed up long pipes +of green stem, and they whistled. + +They were up to his ankles, they were presently up to his waist; soon +they were as high as his head. He drew back that he might see over +them; they sprang up faster as he retired, and again he went back. It +seemed to him that the castle also receded; there was a long reach of +these great reeds between it and him, and now they were growing behind +also, and on all sides of him. He kept moving back and back: it was of +no use, they sprang up and grew yet more tall, till very shortly the +last glimpse of the fairy castle was hidden from his sorrowful eyes. + +The sun was just touching the tops of the purple mountains when Jack +lost sight of Mopsa's home; but he remembered how he had penetrated +the bed of reeds in the morning, and he hoped to have the same good +fortune again. So on and on he walked, pressing his way among them as +well as he could, till the sun went down behind the mountains, and +the rosy sky turned gold color, and the gold began to burn itself +away, and then all on a sudden he came to the edge of the reed-bed, +and walked out upon a rising ground. + +Jack ran up it, looking for the castle. He could not see it, so he +climbed a far higher hill; still he could not see it. At last, after a +toilsome ascent to the very top of the green mountain, he saw the +castle lying so far, so very far off, that its peaks and its +battlements were on the edge of the horizon, and the evening mist rose +while he was gazing, so that all its outlines were lost, and very soon +they seemed to mingle with the shapes of the hill and the forest, till +they had utterly vanished away. + +Then he threw himself down on the short grass. The words of the white +fairy sounded in his ears, "Her name was Jenny"; and he burst into +tears again, and decided to go home. + +He looked up into the rosy sky, and held out his arms, and called, +"Jenny! O Jenny! come." + +In a minute or two he saw a little black mark overhead, a small speck, +and it grew larger, and larger, and larger still, as it fell headlong +down like a stone. In another instant he saw a red light and a green +light, then he heard the winnowing noise of the bird's great wings, +and she alighted at his feet, and said, "Here I am." + +"I wish to go home," said Jack, hanging down his head and speaking in +a low voice, for his heart was heavy because of his failure. + +"That is well," answered the bird. She took Jack on her back, and in +three minutes they were floating among the clouds. + +As Jack's feet were lifted up from Fairyland he felt a little +consoled. He began to have a curious feeling, as if this had all +happened a good while ago, and then half the sorrow he had felt faded +into wonder, and the feeling still grew upon him that these things had +passed some great while since, so that he repeated to himself, "It was +a long time ago." + +Then he fell asleep, and did not dream at all, nor know anything more +till the bird woke him. + +"Wake up now, Jack," she said; "we are at home." + +"So soon!" said Jack, rubbing his eyes. "But it is evening; I thought +it would be morning." + +"Fairy time is always six hours in advance of your time," said the +bird. "I see glowworms down in the hedge, and the moon is just +rising." + +They were falling so fast that Jack dared not look; but he saw the +church, and the wood, and his father's house, which seemed to be +starting up to meet him. In two seconds more the bird alighted, and he +stepped down from her back into the deep grass of his father's +meadow. + +"Good-by!" she said; "make haste and run in, for the dews are +falling"; and before he could ask her one question, or even thank her, +she made a wide sweep over the grass, beat her magnificent wings, and +soared away. + +It was all very extraordinary, and Jack felt shy and ashamed; but he +knew he must go home, so he opened the little gate that led into the +garden, and stole through the shrubbery, hoping that his footsteps +would not be heard. + +Then he came out on the lawn, where the flower-beds were, and he +observed that the drawing-room window was open, so he came softly +towards it and peeped in. + +His father and mother were sitting there. Jack was delighted to see +them, but he did not say a word, and he wondered whether they would be +surprised at his having stayed away so long. The bird had said that +they would not. + +He drew a little nearer. His mother sat with her back to the open +window, but a candle was burning, and she was reading aloud. Jack +listened as she read, and knew that this was not in the least like +anything that he had seen in Fairyland, nor the reading like anything +that he had heard, and he began to forget the boy-king, and the +apple-woman, and even his little Mopsa, more and more. + +At last his father noticed him. He did not look at all surprised, but +just beckoned to him with his finger to come in. So Jack did, and got +upon his father's knee, where he curled himself up comfortably, laid +his head on his father's waistcoat, and wondered what he would think +if he should be told about the fairies in somebody else's waistcoat +pocket. He thought, besides, what a great thing a man was; he had +never seen anything so large in Fairyland, nor so important; so, on +the whole, he was glad he had come back, and felt very comfortable. +Then his mother, turning over the leaf, lifted up her eyes and looked +at Jack, but not as if she was in the least surprised, or more glad to +see him than usual; but she smoothed the leaf with her hand, and began +again to read, and this time it was about the Shepherd Lady:-- + + I. + + Who pipes upon the long green hill, + Where meadow grass is deep? + The white lamb bleats but followeth on-- + Follow the clean white sheep. + The dear white lady in yon high tower, + She hearkeneth in her sleep. + + All in long grass the piper stands, + Goodly and grave is he; + Outside the tower, at dawn of day, + The notes of his pipe ring free. + A thought from his heart doth reach to hers: + "Come down, O lady! to me." + + She lifts her head, she dons her gown: + Ah! the lady is fair; + She ties the girdle on her waist, + And binds her flaxen hair, + And down she stealeth, down and down, + Down the turret stair. + + Behold him! With the flock he wons + Along yon grassy lea. + "My shepherd lord, my shepherd love, + What wilt thou, then, with me? + My heart is gone out of my breast, + And followeth on to thee." + + II. + + "The white lambs feed in tender grass: + With them and thee to bide, + How good it were," she saith at noon; + "Albeit the meads are wide. + Oh! well is me" she saith when day + Draws on to eventide. + + Hark! hark! the shepherd's voice. Oh, sweet! + Her tears drop down like rain. + "Take now this crook, my chosen, my fere + And tend the flock full fain; + Feed them, O lady, and lose not one, + Till I shall come again." + + Right soft her speech: "My will is thine, + And my reward thy grace!" + Gone are his footsteps over the hill, + Withdrawn his goodly face; + The mournful dusk begins to gather, + The daylight wanes apace. + + III. + + On sunny slopes, ah! long the lady + Feedeth her flock at noon; + She leads them down to drink at eve + Where the small rivulets croon. + All night her locks are wet with dew, + Her eyes outwatch the moon. + + Over the hills her voice is heard, + She sings when light doth wane: + "My longing heart is full of love. + When shall my loss be gain? + My shepherd lord, I see him not, + But he will come again." + +When she had finished, Jack lifted his face and said, "Mamma!" Then +she came to him and kissed him, and his father said, "I think it must +be time this man of ours was in bed." + +So he looked earnestly at them both, and as they still asked him no +questions, he kissed and wished them good-night; and his mother said +there were some strawberries on the sideboard in the dining-room, and +he might have them for his supper. + +So he ran out into the hall, and was delighted to find all the house +just as usual, and after he had looked about him he went into his own +room, and said his prayers. Then he got into his little white bed, and +comfortably fell asleep. + +That's all. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mopsa the Fairy, by Jean Ingelow + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOPSA THE FAIRY *** + +***** This file should be named 32867.txt or 32867.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/8/6/32867/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Katherine Ward, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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