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diff --git a/44924.txt b/44924.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 96b4bb9..0000000 --- a/44924.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10867 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Uncle Joe's Stories, by Edward Hugessen -Knatchbull-Hugesson, First Baron Brabourne, Illustrated by Ernest Griset - - -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: Uncle Joe's Stories - - -Author: Edward Hugessen Knatchbull-Hugesson, First Baron Brabourne - - - -Release Date: February 15, 2014 [eBook #44924] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNCLE JOE'S STORIES*** - - -E-text prepared by Louise Pryor, David Garcia, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by the Google Books Library Project (http://books.google.com) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 44924-h.htm or 44924-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44924/44924-h/44924-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44924/44924-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - the Google Books Library Project. See - http://www.google.com/books?id=2Xo-AQAAMAAJ - - -Transcriber's note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - - - - -[Illustration: _Front._ ZAC WINS THE PIG-RACE.--P. 57] - - -UNCLE JOE'S STORIES - -by - -THE RIGHT HON. E. H. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN, M.P. - -With Illustrations by Ernest Griset - - -London -George Routledge and Sons -Broadway, Ludgate Hill -New York: 416 Broome Street -1879 - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE - -UNCLE JOE 1 - -ZAC'S BRIDE 40 - -EVELYN WITH THE FAIRIES 106 - -CAT AND DOG 183 - -OPHELIA 223 - -THE CRONES OF MERSHAM 285 - - - - -TO ALL NAUGHTY CHILDREN - -(IF THERE BE ANY SUCH LEFT IN ENGLAND) - -This Book - -IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. - - -MY DEAR CHILDREN-- - -Yes--you are "dear," and will be very "dear" to your parents and -friends if you continue to be naughty. I dedicate this little book to -you because I have been told (though it is scarcely possible to believe -it) that I was once a naughty child myself. If it be true, it was a -_very_ long time ago; and then there were not nearly so many pretty -"children's books" as there are now, so I had not the same chance as -you have of knowing how much best it is to be good. As soon as I found -this out, I began to be good directly, and now I advise you all to do -the same. - -Whilst you are thinking how to manage it, you cannot do better than -read a few stories about Fairies, Pigmies, Witches, and such-like -interesting creatures. In these stories you will find that the good -people always come out right at last, and the naughty people get into -the most disagreeable scrapes. Well, this is just the same with -creatures who are not Fairies nor Pigmies, nor anything of the sort. So -as soon as you have read these stories--or even before doing so if you -can--leave off being naughty and be good as fast as possible. By so -doing you will make everybody about you happy, will become more and -more happy yourselves, and will show that Fairy stories are really of -some use. In this case we must have another book next year, and -meanwhile I remain your affectionate friend, - -E. H. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN. - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - PAGE - -ZACK WINS THE PIG-RACE (_Zac's Bride_) 57 - -EVELYN MEETS THE FAIRIES (_Evelyn with the Fairies_) 122 - -THE CAT'S LAST MUSIC-LESSON (_Cat and Dog_) 212 - -END OF FAMCRAM (_Ophelia_) 280 - -MARY AND BILLY MEET THE CRONES (_The Crones of Mersham_) 305 - -SIMPLE STEENIE AND THE GRAY MAN ON THE STROLL (_The Crones - of Mersham_) 344 - - - - -PREFACE. - - -I had almost made up my mind to write no more Fairy Tales, to let -sprites and elves alone for ever, and to refrain from any further -research into the dark and mysterious doings of warlocks and witches -in the olden time. But fate is stronger than the will of man, and I -am powerless to resist the influences brought to induce--nay, to -compel--me to alter my determination. It is not only that verbal and -written requests have come to me from many quarters which it is -difficult to resist; it is not only that I am tired of being asked when -my new book is coming out, and of being generally disbelieved when I -answer "never." There is a stronger influence still. Fairies and elves -have an extraordinary power which they exercise over those who have -once sought to pry into their mysteries. If once you have dealings with -such creatures, you can rarely, if ever, leave them. There is a -fatality which urges you on--an irresistible fascination in the subject -which brings you back to it again and again, and obliges you to recur -to it in spite of yourself. When I walk out in the woods, or ramble -through the fields alone, the objects which appear ordinary and -commonplace to people who have, unhappily for themselves, neglected to -study Fairy Lore, bear to me quite a different appearance. I see traces -of the little beings which are not visible to the careless, still less -to the unbelieving eye. I hear voices which are inaudible to the ear -of the incredulous; and even without this, Fancy--free, glorious -Fancy--clothes the grass, the flowers, the bushes, the trees, with a -beauty of her own, and peoples every fairy haunt with a spirit company. -Is it only Fancy? Ah! that is just what nobody knows. Only how could I -tell so many different stories if nobody told them to me first? - -That is a question I should like people to put to themselves calmly and -quietly, and if they think, after full consideration, that some person -or persons must have told me these curious stories, I hope they will -come to the conclusion that I am only doing what is right and fair in -passing them on to other people, so that the world may know as much as -I do about the strange and wonderful beings to whom these stories -relate. - - - - -UNCLE JOE'S STORIES. - - - - -UNCLE JOE. - - -I do not think that I ever met so extraordinary a man as Uncle Joe in -all my life. We children were all very fond of him, because he had an -inexhaustible supply of stories, and those, too, of a kind which are -especially popular with children. He had exciting stories of almost -every sort: of thrilling adventures by land and sea, of captures by -pirates, hair-breadth escapes from Red Indians; fearful conflicts with -robbers; terrible struggles with wild animals; and strange encounters -with sea-serpents or similarly wonderful creatures. Then he knew an -immense deal about giants and dwarfs, witches and wizards, ogres and -vampires, and he also possessed no little insight into all that -concerned fairies and fairy-land. He could tell of the little sea fairy -that rode on the crest of the wave, basking pleasantly when the sun -shone down on a calm still ocean, and shrieking madly with frenzied -delight when the winds lashed the waves into fury, and carried her -forward on the great flakes of snow-like foam; of the fairy who looked -after some particular house or family, and always appeared to warn them -of danger just at the right moment, or to disclose a buried treasure, -exactly in time to save them from ruin; and of the happy little -woodland fairies, who are to be found in the deep glades and dark -ravines of the wild forest, and about whom such innumerable legends -have from time to time been written by some of those fortunate mortals -who have visited and been aided by them in time of sickness or danger, -and who have in gratitude chronicled their power. - -Nothing delighted Uncle Joe so much as to tell one of his charming -stories to us, eager listeners as we always were. He liked to get one -child on each knee, and to have the others clustering round as near as -possible, and then he would start off and go on just for all the world -as if he was only reading from a book. - -Looking back now, with the calmer judgment of riper years, I hardly -know which was most wonderful, the unlimited power of invention of -Uncle Joe, or the boundless credulity of us children. Because no man -could by any possibility have gone through half the wonderful -adventures of which he pretended to have been the hero, if he had lived -to twice the ordinary age of man, and kept on searching for adventures -all the time. Besides, it would have been five hundred to one against -his escaping every time, as Uncle Joe always did, "by the skin o' his -teeth." - -Once he was tied to the stake, and just going to be scalped by the -Indians, when some miraculous thing (I forget what at this moment) -occurred to save him; once he was in the very coils of an enormous -snake, and was yet preserved; and at another time, he was actually -swallowed by a crocodile, (I am sure I don't know how he got down its -throat without a disabling nip from some of those teeth which I have -noticed in the mouths of stuffed crocodiles in museums,) and escaped by -means of employing his penknife in a manner too disagreeable to -describe. In short, there never was a man who, according to his own -account, had gone through such a series of remarkable adventures as -Uncle Joe, and I am therefore quite justified in pronouncing him to -have been a most extraordinary man. - -I have never discovered what really was Uncle Joe's profession or -occupation. For anything I know, he may have been a soldier, a sailor, -or a horse-marine; though, for the matter of that, I have so little -conception of what may be the duties of persons engaged in the latter -profession, that I should dispute the claims of nobody who averred that -he had belonged to it. All I know is, that he wore a blue coat with -brass buttons, had a hooked nose and a bright eye, and only possessed -one arm; the other I solemnly declare I have heard him state, on -different occasions, to have been shot off in battle, lost in saving -life from a shipwreck, when it got jammed between two planks of the -sinking ship, and bitten off by a tiger, under circumstances the -details of which I do not happen to remember--it was gone, however, -anyhow, was that left-arm of Uncle Joe's, and its loss must have had -this great consolation, that it furnished a foundation upon which he -built many a romance, pleasing to himself, and interesting to his -listeners. - -He had been a mighty traveller, had Uncle Joe. From Canada to the -farthest extremity of South America, from Constantinople to Hong-Kong, -from the Straits of Gibraltar to the Cape, all was familiar to him; -whilst, as to continental Europe, there seemed to be no hole or corner -which he had not explored. England was like his own house to him; that -is to say, he knew every county and town in one as well as he knew -every room in the other. In fact, to hear him talk on these subjects, -you never would for a moment have guessed that which was the real -truth, namely, that he had never been further from England than Paris, -and had been so particularly ill in crossing the channel that nothing -but the fear of the laughter of his friends, coupled with his total and -entire ignorance of the French language, prevented his settling in -France for the rest of his life, sooner than again undergo the ordeal -of that terrible passage. - -Happily for us children, (for this occurred before we were at the age -of story-hearing, or indeed at any age at all,) he _did_ face the -channel once more, and never sought to tempt it again. But all this I -only learned many years after, and during the whole of the early -portion of my life, I (in common, I am sure, with the great majority of -his acquaintance) set Uncle Joe down as a man who had seen more of the -world than most living men, and knew more of the geography of foreign -lands, as well as of the customs and manners of their inhabitants, than -anyone whom I ordinarily met. - -With all this sin, if sin it be, of exaggeration, (one wishes to use a -mild word in speaking of a relative,) Uncle Joe's virtues greatly -predominated over any defects which he may have possessed. He was -good-natured to a fault--forgiving beyond most men--tender-hearted--a -faithful friend--and full of sympathy for the woes and sorrows of -others. I believe he lost a large sum of money in early life by -becoming surety for some one whom he thought to be a friend, and who -turned out to be an arrant scoundrel. Anyhow, he was far from rich, and -was not one of those uncles who have always got a sovereign ready for a -nephew going to school, or for spending at the confectioner's, if he -comes to see a young relative during school-time. Still, Uncle Joe was -the most popular of all our relations so far as the public opinion of -the school-room was concerned, and every juvenile heart rejoiced when -we were told that he was coming to spend Christmas at our home. - -Upon one occasion he was expected to arrive upon the day before -Christmas Eve, and we were all greatly delighted at the prospect. Fanny -and Kitty, my two eldest sisters, were looking forward with much -pleasure to the visits to the school-room which Uncle Joe always paid -about tea-time, not only on account of the stories we were sure to -hear, but because it was so very amusing to see the violent efforts -which Miss Crinkles, the governess, used to make in order to avoid -going into fits of laughter at some of our uncle's jokes, and the -entire--though only temporary--loss of dignity which followed her -inevitable failure to keep her countenance. Tom and Gerald and I (Harry -is my name, and I was about twelve at the time of this story) were -equally interested, and little Lucy and Mary were employed for several -days beforehand in putting on their dolls' best dresses, that they -might be in a fit state to receive this honoured relation. - -Well, the day before Christmas Eve came--as it always comes every year, -if you only look out for it--and our hearts beat high with expectation -of Uncle Joe. But no Uncle Joe appeared at luncheon time (he often -turned up about that time) and when tea-time had arrived, the hoped-for -visit was not paid. Presently the dressing-bell rang, half-an-hour -before dinner, and still no Uncle Joe. Even my father began to fidget -now, and to wonder where the expected guest could be, and my mother -became positively uneasy. If there was one thing rather than another -about which our uncle was particular, it was the important point of -being in time for dinner. The reason he always gave for this -particularity was his sense of the unfairness to the cook which was -occasioned by unpunctuality. No cook, he said, could contend against -it, and you had no right to expect a good dinner unless you were ready -to eat it at the hour for which it had been ordered. - -The knowledge of this opinion on the part of Uncle Joe, and of the -firmness--not to say obstinacy--with which he always maintained -it--increased the uneasiness of my parents as the dinner hour grew -nearer and nearer without his appearance, and when half-past seven -arrived, and still no Uncle Joe, matters were held to be so serious -that messengers were despatched in several directions to make inquiries -whether anything had been heard or seen of the expected visitor. It was -fortunate that this step was taken, because otherwise there exists a -violent probability that this story might never have been told, and we -children should have had to mourn over the loss of our favourite -relative. - -Uncle Joe was found lying by the roadside, barely a mile from our gate, -at a spot where a path ran parallel with the road, but some twelve feet -above it. His head was bruised and his left-arm broken, and, when -found, he was insensible. There was snow on the ground: it had frozen -during the day, and, about seven o'clock, light flakes of snow had -begun to fall again, so that if my poor uncle had lain where he was -much longer, he would either have been covered with snow, or frozen, -and could in no case have come well out of the business. His story was, -that, finding that he was at the station, some five miles off, in good -time, he thought he would walk over to our house and have his -portmanteau sent for from thence. - -Some two miles from home there stood (and still stands) a convenient -public-house by the road-side, bearing the respectable sign of "The -Duke's Head," a staring picture of the head and shoulders of a man, -displaying the prominent nose and distinctive features of the great -Duke of Wellington, swinging gaily in front of the said inn. I believe -it is a very old inn, and was originally named after the great Duke of -Marlborough, and if England ever has another "great" Duke, I do not -doubt that _his_ picture will replace the present one, and the sign -will do equally well for _him_. - -At this hostelry, said Uncle Joe, he had pulled up to have a glass of -hot brandy-and-water to cheer him on his way, and remembered to have -observed several rough-looking characters hanging about the place at -the time. He journeyed on, and at the spot at which he was found had -been attacked by three foot-pads, whom he declared that he had resisted -stoutly, but a blow with a short stick delivered by one of them had -felled him to the earth with a broken arm, while he had been rendered -insensible by a similar blow upon the head. The robbers seemed to have -had some object other than that of mere plunder, for although Uncle Joe -declared that they had taken all his money but half-a-crown, which was -found in his waistcoat-pocket, yet it was so seldom that he had much -more cash about him, that no one imagined that the robbers' booty could -have been great, whilst they had left his big silver watch and chain -untouched, and also the large old-fashioned silver pencil-case, which -he always carried about with him. This he attributed to the -stubbornness of his resistance, which had made the thieves glad to get -away from the neighbourhood of so desperate a fellow as quickly as -possible. - -They were never traced, and as the snow soon afterwards came on more -heavily, their footsteps could have been scarcely seen after the space -of a very short time, and no one could tell in which direction they had -fled. There were some people, indeed, who winked their eyes wickedly, -and laid their fore-finger waggishly against the side of their noses -whenever allusion was made to the attack upon Uncle Joe. They were -unkind enough to declare that our good relative's story was true enough -up to the time of his stopping at the "Duke's Head," but that at that -point he had quitted the limits of strict veracity. They pretended to -have the authority of the landlord of that highly respectable inn for -the fact, that Uncle Joe, soon after six o'clock, came in and had, not -one glass, but three good "stiff" tumblers of brandy-and-water before -resuming his journey. They further maintained that he had gone on -merrily for a while after this, but that it had had sufficient effect -upon him to have rendered it very desirable that he should have kept in -the road instead of following the pathway above it. Choosing the -latter, however, he had lost his equilibrium at the spot near which he -was found, tumbled down the steep bank into the road, and in this -manner received the injuries to head and arm which he had undoubtedly -sustained. The landlord, moreover, said these unbelievers, indignantly -denied that any "rough-looking characters" had been near his house upon -that day, and declared that the only people there at or about the time -of Uncle Joe's visit were some Christmas ringers and singers preparing -for, or proceeding with, their visits to the neighbouring villages, -with the view of exchanging carols and hymns for pence and half-pence -wherever they found Christian people ready for such a transaction. - -These reports and doubts, however, about Uncle Joe's misfortune never -reached us children at the time, and, if they had, we should not for a -moment have attached the smallest weight to them. In our eyes the -matter was one which placed our esteemed relative still higher in the -rank of heroes to which our childish thoughts had long since raised -him. Nor were we frightened at the idea of foot-pads or highwaymen -having suddenly made their unwonted appearance in our happy and -tranquil neighbourhood. It seemed to us only natural that curious and -unusual things should attend Uncle Joe wherever he went, and it was -with him and his life, and not with our home and its surroundings, that -we connected the circumstance of this new feature in the locality. - -However, the truth or falsehood of the story mattered little to us, so -long as we had got our uncle safe and sound after all. There he was, -and there he continued for several weeks; for a broken head and arm -required attention, and he was nowhere so likely to receive it as at -our house. During this long visit we saw more of Uncle Joe than we had -ever done before, and it soon became an established practice that, -after our tea and before dressing-time, he should narrate to us some of -those wonderful stories of which I have spoken. - -One of these I will relate, as nearly as possible in the words of my -revered uncle, in order that my readers may be able to imagine the kind -of way in which all his stories were told. But the other tales which I -propose to chronicle I will tell after a different fashion, relating -the substance of Uncle Joe's narrative, but leaving out the personal -allusions to his own prowess with which it was embellished. Those who -read have only to imagine that in the chief personage in every story -they discern Uncle Joe, and they will easily discover the little -alterations which I have thought it well to make in order to vary the -form of each tale. The one which I am now going to tell was a favourite -one with us boys, but the girls did not like so much killing, and -rather thought Uncle Joe must have been a more cruel man in the days -when these adventures happened to him than at the time he recounted -them. Since then I have read a great many books from the pen of Cooper, -Captain Mayne Reid, and Gustave Aimard, all dealing with the doings of -Red Indians, their subtlety, their treachery, their implacable revenge, -and other pleasing characteristics, and I have often thought that Uncle -Joe must have intended a parody upon some of their most stirring -recitals of Indian adventure in the following story. But, most -certainly, he told it as having happened to himself, and threw so much -vehemence into his manner of telling it, that we children never for a -moment doubted that such was the case. - -I remember quite well the day he first told it to us; and how intensely -interested in it we all were. He began it at tea-time: I think he liked -to tell his most extraordinary and unlikely stories at tea-time for the -benefit of Miss Crinkles, and I sometimes wonder that the questions she -occasionally asked him did not create a suspicion in our minds that -there was some doubt as to the truth of some of his facts. But no such -suspicion, as far as I can recollect, ever dawned upon our childish -imaginations, and the only result of Miss Crinkles' questions was to -imbue us with increased awe and respect for our uncle, whom even our -governess could not readily understand without asking for further -information. It was, I say, at tea-time that this story was begun, and, -I think, finished. One of us boys had expressed a great desire to hear -of some Indian adventures, and Uncle Joe, ever ready to oblige, at once -commenced the following narrative, perhaps one of the least likely of -the many marvellous tales with which he ever favoured us. - -"It was during the time which I passed in America that some of the -strangest and wildest adventures of my life happened. Perhaps none of -these was more remarkable than that which I am about to relate to you, -and indeed I question whether many people exist who have ever -encountered an adventure so extraordinary. I had roamed some way -through the dense forest, far from any human habitation, accompanied -only by my faithful dog "Jumbo," a magnificent Cuban bloodhound, who -never left my side, and was the cleverest as well as the bravest animal -I ever possessed. I had with me my trusty double-barrelled rifle, a -revolver, and a hunting-knife, and had for many days depended for my -supply of food upon my skill as a marksman. I remember that it was a -lovely day, and as the dense foliage of the woods protected me from the -heat of the sun, I rambled on and on in pleasant and listless security -for many a mile. At length it happened that I approached a large tree, -standing rather apart from its forest companions, and conspicuous not -only by the size of its trunk, but by the magnificent limbs which it -threw out on every side. I was already within a few yards of this tree -when I observed something which caused me to stand still and gaze upon -it before I advanced further. One large branch hung across my line of -march, and in a few seconds I should have passed immediately beneath -it; but it was something in connection with this very branch which -arrested my footsteps. The day was perfectly calm and still; not a -breath of wind was to be perceived, and yet I fancied that I saw the -leaves with which this branch was thickly covered, tremble and rustle -just as if a breeze was blowing through them. As I stood wondering what -could be the cause of this strange occurrence, and doubtful whether or -not to proceed, my doubts were cleared away in a manner more alarming -than agreeable. Suddenly I perceived, rearing itself among the leaves, -the hideous head of a gigantic snake. In another instant, whether to -re-arrange its position or for what other reason I know not, the -reptile dropped down from the branch to the length of some three or -four feet, and swing for a moment or two like the pendulum of a clock, -from the branch around which its tail and part of its body remained -curled. I could not tell how long or large it might be, but I saw quite -sufficient to assure me that it was a snake of very great size, and I -shuddered to think of my possible fate had I passed beneath the branch -in ignorance of its terrible tenant. - -"I hastily retraced my steps for a few yards, and passing the tree at -some little distance, determined to quit the neighbourhood of so -dangerous a creature. The tree upon which it had taken up its position -was upon the side of a somewhat steep hill, and it so happened that I -had walked some way along the said hill very much lower down, and was -now working my way back in a line parallel to my previous passage. - -"I had not gone many yards beyond the snake's tree, before the manner -of my dog attracted my attention. He threw up his head, sniffed the air -uneasily, and then gave vent to a low whine which, from previous -experience, I knew full well to betoken the presence of danger. At the -same moment, listening with eager attention, and with an acuteness of -hearing which those only possess who live such a life of wild, -dangerous activity as mine was at that time, I fancied that I heard the -cracking of a stick under the foot of man. It seemed to be at some -distance off, and apparently far below where I was standing. The trees -were too thick to enable me to see far, but creeping forward a little, -and standing on the trunk of a fallen tree, I endeavoured to look down -the hill as much as the fall of the ground permitted. It so happened -that there was a space of ground somewhat less thickly surrounded by -trees than the rest of the forest, over which I had passed in my -previous journey, and it was upon this space that I looked, being many -feet above it. You may imagine my feelings when I caught sight of an -Indian, fully armed and decked in his war-paint, just crossing this -space, and evidently examining the ground before him with the greatest -care. I should have thought but little of this, indeed, but for that -which followed. He crossed the space, and immediately after him came -nine of his companions, horrible-looking creatures, travelling in -single file and closely following in their leader's footsteps. Horror -of horrors! they were upon my track. I knew it but too well! there was -I, alone in the wild forest, with no less than ten deadly foes after -me, whose object undoubtedly was to take my life, and not improbably -with some of those tortures with which Indians delight to amuse -themselves at the expense of their captives. - -"Now I happened to have a decided preference for living, if I could, -and, if I _must_ die, for dying in a respectable manner. The idea -of having my scalp torn from my head, and hung up in the wigwam of a -wild savage, was extremely repugnant to me, and I determined at once to -avoid such an unpleasant catastrophe if I possibly could. The question -was, however, as to the best way in which this could be accomplished. -If I pushed on through the forest, it could not be long before these -enemies, hardy and used to the woods, and animated with their savage -desire for my life, would overtake me, when, perhaps, I might be too -fatigued to offer any real resistance. If I stood firm where I was, -what could I hope to do against ten men? If, on the other hand, I -assumed a friendly air and advanced to meet them, I knew their -treacherous nature too well to harbour for an instant the thought that -they would treat me otherwise than as a captive taken in war. Indeed, -should it be otherwise, my best fate would probably be to be obliged to -join their tribe, very likely to marry several very unpleasant squaws, -and to drag out my weary existence far away from scenes into which -christianity or civilisation had penetrated. My aim, then, must be to -escape from the clutches of these savages by some method or another, -and I was indeed puzzled what to do. I had not much time to deliberate, -and after a moment's thought, I decided to lie down flat behind the -trunk of the tree on which I had been standing, and calmly await the -event. I looked carefully to my rifle and revolver, both of which I -ascertained to be loaded and ready for action, I bid my brave Jumbo lie -down at my feet, which the intelligent animal immediately did, -crouching quite close to the fallen tree, and then, having so disposed -my body that I could see under one of the branches of the tree, and -watch the approach of my enemies, I remained still and hoped for the -best. It seemed to me hours before they came near. In reality it could -not have been much more than half an hour, for the spot at which I had -seen them could have been barely three miles, even by the zig-zag line -which I had followed, and as I, having had no suspicion of the presence -of a foe, had taken no precaution to conceal my track, they were not -delayed in their pursuit by any trouble in discovering my footsteps. On -they came, steadily and silently, and I saw them from my hiding-place -rapidly approaching me. The foremost Indian had already arrived at the -spot from which I had gazed at the overhanging branch and its fearful -occupant, and stopped for an instant at the place where my footsteps -ended, evidently puzzled as to what I had done, and where I had gone -from that point. - -"Not long, however, did he hesitate, but, casting a glance right and -left, moved rapidly forward towards the tree, to discover whether any -traces were to be found in that direction. Three or four of his rapid, -noiseless strides brought him beneath the fatal branch: enemy as he -was, I longed to warn him, despite the danger to myself, but it was -more than I dared venture to do, and in another instant it was too -late. With sudden and awful rapidity the snake darted downwards from -the branch and struck the unfortunate wretch--a piercing yell rang -through the woods, but the victim cried in vain. Encircled by the coils -of the mighty reptile, his doom was sealed beyond hope, and I turned my -head from the horrible sight of the last struggles of my miserable foe. -His companions rushed hastily back as they saw their leader's fate, and -I earnestly hoped that this misfortune would have induced them to -desist from their pursuit. It was not so, however, but after the lapse -of a few moments only, I saw them making casts like hounds directed by -a huntsman, and presently they discovered the place where I had turned -aside, and came eagerly forward on my track. There was no time to be -lost: they were little more than twenty yards from my tree, and I had a -full view of them. Nine more savage-looking rascals you never saw. -Their war-paint made them appear even more ugly than nature had made -them, although that was somewhat difficult. Only three of them carried -rifles, the rest being armed, as far as I could see, only with -tomahawks and hunting-knives. They were evidently "braves," or -warriors, all of them, and by their appearance and the expression upon -their faces, I felt very sure that they were in that excited state that -my chance of mercy would be but small if I should be so unfortunate as -to fall into their hands. I determined, therefore, to act with vigour -and decision, and, if the worst came to the worst, to sell my life -dearly at all events. When, therefore, my enemies were barely fifteen -yards from me, I suddenly sprang to my feet, uttering at the same time -the loudest and most outlandish howl I could command, by way of a -war-cry, which Jumbo echoed by a bark more like the roar of a lion than -the sound made by an ordinary dog. As I had expected, this sudden -movement on my part took the Indians entirely by surprise, and caused -them to come to a halt on the instant. Whilst they were thus stationary -I fired both barrels of my rifle as quickly as possible, selecting as -their object two of those who had firearms in their hands. The foremost -man threw up his arms and dropped like a log, whilst the bullet of the -second barrel, fired somewhat hastily, only struck an Indian in the -shoulder. Scarcely waiting, however, to see the result, I had no sooner -fired than I bounded down the hill, reloading as fast as I could, and -closely followed by the faithful Jumbo. The Indians, disconcerted by -the suddenness of my appearance and attack, stood still for a moment -without any effort to pursue me. Not long, however, was this the case, -for a wild yell of anger and revenge rang through the air, and I knew -that my relentless foes were again upon my track. I did not run far, -for being expert at loading, my rifle was soon ready, and I well knew -that all depended upon my speedy and effective use of the trusty -weapon. Not fifty yards from the spot whence I had fired my first shot, -I reached an open space, across which I bounded like a deer, and placed -myself behind a large tree upon the further side. A few seconds after, -and the enemy rushed into the space, and at a glance I perceived that -there were only seven. My shots, then, had both told! Inspirited by -this good fortune, I felt my nerves grow steadier on the instant, and -as the foremost savage bounded towards me, I fired upon him with deadly -effect. He fell; and his six comrades immediately sought shelter in the -bushes, but not before the shot from my second barrel reduced their -number to five. Without an instant's delay, I darted down the hill -again, at the base of which flowed a stream which I desired to reach, -hoping to find some place on the opposite bank where I might make a -stand. But my pursuers, grown wise by experience, no longer followed me -together, but, spreading out right and left ran silently yet swiftly -towards me. Full well did I know that they would do so, and that I must -use every stratagem within my power if I desired to escape with my -life. - -"Accordingly, after I had gone a short distance, I seized the branch -of a tree, and swung myself up as quietly and quickly as I could, -motioning to Jumbo with my hand to continue his course, which the -clever animal did for some little way, and then stopped. It fell out as -I had hoped. Presently a light footstep came nearer and nearer to the -tree upon which I sat, and an Indian, creeping softly forward, stole -actually within three yards of the spot. He passed me and went silently -forward for a few steps, when again the report of my rifle rang through -the woods, and I had but four foemen to contend with. But I knew only -too well the risk I had run in order thus to diminish their number. -_I was no longer certain that all my enemies were behind me._ All I -_did_ know was, that four active, unwounded, ferocious men were -somewhere near at hand, thirsting for my blood, and that I had but my -rifle and my trusty hound to depend on to save me from their clutches. - -"I remained perfectly still, not venturing even to reload my rifle, and -listened with an eagerness which became agony. Not a sound could I hear -of any sort or description. The Indians had evidently become alive to -their danger, and were employing all the cunning of their race in order -to avoid their own destruction and compass mine. Jumbo also was -certainly aware that he had a part to play, and was in all probability -lying still until I should summon him to my side. The suspense was -awful, and all the more so as I knew perfectly well that a false -move--or perhaps any move at all--might be fatal to my hopes of escape. - -"How long this state of things endured I can hardly tell you, for my -nerves were strung to that tension that I could take no account of -time. It might have been, for aught I knew, five minutes or five hours, -but probably the former is more nearly correct. As soon as I had shot -the last Indian, I had drawn myself back to the thickest part of the -branch on which I sat, and believed that I was invisible to the eyes of -anyone below. I soon discovered my mistake, however, and that in a -manner which very nearly put an end to me and my adventure together. As -I waited anxiously for the next scene in this exciting drama, I -suddenly felt my hunting cap struck from my head, whilst the sound of a -rifle-shot rang unpleasantly near to my ears: a bullet had passed -through my cap within an inch of my head! - -"One of the Indians had certainly caught sight of me, and, aiming from -some hiding-place hard by, had fired the shot which had so nearly -proved fatal. - -"Of course it would have been sheer madness to remain where I was for -one moment longer, for another shot might, and probably would, prove -more successful. Quick as lightning the thought flashed through my -brain, that my only chance was to deceive my enemy into the belief that -he had accomplished his purpose. Accordingly, in an instant I dropped -heavily to the ground. Fortunately I had no great distance to fall, and -as I did so, I kept my rifle clasped closely to my breast. It happened -as I had anticipated, and even better than I had ventured to hope, for -the next moment all four of my foes came rushing through the wood from -different points, the man who had fired brandishing his rifle over his -head as he approached. He was within three or four yards of me when I -sprang suddenly to my feet, and fired directly into his breast, with -the natural result of checking his career for ever. No sooner had I -fired than I rushed again down the hill at full speed, calling to my -hound as I ran. - -"The three remaining Indians did not stop with their slain friend for -an instant, but, incensed beyond measure at his death and the success -of my stratagem, followed me at best speed, much too closely to be -pleasant. I determined, however, to reach and cross the stream if -possible, and made every effort to do so. There was a small space -nearly clear of trees and bushes between the edge of the wood and the -stream, beyond which the wood again stretched away far and wide. I -reached this space, and was within a couple of yards of the stream when -my foes were upon me. Fearing that they might take me at disadvantage, -I turned and suddenly confronted them--three horrid looking ruffians -they were--their eyes gleaming with fury, and their appearance -altogether enough to frighten any civilised person out of his wits. - -"When I turned they were four or five yards from me--most fortunately -none of them had firearms, not having stayed their pursuit to pick up -the rifles of their deceased companions--each of them, however, had his -tomahawk, and each hurled it at my head as I turned to face them. -Dropping suddenly on one knee, I was fortunate enough to escape these -weapons, which all whizzed harmlessly over my head: the three men were, -however, close at hand, and I had no time to escape them. At this -moment, however, I recollected an old trick of which I had read -somewhere or other, and which I instantly resolved to put in practice. -Rising from my knee, I rushed to meet one of the Indians, and as he -furiously came upon me, I suddenly stooped quite low, evaded the blow -which he struck over me, and seizing him by both ankles, lifted him by -sheer muscular strength over myself, so that he fell with great -violence upon his head several yards behind me, carried forward by the -force of his own weight and impetus. The other two were so confused at -this occurrence, that they lost the single moment in which they might -have struck me a deadly blow without the possibility of my warding it -off. The next moment Jumbo sprang upon one of them, whilst I confronted -the other. - -"My first object was to seize the wrist of the hand which held his -hunting knife. I had no time to draw my own, and my only hope was to -deprive my enemy of his weapon. In an instant we closed and grappled -furiously. I kept firm hold of his wrist, however, well knowing that -this was my safety. After a short struggle we rolled on the ground -together, and the Indian's hand coming in contact with something hard, -he dropped the fatal knife. We were now upon more equal terms, but -still there were many chances against me. My foe was a tall, brawny, -muscular man, a hardy son of the woods, and, like myself, now fighting -for his life. Never shall I forget that moment. In the midst of that -terrible struggle, when I was putting forth all my strength and -concentrating every effort in order to gain the mastery, the pleasant -meadows of dear old England came up in a vision, as it were, before my -eyes, and familiar home scenes flashed like lightning across my sight. -I redoubled my efforts, but the savage had succeeded in grasping my -throat with one of his hands, and it was with the greatest difficulty I -could draw my breath. My eyes seemed to grow dull and heavy, there was -the roar of ten thousand surges in my ears, my temples throbbed as if -they would burst, and I felt creeping over me a terrible sensation of -despair, which I shall never forget whilst I have power to remember -anything. - -"All at once there came upon my hearing the sound as of a short, sharp -roar of fury--the Indian's grasp was loosened--my sight came back to -me, again I heard, I recovered consciousness just sufficiently to see -my faithful Jumbo with his mighty teeth fixed in the throat of my dying -enemy, and then I sank back in a dead faint. - -"How long I remained in this state it is impossible for me to say. I -was awakened by a soft, cooling sensation on my forehead, and opening -my eyes, regained sufficient consciousness to be aware that an Indian -maiden was bathing my feverish brow with cold water from the -neighbouring stream, whilst my dog, usually so ferocious, was couched -near, regarding her with friendly eyes, and evidently quite aware that -she was performing a kindly office, and was not to be interrupted. I -strove to speak; but my benefactress forbade me with an expressive -gesture, placing her finger lightly upon my lips. - -"'White broder no speak,' she said, in the low guttural accents of her -race; 'no open him lips. Silence berry good. Talkee hurt.' - -"I was too confused and, I hope, too grateful to disobey, and remained -perfectly quiet whilst the maiden continued her interesting occupation -for several minutes, during which time I had an opportunity of -attentively observing her. She was certainly one of the loveliest--nay, -_the_ loveliest of Indian maidens. Although she had not quite as -many clothes on as an European damsel would consider necessary, their -absence only served to disclose the perfect symmetry of her form, the -graceful rounding of her limbs, and the natural dignity of her every -movement. Her eyes, large and soft as those of the gazelle, were -fringed with the most magnificent eye-lashes you can imagine, and when -she cast them down, she presented an ideal of female modesty and -refinement, which could not be surpassed by the most fashionable young -lady that ever graced a London drawing-room. When she smiled, her face -lighted up like that of a lovely child when, just awakened, it sees the -loving face of its mother bending over it, and, in a word, purity, -innocence, and natural beauty seemed all concentrated in the form, -features, and expression of this child of the woods. Such at least was -the thought which occupied my breast as I lay still and gazed upon the -gentle being who was ministering to my wants in so agreeable a manner, -and I think I could have stayed in the same position some time longer -without any great desire to move. But, after a little while, the maiden -ceased to bathe my brow, and addressing me in the same tones as before, -said, 'White broder sit up now. Him better. Him no die dis time.' I -mechanically obeyed, sat up, and felt much better already. In fact, -there was no reason why I should not be so, for, save and except the -exertion and excitement which I had undergone, and the near approach to -strangulation from which Jumbo had providentially saved me, I had -really received no bodily injury. It really seems a strange thing to -look back upon, but here had been ten men against one poor wayfarer, -and yet the ten had perished, and he was left alive. I did not think, -however, of looking back at that moment; my thoughts were fixed upon my -new friend: who or what was she,--where did she come from,--could she -possibly be one of the tribe who had been upon my trail? If so, why -did she not kill and scalp me whilst I lay senseless on the ground? -Horrible thought! my head seemed to feel the knife, and I could fancy -the awful wrench with which one's scalp would go; but I had no need for -such thoughts. My scalp was safe and sound, and the maiden evidently -could not belong to my enemies. The only way to find out the truth -about her was to ask, so, adopting my style to her own, I began without -loss of time. - -"'My sister very good;--kind to poor white broder. Where my sister come -from? How she happen to be in woods? Is she far from her home? And what -my sister's name?' - -"The girl laughed, and looked down upon the ground as she replied at -once: - -"'White broder ask many questions. Pale-face always much talkee. -Moon-eye not tell eberything. No good too much talkee.' - -"I doubted what to say next. I had gained one piece of information -certainly, since the damsel evidently referred to herself as 'Moon-eye,' -which was undoubtedly an appropriate name for her, and had been given -by someone who was no bad judge of eyes in general, and hers in -particular. But I wanted to know a great deal more, whilst at the same -time I was anxious not to appear rude or inquisitive. So I remained -silent for a little while, when presently she rose to her feet and -addressed me in the following words: - -"'Pale-face broder come now. "Moon-eye" show way.' - -"I obeyed without hesitation, and prepared to go wherever she led, for -in fact I had no alternative. It was very unlikely that the girl was -alone in the forest, and if not, the eyes and ears of her friends might -even at this moment be within sight and hearing, in which case my -policy, as well as my inclination, would be to appear to be upon the -best possible terms with her, and to approach them in her company and -under her guidance. I felt somewhat weak when I attempted to walk, but -as it was only weakness, I knew it would soon pass away, and so said -nothing, but quietly followed my guide. She walked down to the little -stream before mentioned, then turned along its bank and proceeded for -several hundred yards until she came to a place where the water was so -shallow as to enable us easily to wade over, which we did, and plunged -into the woods on the other side. By this time, I thought I might as -well try to get a little more conversation out of my friend, and -therefore accosted her with some ordinary question, but she immediately -turned round and, placing her finger on her lips, said, in a voice so -low as to be little more than a whisper: - -"'No talkee--enemy in woods. Moon-eye prisoner once. No want catchee -again.' - -"For the first time the truth now dawned upon me, and I understood the -reason of the exceeding kindness bestowed upon me by the Indian damsel, -which I had previously attributed either to her own natural humanity, -or to admiration for my noble and prepossessing appearance. But, as I -afterwards discovered,'Moon-eye' had been carried off from her tribe by -a party of thieving Indians, who, in order to elude pursuit, had -divided in their journey, ten of them being entrusted with the captive -maiden. While passing through this part of the woods, they had struck -my trail, and, seeing it to be recent, had left the prisoner bound, and -hastily followed, intending to finish me off before they continued -their journey. Fortunately for me it had turned out otherwise, but it -might not have been fortunate for 'Moon-eye' had she not succeeded in -freeing herself from the bonds in which she had been left. They must -have been less carefully tied than most Indian fastenings that I have -seen; but I fancy the girl had rather deceived her captors by -pretending to go with them more willingly than was really the case, and -perchance a desire to avoid injuring her in any way had induced the -Indians to fasten her less tightly and securely than they might -otherwise have done. Anyhow, she contrived to get loose, and also to -find her way to the spot where I lay senseless, and where, as we have -seen, she treated me with a care and tenderness which I little expected -to encounter in the depth of the forest. - -"Being admonished to silence I said no more, and we tramped on in -silence, followed by the brave Jumbo. We had gone thus above a mile, -when we heard a yell which proceeded from the direction of the place we -had quitted. My companion stopped short, and turning to me, said, in a -low voice: - -"'More bad Indian. Him hear shot. Him come back and find him broder -shot. Him follow soon now. If catchee Moon-eye and pale-face broder, -him killee for sartain.' - -"This being very much my own opinion, I asked the girl how far off her -friends were, and as she now saw that something more than mere -curiosity dictated the question, she replied at once: - -"'Two--tree--twenty mile. Bad Indian catchee before get to camp.' - -"On further inquiry I found that she thought there must have been full -fifty of the robbers who had attacked the camp of her people when most -of the warriors were absent--that they had captured several other -prisoners besides herself--that they had divided into three parties, -doubtless for the sake of greater safety in their flight, and that one -of these parties had sundry horses laden with plunder, whilst the other -party had the remaining captives. In all probability the shots fired -during my combat with the ten Indians, who had been in charge of her, -had been heard by one or both of these parties, and the cries we now -heard proceeded from them. They would certainly follow upon our trail, -and our chances of escape depended as much upon the numbers of our -pursuers as upon any skill or strength of ours. For if thirty or forty -warriors were behind us, not only would resistance be vain, but we -should probably be surrounded before we had travelled far, whereas if -only a few of the savages had returned, and made the discovery of the -death of their friends, there was greater hope that we might elude -them. Our only chance was to push on, and, having more than a mile -start, we must make the best of it. Accordingly,'Moon-eye' advanced -rapidly and cautiously, and I followed her, through the forest, and we -must have gone quite another mile before we exchanged a word. By this -time we had arrived at a sort of hill, upon which the trees grew less -thickly than at other parts of the forest. At the foot of this hill the -ground broke away to the right, the trees became still more scanty, and -a wide chasm yawned at the distance of some twenty yards from where we -stood, the descent into which was down a precipice many feet in height, -whilst on the other side of the chasm the forest rose again, and grew -on in unbroken continuity. To the left the trees were somewhat thicker, -and some forty or fifty yards before us, as we bore to that side in -ascending the hill, we perceived a building of some sort, towards which -my companion directed her way. Making me a sign to remain where I was -for a moment, she crept forward to reconnoitre, and presently -returning, motioned me to follow her, whilst she made her way directly -to the right, in the direction of the precipice, to the very edge of -which she advanced. Thence we looked down into a frightful abyss, down -which, if one had tumbled, one would have had no chance of escape. Bits -of jagged rock projected here and there; vegetation seemed suspended -for some distance down, and then the eye rested upon thick and tangled -bushes jutting out from the sides of the rock, and completely -concealing the bottom of the chasm, if, indeed, it had any bottom at -all, for it might be endless as far as one could see from the top. -Leaning carefully forward, my companion tore a branch or two from the -bushes growing near the edge of the precipice, and gave the place the -appearance of having been disturbed by the passage of some heavy body. -She then took from my neck a handkerchief, which I had on by way of a -neck-cloth, and which I did not in the least want to part with, but, of -course, gave it up readily at her request; then she calmly dropped it -over the side of the precipice, so that it hung upon one of the few -bushes which grew a little way down the chasm. She then turned to me -and said, in a low voice: - -"'Bad Indian tink him fall down cliff--no follow any more;' and with -these words noiselessly retraced her way, treading so carefully in her -former footsteps as to make it appear as if there was only one trail, -and that pointing _towards_ the precipice. - -"When we had arrived at the spot from which she had previously gone to -reconnoitre, we slowly ascended by the same way she had travelled -before, carefully covering up and hiding all trace of our footsteps -until we had reached the building to which I have already alluded. - -"It was apparently composed entirely of logs, and seemed as if it had -been built for the lodge, or more likely a place of refuge, for some -hunting party. The logs were roughly hewn, but skilfully laid together, -forming a strong building, with only one entrance, and that by means of -a door which had long since been broken down and destroyed. There were, -however, two stories to the building, and as soon as we had entered the -doorway, we found ourselves in a large room, some ten feet high at -least, with a strong flooring of logs overhead. 'Moon-eye' rapidly made -her way to one corner of this place, where stood some rude wooden -steps, above which was an opening in the flooring above. These she -ascended, motioning me to follow, and we presently crept through the -opening into the upper room. This was lighted by two windows, one at -each side, and had a stout roof overhead. There was no furniture -whatever in it, but only a number of dried leaves, which seemed to have -blown in at the windows from time to time, since the place had been -deserted. 'Moon-eye' trod gently across the floor towards one of those -windows, and on following her I found that it commanded a view in the -direction from which we had come, but a view limited of course by the -trees which grew within a short distance of the building. Turning to -me, the girl now whispered in her own guttural accents: - -"'Bad Indian no come here, 'fraid of wicked spirit--kill much hunter -here one day--times ago.' - -"I gathered from this remark that the place in which we were, had been -the scene of some cruel massacre by the Indians in days past, and that -the savages probably avoided it from superstitious fear. This gave me a -double pleasure, for whilst it increased my hopes of safety for the -maiden as well as for myself, it showed me, that she was one of those -Indians whom superior intelligence, and perhaps a better education than -is common among the females of her race, had raised above their common -prejudices. Her plan was easily to be perceived. Could the pursuers be -led to believe that we had fallen down the precipice, perhaps having -turned aside from our path with a natural desire to avoid the haunted -building, they would perhaps abandon further pursuit, and continue -their journey. The place in which we now were, might have been easily -defended by a few men against a much larger number of enemies; and, as -I had my rifle with me, I might have made a stand even where I was, but -it was absolutely necessary to leave the door and the aperture into the -upper room open, inasmuch as the sight of any defence, however slight, -would at once disclose our hiding-place to those who sought us. Nor, -indeed, was there much time for consideration as to the best plan to -adopt. In going to and returning from the edge of the precipice, and -subsequently in concealing our trail, we had occupied some little time; -and scarcely had we reached the upper story, than a yell arose from the -forest which betokened the immediate advance of the foe. There was but -a moment for reflection; through the chinks of the logs near one of the -windows, we could see without being seen, and here we took our station, -watching and waiting in breathless suspense. We had not long to wait. -For some little time all was silence, and the forest looked so peaceful -and lovely, that it was difficult to believe it full of savage enemies -thirsting for our blood. - -"Meanwhile, I have forgotten to tell you of that which was at one -moment our great difficulty, namely, my old friend Jumbo. Invaluable as -he was in a fight, when the question became one of concealing a trail, -he was very much the reverse. His trail was easy enough to discover, -and we were rather puzzled what to do about it. The dog, however, was -so intelligent that I felt sure he would understand the necessity of -our separation for a time. So when we turned from our first track in -order to approach the building, I pointed into the woods in the -contrary direction, and bade him in the most impressive manner to go -and wait for me there. The clever animal looked at me for a moment as -if to fully take in what I had said, and then quietly turned round and -entered the forest in obedience to my command. We were, therefore, -unincumbered by his presence whilst we awaited the coming of our -enemies in breathless anxiety in the upper story of the building. - -"The savages were doubtless following up our trail all this time, -silently, slowly, but surely. The yells we had heard at first, were of -course caused by their discovery of the bodies of their friends: why -there had been a second yell, I have never discovered to this day, -unless it was that they had lost our trail for a moment, and that it -had been found again by some young warrior who had not sufficient -experience or self-restraint to prevent his announcing the welcome fact -by a shout. However this may be, they yelled no more, and after we had -waited for some ten minutes or less, the party arrived at the spot -whence we had ascended the hill, that is to say, within some fifty -yards of the place where we lay. - -"As I have already said, the trees were thinner here than elsewhere, -and we could from this cause see sufficiently well to discern objects -moving about at that distance. - -"It was late in the afternoon now, but the light was still good, and -'Moon-eye' looked with keen and anxious eyes through the chinks of the -logs in the direction of the savages. Though we could not count them, -we soon saw that there were certainly more than twenty of the rascals. - -"The truth was, that _both_ the other two parties had heard the firing -which occurred during my fight with the ten who had attacked me, but -neither party liked to retrace their steps with their captives, and -each had therefore again divided, and sent back a portion of their -number to follow up the matter. These two divisions had met, and their -meeting and explanations had probably caused just that delay which had -enabled us to take shelter in our present place of refuge. - -"All was silence for a few moments longer, whilst we saw the dusky -forms of the savages flitting, like evil spirits, through the trees at -the foot of the hill, and moving in the direction in which we had gone. -Then presently came a tremendous yell of mingled surprise and -disappointment. They had evidently arrived at the spot where we wished -them to believe we had fallen over the precipice. There was no more -silence now, but on the contrary a Babel of tongues arose, and the -savages chattered one to another like a number of old women over their -washing-tubs, if I may make such an irreverent comparison. - -"My companion turned her head to me and smiled pleasantly, whilst her -eyes laughed with joy: - -"'Sioux fool,' she whispered (from which remark I first learned the -tribe to which our foes belonged). 'Pawnee girl cheat him well. No -cheat Pawnee warrior so!' - -"I said nothing, for I did not like the silence that suddenly ensued. -Whether some wiser chief had spoken, or what was the reason, I knew -not, but the clamour and confusion ceased all at once, and the Indians -began to return from the edge of the precipice, and spread themselves -around the foot of the hill as if in search of some new trail, or to -make sure that they had made no mistake. Still we lay quite quiet, -convinced that this was our best chance of safety, and hoping that the -superstitious fears of the savages would keep them from entering our -hiding-place. - -"As they took no particular pains to conceal their movements, we could -plainly hear the leaves rustle, and the dried sticks crash as they -tramped through the surrounding woods; but for some time no one -approached the building. Then, all of a sudden, we heard a footstep -close below us. How we wished that it was a couple of hours later, when -we might have hidden more securely in one of the dark corners of the -room. This, however, was impossible, and we could only lie still where -we were, still trusting that even if an Indian were found bold enough -to enter the place in which we were, he would be content with -inspecting the lower apartment. Presently the step entered the -building, stealthily as that of a wolf creeping after his prey. A -moment of intense anxiety followed, to be succeeded by one of as -intense disgust. The steps creaked beneath the weight of a man, and the -head and shoulders of a powerful savage appeared above the opening. For -one instant he gazed round, his eyes being as yet unaccustomed to the -imperfect light. - -"Had I been alone, I should probably have closed the aforesaid eyes -with a bullet then and there, but my companion restrained me with a -gesture, and in another second it was too late. The Indian naturally -said 'Hugh,' in a deep guttural tone. I never knew or read of an Indian -who did _not_ say 'Hugh' in a similar emergency, and the next moment he -disappeared. Then arose a shout which summoned his comrades, and within -a couple of minutes, my companion and I were standing outside the -unlucky building, with five-and-twenty of the most unpleasant looking -savages howling around us, in a manner doubtless most delightful to -themselves, but to us the very reverse. - -"The gentleman who had discovered us was evidently the chief of the -party. He had got my rifle, confound him, and stood regarding us with -such a complacent, self-satisfied air that I would have paid down -half-a-crown cheerfully to have had one drive at his nose with my -clenched fist. This, however, was out of the question, partly because -it would have been a very rash and foolish proceeding under existing -circumstances, and partly because it would have been somewhat -difficult, seeing that my arms were securely fastened behind my back -with ropes of bark. Poor 'Moon-eye' was also bound, and did not seem -much to approve of the arrangement. - -"The chief now approached us, and looked me steadfastly in the face, -whilst I, having nothing better to do, looked back at him. Presently he -gave a deep kind of cough or clearing of the throat, and after uttering -the usual 'Hugh,' remarked that he was 'Pig-face,' and a very great -chief. To this I responded, in plain English, that I didn't think much -of the name for beauty, but had no doubt but that he was a tremendous -'swell' in his own country, to which remark he gravely bowed assent, -evidently not understanding a word of it. He then came close to me, -and, lightly touching me on the shoulder, exclaimed in a somewhat -excited tone, 'Pale-face tief--no good--kill Pig-face young man--carry -off Pig-face squaw--must die.' - -"Before I could by any possibility reply, 'Moon-eye' had interposed -with a torrent of invective of which I had scarcely supposed her -capable. She was terribly disgusted, I think (and no wonder at it) at -being called Pig-face's squaw by that illustrious chief, and she -certainly told him so in pretty plain terms, if her language (which I -did not understand) at all corresponded to her voice and manner. This -scene, however, could not last long. Although the Indian chief had -kindly informed me of my doom, it was not his intention that it should -be immediately fulfilled. He and his party had travelled many miles -that day, and felt inclined for a rest before going further; added to -which I imagine that they thought it would be more congenial to their -feelings to kill me in their own village. Accordingly, they very kindly -postponed that operation for the present, and leading us to a spot not -more than half a mile distant from our late refuge, prepared to encamp -for the night. Each of us captives, lady as well as gentleman, was -bound to a tree, which is by no means the easiest position in which to -pass the night, especially when vigilant eyes are upon you the whole -time, which was the case in this instance, as the Indians relieved each -other every two hours, so that we were closely watched through the -whole night, and had no opportunity of communicating with each other. -Early in the morning the party again set out, and poor 'Moon-eye' and -I, but little rested, were forced to accompany them, much against our -inclination. I will do the savages the justice to observe that they -loosened the girl's arms during the morning, but as they neglected to -perform the same kindness in my case, I felt remarkably uncomfortable. -We journeyed along for some distance, until we came to an open grassy -space, upon which we halted, and our captors, producing some venison -meat, sat down to make a meal, unbinding my arms for a while, and -pressed both me and my companion to share their food. I had carefully -counted their number during our march, and found that there were -twenty-four men, besides the excellent chief Pig-face, so that even if -I had been free and armed, I could neither have resisted nor escaped -from so great a number. I therefore determined to forbear from any such -attempt, which, besides being useless, might increase the severity of -our treatment. - -"As we sat, the chief again approached us and indulged in some more -conversation. He spoke after the usual fashion of Indians, praising -himself and his people a good deal, abusing me and all white people -generally, and assuring me that my scalp should hang at his belt before -many days were past. I bethought me of all the wise things which I had -read of as having been said by 'Hawk-eye,' in Fennimore Cooper's -immortal books, and could have prated for half an hour about 'White -man's gifts,' and 'Red man's gifts,' if I had been so disposed. As, -however, the only 'gift' which I desired at that moment was one which -would have enabled me to set my companion and myself free, I did not -care to indulge in those sage moral reflections which always seemed to -me as I read them singularly out of place and extremely unlikely to -have formed part of the conversation of a backwoodsman. I therefore -merely thanked the savage, and informed him at the same time that my -scalp was exceedingly comfortable where it was, and that I had no -desire for its removal, a remark which he received with much composure, -and probably imagined to be a reply entirely to the purpose. Then he -began to tell my beautiful Moon-eye that she was foolish to have run -away, that no one could withstand Pig-face, and that she should -undoubtedly share his wigwam before long. - -"The maiden heard him this time in dignified silence, and after a while -he left off talking, and directed his people to prepare to continue -their journey. - -"We walked for a considerable distance, and having re-crossed the -stream near which my first encounter had taken place, travelled for -several miles without the occurrence of any incident worthy of note -until the second evening arrived. Whether the savages felt more secure -on account of being nearer their village, or from any other cause, I -cannot say, but certain it is that they now so far relaxed their -vigilance as to suffer my arms to be unbound for a time, and neither I -nor Moon-eye were apparently so closely watched during the supper hour. -Still, we knew but too well that keen eyes were upon us, and that -flight was out of the question. - -"When the Indians had finished their meal, my companion and I were both -tied again, but not so fast as before, or at least not in so -objectionable a manner. We were suffered to lie down, our hands were -fastened before us, and a rope round one ankle secured each of us to a -tree. So darkness crept over the forest, and the savages were soon -buried in sleep. - -"Presently a low whine attracted my attention, and I perceived my -faithful Jumbo, who had evidently followed us all the journey, too wary -to expose himself to view before he saw an opportunity of being of use. -Creeping gently up to me now, the affectionate brute first licked my -hands and face, though the latter was an attention with which I confess -I could have dispensed. Then he began gently to gnaw the bark ropes -which bound my wrists, and in a very short time succeeded in freeing my -hands. At that instant one of the Indians started up. Jumbo slunk away -in the shadow of the trees, whilst I kept my position, and endeavoured -to appear as if I was fast asleep. The savage was soon satisfied, and -lay down again, but I did not move for some minutes. Then I put out my -hand and reached a knife which one of the party had carelessly left -within my reach; with this I severed the fastening which held me to the -tree, and crawling a few yards, performed the same office for my -companion. - -"Still we were not much better off, for if we ventured to fly, we were -certain to be speedily pursued and brought back. Therefore we looked at -each other with a mutually disconsolate air, and hesitated what to do -next. At this moment the hoot of an owl broke upon our ears. The eyes -of the Indian maiden opened to their fullest extent: her nostrils -seemed to tremble with excitement as she listened, and her features -worked with a convulsive movement. The cry was repeated. - -"'Pawnee near--that him cry,' whispered the girl, and sat upright to -listen again. - -"At that moment Pig-face suddenly sprang to his feet, as if he too had -heard and recognized the sound. But before he had time to utter a word -or cry, a furious yell broke the stillness of the night, and the -well-known war-cry of the Pawnees rang through the air. A band of these -brave people had started in pursuit of their enemies as soon as they -had discovered the theft of the latter, and the carrying off of -Moon-eye, upon their return to the camp. The Sioux would probably have -got clear off if, in the first place, the party of ten had not been so -desirous of getting my scalp, and if, in the second place, their -friends had not thought it necessary to attempt to revenge their death. -The time which they had lost in following and capturing us had enabled -the Pawnees to overtake them, and their surprise was complete. I must -say for the fellows that they lost no time in flying, and that too with -amazing dexterity, for they disappeared like magic on all sides, -Pig-face included. Fortunately for them, the anxiety of the Pawnees to -recover the lost maiden was much in favour of their escape, for it -appeared that the warriors had reasoned, wisely enough, that if they -surrounded the camp, the position of the captives might be dangerous, -whereas if they attacked on one side only the enemy would, in all -probability, be principally occupied in securing his own safety. - -So, indeed, it turned out, and out of the twenty-five savages who had -captured us, I believe that nearly one-half escaped unhurt. More might -have done so if the gallant Jumbo had not thought it necessary to take -an active part in the combat, which he did by pursuing and pulling down -several of the Sioux, who thus became easy victims to their pursuers. - -"Pig-face and four of his men were taken unhurt, and when our friends -re-assembled, and congratulations had passed between them and Moon-eye, -the latter, having introduced me to her tribe, told them of the fate -which the Sioux chief had intended for each of us. - -"The leader of the Pawnees, who rejoiced in the name of 'the -Rattle-snake,' and was painted to represent that interesting animal, -approached the unhappy Pig-face after this, and gave him a piece of his -mind upon the subject. I did not understand what he said, of course, -being, as I told you before, somewhat ignorant of their language; but I -knew by the manner of the two that they were going on after the usual -Indian fashion, the one telling the other that he should soon be tied -to the stake, and what jolly fun it would be to torture him till he -howled again, and the other replying that he was a great chief, that -the other belonged to a nation of women, and that if he tortured him as -he said, he would see that a chief knew how to die. - -"When they had satisfied themselves with this little interchange of -compliments, 'the Rattle-snake' came up to me and spoke in his own -language, saying, I have no doubt, several things which I should have -very much liked to understand. I suppose, however, that my countenance -showed him that he might as well have been talking to one of the trees, -for he presently turned to Moon-eye and beckoned her to approach, which -she accordingly did. Then he spoke to her in the same tongue, and she -interpreted what he said to me in her pretty broken English. - -"'Chief say he tank pale-face broder for kill bad Indian. Pawnee him -friend,--white skin, Pawnee heart.' - -"When I understood what the girl said, I replied at once that I was -very much obliged for his good opinion, but that as a matter of fact my -killing the bad Indians was not on account of any particular friendship -for his tribe, but because if I had not done so, the beggars would -certainly have killed _me_. 'The Rattle-snake' listened to this -explanation with great attention, and answered through the interpreter -that this was doubtless very true, inasmuch as these thieving Indians -would kill any fellow they found in the woods if it suited their -purpose; but that, nevertheless, a warrior who had assisted in -disposing of so many Sioux _must_ be a friend to the Pawnees, even if -he had never heard of them before. - -"There was no arguing against such a reason as this, and I therefore at -once professed myself as a decided friend to the Pawnees, then and for -ever. To tell the truth, I was not disinclined to become so, since -Moon-eye had made such a deep impression upon me, that I felt a natural -liking towards her people. The thought had several times crossed my -mind during the last few days, whether I should not be much happier if -I gave up the roving life which I had followed so long, and settled -down comfortably in some quiet nook of the world, exchanging continual -restlessness for domestic tranquillity. Coupled with this thought came -another, namely, that I had become so unused to the polished manners of -civilized people, that an Indian home and an Indian bride might -possibly bring me more happiness than a return to my native land. So I -resolved to accept the offer of the Pawnees to return with them to -their own village, and bethought me at the same time that if I could -but win the heart of the lovely Moon-eye, I might settle down among her -people and become a regular Pawnee. - -"Perhaps, my dear children, this might have been the case, and your -dear uncle might now have been walking about with his head shaved for -the most part, with an eagle's feather behind his ear, moccasins on his -feet, and in every respect a perfect Indian. One little circumstance -alone prevented me, and this was the painful fact that Moon-eye herself -took a different view of the case. I soon discovered that her young -affections had long been fixed upon a young chief of her tribe, who -enjoyed the appellation of 'the Rising Sun,' and as he seemed to return -the young lady's feelings, I thought I should only get into hot water -if I acted upon my first idea. So I forthwith made up my mind that it -would be a shocking thing for a white man of my education and position -to marry an ignorant Indian girl, and that it was evidently my duty to -think no more of it. - -"I went to the Pawnee's village with them and stayed for a few weeks -very happily. You will perhaps be glad to hear that Pig-face and his -young men were not tortured after all. They were exchanged for -prisoners whom the Sioux had taken in their last raid, and I never -heard any more about them. Moon-eye was very gracious to me whilst I -was with her people, but it annoyed me to see that fellow 'Rising Sun' -always following her about, and I therefore shortened my stay. - -"Jumbo and I took our departure early one morning, and were accompanied -by a number of the tribe for some distance on our way. We had many more -curious adventures together in the woods, my trusty companion and I, -and very lucky we were to have come so well out of them all. But on -looking back to my forest and wilderness life, I never remember to have -had a more stirring adventure than that of which I have just told you. -It sometimes comes back to me now, as I lie awake at nights: I fancy I -see those ten vagabonds tramping after me through the woods,--then -comes the horrid scene with the snake--the battle--the slaughter--the -waking--the flight with Moon-eye--the capture--the rescue,--all comes -flitting like a vision before my eyes, and I drop to sleep at last, -wondering how I have been preserved through so much trouble and so many -dangers, and thinking how lucky it is for you young ones to have a -respectable old uncle with so many experiences to relate, and such -interesting and curious tales with which to instruct and amuse your -young minds." - - - - -ZAC'S BRIDE. - - -King Fridolin sat gloomily in the ancient halls of his race. A mighty -race, forsooth, had they been for many a long year, and a mighty king -was Fridolin. I shall not tell you the precise situation of his -kingdom, for it is only by avoiding particular descriptions that we -historians escape a variety of impertinent and troublesome questions. -Suffice it to say that the monarch ruled over a territory of goodly -size, containing mountains, forests, houses, vineyards, cornfields, and -everything else which the neighbourhood of a mighty river could supply. -For a river, mighty, indeed, in size and reputation, flowed through his -kingdom, and was the principal glory of his land. The monarch had -succeeded to the throne at an early age, and had reigned for long years -over his people. They, poor creatures, had apparently only been created -in order to minister to his comfort. Ground down by oppressive -taxation, their spirits broken, their bodies subject to the will of -their despotic master, their homes held only at his pleasure, and -scarcely daring to call their very thoughts their own, they dragged on -such a miserable existence as was permitted to them, without a hope or -an idea that their condition could ever be improved by any effort of -their own. But with him, their imperious lord, the case was surely -different. He, one would have imagined, had everything to make him -happy. Lands, vassals, money--what would he more? And yet King Fridolin -sat gloomily in his ancient halls. His crown was upon his -head--surmounted by his favourite crest, representing the figure of an -eagle clapping its wings; his left hand rested upon the hilt of the -mighty sword which he and his fathers before him had so often wielded -in battle, whilst in his right hand he held a watering-pot, by means of -which he tormented his Lord Chamberlain, who, having offended him, and -being troubled with a bad cold, had been ordered to stand below the -balcony upon which his majesty sat, whilst the royal hand let iced -water fall upon his bald head. But even as he watered, King Fridolin -pondered, and melancholy were his thoughts the while. Broad, indeed, -were his lands, full were his coffers, obedient his vassals, but he -lacked that sunshine of the heart, without which life is dull and heavy -at the best. Moreover, he had no one who dared to contradict him, no -one who ventured to suggest to him any alteration in his way of living, -no new occupation which could relieve him from the oppressive dulness -under which he suffered. So there he sat, watering and thinking and -wishing for he knew not what--_anything_ to relieve the dreary monotony -of his existence. Suddenly he started up. - -"I've hit it!" he cried--which, if he referred to the Lord -Chamberlain's head, he certainly had, for, as he spoke, the -watering-pot fell directly upon the bald pate of that unlucky -functionary. - -"I've hit it!" again cried the king--and the Chamberlain was not -prepared to dispute the statement. In fact, the king gave him no time -to do so, for the next moment, apparently forgetting his cause of -displeasure against the high official in question, he eagerly called -him up to the balcony, and bade him listen to the development of a new -idea which had suddenly entered his royal brain. - -"Pompous," he cried (for such was the name of the Lord Chamberlain), -"Pompous, I've thought of something!" - -"Happy the thing which has had the honour of occupying your majesty's -mind," returned the ancient courtier, deeming it right to preserve -honey upon his tongue, although bitter gall was in his heart, in -consequence of the treatment to which he had just been exposed. - -"Don't be an ass, Pompous!" replied the king hastily. "I tell you I've -thought of something. Guess what it is." - -The Lord Chamberlain drew himself up to his full height, bowed low, -coughed, hemmed, and, after repeating this process several times, -meekly answered that he could not tell what his gracious majesty might -have been pleased to think of. - -"Tell? Why, of course not, you old noodle," said the King, whose manner -of addressing his attendants was occasionally barely polite. "Who -expected you to tell? I told you to _guess_, but since you are too -stupid to do so, I may as well tell you what it is. We'll have a -pig-race!" - -"A _what_, your majesty?" faltered out the Lord Chamberlain. - -"A pig-race, you old idiot!" roared the king into his ear. "P I G, pig, -R A C E, race--_pig-race_. Do you hear now?" - -And the old man was obliged to own that he did; but although he heard, -he hardly understood what the king could really mean. Old Pompous, -however, was a thorough courtier, and having had the misfortune to -offend his royal master _once_ that morning, was far too good a -judge to do so again, if he could by any possibility avoid it. He -therefore put on a smiling face, declared that the idea was excellent, -and pretended to enjoy it vastly, all the time wondering what could -have caused the king to think of such a ridiculous project, and by what -means it could ever be carried out. Whether any difficulty had -suggested itself to the mind of the king, or what had put the project -into his head at all, are questions which it is both useless and -unnecessary to ask. It is sufficient to know that there it was, and -when the despotic king of a country has a practical idea, something -generally happens in consequence, and it is a fortunate thing for his -people if it is nothing worse than a pig-race. Now it happened that the -kingdom of Fridolin was famous for its breed of pigs. They grew to a -very large size, and were much thought of by the people of that and -neighbouring countries, who bred, bought, sold, and ate them to a great -extent. A pig-race, however, was not a common event, nor, indeed, had -one ever been heard of in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. A pig -had certainly been more than once turned out, on festive occasions, -with his tail soaped, and a prize given to the rustic who should -succeed in securing the animal by holding on to that appendage; but -this was not what the king meant. He announced his intention of giving -a prize, to be run for by pigs, each pig to be ridden by a boy under -fourteen years of age, and fixed that day month for the event. Pompous -received the order with obsequious readiness, and was too wise to raise -any objection to the project, or express any doubt as to the -possibility of carrying it out. Next morning, accordingly, it was made -known to the world, and the whole kingdom was agitated from one end to -the other. It was not a great racing country; but, if it had been, a -race between pigs, and pigs, too, ridden by boys, would have been a -novelty, and the publication of the king's intentions caused a great -deal of surprise and excitement. The race was to take place upon a -common in the immediate neighbourhood of the capital city of the -kingdom, and the course, which was to be half a mile long, was settled -and marked out long before the day arrived on which the event was to -come off. A great number of competitors had entered for the race, and -it was calculated that at least twenty would start. Some complaints -there had been of the shortness of time allowed for training either -boys or pigs; but that was not a country in which many complaints were -made against anything the king did, as those who made them generally -had their heads cut off with a promptitude which had a signal effect in -preventing others from following their example. So there was very -little said against the arrangements which had been made, and people -only talked of the curious scene they expected to witness, and -speculated upon the chance of success possessed by the pigs which came -from their several neighbourhoods. As the day approached, the -excitement increased, and every available lodging was occupied in -anticipation of the great event. It is right to state, perhaps, that -the intensity of the interest caused by the coming race, was not only -due to the love of sport which existed in that country. King Fridolin -had perhaps no other intention than that of providing amusement for -himself, when he first set on foot the race which now attracted so much -of public attention, although he had, as a truly gracious monarch, no -objection to his subjects sharing that amusement, so long as his own -would not be lessened thereby. But when he came to consider the nature -of the prize which he should offer, another thought struck him, upon -which he had immediately acted. - -He had read and heard of many kings who, upon suitable occasions, when -they wanted their country to be delivered from some misfortune, or if -they desired to obtain the performance of some mighty deed of valour, -or some great feat of agility, had endeavoured to get what they wanted -by offering the hand of their daughter as the prize for which all -efforts should be made. - -This kind of proceeding had, of course, its disadvantages, as, in a -country where only one wife was permitted, the prize would be one which -shut out at once from competition all married men, and thus greatly -limited the possible number of competitors. But Fridolin was in a -peculiar position in this respect. - -In the first place, as only boys of tender age were to ride, there was -very little probability that any of them would be married, and, in the -next place, he had a daughter whom he thought very unlikely to be -married, unless by some clever contrivance such as that which he had -now planned. Belinda was the youngest of three princesses who owned -Fridolin for their father, and she was at this time just ten years of -age. But, unhappily, whilst her two sisters, the Princesses Amabilia -and Concaterina were lovely and well shaped, Belinda had no such -recommendations. Her mother, having had the misfortune to offend a -powerful and wicked witch, had expired, through her machinations, -shortly after the birth of her third daughter. One would have supposed -that the vengeance of a witch would have been satisfied by the death of -its object; but the witch Nuisancenika was not so easily appeased. She -visited the dying queen, made use of language which, always -objectionable in itself, was doubly improper, when used at such a -moment, and solemnly doomed the baby child to ugliness and deformity. -This pretty well finished the poor mother of itself, and she actually -died outright, when, within ten minutes of the cruel doom having been -pronounced, a palpable hump appeared upon the infant's back, and her -features assumed an expression of ugliness seldom seen in the females -of that country. So the child had grown up, deformed and ugly, though -with a sweetness of disposition which atoned for both defects in the -eyes of those who knew her well. This scarcely applied to Fridolin, who -cared little for his children, although he occasionally had the pretty -ones down to dessert to show off to his friends, whilst poor Belinda -was left alone and neglected in the nursery. - -Under these painful circumstances it was singular that Belinda should -not have grown up as deformed in mind as body, and this might very -possibly have been the case but for the unwearied love and devotion of -her foster-mother. This estimable person was the wife of one of the -king's shepherds, and no mother could have watched over her own child -more constantly or more tenderly than she tended Belinda. Being -moreover of a remarkably even temper, and blessed with a kindly -disposition withal, the good woman doubtless did much towards the -development of that remarkable sweetness of character, which the -princess had inherited from her mother. Be this how it may, she -certainly grew up in such a manner as to cause the remark to be -frequently made that her mind evinced a marked and singular contrast to -her body, and she was generally beloved in the royal household. This, -then, was the daughter whose destiny King Fridolin had resolved to -determine by the chances of a pig-race, and the fact was duly notified -to those concerned, and advertised in the newspapers throughout the -whole length and breadth of the country. - -Although, as I have said, the circumstances of that country prevented -people from commenting too freely upon any proceeding of the king's, -yet nothing could prevent this matter being talked about in private -circles, and wherever the conversation could be safely carried on great -surprise was expressed at the course which Fridolin had thought fit to -take. It was argued with some reason that the king, had he so chosen, -might have ordered any of his subjects to marry Belinda, should no -suitable admirer have appeared from among any of the neighbouring -princes, and that, if he deemed it necessary that the princess should -be married at all, he might in this manner have at least secured for -her a husband more eligible than might now fall to her lot. Besides, -the class of people who would be likely to contend for the prize in a -pig-race would be of a varied character. It was undoubtedly true that -many of the highest nobility of the land were breeders of pigs, but it -was equally certain that there were a far greater number of small -farmers and even labourers who could also claim to be included in the -same category. - -Moreover, it was more than probable that the more aristocratic and -refined was a pig-breeder, the less likely would it be that one of his -own sons would ride in the race, and it was to the rider and not to the -owner of the animal that the prize was to be given. So far, indeed, the -king seemed to have been kind and considerate, for this plan would -secure to his little daughter a husband better suited to her tender age -than if she had been bestowed upon some pig-owner of advanced years, to -whom she would have made a most unsuitable wife. But the king's -intention was plainly declared; whoever won the pig-race would win -Belinda too, and although a few years might be permitted to pass, so -that her education might be completed and the age of the bridegroom be -allowed to ripen, yet at the end of that time, which the king would fix -according to circumstances, the nuptials would certainly be celebrated. - -As I have already said, everyone in the kingdom knew the conditions -before the day arrived, and many and various were the speculations as -to the result. - -At last the sun shone upon the eventful morning of the day which was to -decide the issue of the race and the fate of Belinda. From every -quarter people came hurrying into the town; carts, carriages and -vehicles of every description and size thronged the roads, which were -also crowded with foot-passengers, all dressed in holiday garments, and -pushing forward in one direction, namely, to the race-course. There the -crowd was enormous, and the grand-stand was filled with a distinguished -company, as well as by many of those individuals who are only -distinguished by their extraordinary capacity for getting money out of -other people's pockets. - -In a private stand which was appropriated to royalty, sat Fridolin and -his daughters, surrounded by the nobles of the court. The king was in -the highest spirits, chaffing old Pompous, flirting with the maids of -honour, and teasing his two eldest daughters by telling them that if -the affair went off to his satisfaction, he should probably have -another on _their_ account before long. The two princesses tossed -their heads haughtily at this, although they stood too much in awe of -their royal parent to make any open protest. They were both dressed in -the extreme of the fashion, and displayed in their features the beauty -for which their race had always been celebrated. At a little distance -sat poor Belinda, who had been ordered by her father to be present, but -who did not seem much to enjoy it, although she endeavoured to preserve -a cheerful demeanour. The child was simply dressed in white muslin, -and her dress was in no way calculated to remove the disagreeable -impression produced by her ugliness and bodily defect. As her sisters -were known to be the king's favourites, it was naturally around them -that the courtiers clustered, and Belinda sat neglected, and almost -alone, though some of the more kindly disposed and tender-hearted of -the court ladies paid her a little attention. - -There was the usual shouting and betting, card-playing and band-playing, -pick-pocketing and cheating, wrangling and chaffing, which accompany a -race-course, I am told, even down to the present day; and there was a -dog, which issued no one knew where from, and ran down the very centre -of the course, howled at by the crowd and vainly chased by the -policemen, just before the race began. Carriages of all sorts were -drawn up by the side of the course, several rows deep, and the -occupants of many of them appeared to have come there principally for -the purpose of eating and drinking, for there was a vast and continuous -popping of corks, carving of chickens and mixing of salads, apparently -much enjoyed by those who were no more immediately concerned in the -consumption of the same, and as greatly envied by many hungry -lookers-on, who passed and repassed the carriages with eager and -longing eyes. - -At last the bell for saddling rung, and after a while the course was -cleared, and the animals which had been entered for the race came out -of the adjoining paddock for their preliminary gallop. There were -eighteen who actually started, of whom nine were black pigs and nine -sandy coloured. The symmetry of their forms was generally admired, and -as they cocked their little ears, twitched their tails, and grunted -loudly in anticipation of the struggle, great was the interest and -intense the excitement of the spectators. The little jockeys, clad in -their jackets of different colours, sat gallantly on their steeds, and -although the galloping was of a somewhat curious and uncertain -character, no accident occurred, and the eighteen competitors were duly -marshalled at the starting post. Then began the difficulty. It seemed -as if no power on earth could induce the animals to range themselves as -required or to keep any order at all. They grunted, squealed, turned -round the wrong way, and exhibited altogether such restlessness and -queer temper, that a fair start really seemed to be an impossibility. -This went on for nearly half-an-hour, when suddenly the starter -effected his purpose--the flag fell--and a hushed whisper of "They're -off!" ran through the crowd from one end to another. The excitement was -tremendous. Luncheons were abandoned--champagne glasses put down when -in the very act of being lifted to thirsty lips--opera-glasses and -telescopes were everywhere in requisition, and no one in all that vast -assembly had for the moment eyes or ears for anything but the pig-race. -Those who were in the secret knew that seven of the animals which were -running belonged to members of the aristocracy, whilst no less than -eleven were owned by breeders and jobbers of an inferior class. Among -these knowing ones there was great speculation as to the class from -which the winner would come, also as to the colour, black or sandy, -which would be successful. There was no limit as to the sex of the -animals, and the only stipulation was that each competitor should be -two years old, it being considered in that country injurious to the -constitution of pigs that they should be allowed to run in races before -that age. - -It would take too long to describe the dresses of all the jockeys or to -give the names of the animals which they respectively bestrode. If any -of my readers desire to know more than I tell, the matter can be easily -arranged, for the daily journals of that country inserted the fullest -particulars, and were doubtless filed by many racing-men of the time, -so that reference can be made to them by the curious inquirer. It is -sufficient for me to chronicle the fact that cards were everywhere sold -upon the day of the race, which contained the names, weights and -colours of the riders, and from these every information could be -gleaned. The names of the favourite pigs were Lubin, Toby, -Trough-lover, Wallower and Hogwash, and it was thought by those who -had, or who assumed to have, most knowledge of such matters, that none -of the other competitors had much chance. How far the event realised -these expectations will be presently seen. For the first few seconds -after the start there was a breathless silence, whilst all eyes were -eagerly fixed upon the advancing animals. Two or three could hardly be -said to have earned that epithet, for they only advanced a few yards -before they stopped, set their fore feet firmly in the ground and stood -there squealing loudly and defying every effort of their riders to urge -them forward. Another presently turned sharply aside and charged into -the crowd of bystanders, grunting fiercely, and as he was a large hog -of savage aspect and mighty bristles, the people scattered right and -left and he disappeared from the course. But the other pigs pushed on -for a while, until some six or seven appeared to have decidedly -outstripped the others and to be those from whom the winner would -undoubtedly be taken. The "knowing ones" seemed to be pretty right, for -all the five animals whose names I have given were among those who led. - -Trough-lover, a rough built, sandy-coloured pig, with a rider in a -violet jacket with white sleeves, came on with a long steady gallop -which augured well for his chance; the scarlet jacket of the boy who -rode Toby, also a sandy pig, showed well to the front, and Wallower's -dark and bony frame, bestridden by a jockey in pink and white was also -well up. But the principal interest of the race was concentrated upon -Hogwash and Lubin, who were running neck and neck together in the -foremost place, whilst the three already named, with a couple of -"outsiders" were several yards behind. The two favourites were both -black pigs; Lubin, a remarkably well-shaped animal, whose jockey showed -dark blue colours, whilst Hogwash was a beast of huge dimensions, -ridden by a boy of complexion almost as dark as his own, whose jacket -of lilac had been conspicuous in the front rank from the first moment -of the start. They ran on in the order which I have mentioned, after -they had shaken off the "ruck" of pigs, until within about a couple of -hundred yards from home, when Lubin gradually came back to his pigs, -and Hogwash forged slowly but surely ahead. The shouting on all sides -was tremendous, and the excitement of the spectators was at its height, -when at about a hundred yards from the winning post the position of the -leading pigs appeared unaltered, save that Toby seemed to have somewhat -gained on the others in the second rank, and Trough-lover was coming -along by the rails with a stealthy, steady gallop, which made the -backers of Hogwash tremble in their shoes. So it was until within fifty -yards from the finish, when a totally unexpected incident suddenly -changed the aspect of affairs. Out from the second rank darted a pig of -a sandy colour, and with a squeal hardly to be expected from an animal -which had gone nearly half a mile at best pace, shot forward from the -others and rapidly gained upon the leading pig. The shouts from the -crowd now rent the skies, and as the sandy pig closed up with Hogwash, -the rider of the latter was observed to be using his whip freely, -whilst his rival, a boy of light hair and complexion, displaying a -cherry-coloured jacket and black cap, sat firmly but quietly in his -saddle, to all appearance neither using nor requiring whip or spur. At -twenty yards from home he collared Hogwash, at ten yards they were neck -and neck, racing for dear life, and when, amid the most maddening scene -of excitement the sandy-coloured pig galloped past the winning post -nearly a length ahead, the shout that went up from the crowd was -something appalling in its vehemence. There was no doubt about it. -Hogwash was beaten and so were all the favourites, and an outsider had -won. Who was it? The faces of the book-makers fell, and people looked -eagerly to see what number went up, for no one had an idea of what was -the name of the winner, except those who were sufficiently calm to -consult their cards, and ascertain what pig it was that the "cherry and -black" jockey had ridden. It was soon known, Number 17 had won, and -Number 17 was "Sandy Sue," the property of Giles Dickson, a small -farmer very little known among the great pig-breeders of the kingdom. - -Before I go further, I may as well explain the clever manner in which -this great race was actually won, which was thought to reflect -considerable credit upon those who had contrived it. Farmer Dickson, -though not in a large way of business, had plenty of brains, and it has -been remarked by men of undoubted sagacity that there are two classes -of men into which the world may be divided, namely those who have -brains and no money, and those who have money and no brains, the latter -being created principally for the benefit of the former. Now Farmer -Dickson belonged emphatically to the former class, and as soon as ever -the race was announced and the course fixed, he conceived a project -which he immediately carried into execution. - -At the end of the course, and not above a hundred yards or so -therefrom, was a fence, beyond which was situated a small farm, the -homestead of which was thus very near the winning post, or at least not -above three or four hundred yards distant. Being well acquainted with -the tenant of this farm, the sagacious farmer made known his plan to -him and they agreed to carry it out together. "Sandy Sue," as the large -sow was called upon whom Farmer Dickson had resolved to set his hopes -and stake his money, had not long since presented her owner with a fine -litter of pigs. These were all removed forthwith to the farm near the -racecourse, and their mother was also comfortably housed in the -farmyard. Day by day she took her gentle exercise, and day by day was -she well fed at a spot as near to the racecourse as could be managed. -More than this, her favourite food was always given to her about the -time at which the race had been fixed to come off, and to this -precaution the strictest attention was given. The consequence was -exactly that which the confederates had expected. - -Although her condition was probably not quite so good as that of some -of the pigs with whom she had to contend, it was sufficiently so to -enable her to run her best for a course so short as half a mile. Then, -when she came near to the finish, recollections of feeding time not -only crowded upon her, but she had directly before her the very spot -where her daily food was served out to her, and where she was -accustomed to receive the visits of her beloved children. Stimulated to -renewed exertions by these facts, she did exactly that which was -expected from her, and forgetting every other consideration, made such -a splendid "spirt" as to carry her triumphantly to the victory in the -manner which I have described. These things all came out afterwards, -but they did not affect the decision of those who had to judge upon the -race, and "Sandy Sue" was without objection or protest hailed as the -winner. - -As soon as her jockey had dismounted and been duly weighed, he was -summoned to the presence of the king, who was not unnaturally desirous -to behold his future son-in-law. The boy accordingly mounted the stairs -which led to the royal stand, and was forthwith ushered into the -presence of his sovereign. As soon as he appeared, Fridolin advanced a -few steps to meet him, and then stood still and regarded him with a -curious eye. - -He was, as I have said, a boy of light complexion, with light brown -hair and light blue eyes, and by no means of an unprepossessing -appearance, especially in his jockey dress. He stood bashfully before -the king, with blushing cheeks and eyes cast down, until, after a few -moments of silence, Fridolin addressed him. - -"Well, boy," he said, "thou hast won the race and hast gained the -prize. Of what house and lineage dost thou come?" - -"Please, sir, my lord, your kingship's majesty," said the boy in -trembling accents, entirely mistaking the question, "our house bean't -but a small one, and as for linen, mother does the washing and I don't -know nothing about it." - -At this reply the king burst into a fit of laughter, in which his -courtiers joined, although some of them felt a sensation of regret -within their hearts when they considered the illiterate ignorance of -the youth to whom the Princess Belinda was to be sacrificed. This -reflection apparently did not trouble the king greatly, for he -presently remarked, "the bridegroom must be introduced to his bride -without delay. Come hither, boy," and with these words advanced towards -the spot where Belinda was sitting. The poor child, understanding but -too well what had happened and what was about to follow, trembled with -visible emotion as they came near, and would gladly have made her -escape. But Fridolin did not intend that this should be the case by any -means. He called to her as she rose from her seat and bade her be ready -to receive the winner of the race and her future husband. Meekly and -humbly she obeyed, taking her seat again, and fixing her eyes modestly -upon the floor. - -"There," cried the king as he pushed the boy forward towards the -princess, "there is the youth who will one day be your husband, child. -Kiss her, boy, and make friends at once." - -A deep blush suffused the face of the shrinking Belinda, who had not as -yet even looked upon the other's countenance, and she trembled more -than ever. But with a grace which no one had expected from the quarter -from which it came, the boy, immediately on receiving the king's -commands, stepped forward towards Belinda's chair, and, kneeling on one -knee, raised her hand gently to his lips. - -"Bravo, boy!" cried the king with another laugh. "I vow you're half a -courtier already. Two or three years' training and you'll be perfect." - -He then proceeded to inquire more particularly about the youth's age -and condition, and found that he was called Zachariah Dickson, or -usually "Zac" for shortness, that Farmer Dickson had several other sons -and daughters, but that this boy, being just under the limit of age, -had been selected as the rider of "Sandy Sue." He learned, moreover, -that the education of the Dickson family had been somewhat neglected, -and that though Master Zac could certainly read and write, he was no -great proficient at either accomplishment. Altogether it appeared that -the pig-race had secured for Belinda a husband so very much beneath her -in rank, position, breeding and education that her future happiness -could hardly be said to be very certain. - -As, however, Fridolin had made the arrangement without any reference to -its probable effect upon his daughter's happiness, but entirely to -gratify his own whim, he was not greatly concerned with this -reflection. He told the youth, indeed, that he had something to learn, -before he could be really fit to be a king's son-in-law, but as in that -country a king's word was always sacred, and as good as his bond, he -never for one moment entertained the idea of trying to be off the -bargain. - -No: "Zac" Dickson should be Belinda's husband, come what might. "He had -won her and he alone should wear her." So said the king again and -again, at the same time avowing his determination that the boy should -be forthwith sent at the royal expense to one of the best colleges in -the country, in order that he might pursue his studies, and prepare -himself to discharge the duties of that lofty position to which he had -been called by the voice of Fate. This announcement was received with -respectful submission by the boy, and with unfeigned satisfaction by -old Dickson, who, besides having won a considerable sum of money on the -race, now saw the prospect of having one of his boys entirely taken off -his hands and better educated than he could possibly have been without -such aid. - -The king further declared that three years should elapse before the -wedding, but that then, when the bridegroom was seventeen and the bride -thirteen, the marriage should certainly be celebrated, youthful -marriages being always the fashion in that country. After the interview -on the royal Stand, the winner of the race was allowed to return home -for the night, but with orders that he was to take up his abode at the -palace upon the following day. Then the king ordered his carriages and -the royal party left the course. The crowd was already broken up, and -people were streaming in every direction over the common upon which the -sport had taken place. - -The common was ere long left desolate and alone, only tenanted by a -grazing donkey or two, and a few wretched human creatures who wandered -over every spot upon which carriages had stood and luncheons had been -eaten, in the hope of finding something which they might convert into -money in order to aid the necessities of their miserable lives. Soon, -too, these took their departure: the crowd of people returning home -grew smaller and smaller, gradually the road was less and less -thronged, the people were only seen going along it by twos and threes, -then at last these, too, had found their way home, silence reigned -where all had so lately been talk and mirth, noise and revelry, and -night came down upon the earth with her sable cloak, extinguishing the -last flickering rays of the sun which had so gaily and brightly shone -upon the day of the great pig-race. - -The Princess Belinda woke next morning with a load upon her young -heart, and a novel sense of responsibility which made her feel quite a -different being from the child of the day before. She was, indeed, no -ordinary child. Even in her appearance _that_ could hardly be said -of her, poor girl! for she was not so much ordinary as decidedly ugly, -but the epithet was even less applicable to her intellectual powers, -which were undeniably of a superior order. Having moreover been -debarred by her deformity from the more active pastimes of childhood, -she had from a very early period sought her pleasure in books, and was, -even at the early age of ten, far better acquainted with the literature -of the day than many young ladies of twice her age. Well informed, -however, as she was, and fortified as she might be against the storms -of the outside world, as much as the fortifications of a prudent heart -and well-regulated temper can avail against such adversities, she -nevertheless awoke, as I have already said, to a new feeling upon the -morning after the pig-race. Her childhood seemed to be over, and the -real cares of life to have commenced. She had no longer only her own -life to regard, the life of another was thenceforth inseparably bound -up with her own. The actual marriage, indeed, was to be deferred for -three years, but the boy who had been presented to her as her future -husband was practically, for the future, a part and parcel of her life, -and his doings must be always of great and paramount interest and -importance to her. To tell the truth, he had made a very favourable -impression upon the heart of the youthful princess. - -Unaccustomed to go much into that society of which her more fortunate -sisters were at once the ornaments and the delights, Belinda was less -struck than might otherwise have been the case by the somewhat rough -and countrified bearing of the boy, and indeed, as has been already -said, his action in kneeling before her on his first introduction had -been far from ungraceful. She had remarked with pleasure the honest -gaze of his blue eyes, and the healthy clearness of his fair -complexion, whilst no one could deny that his form was well-shaped, and -his figure lithe and active. Still, the age of ten is one at which it -is somewhat early to be engaged to be married, and it is scarcely to be -considered a matter of wonder that the little princess regarded her -prospects with some apprehension. - -The youthful Zac was brought to the palace next day, according to the -king's orders, and forthwith took up his residence in the royal abode. -It was a curious arrangement, and one that was made the subject of much -comment by the court, although it was allowed on every hand that, since -the king had determined upon bestowing the hand of his youngest -daughter upon the winner of the pig-race, there was much good sense, as -well as kindness, in his resolution to have that winner properly -educated. It must be owned, too, that the lad did no discredit to his -teachers. He was diligent, attentive, and showed no small capacity for -learning. Whatever there had been of vulgarity in his accent rapidly -disappeared, uncouth and ignorant language was banished from his -hearing, and consequently very soon from his speech, while his errors -of grammar speedily became things of the past. In short, it was -confessed even by those who had at first shaken their heads with a -gravity befitting the occasion, and had declared that the old proverb -"you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" would be verified in -this case, and that a person of humble birth could by no means be -converted into a gentleman; even these persons, I say, began to take a -different tone, to talk about another proverb, namely that "exceptions -prove the rule," and to express their feelings towards Belinda's future -husband in no unfavourable terms. - -He made such progress in his books that his tutors were quite -astonished, and Belinda was herself delighted. Once a week he was -allowed to visit her for an hour, and from time to time she found a -perceptible difference in his manners and conversation, and a decided -improvement in both. In this manner a whole year passed over the heads -of the people of whom we are speaking, and during that time no event -occurred of a character so specially interesting as to require a -separate allusion. People were born, married and died as usual. Whilst -they lived they ate, drank, and paid their taxes--three things common -to all mankind who happen to be resident in civilized countries--and -after they were dead they were comfortably buried by their relations, -who then went home and remembered them as long as people usually do, -and no longer. The world, in short, went steadily on, and the inmates -of the palace did much the same as the rest of the world. Lord Pompous, -it is true, fell occasionally into disgrace, being rather a stupid man -and apt to offend the king when he most wanted to please him. But as he -always got out again very soon, this did not signify. Fridolin was -rather fond of the old man, if the truth must be told, and though he -enjoyed teasing him now and then, never really meant to get rid of him. -So they jogged on together happily enough, and nothing occurred to -seriously disturb either of them. - -The king, however, felt time hang as heavy upon his hands as is the -case with most people who either have nothing to do, or are too idle to -do what they really _have_ to do in the shape of work. He often -looked back to that idea of a pig-race which had afforded him such a -good day's amusement, and once or twice hinted to his two elder -daughters that it had turned out remarkably well. The princesses, -however, viewed the matter in a different light, for they guessed at -once at their father's intentions, and had no notion of allowing them -to come to any practical issue. It was all very well for Belinda, -indeed: a third sister, with neither beauty nor wealth, might fairly be -disposed of in any way that happened to be most convenient. It was -entirely different, however, with girls who had beauty to recommend -them, and no lack of admirers to tell them so. Wherefore the fair -Amabilia and the sweet Concaterina promptly checked their father's most -distant allusion to the subject, and as they were the only people of -whom he stood at all in awe, he soon abandoned the idea, and gave up -all thoughts of having another pig-race. - -After young Zac's first entrance into the palace, Fridolin had -concerned himself very little about the boy, being content, as many -people are, to let matters drift on as long as they gave no trouble to -himself. But it happened one day that he overheard some of the -courtiers speaking in praise of the lad, and this excited his curiosity -to a degree sufficient to induce him to desire that Zac should be -summoned to his presence. This occurred about the end of the first year -of Zac's residence in the palace, and was really the beginning to him -of another existence. For King Fridolin was so pleased with the -alteration in the youth, that he thought he should like to see more of -him. Having no son of his own, why should not the future husband of one -of his daughters be as a son to him? Thus the result of his great idea -might turn out altogether fortunate, and he should have conferred a -benefit upon himself as well as Belinda after all. He forthwith gave -directions that Zac should be present on all occasions when the king -appeared in public, or gave a reception to any of his subjects, and he -also desired that he should be frequently admitted to the royal -presence upon other occasions. The boy always conducted himself so well -that he gradually became a great favourite with the king, and not only -with the king but with the other princesses. - -This occurrence was the reverse of fortunate, but perhaps it was not -unnatural. Amabilia was little more than a year older than Zac, and -Concaterina about his age. His good looks, his pleasant manner, the -unfailing sweetness of his temper, and the general intelligence which -he evinced, were all calculated to make an impression upon the tender -hearts of the two princesses. Surrounded by flatterers and sycophants, -the simple character and honest bearing of the youth had the additional -charm of novelty, and this was increased by the natural manner in -which, considering these as his future sisters, he accepted his -position and treated them frankly as such. Accordingly they both fell -deeply in love with him. It was very sad, and I am sorry to be obliged -to tell it, but it is no use concealing the truth, and there was and is -no mistake about the matter. The two sisters were not long in -discovering each other's secret, and as soon as they had made the -mutual discovery, a coldness sprang up between them which was most -distressing. I am bound to say that no thought of or for Belinda ever -crossed the mind of either of them. It was not that they disliked their -younger sister, or that they were habitually unkind to her, but they -had got into the way of considering her as a kind of inferior being, -whose thoughts, hopes, and wishes must never for a moment interfere -with their own, and who could on any occasion, and in any matter, be -pushed aside as best suited their convenience, so that it scarcely at -all, if ever, occurred to either of them that it was either wrong, -dishonourable, or unkind to rob Belinda of her promised husband, and if -it _had_ occurred to them, I am afraid that they had both been too -much accustomed to have their own way to have hesitated even under the -influence of such a thought. Nurtured as they had been in their -father's court, surrounded by people who had taught them to believe in -the divine right of kings to reign over their people, and the enormous -privilege which it was to be of royal blood, and the incomparable -superiority of beings such as they were over the common herd of -mortals, one would have thought it probable that their pride would have -prevented them from yielding to the soft influence of love in such a -case as that of the boy of humble birth with whom they had thus -accidentally been associated. But poets and writers of olden time have -always told us that Love is invincible, and I can only suppose that he -chose to give another instance of his prowess by conquering the hearts -of the two princesses, and forcing them to bow before his resistless -sway. At all events, to cut the matter short, they both fell in love -with Zac Dickson, so that his very name (though to me there seems -nothing at all savouring of melody about it) was music to their ears, -their eyes delighted to behold him, and their blushes would soon have -told the tale, if indeed their tender looks and affectionate manner had -not been such as to reveal to the youth the ill-concealed secret of -their young hearts. - -Extraordinary though it be to relate, and difficult to believe, Zac was -considerably more annoyed than pleased by the discovery. Most boys of -fifteen would have been far from insensible to the attentions of -beautiful damsels even of their own rank and station, and few there are -who would not have been flattered--and perchance fluttered too--by the -palpable affection entertained towards them by lovely princesses. -Nevertheless, this was not at all the case with Zac. By some curious -freak of Nature, he had been constituted with an acute sense and -appreciation of the difference between right and wrong, and a steady -desire and determination to avoid the latter whenever he possibly -could. He remembered full well the manner in which he had obtained -access to the palace, and the terms upon which his admission had been -arranged, and the means provided for his education. Strange to say, -moreover, he had conceived a real regard and affection for Belinda. He -remembered her first reception of him as her future husband; he did not -forget the uniformly meek and modest nature which she displayed in her -weekly interviews with him; nor was he oblivious of the kindly interest -she had ever taken in his mental progress and development of those -qualities which go to make a man's life both useful and advantageous to -himself and others. He had perceived, too, in the youngest princess, -that sweetness of disposition for which she had ever been remarkable, -and had learned gradually to understand, and, as he understood, to love -her better. - -If, at his first entrance upon the scene of our history as the winner -of the pig-race, he had been offered the choice of any one of the three -princesses, it is highly probable that he would never have looked upon -Belinda a second time. The beauty of the elder sisters was undeniably -great; their manners pleasant, though occasionally haughty; and they -were girls who would at once have captivated the susceptible heart of -any young man suddenly placed in Zac's position. But a year's residence -in the palace, and that under his peculiar circumstances and -engagements, had made all the difference. Bound in honour to Belinda, -he would as soon have thought of stealing the king's crown as of making -love to either of her sisters, nor could he believe for a long time -that they had any such intentions towards himself. This, however, only -served to make matters worse, because he took no pains to keep out of -their way, and was rather glad when any opportunity for meeting either -of them chanced to occur. Nay, when Amabilia pressed his hand tenderly, -he saw in it nothing more than the regard which Belinda's sister had a -right to entertain towards him, and when Concaterina, as they were -bending together over a photograph, put her arms softly round his neck, -and when their faces were almost touching, pressed her lips softly upon -his cheek, he even then deemed it but a proof of sisterly affection, -and at once returned the compliment, without a suspicion that anything -more was meant. His eyes, however, were opened at last, when the -attentions, looks, and words of the two elder princesses became -unmistakable, and their design of winning him from Belinda but too -apparent. - -The boy was grieved beyond measure, for not only was he sharp enough to -know that his own position at court might be seriously imperilled by -what was before him, but he also felt that, through him, Belinda -herself might be made to suffer. Yet what was to be done? Deceit was -repugnant to his honest nature, and had it been otherwise, it could -scarcely have been long maintained, since not only one, but both -sisters were aiming at the same thing, and to deceive the two would -have been beyond human skill and subtlety. If he appeared to favour -either one, the other would probably be bitterly offended; if he seemed -to care for both, but to hesitate between the two, their mutual -jealousy would be stimulated, and, besides, if Belinda should hear of -it, as would be but too likely, her tender heart would be filled with -sorrow. On the other hand, if he spoke his mind out to the two -princesses, openly and boldly, they had only to agree together to -denounce him to the king, and his position would be most precarious, -whilst Belinda would be quite unable to assist him. - -The matter caused the poor boy much anxious thought. At first, when he -became quite certain that he was not mistaken, he tried, by every means -in his power, to avoid Amabilia and Concaterina, and was never alone -with either of them if he could possibly help it. But very often he -couldn't help it, do what he would. He made his studies a constant -excuse for absence from luncheon, to which meal he had latterly been -invited, and at which the two elder princesses were always present, -although Belinda had her solitary meal in the school-room. - -Sometimes the king was there, and then Zac dared not be away, since -Fridolin liked him to be present, and sent for him if he was not. But -his time of trial was "Five o'clock Tea." - -The two sisters had a joint sitting-room, a very comfortable place, -with inviting arm-chairs, delightful sofas, all the new novels, and -every knick-knack you can imagine, arranged as only a lady's taste -_can_ arrange things, but so managed as to make the room wonderfully -attractive to the male who has the good fortune to be admitted to a -sight of its treasures. Their tea was always brought in on a silver -tray soon after five, and to this most enjoyable meal they frequently -invited such of the courtiers as they specially favoured. Zac had -constant invitations of a general character, but whenever one of the -sisters chanced to be absent from any cause whatever, the other was -sure to send specially to request his attendance. This was his time of -trial. The "request" of a princess in that royalty-loving country was -equivalent to a command, and it was entirely contrary to etiquette for -any one to refuse compliance, save on the score of ill-health, domestic -affliction, or some other equally valid excuse. Therefore it was very -difficult for Zac to refuse, though he knew only too well what awaited -him. Amabilia or Concaterina, whichever it happened to be--no matter -which--was certain to be alone, and always received him with such -overpowering affection as quite bewildered him. His only safety lay in -the fact that the two girls had become so jealous of each other, that -one never left the other alone at five o'clock tea if she could -possibly help it. Still, sometimes such an occurrence was unavoidable, -and if Amabilia was ever kept up-stairs by a bad cold, or Concaterina -had been detained elsewhere by some accidental circumstance, as sure as -fate, one of these special invitations came to Zac, and the poor boy -had to go and face the lovely princess as best he could. - -So things went on for several months, well into the second year of the -youth's residence in the palace, until at last matters seemed coming to -a crisis. For the second time, Concaterina had indulged him with a -kiss, which he could hardly with politeness refrain from returning, and -the lovely Amabilia actually began the same game. - -She secured him for a five o'clock tea, and whilst sitting by his side -on the sofa, and talking in her usually affectionate manner, she -suddenly laid her fair head upon his shoulder for an instant, and the -next moment as suddenly raising it, exclaimed in an energetic and -emphatic tone: "_Dear_ Zac!" and imprinted at the same instant a warm -and loving kiss upon his young lips. - -Poor Zac was terribly perplexed, but more in thought than in action, -for of course he could do no less than promptly return the compliment -just paid him by the princess. But when she took his hand in hers, -pressed it warmly, and regarded him with loving eyes, with her face -still closer to his than any face but Belinda's should have been, he -felt that this was really carrying things too far, and that he must -somehow or other put an end to it. How he would have done so it is -impossible to say, inasmuch as the princess, evidently of a different -opinion, appeared desirous of prolonging the situation, and his -difficulty in preventing her from doing so would probably have been -considerable. - -Fortunately--or unfortunately, as the taste of my readers may lead them -to determine--the door suddenly flew open, and the princess had barely -time to spring to the other end of the sofa when the portly figure of -Lord Pompous entered the apartment. As Lord Chamberlain, Old Pompous -had the general right of entry everywhere, although he rarely ventured -to approach the sitting-room of the princesses without special -invitation, and probably would not have done so upon the present -occasion had he not been sent directly by the king. I do not think that -Amabilia ever quite forgave the old man for his unwelcome intrusion; -but he really was not to blame in the matter. King Fridolin had got -into a difficulty about some curtains which he had recently ordered for -his study, and which, when they came home, he fancied were of colours -which did not match; those destined for one window being of a different -hue to those which belonged to another. Having referred the matter to -Lord Pompous, that worthy ventured to be of an opinion contrary to that -of his sovereign, and held that the curtains matched perfectly. Upon -this Fridolin first threw a footstool at the head of his lord -chamberlain--on dodging which he tumbled over the waste-paper basket -into the coal-scuttle, and spoiled a new white waistcoat--and then -directed him, since he was such a blind old fool as to be unable to -tell one colour from another, to go immediately to Amabilia's room and -ask her to come there and decide the knotty point. Accordingly, the -submissive Pompous hurried off to obey the orders of the king, and -arrived at the particularly opportune or inopportune moment which I -have described. - -As far as Zac was concerned, the intrusion appeared to him to be little -less than providential. The princess could do nothing else than obey, -and as it would not have been etiquette for her either to have invited -him to accompany her, or told him to await her return, she had no -alternative but to dismiss him from the apartment. This she did with a -loving look, which certainly could not be misunderstood by its object, -and could hardly have escaped the observation of any bystander less -blind and stupid than Lord Pompous. - -The princess then sought the presence of her father, and Zac, having -deeply cogitated upon the whole matter, after his return to his own -room, made up his mind that, unless he was to run away--a proceeding -which would be difficult, uncomfortable, ruinous to his future -interests, and very disagreeable to others beside himself--the only -alternative he had was to open his whole heart to Belinda upon the very -first opportunity. - -Having quite resolved upon this he felt somewhat more happy, for that -which had really troubled him most was the apprehension that the young -princess might discover something of the truth, and not knowing from -himself how matters really stood, might imbibe some false impression -concerning the matter, and blame him for having employed unnecessary -and unjustifiable concealment in a business so intimately concerning -her interests and future happiness. He had not long to wait for the -opportunity he desired. At their very next interview he was able to -open his heart to Belinda upon the subject, and to tell her all the -awkwardness of his position as regarded the king, herself, and her two -sisters. - -At first the poor child wept bitterly, and was quite unable either to -control or to conceal her feelings. She had never expected, for she had -never received, great kindness from her elder sisters, but she had -thought herself quite safe from molestation with regard to her future -husband. Amabilia and Concaterina had so scoffed at the idea of the -pig-race when the project was first started, they had laughed so -heartily at the ridiculous notion of the hand of a king's daughter -being given as the reward of a successful jockey, and they had tossed -their heads so high at the idea of a common farmer's son being received -and accepted as the future husband of _their_ sister, that it had never -entered the poor child's head that there was the slightest chance of -either of them ever desiring to obtain his affection. Yet such was the -case. She was attacked upon the very side upon which she had felt -herself most secure, and her surprise was only equalled by her -distress. One consolation, however, she certainly had, than which none -could well be greater. The fidelity of Zac was a comfort which was -beyond all price, as it was also beyond all praise. When she was fully -assured of this--and indeed she was too young and too honest to have -ever doubted it--she felt almost glad that the occasion to prove it had -arisen. In warm but simple language she expressed at once her gratitude -and her affection for the youth, who, on his part, declared his firm -adherence to the troth he had plighted, and in homely words vowed that -he would never be false to his Belinda. - -But this mutual interchange of confidence and regard rendered the -present position of affairs by no means less dangerous and -uncomfortable. Zac offered to go to the king if Belinda desired it, but -to this there was a double objection. In the first place, Fridolin -would probably be slow to believe anything to the disadvantage of his -favourite daughters, and an appeal to him, certain to lead to an entire -denial on the part of the princesses, would not improbably recoil upon -the heads of both Belinda and her promised husband. Then, in the second -place, Zac had a strong and conscientious objection to betraying a -lady's secret, and had only done so in the present case because Belinda -was his affianced wife, and he felt himself bound in honour to tell her -how matters stood between her sisters and himself. - -They decided, therefore, that they certainly would not say anything to -the king upon the subject. There was no one else to whom they could -appeal, for Amabilia and Concaterina were omnipotent in the palace, and -it would have been hopeless to speak to old Pompous or any of the -courtiers. All that Belinda could think of was to tell her old -foster-mother, who was allowed to see her twice a month, and who was so -utterly devoted to her, that if the worst came to the worst, and the -poor child had to leave the palace, she knew she could find a refuge in -that humble cottage as long as the old woman was allowed to live there. -So, after much difficulty, she obtained Zac's permission to confide to -her the whole matter, and to ask her counsel regarding it. - -The youth left his betrothed with a heavy heart, but rejoiced withal at -the thought that, at all events, she knew the truth, and would place in -him the trust which he so well deserved. - -The cottage of Belinda's foster-mother was not far from the palace, and -close to a forest of considerable size, between which and the river -which flowed through the fertile plain upon one side of it, were the -king's pastures upon which grazed his numerous flocks and herds. As has -been already stated, the good old foster-mother was the wife of one of -the shepherds whose duty it was to tend the king's flocks. He was now -somewhat advanced in years, and so was his wife; but they were a hale -and hearty couple, and still performed their duties with diligence and -fidelity. According to her resolution, Belinda confided to her -foster-mother at the very next interview the whole circumstances of her -painful position. The worthy woman was much disturbed at hearing this -news. No one was better informed than she was of the state of affairs -at the palace. She knew that the word of either Amabilia or Concaterina -was law, whilst her nursling had no influence whatever. If, then, the -two sisters could agree between themselves as to which of them should -appropriate Zac, there seemed but small hope that Belinda would be -permitted to retain her lover. True, he might have a word to say upon -the subject himself, and would possibly--nay, probably, according to -Belinda--be firm and true, but how far that would avail against the -will of those with whom he would have to deal, was a very doubtful -matter. So when she had heard her child's story, the old woman -comforted and petted her at first by condoling with her on the badness -of the prospect before her, and the impossibility of its ever being any -better. Having thus made both her nursling and herself as miserable as -she could, and having cried together a good deal more than the urgency -of the case required, they began to think whether anything else could -be done, and for some time no thought entered either head of which any -use could be made. This interview took place in the palace, and the -good old woman said that she never _could_ think in such a grand place -as that, but that if Belinda could manage to come and see her one of -those days at her own cottage, they would be able to talk the matter -over quietly together, and perhaps something might turn up. To this -Belinda consented, and the old woman took her departure. - -For the next few days things went on much the same, the two elder -princesses doing all in their power to attract the affection of Zac, -and the honest lad striving to avoid them as much as he possibly could -do without actual incivility. One day, however, things really came to a -crisis. Zac had finished his work earlier than usual, and went into the -palace garden to enjoy the fresh air. He took a book with him, and -finding a pleasant seat in a little summer-house, which had been built -near a natural waterfall which formed one of the beauties of the place, -he sat himself thereupon, and began to read. - -It was a lovely spot, and the moment was one which occasionally comes -to everybody in the warm summer-time, when the sound of falling water, -the rays of the sun just piercing through a thick leafy screen, the low -singing of the birds and the humming of the insects, all induce a kind -of dreamy happiness which gradually steals over the spirit, and not -seldom ends in the forgetfulness of sleep. So it was with Zac. He read -a page or two with avidity--for his book was interesting--then another -page or two rather less eagerly, then more slowly and lazily still; -then he ceased to turn over the pages at all, and finally the book -slipped from his hands to his knees, and from his knees to the ground, -his eyes closed, and he fell into a sweet, dreamless sleep. - -Now, as luck would have it, the lovely Concaterina had observed the -youth saunter into the garden, as she was watering the mignonette -which grew in a box placed upon her window-sill. The opportunity for a -_tete-a-tete_ seemed too good to be lost, and she therefore shortly -afterwards descended in pursuit of him, having previously made sure -that her beloved elder sister was practising music in their joint -sitting-room. The princess did not find the boy directly, as she -fancied he had gone further into the shrubberies than was really the -case, so that by the time she came upon him in the summer-house he was -stretched at full length upon the seat and sleeping as I have -described. - -She gazed upon him for some few seconds in a transport of maidenly -affection--so young and so handsome did he seem in her eyes, with his -head leaning upon one of his arms which he had carelessly thrown behind -it as he sank to sleep. Should she awaken him? and how? She did not -take long to decide. In that country there was a proverbial saying--and -I believe it is not confined to that country--that if a gentleman finds -a lady asleep he has a right to take a kiss by way of legitimate booty. -Concaterina had no idea that such a privilege could be properly or -fairly confined to one sex, and she therefore leaned gently over the -slumbering Zac, and without more ado kissed him tenderly on the cheek. - -The boy started from his sleep, and blushed deeply at having been thus -awakened and saluted. He stammered forth some apologies for having been -found as he was, but these were soon stopped by Concaterina, who -addressed him in the most affectionate terms, and, sitting down by his -side, asked him whether he quite hated her. - -To this the youth could make but one reply, namely, that it was not for -him to hate his king's daughter, and that even were she not so, she and -her sister had been too kind to him to make it possible for him to -entertain any such feeling towards either of them. - -At the mention of her sister the fair one pouted prettily, and -continued to talk to him in terms of endearment. - -"Dearest Zac," she said, "if you do not hate me cannot you love me a -little? I am so fond of _you_--so _very_ fond." - -Zac did not know how to answer. - -"I _do_ love you," at length he said, "as the Princess Belinda's -sister, and therefore one who will some day be _my_ sister too!" - -"Ah!" sighed Concaterina, "but I want more than that, you dear boy. -Belinda, indeed! you are much too good for _her_, poor ill-favoured, -child! How happy we could be together, Zac. You don't think me ugly, do -you?" - -Zac certainly did _not_, and therefore could not say so, but when the -princess went on in the same way, and tried to persuade him to let her -usurp the place in his affections which belonged to Belinda, he could -only reply that he knew she could not _really_ mean it, and begged her -not to play tricks upon him in that manner. - -"Ah, Zac," she returned, "they are no tricks; I never before saw anyone -whom I could really love, and I do love you, Zac, so _very_ much!" and -as she spoke she passed her arm again round the perplexed boy's neck in -a loving manner. - -What step she would next have taken I am unable to say, for at that -moment who should enter the summer-house but the Princess Amabilia. - -"Pretty conduct this, indeed!" she cried, when she saw the position of -affairs. "Concaterina! I wonder you are not ashamed of yourself, -teasing that poor boy with your affection when you know he wants none -of it!" - -The younger sister had by this time withdrawn the offending arm and -turned sharply upon the intruder. - -"How tiresome you are, Amabilia," she said pettishly; "always -interfering. Zac and I understand each other quite well, and don't want -you here at all. Do go away!" - -"Hoity-toity!" rejoined the other. "_I_ go away, forsooth, that would -be very reasonable, when we both know that dear Zac loves me fifty -times better than he does you. Impudence!" - -At this Concaterina fired up. - -"He does no such thing!" she cried angrily; "he and I are now nearly of -an age, and if you were a real good sister you would be glad to see how -fond he is of me, instead of trying to take him away, you spiteful -thing." - -Amabilia replied with equal warmth, and poor Zac's position became one -of extreme discomfort, both princesses claiming him as their own, when -he in reality neither belonged nor wished to belong to either. - -Presently, however, they brought their animated discussion to a close -by appealing to Zac himself. Amabilia ingenuously declared that as she -was eldest she ought to have the first choice, and that since matters -had come to this pass, she would not be ashamed of telling Zac to his -face that she loved him dearly, and was prepared to accept him for her -husband. To this she added that in most courts such a hint as she had -given would be considered equivalent to a command, and that she was -thankful to say and feel that, as in their case there was love on both -sides, a command would be quite superfluous. - -Concaterina then put in her claim. She said that in matters of love it -was not a question of being eldest or youngest, the heart must follow -its own promptings. She loved Zac--oh, so dearly! and she felt that he -returned her love, only diffidence forbade him to confess it. But if he -would be hers, she was certain her sister would soon find another mate, -and that the king, her father, would make no objection. Thus accosted -by two young and beautiful princesses, poor Zac would have had a most -difficult task to decide between them, had it not been that the path of -duty lay straight before him, and he had all along resolved to follow -it. - -"Dear ladies!" he said, addressing them both, and bowing respectfully -to one and the other, "I thought you were but playing with me, and I -would fain hope so still. If not--what reply can I make to you? I love -you both--each has been so kind to me since I first entered the palace, -that I should be worse than a brute if I did not love you both. But I -came here as the promised husband of your sister Belinda. My troth is -plighted to her. She believes in and trusts me. How can I break my word -and her heart? Dear princesses, you are so beautiful that you can -command love whenever and wherever you wish it. It is not so with poor -Belinda. She has but me, and I have vowed to be faithful to her!" - -Whilst Zac was speaking thus, his eyes fired with animation, and his -face beaming with excitement, the princesses thought they had never -seen him look so handsome. But when his words showed them that their -efforts to wean his heart from their younger sister had been -unsuccessful, rage gradually took possession of their souls. - -"You despise our love!" they both cried out at once. "You, a mere -peasant boy, who was only taken into the palace out of charity, you -_dare_ to say that you despise our beauty and ourselves, and take -up with that little lump of deformity, Belinda! How can you be such a -fool?" - -Poor Zac protested that he was far from despising either of them, and -admired their beauty greatly, as indeed anyone with eyes must do. This, -however, was far from satisfying the enraged damsels. They insisted -upon it that the youth had encouraged them both, and the only dispute -between them now was as to which of them had been worse treated by him. -They told him, moreover, that his pretended fidelity to Belinda should -not bring happiness either to him or her. They would plague her life -out, for the matter of that. Ugly little toad! why should she have a -husband at all? And as for him--he should be punished handsomely for -this, and that, too, perhaps, sooner than he thought. - -They then left the summer-house, and, I am sorry to say, allowed their -anger to carry them far beyond what could in any way be justified. They -agreed to go to their father that very afternoon, and tell him that Zac -had been very impertinent to both of them, and that Amabilia had -surprized him trying to kiss Concaterina against her will in the -summer-house. This they accordingly did, and the effects were much what -they had expected. - -The king flew into a violent passion, threw both his boots with an -unerring aim at the head of Lord Pompous, and vowed that the world must -certainly be coming to an end. When the courtiers had all agreed to -this as a novel but most reasonable remark, he called them a parcel of -fools for thinking such a thing at all probable, and ordered Zac to be -immediately arrested. When told of what he was accused, the poor boy -was almost beside himself with grief. He was sorry enough for the -trouble he was in, and for that which might fall upon Belinda in -consequence; but he was still more sorry for the cruel conduct of the -two princesses, whom he had really liked, and who had behaved so -heartlessly to him for only doing his duty. Even now, however, he -behaved like a true gentleman. - -When Fridolin asked him what he had to allege in his defence, he bowed -low before the king, and said "Nothing." When asked if he then -confessed himself guilty, he replied: - -"May it please your majesty, I should feel guilty if I allowed myself -to deny any statement made by the noble princesses, your majesty's -royal daughters." - -This speech would have touched many hearts, but Fridolin was in too -great a passion at that moment to be touched by anything, and he gave -orders that Zac should immediately be thrown into a deep dungeon, fed -upon bread and water, and confined there until it should be settled -whether he should be beheaded or banished, which were the only two -punishments which occurred to the king just then. Accordingly, the poor -boy was roughly dragged away from the royal presence, taken down a -great many stone steps, until he arrived at the dungeon door, and then -thrust through it, and left to think over all that had happened. - -The Princess Belinda, meanwhile, was quite ignorant of the whole affair -until the next morning, when her two sisters visited her in her -apartment. They came, as may be supposed, in no very friendly state of -mind, and told their story in a manner which would have greatly -distressed Belinda, if she had not had the most perfect reliance upon -Zac. They pretended to condole with her on the circumstance of his -having repeatedly made love to both of them, playing one off against -the other, and striving to induce them to persuade the king to let him -marry one of them instead of her. They said that they had refrained -from telling her this before, for fear of wounding her feelings, but -that now they were obliged to do so. Then they told their concocted -story about the summer-house, and related all that had subsequently -occurred. Poor Belinda shed bitter tears, but showed her disbelief in -their story so plainly, that they presently changed their tone, asked -who and what _she_ was, forsooth, that a husband should be provided for -her--telling her that she should never have him after all, that they -would take care he was kept in the dungeon until he came to his senses, -and making all kinds of other unpleasant observations, which made the -poor child very unhappy. So as soon as her sisters had left her, she -determined to go down to her foster-mother's cottage, and seek -consolation from her. - -Off she set, and walked down to the forest, crying all the way, until -she got to the cottage. There, to her dismay, she found the door -locked, for the good woman had gone to carry her husband's dinner out -to him on the plain, and had locked up the house until her return. -Belinda did not know what to do, for as she was not very strong, she -felt somewhat tired with her walk, and not equal to walking back again -without rest. So she sat down in the trellised arbour by the cottage -door, and presently fell fast asleep. As she slept, she dreamed a -curious dream. She thought that her mother came and looked upon her. Of -course, Belinda could not remember her mother, for the very good reason -that she had died very shortly after the child was born. Still, somehow -or other, she knew it was her mother, very bright and beautiful, and -with such a loving look upon her face as only mothers have when they -gaze upon their children. When her mother had looked down upon her for -a little while, she stooped down and spoke, in a soft, sweet, gentle -tone of voice. - -"My little one," she said, "do not despair and be down-hearted: all -will yet be well with you. You have had much trouble in the past, but -your happiness in the future will be all the brighter by the contrast. -If you want help, you are near it now, for Canetto, the Prince of the -Forest Mannikins, is my cousin, and you are in his country." - -Belinda started up wide-awake, just as her mother seemed to have -finished speaking. The words were still ringing in her ears, and she -looked round and rubbed her eyes in great amazement. There was nothing -to be seen. A soft breeze from the south gently stirred the leaves of -the honeysuckle and sweetbriar which enfolded the little arbour in -their fragrant embrace. The doves were gently cooing in the fir-trees, -and far, far away she heard the distant bleating of the sheep on the -plain, but there was no mortal being near her. The loving mother, then, -had been but the unreal vision of a dream, and the encouraging words -had been no more than a passing thought or fancy of her own, -mysteriously clothed for a moment with sound. Yet they seemed so -vivid--so true. So certain was she that she had actually heard them, -that almost insensibly she found herself repeating them aloud. - -"Canetto, the Prince of the Forest Mannikins," she exclaimed, and the -next moment started with affright at the effect which her own words had -produced. - -"Who calls Canetto?" said a voice; and at the same instant she -perceived a figure standing a few yards off from the entrance to the -arbour. It was the figure of a little old man, about three feet high, -dressed in a dark green coat, with a velveteen waistcoat and white -corduroys. In his hand he held a hunting-whip, with which he carelessly -flicked off the heads of the daisies as he stood. Upon his head was a -species of wide-awake, as far as Belinda could judge; at least it was -of that kind of shape, and seemed to be made of some light material -suited to the heat of the weather. But the most remarkable thing about -the old gentleman was the marvellous mixture of intelligence and -good-humour which appeared upon his countenance. His eyes sparkled with -a kind of light, which told you at the first glance that he was not a -man to be easily hum-bugged, whilst the smile which seemed constantly -hovering upon his mouth betokened a fund of humour and kind-heartedness -which was very reassuring to the young princess. - -"Who calls Canetto?" he said again, in a kind voice. - -The maiden knew that common politeness, as well as her own interest, -required a prompt reply. - -"Sir," she said, "I am Belinda, King Fridolin's youngest daughter, and -my mother was your cousin, I think, and I am very unhappy, and I don't -know what to do, and I dreamed that my mother came and told me to ask -you to help me; and oh! pray don't be angry with me, for I do not want -to do any harm to anybody, only if I may be a little happier!" - -While Belinda spoke the little man kept on flicking his hunting-whip -and smiling benignly all the time. - -"A little happier, my lambkin?" he said as soon as she had finished. -"To be sure you shall. Why not? Your mother my cousin? That she was -indeed, poor darling! Not only my cousin was she, but we used to be the -best of friends before she married King Fridolin, after which I saw -little of her, and knew nothing of her great trouble until it was too -late to help her." - -At these words the princess quite forgot her own sorrow for the moment, -in the intense desire she had to know the history of the mother of whom -neither her father nor her sisters ever spoke. - -"Oh, sir," she cried in an agitated voice, "please tell me about my -dear mother. I have so longed to know all about her, and I never shall -know unless somebody tells me, for she died when I was quite little, -and no one in the palace ever speaks of her to me." - -A tinge of melancholy replaced the smile upon the little man's face as -he replied to Belinda's question. - -"Your mother," said he, "was neither more nor less than an angel, which -is more than I can say for your royal father; although, after all, his -faults are rather those of his education than any which arise from his -natural disposition, which is far from bad. But it is difficult for -kings, who have the world at their feet and always get their own way, -to be all that one could wish them. Your mother was as near perfection, -in body as well as mind, as any human being can attain. Why she married -your father I could never understand, except it was because she chose -to do so. There were others," (here the small gentleman drew himself up -to his full height, placed his right hand upon his heart, and heaved a -deep sigh), "there were others who loved her as well and might have -made her happier. But Fridolin carried her off, and for a time they -were happy. When your elder sisters were born he was contented, -although he had wished for a prince, but he could not object to -children of such rare beauty. Then came the trouble. - -"The fairy Nuisancenika had, and has, wondrous power over the Plain -country--by which I don't mean the country of 'plain' people, though -_she_ is 'plain' enough in all conscience, but the flat country, -wherever there are no woods and hills. Well, this disagreeable woman -was always jealous of your mother's beauty, because she herself -possessed none, and was the more angry with her because, I think, she -always had a fancy to be queen herself. Still, she dared not injure a -queen who had carefully avoided doing anything which might give her -reasonable cause of offence. True, she did what she could to poison -your father's mind and make him dislike his wife; but, save for an -unfortunate accident, I think she would have failed altogether. The -poor queen dropped her writing-case upon one occasion, and the wicked -fairy, finding it, secured some of her private note paper and envelopes -with her own particular cipher thereupon. Of these she made use by -writing, in exact imitation of your mother's handwriting, some very -disagreeable things about the king, which she took good care should -fall into his hands. This caused unpleasantness between the hitherto -happy couple, and Nuisancenika made it her business to manage that it -should not pass away. Then, most unhappily, in driving out one day in -her pony-carriage, your poor mother had the bad luck to drive over one -of the fairy's favourite adders, which was fast asleep on a grass ride -where it had no earthly business to be, and had no right whatever to -complain of being killed. But the wicked mistress was furious beyond -measure; and as the event occurred when the queen was in the plain -country, driving, I believe, to fetch her husband news how the lambing -was going on, this circumstance somehow or other gave the fairy power -over her which she cruelly used. Had I only known of it in time, the -whole misfortune might have been prevented, but I chanced to be away on -a visit, and when I returned, your mother was dead and the mischief -done. I heard of it too late, and the wretch Nuisancenika had taken -such precautions by her enchantments during my absence that, although -my power is greater than hers, I could do nothing at all in the matter; -nor could I have even disclosed to you the truth, as I have now done, -unless you had, of your own free will, come into my country and asked -me the question outright." - -By the time Canetto had finished his sad story, the poor child to whom -he spoke was bathed in tears. She thought not of herself, for her want -of beauty and good shape were misfortunes which she had been long -accustomed to regard with resignation; but the sorrows and sufferings -of her mother penetrated her gentle spirit with the profoundest -emotion. She looked up through her tears at the little man, and thanked -him in a soft, low voice, broken by her sobs, for his goodness in -satisfying her curiosity. - -After a short pause he began again:-- - -"Dry your tears, my petkin," he said, "for I have not come here to make -you miserable, but the very reverse, if I can but manage to do so. It -was only right that you should know the sorrows of your mother, and the -story of your birth, but I should not have cared to tell you if I could -do nothing more. It is now _your_ turn to speak, and tell me the reason -of your coming here; because I have had no communication with the -palace, and could have none, during the time that the spell lasted, -which you have this day broken by coming here." - -Belinda did as she was told (which young ladies should always do, if -they wish to be respected and beloved, unless they are told to do -something which they dislike, in which case of course it is quite a -different matter) and then proceeded to tell the Prince of the Forest -Mannikins the whole story of her life, her affection for Zac, the -conduct of her sisters with regard to that excellent youth, and her -present affliction in consequence of his imprisonment by her father. - -During the narration of her story, the little man flicked his -hunting-whip continually and appeared at once interested and excited. -When she had concluded, and seemed much inclined to indulge in another -flood of tears, he hastily stopped her. - -"Little petkin," he remarked, "crying can do nobody any good at all, -and least of all anyone who has another and better cure for their -misfortunes. Come with me, Childerkin, and we will see whether -something cannot be done to make matters wear a better appearance." - -With these words Canetto led the way into the forest behind the -shepherd's cottage, and Belinda followed him with the utmost -confidence, being quite sure that he meant to help her if he could. And -here we must leave our little princess for a time, in order to return -to another individual in whom we ought to be equally interested. - -Poor Zac had been cast into a most uncomfortable dungeon, in which -there was only one half-broken wooden form to sit down upon, whilst the -air was close and heavy, the space confined, and the only light came -from a grating in one corner of the ceiling, probably placed there for -the purposes of ventilation, and opening into the bottom of a kind of -deep ditch, which itself could only be reached by the light from a long -distance above. This was indeed a sad change for the poor boy, who had -so long been accustomed to the comforts and luxuries of the palace. He -felt, as was natural, much cast down and dispirited by his sudden -reverse of fortune, and his only consolation was that he had not -brought it on himself by any bad conduct of his own. It was very -unpleasant, certainly, to be accused of behaving badly to the two -princesses, when no one could have possibly behaved better; but he -thought to himself that it would have been much worse if he had really -been guilty. Besides, he had another consolation, in the firm reliance -which he felt in the constancy and affection of Belinda. She, he knew, -would be true to him, whatever happened, and this thought cheered his -drooping spirits. - -He felt rather hungry, and, finding a loaf of black bread and a pitcher -of water near it, determined to satisfy his craving forthwith. Having -done this there was nothing for it but to sit and think, which he -accordingly did, going carefully over in his mind all the events of his -past life, and wondering much at the curious fate which had befallen -him. He could not recollect anything that had happened when he was -_very_ young. He only remembered being very unhappy at his father's -house, being called by his elder brothers and sisters "the little -gentleman," and pushed about here and there and everywhere, as if -everybody wished him out of the way. Then he called to mind how hard he -had tried to be gentle and loving to all, and how he had gradually -seemed to get on better and to be more kindly treated. Then came the -circumstance of his having specially to tend the pigs, and then the -proclamation of the pig-race, when he remembered a discussion about who -should ride "Sandy Sue," and how one of the elder Dicksons had been -anxious to do so, but was forbidden by his father, who said that -"gentleman Zac" was the only one who could win on her, and ride he -should. Since that day of course he remembered everything very -distinctly--how he had been introduced to the little princess, and her -sisters, and the king--how frightened he had been at first, and how -soon he had got over that feeling--how kind they had all been to -him--how he had taken to his learning and delighted in his books; and -then all the sad and trying events of the last few months and his -sudden downfall from his career of promised happiness. - -All these thoughts passed through the poor boy's head as he sat in his -lonely dungeon, and hours slipped by without his taking any count of -them. The shades of evening had now fallen upon the palace, but this -made little difference to Zac, and indeed he found he could see rather -better than upon his first entrance, since his eyes began to become -accustomed to the light. All at once he heard a little noise, as if -some animal was scratching close at hand. He looked listlessly round, -and thought how little it mattered to him what it was. A rat or a mouse -would be a companion to his solitude, but if such a creature appeared -it would probably fly as soon as it caught sight of him. The noise -continued, and in another moment a little mouse poked its head out of a -hole in the corner of the dungeon, and fixed its sharp black eyes upon -the prisoner as if it had come on purpose to see him and was very glad -to find him disengaged. Zac did not move at first, being fearful lest -he should disturb his little visitor; but he need not have been -alarmed, for it presently came quite out of the hole and sat a few -yards off from him, steadily looking him in the face. Seeing the -confidence of the animal, Zac thought there could be no fear of his -driving it away by the sound of his voice, so he said, partly to the -mouse and partly to himself:-- - -"Poor little creature, I wonder what _you_ want here?" - -To his intense surprise the small creature immediately replied, in a -shrill but by no means unpleasant voice:-- - -"I came to see you, Mr. Zac, and to tell you the latest news." - -"To see me!" exclaimed the astonished boy. "Well, you must be the best -mouse that ever was born to come and take pity upon a poor prisoner -like me. And since you can talk so well, perhaps you will kindly inform -me what news it is you have to tell." - -"King Fridolin is very, very angry with you, Mr. Zac," replied the -mouse. - -"Unfortunately, my little darling, _that_ is no news at all," rejoined -the boy; "I knew it, to my cost, some hours ago, and it is for that -very reason that you find me here." - -"But," continued the mouse, "he is so angry that he is determined to -punish you with the most terrible punishment ever known, and is only -doubting now whether you shall be thrown into the adder-pit, or -stripped, smeared with honey and tied to a tree to amuse the wasps and -flies." - -The poor boy shuddered at these words; but, recovering his firmness -immediately, rejoined:-- - -"Whatever it be, it will be in a good cause that I shall suffer, and I -must bear it as best I may." - -The mouse went on:-- - -"You really ought not to have tried to kiss the Princess Concaterina, -Mr. Zac," she said. - -"If you know anything at all, little mouse," said the boy, indignantly, -"you must know that I did no such thing." - -"Then," rejoined the other, "why did you not deny it before the king?" - -"Do you think I would brand Belinda's own sisters as the tellers of a -falsehood?" returned Zac. - -"I think _I_ should, sooner than be thrown into a dungeon, and perhaps -into an adder-pit afterwards," gravely observed his visitor. "But they -say there is some hope for you yet; for the princesses are really fond -of you, and if you will consent to marry Concaterina, all may yet be -well with you." - -"Do you think I would be so base as to save my life upon such terms?" -angrily responded the boy. - -"Well, I don't know," said the mouse in a slow, hesitating tone of -voice, "I think I should, if I were you. I should really advise you to -do so. Just consider what a disagreeable, uncomfortable place this is, -compared with the palace. Then how _very_ unpleasant it would be to -feel the adders, creeping all over you with their cold, slimy touch, -and then stinging you to death at their leisure afterwards. Or how -painful and distressing to feel the wasps and flies biting and stinging -you, cheerfully buzzing about to look out for a tender place. Oh, it -would be a horrible death to die! I should _strongly_ advise you to -marry Concaterina and escape such a fate!" - -"What!" exclaimed Zac, "do you come here pretending to be a friend of -mine, and advise me to be false to Belinda and break my plighted word? -I am quite ashamed of you for giving such advice, little mouse; as I -should be of myself if I could listen to it for one moment!" - -"As for Belinda," replied the animal, shaking its head sorrowfully, "I -do not think you need concern yourself about _her_. She implicitly -believes the charge against you, and is eager that you should be -punished; whilst her tender-hearted sisters are inclined to ask their -father to pardon you." - -At these words Zac started up in a great passion. - -"Belinda false!" he cried. "Belinda believe me _guilty_! Mouse, I will -never believe it! You have betrayed yourself, and are an enemy instead -of a friend. I would sooner believe evil of myself than of the princess -against whom you utter this calumny. Take this for your wicked -falsehood!" So saying, he seized his shoe to throw at the mouse; when, -to his intense surprise, the little animal became suddenly transformed -into a human being, and Belinda herself stood before him. - -"Dearest Zac!" she said, running up at once to the boy and embracing -him tenderly, "forgive me for the trial to which I have put your -constancy. It was not _my_ wish to do so, but the order of those who -have the right to command. I have found a friend who is as able as he -is willing to help us, and by his assistance I believe our happiness -will yet be secured. By his power I have been enabled to visit you in -your dungeon in the shape of a mouse, in order that I might convey to -you some information which is quite necessary to your safety." - -"But who is this powerful friend?" asked Zac, when, having returned her -caress, he found words to express his feelings. - -"He is Canetto, the Prince of the Forest Mannikins," replied Belinda; -"and having been a near relative of my dear mother's, he is very well -disposed towards me." - -"What then am I to do?" asked the boy. "For, shut up, as I am, in this -horrid dungeon, it seems to me that nobody can do anything for me, -unless indeed they would change me into a mouse, that I might pass out -by the same hole as that by which you entered." - -"That," said Belinda, "might doubtless be a very good plan, but it is -not the one which I am directed to follow. You must know that our -friend, all-powerful in the forest, has elsewhere bounds and limits to -his power, the reasons and degree of which you and I cannot understand. -It is for this cause that he does not come here at once and deliver you -from the dungeon; but, though he does not attempt this, he will give -you such help as shall assuredly procure your deliverance in due time. -He bade me tell you that you will certainly be taken out of this place -to-morrow, when the king will advise with his council what to do with -you. Be firm--though this I need scarcely tell you: if they give you -your choice of death, or if they offer you one wish before you die, -choose to be killed in the forest, under the shadow of the trees near -my foster-mother's cottage, and if they grant that wish the rest will -be easy. If (as is of course possible) they offer you no choice at all -in the matter, you must pronounce the magic word which alone can -prevent them harming you, but with which you are invulnerable." - -"And what may that word be?" anxiously inquired Zac. - -"It is not an easy one," replied the princess, "but as I may only say -it twice, listen very carefully whilst I do so, that you may remember -it well, since the least mistake might be attended with disastrous -consequences. The word is--'Ballykaluphmenonabababandleby." - -"_What?_" exclaimed Zac in a horrified voice; upon which the princess -repeated the word again very slowly; but, though it doubtless appears -very easy to the reader, it completely puzzled poor Zac. He shook his -head mournfully-- - -"If it depends upon _that_," said he, "the game is up--I should never -be able to pronounce that word, if I waited till apples grow on peach -trees." - -"I am very sorry," answered the princess in a sorrowful voice, "but you -see I can only tell you what Canetto told _me_, and we must hope for -the best. But now it is time for me to be off, for if I am not back at -the palace soon, my absence will be discovered, and I may be exposed to -unpleasant questions." So saying, she once more embraced the boy, and -then, approaching the hole, muttered some words which the mannikin king -had, no doubt, told her, and in another moment became once more a -mouse, and vanished from his sight. - -The interview had somewhat encouraged Zac, although he had fearful -misgivings about the magic word, which, strange to say, appeared to him -both long and difficult. However, he resolved to make the best of it; -and having finished his loaf of bread and pitcher of water, lay down on -some straw which he found in the corner of his room, and fell fast -asleep. In the morning he was awakened by a surly gaoler, who brought -him a fresh loaf and some more water, of which he partook with all the -relish of a good appetite. Not long after this, he heard the noise of -persons descending the steps which led to his dungeon, and presently -the door was thrown open, and a guard appeared, whose orders were to -conduct the prisoner once more before the king. - -Fridolin was sitting in his chair of state, surrounded by his -courtiers; and near him stood the two elder princesses, with downcast -eyes and cheeks suffused with modest blushes. - -When the boy was brought in, the king frowned angrily upon him, and -shook his royal fist in a threatening manner. - -"Well, you young villain!" he cried; "have you passed the night -bewailing your sins, and making ready for the death which certainly -awaits you?" - -"My lord king," answered the boy, with uplifted head and undaunted eye, -"I have done no wrong against you or yours, and I deserve no death at -your hands." - -"What?" cried the king in a rage. "Didst thou not admit thy crime -yesterday? Art thou not guilty of the charge brought against thee by -our daughters?" - -"Sire," replied the boy, "I said yesterday, and I say again, that I -will not deny any statement made by these noble ladies." - -"This is nonsense," said the king; "this is mere quibbling--again he -admits his guilt. What shall we do with him? I say death!" - -The courtiers all immediately said death too, as they would with equal -unanimity have said anything else if their sovereign had happened to -say it instead. - -"Well, then," rejoined the king, "by what death shall he die? What say -you, Lord Pompous?" - -"Boil him," promptly replied the lord chamberlain, who was quite taken -aback at being thus suddenly addressed, and who was at the moment -thinking of a turkey which he had ordered for dinner, and with which he -confused the prisoner at the moment. - -"Pompous, you are a fool!" shouted the king. - -"As your majesty pleases," responded the old man, with a low obeisance; -and Fridolin went on to ask other opinions, which were all given with a -guarded reservation, that they were subject to his majesty thinking the -same, and if not, were no opinions at all. - -"I think," said Fridolin presently, "that the pit of adders is the best -place for him." - -"Just so, sire." - -"Exactly what we thought." - -"The very thing," were the muttered exclamations which immediately -passed round. - -At this moment, Amabilia, rushed forward and threw herself at her -father's feet. - -"Oh, no! dear father," she cried in piteous tones; "_not_ such a -dreadful fate as that, poor boy. Pray be more merciful, for _my_ sake." - -Fridolin raised her affectionately from the ground. - -"Well, well," he said, "have it your own way, my queenly girl; he shall -_not_ be thrown into the adder-pit if you have the slightest objection. -Gentlemen," he continued, turning to his council, "what say you to the -honey torture, and giving the wasps and bees and flies a treat?" - -"Very good, your Majesty;" "Just the proper punishment for his crime," -and similar observations, again proceeded from the crowd of sycophants. - -But at this instant Concaterina jumped up and performed precisely the -same feat as that of her sister. Throwing herself upon her knees, she -clasped those of her father, and begged him not to subject poor Zac to -such a dreadful fate. - -"All right," said the king, to whom nothing was so disagreeable as to -see his daughters cry, which Concaterina was beginning to do, and that -copiously. "He shall not die thus, if you don't wish it, my beauty; but -what in the name of all that is wonderful do you want me to do with the -fellow, if I am not to execute him according to the regular punishments -of the country?" - -Now both the princesses had begun to be sorry for Zac; for on calmer -reflection they had come to the conclusion that it was rather hard that -he should die so young, and die, too, for keeping his faith which he -had plighted to a lady. True, he was a horrid fool for not preferring -one of them; but then fidelity was a virtue, and a rare one, and he -punished himself by preferring a plain--not to say ugly--wife to a -beauty. They would have been quite content to have given him a little -more taste of dungeon life, and then let him off, and all this talk -about killing him did not at all chime in with their ideas. Still, they -had raised the storm, and, as other people in a similar position have -often discovered, knew not how to allay it. If they recommended Zac's -pardon, they feared that their father would begin to doubt whether he -had really committed any offence at all. So they hung their heads and -said nothing, whilst Zac turned upon them a grateful look for having -saved him from two such unpleasant alternatives as those which had been -suggested. - -After the king had pondered a minute, he struck violently at Lord -Pompous' toe with his sceptre, and gave vent to his usual exclamation -when excited by a sudden idea--"I've hit it!" which, fortunately for -the lord chamberlain, was in this instance untrue. - -"The prisoner," continued the king, "shall choose his own death and the -place of his execution. Thus shall we blend mercy with justice, and -maintain our royal reputation for both." - -On hearing these gracious words, the courtiers naturally turned -their eyes up to the heavens in admiration of such a display of -elevated feeling; and Lord Pompous looked wiser than ever, though -he instinctively edged a little further off from his august sovereign. - -The latter now turned to Zac and demanded of him what death he would -choose to die, and where it should take place; calling upon him, at the -same time, to take notice of the clemency with which he was treated. - -Although this did not strike Zac very forcibly, he was exceedingly glad -that matters had fallen out in this way, especially since his -treacherous memory had already completely forgotten the magic word, -which might otherwise have been his only chance of escape. He therefore -lost no time in answering the king's question. - -"May it please your majesty," he said, "since my death is resolved -upon, I should like to be shot in the breast, so that I may stand face -to face with my executioners. For the place, I should like to be taken -down to the forest, where of old I kept my father's pigs, a simple boy -knowing nothing of palaces and princesses, which have brought me to -this. These were the scenes of my happy childhood. There let me end my -short life." - -When the boy had finished speaking, Amabilia and Concaterina both burst -into tears, and would have interceded once more with their royal -parent, but the stern frown which he wore on his countenance restrained -them from so doing. - -Fridolin directed that preparations should be made for the execution -within two hours of that time, and that all his court should be -summoned to it. It was to take place in a large open space upon the -edge of the forest, not far from the shepherd's cottage; and, in -consequence of the magnitude of the crime, and the exalted position -which the criminal had lately occupied as the affianced husband of one -of the king's daughters, the executioners were to be composed of -members of the nobility, all of whom were ordered to draw lots by which -it should be decided who should undertake this duty. Some little delay -was caused by the name of Lord Pompous being first drawn, who was known -to entertain a rooted aversion to fire-arms. This being properly -represented to the king, and also the extreme probability that the lord -chamberlain would in his confusion certainly shoot the wrong man, his -majesty was graciously pleased to allow the name to be set aside, and -twelve others selected. This done, and all the other arrangements -completed, the royal party set forth at the proper time, and came to -the spot which had been selected for the execution. - -The two princesses who had been the cause of all this were by this time -plunged into the deepest distress, for they had never really intended -it to go so far, and thought that Zac would probably have been brought -to his knees and his senses before this, and would have been pardoned -on condition of his marrying one of them. They had not taken into -account the necessity of satisfying offended royalty, and that their -father, insulted as he believed himself to have been through them, -could not possibly pass the matter over without taking summary -vengeance on the culprit. - -Nobody had thought anything of Belinda; but, to the surprise of many of -the party, she emerged from the door of her foster-mother's cottage, -leaning upon the old woman's arm, and apparently overwhelmed with -grief. - -When the prisoner had been brought forward, the king in a loud voice -declared to the people what his crime had been, and what was to be his -punishment. - -Then Zac, in a firm, calm tone, spoke to the crowd in these words. "I -have only one thing to answer to what is brought against me. I was -betrothed to the Princess Belinda, and I have been loyal and true to -her ever since my betrothal." - -Before any one could prevent her, Belinda here suddenly sprang forward -with an agility of which no one believed her capable, and threw herself -into Zac's arms, exclaiming at the same time--"I believe you, my own -Zac; let us die together." - -The crowd began to murmur. The king began to waver. The elder sisters -cried still more bitterly at the sight of such devotion. There was a -moment's hesitation, and a hope that Fridolin might relent from his -cruel purpose; when at that very moment a loud, hissing noise was -heard, and the figure of a little old woman, long past middle age and -without the slightest pretensions to beauty, came driving into the -middle of the crowd in a car drawn by pole-cats, whilst upon and around -her twined numerous snakes and adders, who hissed in such a threatening -manner at the crowd that the latter parted right and left in every -direction, and made way for her to advance within a very short distance -of the spot upon which stood the royal party and the prisoner. - -Every eye was at once turned upon the new-comer, who waved her hand in -an imperious manner, and looked round with an eye accustomed to -command. As soon as it was evident she was about to speak, the snakes -and adders left off hissing, and there was a dead silence throughout -the whole body of people present. The old woman's voice was not -melodious--rather the contrary, in fact--but she spoke clearly enough, -and there was not the slightest difficulty in understanding her -meaning. - -"I am the fairy Nuisancenika," she said, "and I reign, as many of you -may possibly know, over the Plain country. Having been particularly -busy lately in inventing a new kind of adder whose bite shall be beyond -the power of any antidote, I had not heard of the event which has been -appointed for to-day. As soon as I _did_ hear, I determined to come and -witness a righteous act performed by my old friend, King Fridolin. - -"It is now some years ago since I avenged him upon his abominable wife, -whom I always detested, and who fortunately gave me power over her by -driving over my best viper in my own country. My vengeance, however, -was not satisfied by her death. Although I had no power over her elder -daughters, I was enabled to endow the last child with certain defects -and deformities which it is pleasant to me to find have been rather -increased than lessened by time. But if this girl gets a good and -loving husband, these things will cease to trouble her, and I shall be -robbed of one half my revenge. The low-born person she has chosen for -her husband would be beneath my notice but that she has fixed her -affections upon him. That is enough for me. He must die; and, when -Fridolin considers that this fellow has insulted his elder and -beautiful daughters, I cannot doubt that he will be of my opinion, and -direct that the sentence be carried out without further delay." - -She ceased; and a dead silence prevailed for a few seconds. - -Then Fridolin turned sharply to Pompous. "Lord chamberlain, what had I -better do?" - -"What your majesty deems best under the circumstances," responded the -high functionary thus addressed. - -"Pompous, you are a fool," retorted the king, angrily. - -"If your majesty please to say so," replied the courtier, with a low -bow, and once more the sovereign had to think for himself. "There is -much force, madam, in what you advance upon this subject," he remarked -to the fairy. - -"If there had not been I should not have taken the trouble to advance -it," answered she. "Do not make fool of yourself by pretending to doubt -as to what you ought to do. Have the young man shot directly, unless -you prefer that I should let my adders loose upon him." - -Scarcely were these words out of her mouth, when a clear, flute-like -voice was heard ringing through the assembly. "Who talks of letting -loose adders in _my_ country?" - -The people looked up and beheld a little man in a dark green coat, -velveteen waistcoat, and white corduroys, coming out of the forest with -a hunting-whip in his hand, which he leisurely flicked about as he -walked towards the royal party. - -But this strange figure was not alone. There trooped after him, three -and three at a time, a whole regiment of little men, all dressed in -green, and apparently belonging to the first comer. They had also -whips, but kept them quiet, whilst they gradually increased in number, -until there were really more than you could have easily counted. - -"I say!" repeated the little man in the same voice. "Who talks of -letting loose adders in _my_ country?" - -"_Your_ country?" asked Fridolin indignantly. "It is _mine_!"--but he -was checked by the fairy, who put him aside at once, telling him that -his claim was not disputed, but had nothing to do with the question. - -"_Your_ country?" she asked of the little man. "I like that! why you -know quite well it is _mine_, and has been for ages." - -"I beg your pardon," said the other. - -"I beg _yours_," retorted the fairy. "What do you mean by your mannikin -impudence? It is my country, and I mean to have the prince killed, and -settle once for all with this last child of your doll-faced cousin." - -"Not so fast, madam," replied the little man, calmly. "It has never -been disputed that my kingdom--that is, the forest territory--includes -all the land within the limits of the forest, and the forest is held by -our greatest fairy lawyers, beyond all doubt, to mean all the land upon -and within which trees grow which are not separated from the bulk of -the forest by any fence. Cast your eyes behind you and you will see -that within the last few years, whilst you have been breeding adders, -and I have been hunting and travelling, King Fridolin has planted -largely, and those chestnut plantations, stretching from the forest on -the extreme right, quite across to the fringe of forest on the left, -have enclosed every yard of ground on which we are standing to-day, and -have rendered it beyond all doubt, part and parcel of the forest -territory, and consequently my country." - -The fairy Nuisancenika looked right and left, and her countenance fell -considerably. - -"Upon my word," she said, reluctantly, "I believe you are right. I had -overlooked those plantations. I don't know that I have any right to -interfere--I have given my advice--perhaps I had better go--" and she -took her whip up as if to lash her polecats forward. - -"Stop!" cried the little man in a clear, strong voice. "There are two -words to that bargain: those who enter the forest territory cannot quit -it without my permission!" So saying, he made a sign to his mannikins, -who immediately formed a ring, several deep, around the fairy and the -whole royal party. Then the little man made a courteous bow to -Fridolin, and proceeded as follows: - -"Do not think for a moment, King Fridolin," he said, "that any -usurpation of your rights is intended by my claim, undoubted as it is, -to sovereignty over this forest country. It is yours as kingdoms are -reckoned among mortals, and mine is a species of power which will never -clash with your authority. But you have several things to learn to-day -which it would have been well for you if you had learned before. I am -Canetto, king like yourself, and cousin to your late lamented wife. -Your conduct to her would be perfectly inexcusable if it had not been -that your mind was poisoned and you were utterly deceived by this -vilest of wicked fairies, Nuisancenika." - -"'Tis false, villain!" shrieked this person, on finding herself alluded -to in this uncomplimentary manner. - -"Hag!" replied Canetto, with a glance of wrath at her, "I should be -sorry to be obliged to proceed at once to extremities, but another such -interruption will expose you to the violent probability of being -whipped to death with your own adders immediately." - -The fairy made a gesture of impotent wrath, and gnashed her teeth -savagely while the mannikin thus continued: - -"The letters, king, which you believed to have been written by Queen -Rosetta, were all forged by this wretch, and written upon paper which -she had stolen from my poor cousin. She it was, moreover, who poisoned -the queen by viper-broth, and caused Belinda to be deformed and -afflicted as you see her. Fortunately, she was powerless to deprave her -mind, or debase her intellect, and you are happy in the possession of -such a daughter. But this wrinkled old sinner was not content with this -mischief. She it is who has been endeavouring to sow dissension in your -family, first, by putting it into the heads of both your elder -daughters to try and take away their sister's promised husband, and -next, by hardening your heart and preventing your showing mercy when -all your children would desire you to do so. But for this she has a -reason beyond her hatred of Rosetta, which has lasted even after her -death. Did you hear her mention the word 'prince' just now in speaking -of Zac? Well, Zac _is_ a prince!" - -Here all three of the princesses started, and the two elder screamed -aloud. - -"Yes!" continued Canetto, "that which I tell you is quite true, -surprising though it be. Zac's father is a powerful monarch, the king -of the country of the Red Camellias, which lies beyond my forest. -Having a spite against the king, this vile sorceress stole the boy at -an early age, and left him at a spot where he was found and taken home -by Farmer Dickson, who will verify all that I say. By my magic art I -knew this, but as I could do little or nothing beyond my forest, I -thought it best to keep quiet. Now, however, you know the secret of -Zac's gentle manners and general good behaviour, which, whenever you -observe in a boy, you may be perfectly sure that he is either the son -of a king, or of somebody else. The continuous and cruel hatred of -Nuisancenika has carried her to such a pitch, that she has come here -to-day to gratify her vengeance, and feast her murderous old eyes upon -the death of this poor boy, and the sufferings of your youngest -daughter. Her first punishment, therefore, shall be to witness -something precisely the reverse." - -Then turning to Zac he touched his fetters with the hunting-whip which -he held in his hand, when they immediately fell off. He next raised the -whip and laid the lash lightly across Belinda's shoulders, at the same -time pronouncing the words--"Marlika, Marlika, humphty cambia," which -all the world knows to be Mannikin expressions of vast power. In this -instance their effect was both instantaneous and marvellous. Belinda's -hump fell off, formed itself into a round ball like a cannon ball; -bounded up, hit the wicked Fairy a tremendous blow in the chest which -knocked her backwards for a moment, and then utterly disappeared. But -this was not nearly all. Every defect in the young princess's form and -features vanished as if by magic, and she stood before the king, tall, -upright, straight as an arrow, and blushing in all the pride of -conscious beauty. At this moment, I am glad to say that Amabilia and -Concaterina, instead of showing any jealous feeling at a change which -really made their younger sister more charming than themselves, gave -vent to loud exclamations of joy, and rushed to congratulate and -embrace her. The latter ceremony had already been performed by Zac, and -all the royal family began to shed tears of happiness together. - -But Fridolin had buried his face in his hands, and when he lifted up -his head, the marks of deep sorrow were set upon his features. "Oh, my -Rosetta!" he cried, in bitter anguish. "My lost and loved Rosetta! my -only love! my noble queen!" and as he spoke he swung his right arm -violently round in the extremity of his grief, catching Lord Pompous -full upon the nose with his fist, and causing it to bleed profusely. - -"Do not grieve so much," observed Canetto with a smile; "look behind -you and see what is to be seen." - -The king turned and perceived a lady of great beauty and stately mien -slowly advancing from the shepherd's cottage. - -"'Tis she! 'Tis she!" he shrieked at the top of his voice, hit Lord -Pompous a tremendous blow on the third button of his waistcoat, which -doubled him up in no time, and with another cry of "Rosetta!" rushed -into the arms of his long lost wife. - -"You see," said Canetto, still smiling, "Adder-broth is not so deadly -but what the forest has an antidote. Although I could not disclose it -until now, and even pretended to Belinda that her mother had died -during my absence, it was not so. By my magic art I contrived that you -should bury a waxen figure instead of your queen, whom I safely -conveyed to the forest. Had I not seen that you really repented of your -sins against her, and was I not captivated by Belinda's goodness, I -really think I should never have let you have her again. But, since she -wishes to return to you and to her children, I have agreed that it -shall be so. Take care you treat her well and tenderly for the future. - -"The royal family were now full of joy, and even Amabilia and -Concaterina came in for their share of good luck, for the King of the -Mannikins chucked each of them pleasantly under the chin, told them -that he knew they were good girls at heart, and promised that both -should have royal husbands before they were twenty. Then he turned to -the fairy Nuisancenika with a dark frown upon his countenance. - -"Miserable reprobate!" he exclaimed, apparently taking particular -delight in finding new epithets applicable to the old woman. "It only -remains now to deal with you. During an existence now prolonged to an -extent greater than that which any person kindly disposed towards -mankind could have wished, you have done an infinite quantity of -mischief. You have had considerable power, which you have consistently -employed as badly as possible. You are a pitiless, revengeful, -remorseless, black-hearted old hag. And now at last you are completely -in my power. Nothing can save you." - -"Oh, mercy, mercy, dear, good King Canetto!" piteously whined the -fairy, as she crouched down in her car. - -"Such mercy as you showed Rosetta and Belinda, and such as you wished -to show Zac. Such, I say, and no more, shall be your own portion. And -now for the first scene of the last act. Kill the polecats!" - -He turned to his mannikins as he said this, and in another moment every -polecat was knocked on the head. - -"Now for the adders," said Canetto; and the little men cut them to -pieces with their whips in less time than you would have thought -possible. - -Then the king turned to Nuisancenika and spoke again. - -"I might have you dealt with in the same way," he said; "and if I did -so, there is no one present who would not warmly approve and say, -'served her right.' But a true mannikin is never bloodthirsty, and I -will not adjudge to you that fate which you so richly deserve. Still, -since your power has been always exercised for ill, it must remain to -you no longer. I sentence you to be immediately and henceforth confined -in a cave at the extreme eastern corner of the world, never to emerge -thence until the hour comes when women leave off caring for dress, men -labour no more for power, and donkeys abandon braying." - -Scarcely had Canetto finished speaking, when the unfortunate being, -upon whom he had pronounced this appalling sentence, uttered one -frantic yell, and then disappeared in a whirlwind, which carried her -right away over the forest. Nobody ever saw or heard of her again to my -knowledge, but there is very little doubt that the sentence of the King -of the Mannikins was duly carried out. The wise men, who have studied -these things carefully, say that there is very clear and certain proof -of this. In the spring-time of the year, especially about March, a -cold, bitter, spiteful wind blows from the east, seizes delicate -throats and tender noses, keeps people indoors when they much desire -air and exercise; and if they attempt to get either, afflicts them with -heavy colds, and what modern doctors call "bronchial affections," -meaning much the same thing as that which our poor benighted fathers -and mothers used to call "sore throats." Well, do you think this east -wind is a common, ordinary, respectable wind? Not at all. It is nothing -more nor less (say these wise ones) than the wicked old Fairy -Nuisancenika, who, heartily tired of her imprisonment in the cavern, -fumes and rages madly about, and sometimes gets near enough to the -mouth of the cave to spit and blow out some of her venom into the -world. Then comes disease to man and beast, and whenever I think of it -I regret that Canetto did not serve the wretched old hag as he did her -polecats and adders, and direct his mannikins to cut her in pieces with -their hunting-whips. Just fancy if he had! Perhaps we should have had -no more of those cruel east winds. But it was fated otherwise, and this -is the result. - -At all events, the bad fairy was comfortably got rid of so far as the -royal family of King Fridolin were concerned, and there is very little -more to be said about the rest that followed. Of course everything now -went rightly. Messages were sent to Zac's real father--the story of -Canetto having been entirely confirmed by Farmer Dickson--and the -result was in every respect satisfactory. The king of the country of -the Red Camellias was delighted to recover his long lost son, and -showed his sense of what was right and proper under the circumstances -by dying shortly after the wedding of Zac and Belinda had been duly -celebrated. The young prince consequently conveyed his lovely and -loving bride to his own country, where they reigned for many years in -great happiness and prosperity. - -Amabilia and Concaterina, having a mother's influence to guide them, -improved daily in every respect, and had no difficulty whatever in -securing royal husbands within the time prophesied by Canetto, whose -courts they adorned by their beauty and whose homes they made happy by -their domestic virtues. - -As for King Fridolin, he passed the evening of his days more happily -than any other part of his life. Conscious of his former folly, he -learned to appreciate his restored queen as she deserved, and their -renewed affection for each other was romantic in its strength and -fervour. Canetto paid them occasional visits, and was always received -by them with that respect and regard which his conduct had so well -earned. Everything flourished thenceforward in Fridolin's kingdom. Even -Lord Pompous hailed the change with delight, since his sovereign, -occupied constantly in the enjoyment of his newly recovered happiness, -omitted the practical jokes upon his lord chamberlain with which he had -frequently been wont to solace his idle hours. And during the long -years that followed before Fridolin's reign and life ended, the king -constantly called to mind the thrilling scenes of interest which I have -recounted, and invariably spoke with the greatest thankfulness of the -happy thought which came into his head upon that memorable day when he -first projected the pig-race. - - - - -EVELYN WITH THE FAIRIES. - - -There was once a little girl who was exceedingly fond of fairy tales. -She had read almost all the books that had ever been written about -fairies and elves, and never lost an opportunity of hearing a story -upon the same subject. The result of so much attention to this -particular branch of study was that which might have been expected. She -became the most devout believer in the existence of the dear little -creatures about whom she read, and had no greater desire than that she -might some day or other become personally acquainted with one or more -of them. - -Her chief regret was caused by the fact (which was, unhappily, too -true) that no fairy godmother had presided over her birth, and that -none of those pleasant adventures had befallen her which usually follow -such an event. Not only was this the case, but, so far as she could -ascertain, neither her father, mother, or any of her relations had ever -come in contact with a fairy, and she had been, little by little, -driven to the conclusion that she belonged to a commonplace, unromantic -family, with whom the dwellers in fairyland had no concern and no -connection whatever. - -This was a sad thought to the child, who was possessed of an extremely -lively imagination, and would have liked nothing better than to have -lived in those good old days when either a fairy or a witch, an ogre or -a dwarf, were to be found at every corner. She looked back to those -days with fond delight, and often wished that they might come again. -She loved to muse over the tales she had read and heard, and to imagine -curious scenes and strange creatures on every side of her, as she -rambled through the shrubberies around her father's house, or strolled -away into the great woods on one side of the park. - -One day she had taken a longer stroll than usual, and suddenly came -upon a part of the wood which she never remembered to have seen before. -Somehow or other, she had strayed out of the path, and all around her -were tangled masses of fern, old pollard-trees bowed down to the ground -by age and the weight of their branches, and thickets of thorns and -brambles, and here and there patches of smooth grass and moss, without -either trees, fern or brambles upon them. - -The birds were singing sweetly in the wood, the sun was shining -brightly in the heavens above (although his rays could not penetrate -the dense foliage of the trees), the dewdrops were glistening on the -leaves, and everything seemed as beautiful as human eye could behold or -human heart desire. The child looked around her for a moment, entranced -with the loveliness of the scene; then she heaved a deep sigh (too -deep, you would have thought, for so young a creature, who could hardly -as yet have sorrows heavy enough to cause such a sigh), and said to -herself with a sorrowful air: - -"What a place this would be for my fairy godmother to meet me, if only -I _had_ a fairy godmother! Heigho! Why are there not any fairies here?" - -Scarcely had she spoken when she started back astonished, for the -speech was hardly out of her mouth than the concluding word, "fairies -here," seemed repeated by a myriad of tiny voices all round her, in -tones so soft, so plaintive, and dying away with such a melancholy -cadence that it needed no great amount of cleverness to assure the -child that they came from no ordinary or mortal throats. - -For an instant she trembled, but it was more with expectation than -fear, and she looked around her with eager eyes, to the right and left, -longing to see the beings who had uttered those soft and touching -sounds. She saw nothing, however, and began to fear that, after all, -she would hear and see no more, and that nobody at home would believe -her when she told of the mysterious voices. But, being a child of -courage, and remembering, moreover, that in most of the fairy tales of -which she knew, the mortal to whom the kind fairies condescended to -speak or appear, was never frightened, but always did exactly the right -thing, unless he or she happened to be wicked, when they invariably did -the _wrong_ thing and suffered accordingly. So she looked round once -again, and then said, in her most polite tones: - -"Are there _really_ any fairies here?" - -Scarcely were the words out of her mouth, when the same sounds arose -once more, even more distinctly than before, on every side of her. This -time, however, there was something more than sound. The fern and the -trees, the brambles and the leaves, all seemed to be suddenly agitated -as if by the wind swaying gently through them, though there was not a -breath of wind in the air. - -There was one universal rustling all round, and the next moment Evelyn -(for that was the little girl's name) saw that she was standing in the -middle of a crowd of living, moving, active beings, who looked out upon -her from every corner of the place. Every leaf seemed tenanted by one -of them; each stem of fern appeared to afford cover, every thicket to -give protection to a small creature: they were perched on the trees -above her head, and peeped out from the tufts of moss almost beneath -her feet. Bright restless eyes seemed to peer eagerly out upon her on -all sides, and in an instant she knew that her long-cherished hopes and -dreams were at last realized, and that she was in the presence of -undeniable fairies. - -Although Evelyn had read so many fairy tales, and had so often fancied -herself in the position she now was, and settled what she ought to do -and say in such case, it must be confessed that when the reality came -thus suddenly upon her, she was as much at a loss as if she had never -read or thought anything at all about the subject. - -She stood still and stared with eyes wide open with astonishment, just -as any child would naturally do under similar circumstances. The little -beings about her had nothing in their appearance or demeanour at all -likely to frighten her. They were neither ugly in feature, deformed in -figure, or evil in the expression of their faces. On the contrary they -were graceful, beautiful, and looked remarkably good-natured. Very -little they certainly were, for none of them could have been above a -foot high, and very numerous also, for, turn her head which way she -would, the whole place seemed alive with them. - -Evelyn stood, as I have said, perfectly silent, and looked about her as -if struck dumb with surprise at the unlooked-for appearance of the -little creatures. She had not long to wait before one of them hopped -lightly from the stem of a venerable hornbeam hard by, and stood -immediately in front of her. - -It was a charming little figure that did this: barely a foot high, but -of a form perfectly symmetrical, a face bright with exceeding beauty, -and with an air of nobility conspicuous in its features, and, indeed, -in its whole bearing. It was dressed in some light drapery, which -floated around it in such a manner as to add to instead of concealing, -the beauty of its faultless form, and, as it stood erect before Evelyn, -she thought she had never seen anything so exquisitely beautiful in the -whole course of her existence. - -[Illustration: EVELYN AND THE FAIRIES.--P. 122] - -The little being regarded her for one moment in silence, and then it -spoke. Spoke! it was hardly like speaking: the voice that came from its -throat was a mixture of all the most delightful sounds that ever -rejoiced the human ear. Think of the soothing, contented hum of the -bees in the early summer, when they are sipping the sweetest honey from -their favourite flowers; think of the softest murmuring of the -sea-waves when they gently break upon the shore, and lovingly kiss the -rocks against which, in their hours of anger, they dash so madly; think -again, of the blessed sound of distant church bells heard across the -water as you stand listening upon a silent summer's eve; think of the -warbling of the tender nightingale in the old shrubbery, full of home -memories; and think, more than all, of the loving words whispered for -the first time in the happy ears of the gentle maiden; think, I say, of -all these sounds, and of the music they possess, and you will be able -to form some idea of the melody which sounded in the fairy's voice. - -She spoke in poetry, of course, by which Evelyn was more than ever -convinced that she was a regular, proper fairy, because poetry is the -natural language of such people, and no fairy, who is at all equal to -the position she aspires to hold, ever begins a conversation with a -mortal in prose. Of course they get to it, after a bit, because too -much rhyme bores people, and fairies never do _that_, because there -are so many people in the world who can and do perform that feat to -perfection, and fairies only care to do that which human beings cannot -accomplish so easily of themselves. And thus ran the speech of the -fairy, since such she was beyond all reasonable doubt. - - "Welcome, gentle maiden child, - To the forest grand and wild: - Welcome to the lofty trees - Gently waving in the breeze: - Welcome to the leafy shade, - By their spreading branches made: - Welcome to the mossy bed, - 'Neath their shadows overhead: - Welcome to each grassy mound - In the open spaces found, - And to every flower that springs - Near the mighty forest kings. - Thou hast wandered here full oft, - Never at the fairies scoft, - But hast aye essayed to learn - From the lovely maiden-fern, - From the honeysuckle sweet, - From the dew-drops 'neath thy feet, - Lessons of the fairy race - Not for mortal ken to trace. - But to maid of gentle mind - Fairy elves are ever kind; - If she love them, they can prove - (Giving fondly love for love) - How their might can work to aid - Manly youth or gentle maid. - Say, then, maiden, would'st thou seek - Knowledge which an elf may speak? - Would'st thou (such I scarce suppose) - Fairy succour 'gainst thy foes? - Would'st thou have another's heart - Made thine own by magic art? - Would'st thou wealth--or, better still, - Freedom from some mortal ill? - Speak thy wish, then, maiden dear: - Speak it low and speak it clear." - -Evelyn listened with amazement not unmixed with pleasure. Pleasure it -certainly was to find herself at last in the presence of a real live -fairy, and amazement she undoubtedly felt both at the sight before her, -and at the speech to which she had just listened. She was perfectly -aware that her reply ought to be given in verse, and the difficulty was -that she was particularly stupid at making rhymes. She was one of those -children who always tried to beg off if any of those amusing games was -proposed in the evenings at home, in which either everybody has to make -four rhymes or more on a certain given subject, generally answering a -question and introducing some noun which has nothing to do with it, or -else four rhymes are given out, and everybody has to write the previous -part of the four lines in any metre they please. - -Evelyn, I say, always either begged to be excused playing, or else -nestled up close to her father (who was rather handy at that kind of -thing), and asked him to write her lines quietly for her, which he -unfortunately was in the habit of doing--unfortunately, because the -consequence was that at the present momentous crisis, the poor child -could not by any means think what to say. One reason, perhaps, was that -she had nothing particular for which she wished to ask the fairies, -but, whatever the reason, no rhyme _would_ come to her mind. - -All she could think of was an occasional line of some of Dr. Watts's -hymns, which did not seem to have anything at all to do with fairies, -and one or two old pieces of poetry which she had heard long ago in the -school-room and which kept coming into her head now, and probably -keeping out something which might have answered her purpose much -better. - -The fairy waited for a few seconds without impatience, but as no answer -appeared to be forthcoming, she stamped her foot upon the ground, and -appeared visibly annoyed. Conscious that she was hardly acting either a -wise or dignified part in remaining silent, Evelyn now made a great -effort to remember or to invent something that might be suitable to the -occasion, and as the fairy stamped her foot a second time, somewhat -impatiently, she hastily blurted out:-- - - "Let dogs delight to bark and bite-- - I don't know how to answer right;" - -and then stood blushing and trembling just as if she had certainly -answered _wrong_. Upon this the fairy gave vent to a low, musical -laugh, like the last notes of a _very_ good musical box, and then once -more accosted the child as follows: - - "When fairies speak in kindly mood, - To answer nothing back were rude; - Yet need you never rack your brain - To answer me in rhyme again. - Though verse be sweet to us, forsooth, - Prose, if it comes of simple truth, - From child-like lips and guileless tongue, - May pass with elves as well as song. - But say, fair child, for what intent, - With spirit young and innocent, - Untainted with the world's cold touch; - (Ah! would that we might keep thee such!) - Unfettered yet by Fashion's chain, - Untouched by pride or high disdain, - As yet unvisited by cares - Which fate for mortal life prepares, - Why hast thou left the haunts of men - To seek the lonely fairy glen?" - -Whilst the fairy was speaking, Evelyn gathered together her ideas, and -resolved to show that she not only had something to say, but knew how -to say it. So as soon as the speaker had concluded, she replied, -keeping still to rhyme, as if determined not to appear more stupid than -she really was, - - "How doth the little busy bee - Improve each shining hour-- - For years and years I've longed to see - A fairy's woodland bower. - - How skilfully she builds her cell, - How neat she spreads the wax-- - Since, now, dear elves, I've seen you well, - My spirit nothing lacks." - -As soon as Evelyn had got through these verses, which she did with some -little pride, she was rather surprised and even annoyed to find that -their only effect was to cause all the little beings around her to -indulge in a hearty fit of laughter. Their musical sounds rang through -the forest, and the echo faintly returned them, whilst the child stood -listening and wondering at the result of her attempt. Then the fairy -queen, for such Evelyn thought she must be, spoke once again:-- - - "If nothing lack'st thou, mortal child, - Why wander through the forest wild - And seek, with meditative air, - The beings who inhabit there? - Since hither thou hast found thy way, - Be satisfied awhile to stay: - For those who have not been afraid - To trespass on the fairy glade, - And long, with curious mortal eye, - Our elfin mysteries to spy, - When once they know where fairies hide, - Most there be ready to abide." - -As Evelyn heard these words, a cold chill ran through her veins, for -they betokened to her that something was going to happen upon which she -had never calculated. In an instant her thoughts flew back to the many -instances of which she had read in fairy tales, of children being -changed into dogs, cats, birds, toads, or something which no sensible -child has the least wish to become; and the terrible fear arose that -she was about to become the victim of some such unpleasant -transformation. On second thoughts, however, she remembered that in -most of these cases the child concerned had either been naughty and -disagreeable at home, or disbelieving in or impertinent to the fairies, -and had therefore deserved punishment. In her own case, she had done -nothing recently at home more naughty than accidentally dropping some -marmalade on her clean frock at breakfast, and had entertained such -full and constant belief and respect in and for the fairies, that she -was quite sure she deserved no punishment at their hands. Besides, the -voice of the queen (if such she was), and the looks and gestures of her -companions, had displayed neither anger nor offence at her intrusion -into their glen, and she could not believe that any harm was intended -to her. All these thoughts passed through the child's mind much faster -than I can write them, and although she stood there in uncertainty and -doubt, her momentary fear was gone directly. She was not prepared, -however, for what followed. - -The fairy queen waved a sprig of fern three times over her head, -advancing nearer and nearer to Evelyn as she did so. At each wave of -the hand, the child felt herself growing downwards and becoming smaller -and smaller. Yes! there really was no doubt about it; down and down she -grew, until the horrible thought crossed her mind that she might grow -right down into the earth, and disappear altogether. - -At the same time a strange drowsiness stole over her, everything -appeared to grow less and less distinct, and gradually to fade quite -away from sight; sounds grew fainter and fainter, and she seemed to be -about to sink into a deep, fast, heavy sleep. Then, all of a sudden, -she was as wide awake as ever again, and looked up, bright and lively, -trying to remember where she was, and what had happened to her. There -was very little doubt about _that_. She was a regular fairy like the -rest of them. She was of the same height; she had the same kind of -light dress (though what it was made of, she could never describe, -although she was very often questioned on the subject,) and she felt -such an extraordinary sensation of lightness and elasticity as quite -surprised her. She knew in a moment that she could move about in a -manner which had been quite impossible to her as a mortal child: that -she could stand upon branches and plants and tufts of fern without -causing them to bend or break, that she could tread upon the leaves and -soft moss without leaving the impression of her tiny feet, and that she -possessed new powers, new knowledge, and a new being altogether. - -But more wonderful still, was the transformation which everything -around her seemed to have undergone. The trees, the leaves, the fern, -the moss--all appeared ten times as beautiful as they were before. The -dewdrops that glistened upon the grass and fern sparkled with -twenty-fold brilliancy; the green of the leaves was by far more tender -and exquisite than before her change; the mighty trunks of the old -trees were more majestic than ever, the whole glen was enriched with -greater beauties, and the notes of the woodland birds possessed more -melody than she had ever fancied in her old, childish wanderings -through the forest. - -It was as if all these beauties had been but imperfectly seen, and only -feebly appreciated by the child of mortals, whose natural perceptions -had been blunted by the sin and sorrow of her kind; but, that the -moment the earthly nature and form had been shaken off, a purer and -more intellectual state of being had brought with it the power to see, -to know, and to appreciate in a higher degree the beauties of nature -and of nature's God. Never had Evelyn experienced such a delicious -sensation of entire pleasure as at that moment. - -Curiously enough, no recollections of home, of parents, of relations, -came across her; all seemed blotted out for the moment as if they had -never existed. She only felt the intense pleasure of her present -existence--a pleasure so pure and at the same time so utterly absorbing -and engrossing that it seemed to leave room for no other thought or -sensation, and the child stood as one in a trance--but a trance -exquisitely delightful! - -Presently the fairy queen turned aside, apparently about to occupy -herself with other matters, and having no more to say to Evelyn. The -latter, however, was not neglected. Two of the other fairies took her, -each by one hand, and led her under the great spreading trees, beneath -whose branches was a wide open space, where there was room enough for -hundreds of such small creatures to sport and play. There they began to -dance, lightly and gracefully, first joining hand in hand, then -separating and dancing the most curious figures you can imagine, in and -out of the hollow of the tree under which they were, round its trunk -and its roots, and now and then catching hold of the lower branches and -swinging themselves up. Such a dance it was! And the most extraordinary -thing was that it all seemed to come quite as natural to Evelyn as if -she had been at it all her life. She danced and skipped and swung in -the branches with the best of them, and had not the slightest feeling -of fatigue after the exertion. She felt, moreover, a lightness and -buoyancy of spirit such as she had never felt before, and as to being -shy or bashful in the presence of strangers, she experienced no such -sensation for a single moment. On the contrary, she laughed and talked -with the little elves as happily and merrily as if she had known them -from her cradle, and there was no difficulty about learning their -language, for they all spoke English as well as any English child could -have done. Perhaps they _were_ English children, which would in some -measure account for it. However that may be, Evelyn never had a -cheerier or more enjoyable dance than this one, and she thoroughly -entered into it. - -Presently they took to climbing. Up the trees they swarmed, ran out on -the branches, and balanced themselves on the ends (roaring with -laughter when one or other of them lost his balance and had a fall, -which he always broke by cleverly catching hold of the next branch -below), pelted each other with leaves, and chased one another wildly -through the tops of the trees. Then they played at hide-and-seek in and -around the trees. One hid in a rabbit-hole under the roots, another in -a crevice on the top of one of the hornbeam pollards, and great was the -laughter when one little scamp crept into an old magpie's nest, and lay -hidden there for several minutes before he was found. But perhaps the -best fun of all was when they chased a squirrel, who was thoroughly -puzzled by the proceeding, and caused them immense merriment by his -chattering, as well as by his various dodges to elude his pursuers. -Sometimes he would climb to the very tops of the highest trees, and -appear astonished beyond measure when the little elves followed him so -high; then, again, he would throw himself off, and catch a branch in -falling, as quickly and as cleverly as if he had been himself a fairy. -Once more he would lie pressed up so close against the thick branch of -a tree, that he would appear to be a part of the tree himself; and then -he would betake himself to his nest, and occasionally peer out with -his sparkling little eyes, as if to ascertain whether anyone would be -daring enough to follow him _there_. But the fairies never attempted to -hurt him, and Evelyn soon found that these woodland fairies were not of -a sort which at all enjoyed making other people unhappy. _She_ was -certainly anything but unhappy, and enjoyed her afternoon amazingly. -Nevertheless, as all things come to an end, so at last did these fairy -gambols. - -Suddenly there sounded through the forest a low, sweet, but thrilling -whistle, like an unusually melodious railway whistle heard at a long -distance off in a still evening. Every elf knew it at once to be the -queen's signal, and accordingly they all hurried back to the spot where -Evelyn had first seen them, from which they had been wandering right -and left through the merry green wood in their sports. The queen -graciously smiled as her obedient children flocked around her, and -proceeded to give them her directions for the employment of their -evening. - -"Sprightly," said she, addressing one little fellow, whom Evelyn had -observed to be particularly lively in the dancing and other games, "go -you, with a couple more of your friends, to old Farmer Grubbins. He was -very cross this morning to two poor boys who picked a couple of apples -from one of his trees which overhung the footpath, and is going to take -them before the magistrates to-morrow morning. He goes to bed early and -will be asleep before nine. But you need not wait for _that_, for he is -sure to doze heavily in his arm-chair after supper. Go and plague him -well. Pinch his toe till he thinks it is gout; whisper to him that the -rats are in his barn, and that a man with a lucifer matchbox has been -seen in his rick-yard. And if _that_ neither keeps him from sleep nor -gives him uncomfortable dreams, tell him that wheat is down in the -market ten shillings a quarter, American beef is coming into this -country in such quantities, that homefed beef will never sell well -again, and all his rates and taxes are going to be doubled directly. -Give him a real bad night of it, and when he is lying awake, thoroughly -uncomfortable, whisper to him a few words in favour of the poor lads in -any way you think most likely to be useful. - -"Mirthful, do you go off to poor old Mrs. Marshall at Nettlebush -Cottage. She is down with the rheumatism, very bad, and in a good deal -of pain. Cheer the old dame up a bit, whisper all kinds of pleasant -things in her ear, gently rub her poor aching limbs, and keep the dust -quiet so that her room may be kept cheerful and clean. Sweeten the -taste of what food she has, and do what you can to lighten the time to -her. - -"Flittermouse, Childerkin, Gadaway, go to Doctor Backbrusher's school, -and comfort the hearts of the youngsters there. The old fellow has -flogged a lot of them as usual to-day. Go and cheer them up; and if you -_could_ put a few crumbs--good, hard, sleep-stopping crumbs--into the -doctor's bed, so much the better. Do it just when he has put his candle -out, and is going to step into bed, and one of you take away the box of -matches he always has by his bedside, and hide it in his brown pitcher. -He'll never find it there, and if he is once well in bed with those -crumbs, he'll have a rough time of it. - -"You, Pitiful and Hoverer, go to little Miss Wilson's room at The -Priory, and teach her to remember her French verbs. Poor child! they -are sadly too much for her, and it would be a real kindness to get rid -of the grammar for her, only they would be sure to get another; so the -better way will be to help her to remember. - -"The rest of you go where you like; sleep or play, visit mortals, or -remain unseen by them, only do nothing unkind to anyone, and be sure to -be back here precisely at midnight for the ring dance." - -As soon as the fairy queen had finished speaking, the little elves to -whom she had given special directions set off without any delay to obey -her orders, while the rest scattered themselves in every direction -through the forest, each following the pursuit which seemed best to -him. - -As Evelyn felt herself not only at liberty to go where she pleased, but -able to keep up with any of her companions and to go where they went -and do as they did, she thought she should very much like to see how -Sprightly performed the commission entrusted to him, and as the elf -made no objection, off they tripped together, accompanied by another -little being whose name I forget, but who was as lively and merry as -the rest of them. They went at a pace at which our young friend Evelyn -had never gone before, but which somehow or other seemed quite natural -to her, and which very speedily brought them to the house of Farmer -Grubbins. - -Arrived there, they walked quietly up to the door, which opened to them -without any of the people inside knowing that it had done so, although -the fact of its having opened was proved to Evelyn not only by her -passing through with the others, but by the remark which she heard the -old farmer make as she and her companions entered, namely, that there -was a terrible draught from that door. - -The farmer was an old bachelor, and there was no one in the house with -him but his niece and the servants. He and his niece were just -finishing supper when the fairies entered, and on seeing this Sprightly -winked knowingly at his companions, and they all stood quietly aside -until the old man should be asleep and their duties would begin. - -They had not long to wait. Farmer Grubbins pushed back his chair with a -remark to his niece upon the supper, to the effect that the beefsteak -pie had been uncommon good, to which she readily assented. The old man -then settled himself in his own particular arm-chair by the fireside, -drew a long breath, and quietly composed himself to sleep. In a very -few moments, after a contented snort or two, much after the fashion of -a grampus which found itself more than commonly comfortable, he quietly -dozed off and was immediately in the land of dreams. - -Then Evelyn's companions crept stealthily up to him and began their -games. One climbed up on to the old man's shoulder, whilst the other -seated himself upon the footstool upon which his feet rested, well -encased in large and easy slippers. The first began to whisper in his -ear, while the second tickled his feet with a lightness of touch which -no one but a fairy could have done. Presently the sleeper suddenly -twitched his foot, whereupon the elf waited until it was still again; -and then resumed his tickling. Then the farmer moaned in his sleep, and -uneasily turned his head upon one side, at which movement the other elf -began to whisper more vigorously than ever. A snort, a start, and the -sleeper awoke. - -"Eh, Jane? Did you speak?" he asked his niece, who replied in a low -voice that she had said nothing, and almost before she had answered, -his head fell back again and once more he dozed. Still the tickling and -the whispering continued, and the sleep of the old farmer appeared to -be most uncomfortable. - -Evelyn watched in great amusement, until at last she saw Sprightly, who -had taken his place at the footstool, take out what appeared to be a -pair of pincers, and, applying them to the great toe of the farmer's -right foot, give it a nip with all his force. The old man instantly -woke up with a roar. - -"Oh, my toe!" he called out in evident pain. "Drat that gout, I've got -it again!" and he began to groan sadly. - -His niece got up, put her knitting down upon the table and came across -the room to him, but after another groan or two, the pain seemed to -subside, and he dozed off again. Presently he started once more and -turned in his chair. - -"Rats in the barn, did you say, Jane?" he muttered rather than said; -"can't be--don't bother--keep quiet, there's a good girl," and all was -silent again for a few moments, until Sprightly, again producing the -pincers and applying them to the same toe, pressed them with both hands -as hard as ever he could. The roar which now burst from the farmer's -lips really frightened Evelyn, who fancied for the moment that he -_must_ discover that some hand, mortal or elfin, had inflicted the -injury upon him. - -Not a bit of it: the elves were certainly invisible, and the old man -attributed everything to the gout, and vowed it was the worst pain he -had ever had in the whole course of his life. - -Meanwhile the two elves were laughing ready to split their sides, and, -somehow or other, Evelyn felt very much inclined to do the same. It was -no laughing matter, however, for Farmer Grubbins. He rose from his -chair, not in the best of tempers, nor using the choicest language, and -declared that he should go to bed and try if a good night would put -matters right with him. - -As he spoke, the two elves roared again with laughter, and made the -most extraordinary grimaces at the old man, which seemed to Evelyn all -the more ridiculous from the knowledge that he could not see and was -perfectly unconscious of them. - -Then he slowly ascended the stairs, upon which Sprightly and his -companion beckoned to Evelyn, and they all followed the farmer, -treading very lightly, and still laughing as he muttered expressions by -no means complimentary to the gout. - -When he reached his bedroom he speedily undressed and turned into bed, -having first carefully placed upon his head an old red night-cap, in -which he presented an appearance so ludicrous as greatly to increase -the amusement of his unseen guests. His niece just looked in, and asked -if he wanted anything, and being told that she need not trouble herself -about him, quickly took the hint, and retired for the night. - -Then began the real fun of the little fairies. As soon as the old man -had made himself comfortable, and a drowsy comfortable feeling began to -steal over him, they were at him again. First one of them tickled his -nostrils with a feather until he was obliged to rub his nose violently, -which woke him up at the critical moment when he was just about to go -off into a quiet sleep. Then the same thing happened to his right ear; -then it was his left, and then his nostrils again. Then they left him -alone for a few moments until he was really just asleep, when Sprightly -said in his ear, quite close, and in a voice that was almost above a -whisper, - -"That man has lighted the match--close to the stacks in the rick-yard. -Fire!" - -The old man started up as if he had been shot. - -"Fire!" he cried out; "what the dickens was that? Who said fire?" - -He sat up in his bed and listened, and then he grumbled to himself -about the folly of eating dumplings for supper after beefsteak-pudding, -and how it always made one dream such nonsense, and then back he sank -upon his pillow, grumbling still until he gradually dropped off again. -Then, softly uncovering his feet, the cruel Sprightly, before this -sleep had lasted more than a minute, gave him a sharp and severe nip on -the same toe as before, and again the unhappy man woke with a yell, or -rather bellow, of pain, and said bitter words against that gout to -which he firmly believed himself to be the victim. The pain kept him -awake some minutes, but at last he dozed off again, and then came more -tickling and whispering, so that he could by no possibility get any -real or prolonged repose. - -At last there was a long and careful whisper on the part of Sprightly's -companion, during which the farmer did not indeed awake but turned over -again and again, first on one side and then on the other, muttering to -himself meanwhile: - -"Wheat down again! Ruin--ruin--ruin! Markets awful bad;" and presently -again he groaned out in his sleep, "Drat them Yankees and their beef!" -all of which remarks, distinctly heard by Evelyn as she stood on a -chair by the bedside, told her plainly enough that the little elves -were fulfilling the commands of their queen with great and precise -exactness. Still the old man dozed and woke, and woke and dozed, and -ever and anon turned uneasily in his bed, as if passing a decidedly -uncomfortable time of it, until at last, after another tremendous nip -from Sprightly's pincers, he quite woke up and groaned audibly. - -At that moment, to her great surprise (for there seemed no possibility -of his thinking it a dream _then_) Sprightly and his companion seated -themselves one on each side of the old man's head, and began to wave -their hands gently over his eyes. He appeared to see nothing, and to be -quite ignorant of what they were doing, or indeed that there was any -one there, and presently he closed his eyes, though he did not breathe -heavily, or snore, or give any palpable sign of being asleep. - -Both the little elves now began to whisper eagerly in his ears, and -Evelyn quite plainly heard the words, "poor boys!" "only a couple of -apples," "honest parents," "no such great offence after all," and -various other expressions calculated to appease the wrath of the old -farmer against the culprits of whom the fairy queen had spoken. The old -man soon began to mutter again, and from what he said it was evident to -Evelyn that the words of the whisperers were not without their effect. -Presently he seemed to be quite awake. - -"Curious that I should dream about them lads," he said. "I hope the -poor chaps haven't had such a bad night as I seem in for. Maybe they -didn't know they was doing so wrong. I've took apples myself, before -now, when I hadn't ought to have done so. I don't know as I'll go -against them after all! Dash me if I will, either!" - -Scarcely were the words out of his mouth when the faces of both the -elves lighted up with the brightness of conscious triumph; they knew -that their queen's commands had been obeyed, and her desire -accomplished, and they lost no time in their next proceeding. -Abandoning at once their previous endeavours at whispering, tickling, -and tormenting, they made sundry passes over the old man's face, which -had the effect of immediately plunging him into a profound sleep. Twice -he snored heavily, but this time it was not the snore of restlessness -or disgust, but the contented sound of a peaceful and happy sleeper. - -At this moment the three-quarters past eleven sounded on the chimes of -the neighbouring church clock. The little elves instantly started up, -whispered to Evelyn that the queen would be shortly expecting them, and -beckoning the little girl to follow them, crept quietly and stealthily -from the farmer's bedroom, descended the stairs, and passing through -the front door in the same manner by which they had entered it, hastily -sped back to the forest. - -In the glade they found the queen, standing among a group of elves who -were positively convulsed with merriment. They were listening to the -account which Flittermouse, Childerkin, and Gadaway were giving of the -visit to Dr. Backbrusher, which they had lately paid, and from which -they had but just returned, and they seemed to have given the worthy -doctor rather a rough time of it, having bothered him with hard crumbs -in his bed until he had lost all patience, and bounced out of bed for a -light, in searching for which he had tumbled into his bath, and been -made thoroughly uncomfortable for the night. - -Whether this proceeding on the part of the elves was calculated to make -the doctor more tender of his pupils' feelings was a question which -Evelyn found herself unable to solve, but she hoped for the best when -she heard the fairy queen, after expressing her entire approval of what -had been done, publicly declare her intention of persevering, and -giving orders that Dr. Backbrusher should be persistently and -thoroughly plagued every night until he had been brought to a kinder -and more satisfactory frame of mind. - -When the fairies had laughed enough at the account of the -schoolmaster's disasters, the queen asked the others to relate how they -had fulfilled their several missions, and expressed herself very well -satisfied with the manner in which her wishes with regard to Farmer -Grubbins had been carried out. Nor was she less pleased with the -conduct of the elves who had been sent upon errands of a more -emphatically benevolent nature. - -Tears stood in Evelyn's eyes as she heard little Mirthful relate the -gratitude of the poor old woman whom she had been sent to comfort. To -be sure, she had not exactly known whom to thank, having seen no one, -but for all that she had shown a thankful disposition, and such a -cheerful determination to look at the bright side of a life that seemed -dark enough, poor thing! and to make the best of everything, come what -might, that Evelyn felt quite touched at the narrative. She felt -sincere sympathy, too, for and with little Miss Wilson, whom Pitiful -and Hoverer had vastly assisted with her French verbs. They told of all -her trouble in learning, and how, by their secret help, she had -suddenly found herself able to remember, and had been quite astonished -at finding that she could learn with such unusual and unexpected ease. -She had not the least idea, they said, that she was being helped by -fairies, and of course it was the best thing in the world for her to be -thus deceived, because having once overcome her difficulties, as she -thought, by her own patience and determination, she would always in -future employ the same weapons, and that with an additional confidence -which would go far to insure success. - -From all these accounts Evelyn learned that which she had always hoped -and believed to be true, namely, that it is the pleasure of good -fairies--such as those who principally inhabit forest glades and -mountain wilds--to help and comfort mortals who require it, and -especially such mortals as love to help and comfort others, and have -tender feeling hearts within their breasts. She could not but feel, -moreover, that those mortals whom the elves delighted to plague and -torment were generally, if not always, people who richly deserved it, -and who were not over-scrupulous about hurting the feelings of their -fellow-mortals. - -Thus it appeared to Evelyn that the elfin race performed most useful -functions, and were deserving to the utmost of the affection and -respect which she had ever bestowed upon them. - -While these thoughts passed through the child's mind, the messenger -elves had all finished their accounts of their doings, and the queen -now waved her hand solemnly, upon which they parted right and left, and -she remained standing alone. Then she spoke thus: - - "Midnight hour has struck again, - One more day is with the slain: - One more morn will soon be here, - Heralded by chanticleer. - While as yet 'tis sacred night, - Practise we the mystic rite:-- - Hand-in-hand join, light and free, - All beneath the woodland tree; - Softly o'er the leafy bed - In fantastic measure tread, - Soon to mortal eyes to bring - Traces of the fairy ring." - -When she had thus spoken, the queen stepped forward, and taking the -hand of another elf in each of her own, paused one moment until all the -others had followed her example, and then began the dance. They -completely encircled one of the large oaks, and for some time danced -round and round it with great solemnity, singing sweetly as they did -so. Evelyn found herself irresistibly compelled to join both in the -dance and song, but it was ever after a matter of regret to her that -she could not recollect the words of the latter, which she remembered -to have been full of beauty and most melodious. - -After a time they separated, and, gaily dancing upon one side, came out -into an open space where was luxuriant grass, a perfect carpet of -daisies and buttercups being beneath their feet. Here the class formed -themselves once more into a circle, and danced round and round as if -they were never going to stop. Again they sang, words as pleasant and -music as sweet as before, but again Evelyn found herself entirely -unable to recollect the air or the words afterwards. - -At last, whilst they were still dancing, a faint, very faint streak of -light began to glimmer in the sky, and to lessen the darkness of the -night. Soon after, even as they danced, the note of a robin broke upon -their ears: the earliest songster of the wood, waking up at the first -dawn of light, and carolling forth his morning hymn before setting out -to search for his breakfast. - -Scarcely had the sound been heard when the fairy queen let fall the -hand of her companion elf, and waved her own in the air. Every one of -her attendants immediately and exactly followed her example, and Evelyn -naturally did the same as the rest. Then they turned without another -word or sound, and scampered away as fast as they could go into the -thickest part of their favourite glade. Evelyn unhesitatingly went with -them, having in fact nothing else to do, and she followed the example -of her companions by crouching underneath the fern at the foot of one -of the trees which grew around the glade, and hiding herself as well as -she could from the gaze of any possible passer-by. - -All this time, in everything that she did, there seemed to be nothing -at all strange, or out of the common way. She felt just as if she had -been a fairy all her life, and took everything just as it came with the -most perfect unconcern. She thought not of her parents, her home or the -pursuits which had daily occupied her whilst she was an ordinary mortal -child. All these had passed away from her mind altogether. There was -only an intense feeling of present happiness and light-heartedness, and -not only no wish to return to her former state, but an entire -forgetfulness that she had ever been anything else than that which she -now felt herself to be--a subject of the Fairy Queen, and a woodland -fairy herself to all intents and purposes. - -It has often been disputed, by those learned in the history of elves -and Elf-land, whether the little creatures ever sleep, or whether, like -spirits, they seek and require no rest, but wander over the world at -will without sense of fatigue. - -Evelyn's experience may furnish an answer to the curious inquirer upon -this point. She slept; and slept soundly, and always explained the -matter in a perfectly intelligible manner. It is not, she said, that -fairies are ever really tired: there are different degrees and various -kinds of fairies, possessing greater or less power in relation to the -earth and to mortal affairs, in accordance with their own rank and -position in the great fairy family. But there is no fairy, except some -of the very inferior description, who cannot perform almost any given -feat of strength if required to do so; and no fairy, properly so -called, was ever actually tired in the sense that mortal beings feel -fatigue. - -But that fairies sleep is absolutely certain, and there are two reasons -for their doing so. In the first place, their power is much greater by -night than by day, and many of them have the greatest objection to the -sunlight, though to some few it is little less pleasant than to human -beings. This being the case, they find it on all accounts desirable to -seek shelter from the rays of the sun during the day, and do not see -the use, when doing this, of keeping their eyes open when it is more -comfortable to close them. And their other reason is also extremely -sensible, namely, that they have an opinion that it is monotonous and -tedious to be always running about, sporting, playing, or interfering -with the business of mankind, and that by taking some few hours' rest -in every twenty-four hours, they come again with greater zest to their -ordinary pursuits, and enjoy themselves a great deal more than they -would do if they never left off. - -This was always Evelyn's theory, and having been, as we know, a fairy -herself, I have no reason to doubt that it is the correct one. Be this -as it may, it is quite certain that, upon the occasion in question, -both Evelyn and her companions slept sweetly and quietly, couched under -the grass and plants beneath the fern, and sheltered from the rays and -warmth of the sun by the overhanging branches of the great forest -trees. - -But yet the sleep of fairies is not such but that they awake, readily -and easily enough, if it is necessary that they should be stirring. To -believe Evelyn, the voice of a man, or even the passing footstep of an -animal pushing its way through the brushwood, was always quite enough -to arouse the whole elfin world into activity; and, at the first sound -of the kind, a score or two of little elfin heads might be seen peering -out from their secret hiding-places, eagerly gazing on every side to -discover who or what might be the intruder. - -No one appeared to disturb this first fairy sleep of our little -heroine, and she slumbered calmly on with her new companions. Slowly -the sun rose over the forest, tinging the leaves with his golden rays, -and warming all creation into life as he lighted up the world with his -glorious lamp. Then the sounds in the forest became more and more -frequent. From every thicket birds carolled forth their joyous songs; -the wood-pigeon softly cooed to her mate in the fir-trees; the jackdaw -cackled in the old pollard as he looked out from the hole in which his -nest was built; the jay screamed in his harsh, discordant notes, trying -to put the blackbirds and thrushes out of tune, and failing signally; -the woodpecker began to tap merrily, trying the trees all round till he -found one that suited his beak; the squirrels climbed to the top of the -highest trees to see what sort of a morning it was, and the still -silence of the forest was gradually changed into moving life and -bustling sound. - -Men went out to their daily toil in field and street, in country and -city, busy brains schemed and plotted, and the work of the world went -on as it had done the day before, and would do the next day again. And -there, beneath the green fern of the forest, the little fairies slept -peaceably on, and the mortal child that had donned the fairy form slept -on with them, little recking of the busy world, with all its cares and -woes, its sin and sorrow, its toilings and strife, which lay beyond and -outside the forest, and could not disturb or break that sweet sleep. - -But it has probably struck some of my readers that Evelyn's absence -must, before this time, have caused some disturbance at her home. So -indeed it was. She had gone out very soon after luncheon, and when -tea-time came, Mrs. Trimmer, her governess, began to wonder where she -was, and why she had not come back. Perhaps you will think that Mrs. -Trimmer ought to have begun to wonder rather before, but really I do -not think she was much to blame. She had very kindly started off -directly after luncheon to carry some sago-pudding to a sick woman in -the village; and as Evelyn's mamma had asked her to do this, and knew -she had gone, she naturally supposed that Evelyn would be with her -mamma, or would at least be somewhere with the latter's knowledge and -permission. Moreover, since the young lady was now twelve years old, -and both a sensible and trustworthy child, Mrs. Trimmer would in no -case have had any fears for her safety, especially in that peaceful and -quiet part of the country in which they lived. But when the good lady -bustled in just before tea-time, ran up and took off her things, and -then hurried down to make the tea, lo and behold there was no Evelyn. -So she rang the bell for Betsy, the school-room maid, and asked whether -Miss Evelyn was with her mamma; and on the girl coming back to say she -was not, Mrs. Trimmer began to get rather uneasy, and presently went to -the boudoir and asked for herself. Evelyn's mamma knew nothing more -than that the child had gone out to stroll in the shrubberies after -luncheon, since which time she had seen nothing of her, and had fancied -she was in the school-room. - -Beginning to get alarmed, she went to the study in which Evelyn's -father was writing his letters for the late post. When he heard what -was the matter, he went into the shrubberies and called his daughter's -name loudly, but of course with no result. Then he sent a footman down -to enquire at the keeper's house by the forest, and another to the -stables to order horses to be saddled for himself, the coachman, and -the two grooms, and off they set to scour the country in every -direction, and make every possible inquiry concerning the lost child. - -The poor mother remained at home in terrible anxiety, fearing she knew -not what, but dreading the worst, according to the usual custom of -mothers under such circumstances. - -It was quite ten o'clock before the horsemen returned, but of course -they brought no tidings whatever of the missing young lady, who was, -about that time, as we know, amusing herself with Sprightly at the -house of Farmer Grubbins, and thinking nothing at all of what was going -on at home. - -The poor father was much distressed, for he was devoted to his little -daughter, and the uncertainty about her fate made the affliction still -more hard to bear. He could not imagine what had become of her, and -therefore knew not what steps to take for her recovery. He would have -all the ponds dragged next day, but there were very few in the -neighbourhood, and none into which a girl of twelve was likely to have -fallen. - -At one time there used to be a number of gipsies who frequented that -neighbourhood, and the half frantic mother suggested that some of these -wild people might have stolen her daughter. Her husband, however, -discouraged the idea, since no gipsies had been seen or heard of for -some time past; nor would they have been at all likely to steal a girl -of Evelyn's age. Had any accident befallen her, or even if the unlikely -supposition that she had been stolen, hurt, or killed, had been -correct, it seemed almost impossible but that some trace must have been -left--some portion of clothing, some signs of a struggle, some -suspicious strangers seen about the place. But no: there was absolutely -nothing of the kind, and no clue whatever to account for her mysterious -departure. - -It never once entered her parents' heads that their daughter could have -willingly left her home: she was always so bright, happy, and -affectionate; so devoted to the place and to the dear ones who made it -so pleasant for her. The thought that her absence was voluntary was -banished, if it occurred at all to any of the family, before expression -was given to it; although its rejection of course made the sorrow still -heavier, since if she had been taken away by violence, or lost her life -by some accident, the calamity would really be greater than if she had -wilfully played the truant. - -The only two things left to be done, were attended to next day; namely, -the county police were informed of the matter, and advertisements were -inserted in the local papers. In both cases the usual results followed. -The police arrested two persons who had clearly nothing to do with the -matter, and who consequently had to be compensated; and many weeks -after the occurrence the same authorities declared that they had known -all along that no crime had been committed, and that the child would be -restored to her parents in due time. Still less followed from the -newspaper advertisements; the papers being but little read in the -country districts where Evelyn lived, and having no circulation among -the fairies. - -So the next day passed over in darkness and sorrow for the suffering -parents, who feared that they had lost for ever the child who had been -so lately the light and comfort of their home. - -There were two beings, however, who felt the loss of Evelyn little less -than the father and mother; and these were her brother Philip and his -black terrier Pincher. - -Philip was only two years older than Evelyn--in fact, not quite so -much, and they were great companions whenever he was at home for his -holidays. Whenever he had work to do, to settle down to which he felt -(as boys sometimes will) disinclined, it was Evelyn who encouraged him -to face it boldly, and who helped him in any way she could; and if she -was in any trouble about French verbs or German exercises, as will -sometimes happen even to the best disposed young ladies, it was to -Philip she always flew for sympathy and consolation. And as there was -good fellowship between them in their work, so they loved to play -together whenever they could, and many a time had Evelyn joined her -brother in a game of cricket, or rambled with him in his birds-nesting -expeditions through the woods. - -Sometimes these rambles had extended far into the forest where the -adventures which I have been relating had befallen Evelyn; and during -these wanderings she had often talked to her brother upon her favourite -subject, and told him strange legends of fairies and goblins, at which -he had always laughed heartily. - -He had no great belief in such things himself, he used to say. Perhaps -his head was too full of Latin or Greek, or perhaps he had not turned -his attention sufficiently to fairy-land stories; but anyhow, he -listened to his sister without being convinced by what she said, and -she had more than once been rather vexed at his want of faith. - -Now it so happened that Philip came home for his summer holidays the -very day after his sister's disappearance. Great was his consternation, -as you may suppose, at finding what had happened, and no less was his -sorrow at the loss of his favourite companion. - -He arrived in the morning, and was so overcome by the news that he was -only able to gulp down two plates full of cold beef, some apple tart -and custard, a little bread and cheese, and a couple of glasses of -beer, at the family luncheon. - -After this he went out on the lawn, and thought deeply over the -business; but without being able to arrive at any satisfactory -conclusion. - -Whilst he stood and thought, Pincher came running up to him, and began -to jump upon him with great manifestations of delight. Philip caressed -him, and as he did so, remarked to himself half aloud: - -"Pincher, old boy, why should not you and I have a ramble in the wood?" - -As he spoke, the thought came into his heart that there was someone -else besides Pincher with whom he used to ramble, and a sigh broke -involuntarily from him as he remembered that he had no other companion -now than his faithful dog. - -He took a stick in his hand, sauntered over the lawn, through the -little gate at the end of the meadow, and into the big wood away among -the trees, where he and Evelyn had so often roamed together. - -He strolled lazily along, and happened, strangely enough, to take the -very same line which his sister had taken the day before. - -Presently Pincher started a rabbit, and, according to the invariable -practice of terriers, rushed after it as fast as he could; whilst the -rabbit, also following the custom of its race, fled before him at the -top of its speed, taking the direction straight as a line towards the -fairy glade. - -Philip gave a shout, and dashed after his dog without hesitation, -although he had no expectation either that he would come up with -Pincher, or Pincher with the rabbit. But before he had gone many yards, -he knew, by unfailing evidence, that the chase had come to an end. -Pincher had stopped, probably at the hole into which the rabbit had -made its escape, and was no longer yelping as he had continually done -during the pursuit, but, as the boy thought most likely, scratching -furiously at the hole. Philip pushed his way forward as well as he -could, and called to his dog, who presently responded by a bark, the -sound of which enabled his master to discover where he was. It was near -the roots of a large tree, surrounded by fern and brushwood; and -Pincher was running round and round this tree, and then darting off -into the fern, and as quickly coming back again, as if something had -puzzled him completely and he was anxious to have it set right as soon -as possible. - -The boy stood still for a moment, looked first one way and then -another, but could see nothing. Of course the truth was that the -fairies were there, and Pincher knew it, but had no means of letting -his master know, for he did not happen to understand English or French, -and even in Dog Latin would have made but a poor hand in conversing -with human beings. But animals, as is well known, can often see fairies -and such creatures when they are invisible to human eye; and I suppose -that Pincher very likely had not only discovered the elves, but had -been surprised and utterly disconcerted by perceiving that his master's -sister, his own little friend and kind mistress, was amongst them. - -I do not say for certain that he discovered this; but dogs of the -terrier kind, especially when well-bred as Pincher was, are very keen -scented, and could probably smell out their master or mistress even if -disguised ten times over as a goblin or fairy. So as the dog chanced to -have stumbled upon the very spot where the fairies were all sleeping, -it is only natural to suppose from his behaviour that he not only saw -the little creatures, but recognised Evelyn. - -The fairies, for their part, were nearly as much disconcerted as the -dog, for they had expected no visitor, and had not intended to wake up -and move for two or three hours more at least. They knew that neither -dog nor boy could hurt them, of course; but still they were hastily -roused from their sleep, and I dare say that their movements, running -to and fro to hide themselves wherever they could, considerably added -to the confusion of the dog. - -Philip of course saw nothing at all, for it is a very unusual -circumstance for fairies to allow themselves to be seen by any one who -has not implicit faith in their existence and power. So he called -Pincher to come away, and would presently have quitted the glade -altogether without ever knowing how close he had been to his lost -sister. But, for the first and only time in his life, Pincher seemed -inclined to disobey his master. He ran round the tree again, whined, -sat up on his hind quarters, chattering his teeth and half howling, as -if he saw a polecat or stoat or squirrel in the top branches of the old -pollard, and waited to be put up the tree so as to have a chance of -getting at it. - -Philip thought that this must certainly be the case, and, changing his -mind about leaving the place, turned round and again approached the -tree. As he did so, to his intense astonishment he heard a voice behind -him, which certainly, and beyond all doubt, called him by his name. He -turned sharply round, and to his great surprise could see no one at -all. At the same time a voice again called him from the other side, and -with precisely the same result. This went on for several moments. His -name seemed to be called at intervals from every side, and wherever he -turned, the voice or voices were always behind him. Profoundly puzzled, -and rather vexed by this extraordinary incident, the boy was at a loss -to know what to do, and at last exclaimed: - -"By Jingo, this is a queer thing!" - -Hardly had he uttered these words, when a chorus of laughter burst upon -his astonished ears; and to his unutterable astonishment he heard a -number of voices singing, to a tune he well knew, the following words: - - "We don't want to hide; but by Jingo, if we do, - We've got the fern--we've got the trees-- - We've got the brambles too." - -And again loud laughter ran through the forest, whilst Pincher danced -round the old pollard more frantically than ever. - -Philip stood rooted to the ground with surprise, when a sound, somewhat -different from the rest, attracted his attention; and looking round he -perceived a large white owl attentively regarding him with her eyes -wide open. As soon as she saw that he was aware of her presence, the -owl gravely bowed her head three times, and then began to speak in a -voice so exactly like that of a human being, that you would not have -known the difference, unless you had actually seen her in her feathers, -and been assured by the evidence of your own eyesight that she was a -veritable bird. And these were the words that fell upon the ears of her -astonished listener:-- - - "In every glade of forest lone, - Some mystic word of might is known, - Which, once pronounced, to mortals' eyes - Gives sight they have not otherwise; - Gives mortal ears a hearing new - Of things much disbelieved--yet true; - And suffers mortal hand to trace - The circle of the magic space. - Boy! list--thou hast obtained this aid. - "By Jingo"--motto of our glade-- - Converts all here to friends from foes, - And bids all secrets to disclose. - Break branch from tree where thou dost stand, - 'Twill serve thee for a magic wand; - Around thee then a circle trace - Within this same enchanted place; - Then wish a wish, and speak the word-- - 'Tis granted ere thy voice be heard; - And thou shall rule like any king - Within the sacred Fairy Ring." - -Philip listened with great attention to the observations of the owl, -which appeared to him to be exceedingly clear and distinct, although -the circumstances under which they were made were singular, and the -quarter from which they came unexpected. He felt, however, that he was -"in for the thing," as he afterwards expressed it, and that he had -better comply with the directions of the worthy bird. He therefore -stretched out his hand and broke off a branch from the nearest tree, -which happened to be hazel. He then sharpened the end of the branch, -and drew with it a circle, in the midst of which he remained standing. - -Now, of course, the correct and proper thing for the boy to have done -would have been to have immediately pronounced the magic words; wished -for his sister back at the same moment; for her then to have appeared -and thrown herself into his arms, and for the story to have thus ended -in a comfortable, good, old-fashioned way, which would have been -eminently satisfactory to all parties concerned. Why should not I make -this happen? Well, I really would if I could, but you must remember -that all these stories are as true as the histories of "Don Quixote," -"Baron Munchausen," "Gulliver's Travels," and all those other -histories, upon the veracious nature of which no sensible person has -ever entertained a doubt. So you will see at once that I cannot, as a -fair and true historian, invent anything, even for the purpose of -pleasing my beloved readers, but must go on perforce and relate the -facts as they really occurred. - -Philip was doubtless very fond of his sister, and if it had been put to -him by anyone at the moment that the above course was that which he -ought to pursue, I am sure that he would have done so without the -slightest hesitation. But as nobody _did_ tell him, and the owl -(probably because it was not her business to do so) made no such -suggestion, I regret to say that, for the instant, Philip followed -another line of thought, and when he again pronounced the mystic words, -"By Jingo," he wished--not that his sister might instantly appear, -but--that he might understand what was the nature of the strange place -in which he seemed to be, and the meaning of all that had occurred. You -will see at once that this was rather a different thing from wishing -for his sister; and the reason of his not doing so probably was that, -in the hurry and surprise of the whole affair, he did not connect it -with her disappearance. So, as I say, he wished that he might be able -to understand the mysteries of the place. - -As soon as ever he had formed this wish, the fairies of course became -visible to the boy. They came out on all sides, just as they had come -when they had disclosed themselves to Evelyn. They peered from strange -corners and holes, they darted quickly from spot to spot, and abandoned -altogether the rest and sleep from which the coming of the boy had -disturbed them. - -Soon, however, their proceedings acquired greater regularity. I suppose -it was in consequence of his standing in the magic ring, or perhaps it -might have been by the mere virtue of the mystic words which he had -pronounced; but for some reason or other the fairies had no power over -him as they had had over his sister. More than this, they seemed to -have been constrained by some one of those mysterious rules which -obtain in Fairy-land to pay him some kind of respect and homage. - -They linked hand in hand, and whilst Philip looked on in the greatest -astonishment, they formed in a circle round the space in which he -stood, and danced merrily round him for at least a couple of minutes. -Then they stopped, and whilst all the rest fell back into the fern and -brushwood behind, the queen remained, and after a short pause, -addressed the boy as follows:-- - - "Possessor of the magic words - Which here control both fays and birds: - What would'st thou in this glade to-day, - That we can give thee--if we may?" - -Now Philip was not much of a hand at rhyming: to tell the truth, he -disliked all poetry particularly, from Dr. Watts' hymns up to the Latin -verses he had to do at school. For an instant he doubted whether, in -spite of this, he was not bound to make some reply in rhyme, as well as -he could manage it, having been addressed in this manner by the lady -before him. However, on second thoughts, it appeared to him that -probably this was needless, as he had accidentally acquired a position -which was evidently one of authority. Therefore he replied in the way -ordinarily employed among mortals, that is, in prose; and, having now -remembered the main object of his expedition into the wood, he thus -replied:-- - -"Madam, I want my sister Evelyn. I cannot tell whether or no you can -help me in the matter, but my sister has disappeared and I am looking -for her everywhere." - -The fairy bowed with grave courtesy when Philip had spoken thus, and -then answered him at once,-- - - "Those who invade our magic bower, - And hold--and speak--the words of power, - Have their first wish--and thou hast prayed - To know the nature of the glade. - If thou had'st wished thy sister free, - It had not been denied to thee; - And she no longer might have been - The subject of the Fairy Queen. - But we small children of the moon - Are bound to grant no second boon; - And if thou would'st regain the lost, - Thou now wilt have to count the cost! - Reseek thine home--for one whole day - No single word to mortal say: - And by no sign or look or sigh - Permit them to discover _why_! - For that same time be only fed - With crystal water and with bread, - Then, at the rising of the moon, - Come here and ask the second boon!" - -She spoke; and, even as she ended, her little form appeared to grow -fainter and less perceptible to Philip's eyes, and at last faded away -altogether. He stood at first amazed, and then wrapped in deep thought. -It was evident, from what the fairy had said, that she not only knew -what had become of Evelyn, but had the power to restore her. - -It seemed a very wonderful thing, but he could not disbelieve the -evidence of his own senses, which had assured him of the presence of -fairies; and if they could be present, as he had seen and heard them, -they might certainly possess power of which he had previously had no -idea. There was no doubt in his mind that, if he could only carry out -the directions which the Fairy Queen had given, he would stand a very -good chance of recovering his sister. It was true that there might be -some difficulty in not speaking to anybody for a whole day, especially -as no one would understand or guess the reason, and there would also be -required a certain amount of self-denial--especially in the case of a -schoolboy just come home for the holidays--in restricting himself to -the homely diet of bread and water. However, then and there he made up -his mind to try his best, and all the more so as he could not but feel -that he had been somewhat thoughtless and negligent of Evelyn's -interests in not having made her the subject of his first wish. - -Pincher now showed as much eagerness to leave the spot as he had -previously evinced to keep to the tree. I forgot to mention that he had -crept to his master's side within the magic circle just as the fairies -appeared. Probably, being a sagacious dog, he knew that if he remained -outside it, he might be changed into a rat or a hedgehog, or something -unpleasant, and so made sure of his safety from such a fate. Now, -however, he seemed actuated by one sole desire, namely, that of leaving -the place; and, as his young master was entirely of the same opinion, -they made no longer stay. - -Philip walked back through the wood the same way that he had come, -regained the shrubberies, walked up the lawn and re-entered the house. -There he was at once encountered by his mother, who accosted him with -affectionate words, and eagerly asked him if he had heard any news of -his sister. When the boy for reply merely placed one finger upon his -mouth and said nothing, the good lady seemed, and doubtless was, rather -astonished. - -"My darling boy," she said, "what is the matter? Why don't you speak? -Are you hurt? Have you any pain anywhere?" And withal she poured upon -him such a torrent of questions that Philip did not know what to do. -Still, however, he persevered in his silence, although it was very hard -to do so when his mother kissed him and spoke so kindly to him all the -while. He could hardly bear it, so broke hastily from her, and ran up -to his own room, pushing almost rudely past Mrs. Trimmer, who met him -on the stairs and was quite ready for a chat. - -When he got to his room he threw himself into a chair, and pondered -over all the strange events of that afternoon, which seemed to him -beyond belief, only that, as they had actually taken place under his -own eyes, he could not help believing them. Whilst thus engaged, the -dressing-bell rang, and the servant brought up some warm water and put -out his evening clothes. - -"What time shall I call you to-morrow morning, master Philip?" asked -the man, and was exceedingly surprised to find that the young gentleman -made no reply whatever. He repeated the question with the same result, -and then, supposing that Philip must have some unknown reason for his -conduct, left the room without further remark. - -The boy proceeded to dress and, at the proper time, descended to the -drawing-room, where his father and mother already were. They were both -in a melancholy frame of mind, as may well be supposed, for no tidings -had been heard of their daughter, and they could not but fear that she -was lost to them for ever. Philip walked stealthily into the room, in -the direst perplexity how he should be able to avoid speaking. - -"Well, my dear boy," began his mother directly, "have you found your -tongue yet?" - -The boy made no reply, upon which his father joined in. - -"Philip, my boy, why do not you answer your mother?" - -Still no word came from Philip, and his father, who was accustomed to -be treated with respect and obedience, grew angry at his continued -silence. - -"Why don't you speak, boy?" he asked again. "Your mother and I are in -trouble enough to-day without your adding to it by any childish folly -of this kind. I should have thought you would have felt the same as we -do." - -Still the poor boy spoke not a word, which made his father still more -angry. - -"Have you got no tongue in your head, sir?" he cried, and laid his hand -upon Philip's shoulder somewhat roughly. - -But the mother here interposed. - -"Don't scold him, James," she said. "Don't be cross with the -boy--remember he is the only child we have left now," and she burst -into tears. - -In soothing her the husband forgot the boy, or perhaps found it more -convenient to say nothing further at the moment. They went into dinner, -and were astonished to see Philip shake his head when the servants -offered him soup, fish, and roast veal (of which he was particularly -fond) and content himself with eating his bread and drinking a glass of -water. They began to think that their son must be ill; but it was in -vain that they questioned him. He only put his finger over his mouth -and resolutely declined to speak. Then his father expressed his fear -that something or other must have frightened or hurt him in such a -manner as to have affected his brain, and, at length, he determined to -send for the doctor, who lived about three miles off, in the nearest -town. Still Philip remained silent, and the strangeness of the -occurrence was so far useful to his parents as that it, in some -measure, turned the current of their thoughts from the great sorrow in -which they had previously been absorbed. - -As soon as the doctor came he performed the usual mysteries of his -profession. He looked at Philip's tongue and said it was not unhealthy. -He felt his pulse and declared there was no fever, and he finally -pronounced that his indisposition--for such he termed it--though Philip -was never better in his life, proceeded from some temporary -disarrangement of the nervous system, which he had no doubt of being -able to treat with success. He prescribed two pills to be taken at -night, and a draught (the colour of which was the only pleasant thing -about it) in the morning, and left the patient with a promise to return -next day. During the whole of his visit, however, not one syllable did -he get out of Philip, which, as he prided himself upon his -conversational powers, and the successful manner in which he always got -on, especially with young people, rather annoyed him. - -When Doctor Pillgiver had gone, the parents, somewhat relieved by his -report, strove again to persuade their son to resume his natural habits -of conversation, for Philip was a boy neither sullen nor shy, but one -that generally talked freely, and had plenty to say for himself. As, -however, he entirely declined to say anything, his father at last got -angry, and, telling him that he feared he was giving way to an -obstinacy which, unless conquered, would prove his ruin, sent him -upstairs to bed. - -Poor Philip was really rejoiced at this, for he was not likely to have -any mortal to speak to before morning. But his tender mother, unhappy -at the thought that her boy might be ill, and thinking that he might -repent of his silence after he had left her and his father, came to his -bedside to see him the last thing before she herself retired. This was -hard to bear, for to refuse the last kiss and "good-night" to one's -mother is difficult indeed. Philip felt this, but he also felt that -everything probably depended upon his obeying the conditions of the -fairy queen, so the rogue pretended to be asleep, and said nothing, -even when the dear mother softly kissed his forehead and invoked a -blessing upon her beloved son. - -All that night the boy could scarcely sleep for thinking over the -extraordinary things that had happened. He tossed uneasily to and fro, -then got up and drank some water, then laid down in one particular -position, and determined to remain just so until he _did_ get to -sleep--then changed his mind and turned quite round to try another -position, and altogether managed to have such a restless and -uncomfortable night as seldom falls to the share of a boy of his age -and good health. - -At last morning came, and Thomas, the footman, called him as usual, -wondering again that his young master never wished him "good morning," -or asked him if it was a fine day, as he almost always did. Philip -dressed and came down to prayers and breakfast, according to his -father's rule, or otherwise he would have slipped out of the house and -kept away all day, until the time of his silence should be past. It was -a great trial to him that morning, for his parents were both evidently -vexed with him, and could not understand the meaning of his silence. - -His father spoke so sharply to him that the tears came into his eyes, -but his mother again interceded for him, and as soon as breakfast was -over he stole away to take refuge in the garden. - -Here again he had difficulties to encounter, for the gardener came to -ask him some question about the rolling of the cricket-ground, about -which Philip was always very anxious, and it was exceedingly tiresome -not to be able to answer him, especially as this was the head gardener, -and anyone who has ever had anything to do with such people, knows that -they are personages of dignity and position, with whom it is never safe -to trifle. So the boy knew that he ran no small chance of having his -cricket-ground altogether neglected if he offended Mr. Collyflower, and -would not have run the risk on any account, had not the recovery of his -sister been of paramount importance. - -Next he sauntered into the park, where the gamekeeper presently -appeared to take his wishes as to a hawk's nest which he had found, and -the eggs of which he thought he could get, if so be that Master Philip -would fancy to have them. - -It seemed both uncivil and ungrateful to give no answer, but he felt -the whole weight of his responsibility and said never a word. But his -worst trial was yet to come. - -Flora Malcolm, a young lady who lived near, and of whom Philip was -particularly fond, rode over to luncheon that day, and wanted him to -ride part of the way back with her. She was astonished at his silence -and at his diet at luncheon, and rallied him considerably upon both. -Yet the boy held his tongue. - -Most fortunately for him, his father had again gone off to renew his -search after the lost girl, for had he been at luncheon, I think it -more than probable that he would have resorted to some of those -paternal remedies for filial disobedience which would have rendered -poor Philip extremely uncomfortable, even if it had not ended in his -disobeying the injunction of the fairy queen, and so losing Evelyn for -ever. - -Flora's raillery was hard to bear, but after a while she ceased, and -being a clever girl, took it into her head that there might be a reason -for his silence which she could not understand. For be it observed that -there is no more certain sign of cleverness than when a person is able -to feel and realise that there may be some things above and beyond his -or her comprehension. For the generality of people think they can -understand anything and everything, and that what they cannot -comprehend is sure to be absurd, unreasonable, and foolish, whereas in -all probability these are the epithets which should in reality be -applied to themselves. - -Flora took a different view, and being goodnatured moreover, left off -teasing Philip when she perceived that it was no joke with him, but -that there was something serious as well as singular in his proceeding. -She had to ride back alone, poor girl, for Philip shook his head when -she suggested that he should join her, and of course she could say no -more. She did not stay long after luncheon, finding the distress in -which the family were plunged, and as soon as she was gone, the boy -again betook himself to the garden, and got through the afternoon -without a word. - -He looked forward with the greatest horror to dinner time--a feeling -which had hitherto been as strange to him as to any other schoolboy. So -it was now, however, for he knew he should have a terrible ordeal to go -through. His father, having returned from another unsuccessful ride, -would not only feel angry, but hurt, if his son made no inquiries as to -whether any news had been heard of his sister. If again, he saw him for -the second night remaining silent and refusing everything to eat and -drink save bread and water, his patience would most likely be -exhausted, and he might act in a manner the consequences of which might -be unpleasant. - -Suppose his anger should take the form of sending Philip to his own -room immediately after dinner, and thus preventing his being in the -forest at the time appointed by the fairy queen! - -This was a thought which gave the boy so much uneasiness, that he at -last made up his mind that, as the risk was too serious to run, he had -better shirk dinner altogether. So when the dressing-bell rang at -half-past seven (for his parents always dined at eight), instead of -going in to dress, Philip slipped quietly out of the shrubberies, with -Pincher by his side, and made the best of his way to the forest. The -moon would not rise that night till past nine, and of course he would -be missed before that; but he thought they would very likely not send -for him, or if they did, no one would be likely to find him. - -He marched into the forest full of hope, feeling sure that he had -obeyed the fairy's directions in every particular, and that unless she -had grossly deceived him, he should soon see his dear sister once more. - -On he went, as he thought, exactly in the same direction in which he -had gone the day before. The air was mild and pleasant--a gentle breeze -rustled in the leaves overhead--the birds had hushed their singing, and -Nature seemed to be about taking her rest preparatory to a new day of -life and action. - -The turf was soft and springy under the boy's feet, the trees cast -around him their strange and fantastic shadows, the distant bells fell -faintly on his ears, and more faintly still as he went further into the -forest, and all seemed so peaceful and rest-bringing that he thought it -was no wonder that hermits and such like worthy people should generally -choose some woodland recess in which to dwell when they have had enough -of the outside world, and want to find rest and peace and happiness in -the oblivion of worldly strife which such a solitude would engender. - -But when Philip, thinking these thoughts and a great many others, no -doubt, besides, had walked some distance, it struck him that he must -somehow or other have missed his way, for he seemed to be in quite a -different part of the forest from that in which he had met with his -yesterday's adventure. It was getting darker and darker, as far as he -could see, and he began to be afraid that he might after all miss the -place and never find his sister again. - -Under these circumstances he did not think it of much use to go -wandering on and on, uncertain whether he was going right or wrong, and -therefore sat down upon the gigantic roots of a large oak, and there -took time to consider what he had better do next. It must now have been -getting on for nine o'clock, and presently a soft, tender light began -to steal down through the overhanging branches, and illuminate the -forest with a silvery tinge. The moon was evidently beginning to assert -her dominion over the night, and to tell the darkness that it could not -possibly be allowed to have it all its own way. - -This, then, was the hour of which the Fairy Queen had spoken, when she -told him to come at the rising of the moon and make his second request. - -Yes! beyond all doubt this was the hour; but where the Fairy glade was, -was quite a different question. - -Everything seemed to be quiet and still in the forest, which was going -on in its natural way, as if it had never had a fairy in its shades, -and did not want one either. - -Philip rose to his feet and listened attentively. Nothing was to be -heard but the distant hoot of an owl. - -The moon grew brighter and brighter, and very beautiful did the trunks -of the old trees appear in her silvery light, seeming to assume quaint -and curious shapes, as the boy gazed earnestly around him, in the hope -of seeing or hearing something which might direct his next proceeding. - -For some time he gazed in vain, and then, remembering that he was not -forbidden to speak save to a mortal, that Pincher was probably not -considered a mortal in the sense in which the word had been used, and -that if he was, the command to silence had ceased with the rising of -the moon, he addressed his dog in the following words:-- - -"Pincher, old boy, I wish you would find the glade for me. After making -me hold my tongue so long, and eat nothing but bread and water, it -would be a thundering shame if the fairy sold me after all!" - -Pincher, on being thus accosted, looked up in his master's face, whined -gently, wagged his tail, and seemed inclined to run off, as if for a -hunt on his own account. - -But at that moment the rustling of wings was heard, accompanied by a -rumbling sound inside the oak under which Philip had been sitting, and -an instant afterwards he was startled by the sudden appearance of a -white owl, very similar to that which he had seen and heard in the -fairy glade. She bustled out of the hollow of the tree in just such a -hurry as you might fancy her to have been in if she had overslept -herself and found she should very likely be late for the train, and, as -soon as she got well out, she perched upon a branch for a moment, shook -her head once or twice as if to be quite satisfied that she was awake, -and then pronouncing in a low tone the word "Follow," flew slowly off. - -Philip did not hesitate for a moment to obey the bird's directions, as -he had found it answer so well to do so before. He followed as fast as -he could, though of course, being but a boy, he could not keep up with -a bird, and would soon have lost sight of her if the distance had been -long. Instead of this, however, it was fortunately short, and before -the boy had gone above a hundred yards at the most, he found himself -once more at the entrance of the fairy glade. - -He knew pretty well what to do this time. He advanced to what appeared -to be an eligible spot, pronounced the magic words with great emphasis, -and then, breaking off a branch from a neighbouring tree as before, -drew the mystic circle round himself and the dog, and then stood -quietly waiting to see and hear what would happen next. - -He had hardly completed the circle when the same thing happened as on -the previous day: the same chorus of voices all broke out in the same -tune, only with words slightly different--they sang - - "We don't want to drink--but by Jingo if we do, - We've got the wine--we've got the rain-- - We've got the ev'ning dew," - -and then came peals of laughter from every side. - -As these words rang in his ears, the boy wished as hard as he possibly -could that his sister might be suffered to come back with him safe and -sound, and no sooner had he formed the wish than there she stood under -the old pollard, looking very much as usual, and rubbing her eyes as if -she had just been suddenly awakened from a very comfortable sleep, and -didn't half like it. - -Philip's first impulse was to rush up to her at once, but he -fortunately remembered that he was not in an ordinary place or -discharging ordinary duties. On the contrary, he had a tremendous -responsibility upon his shoulders, and if he should make any mistake it -was impossible to foresee the consequences either to his sister or -himself. He therefore stood perfectly still and said in clear and -distinct tones,-- - -"Evelyn, I want you." - -The child scarcely appeared to see him when bespoke--then she seemed to -make an effort to move forward, but stopped as if something prevented -her, and the next moment the whole troop of little beings came darting -out from every corner of the glade and stood between her and her -brother. Then, as they had done on the previous occasion, they joined -hands and danced round and round the circle in which Philip stood, -although their dance was slower and less merry than before. - -This went on for several minutes, and then they stopped, and fell back -on all sides into the fern and brushwood, whilst the little queen -remained. She stood perfectly still for a full minute, casting a look -upon Evelyn in which pleasure and sorrow were curiously blended, and -seemingly unwilling to break the silence which prevailed. Then she -turned her head round and looked upon Philip, who stood there, full of -anxiety as to what would be the upshot of the whole affair, and -doubtful whether he ought himself to speak or not. Then she said,-- - - "Once again, alas! we've heard - Magic sound of mighty word; - Which, tho' we would fain delay, - Elfins dare not disobey. - Since the maid has joined our ranks, - Shared our dance, and played our pranks - (Wonder not at what I tell), - We have learnt to love her well. - Greater grief has none e'er proved - Than to love--and lose the loved; - And if she would still remain, - Gladly we'd the maid detain. - Still--when magic word is said, - Magic word of mystic dread, - 'Tis not as the Fairies please, - Save the Maiden's will agrees. - Say, dear child, sweet artless maid, - Dost thou love the woodland shade? - Would'st thou in the forest dwell, - Ever haunt the Fairy dell, - Ever leave thy former self, - And remain a woodland elf? - Wish--and thou hast power to be - Thing as wild, from earth as free, - As the Elf who speaks to thee! - Wish it _not_!--then count the cost-- - To the Fairies thou art lost, - Never more in forest wild - Shalt thou act the elfin child; - Never, free from mortal care, - Flit on elf-wings through the air: - Scorning bolt, or bar, or lock, - Till the crowing of the cock - Summon back thy mates and thee - To moss-couches 'neath the tree. - Form thy wish, then, maiden dear, - None shall dare to interfere!" - -As the fairy queen spoke, Philip listened with great attention, with -some concern, and no little indignation. Her voice was very sweet and -pleasant; the picture she drew of the forest life of an elf was by no -means disagreeable, and as he gathered from her words that Evelyn had -already tasted of its delights, he was apprehensive of the effect which -this temptation still to share it might possibly have. He felt, -moreover, that as he had honestly fulfilled his part of the bargain, it -would be palpably unfair if he got nothing by it, except the knowledge -that his sister was a fairy, which would be but a very small -consolation to the people at home. So he thought he had better strike -in and tell his opinion at once, which he did in the following way:-- - -"I say!" he cried, "this is not fair. I was to come here to-night and -have my second boon--and I have said what it is. It will be no end of a -shame if you don't give me back my sister. In fact, you promised it -yesterday; and no fellow can stand being made to hold his tongue and -eat nothing but bread and water for the best part of a day and a half, -and then be sold after all. Come! I say! this won't do at all, you -know!" - -The fairy listened to him with great politeness, and at once replied to -his remarks,-- - - "I bade thee come by light of moon - If thou would'st crave a second boon. - I bade thee come: and thou art here, - A faithful brother, void of fear; - And thou hast kept conditions two, - Such as had been observed by few. - Yet--ere you blame my words, good youth, - Be moderate, and hear the truth. - When maids or youths o'er fairy lore - Attentively are wont to pore, - Their hearts 'twould mightily surprise - To see how oft our elfin eyes - See, and rejoice to see, them read - Of many a magic Fairy deed. - And when such youth or maiden list - To say that Fairies do exist, - We love them passing well, forsooth, - Because that they believe the truth. - So, when beneath our woodland shade - There wanders tender youth or maid, - On certain spot--at certain hours-- - Our might avails to make them ours. - And when, resisting not herself, - A Maiden once becomes an elf, - Dares from her mortal form t' escape, - And roam the world in Elfin shape, - Unless it be by her free will, - She must remain an Elfin still. - 'Tis true: the words of power have might - To force us into mortal sight, - And, tho' in elfin garment drest, - A mortal maid must stand confest - To eyes of him who once has known - And said these words--to him alone. - Thy sister, then, thine eyes have seen, - But I, thy sister's Fairy queen, - Have right to counsel and persuade - Her--who is half a woodland maid-- - And should she wish it, she must stay - Beneath my loving Fairy sway. - If so--kind youth, oh! ne'er repine, - Or envy this success of mine; - _Her_ fate for ever light and free - From mortal grief, will happy be, - For mortal sin and human woe, - Thenceforward she shall never know!" - -As the fairy queen spoke these words, many thoughts passed rapidly -through the mind of the boy. He saw at once that the victory was not -yet so entirely won as he had supposed, and that people could not -change to and fro between mortal and fairy form as quickly as they -pleased. Of course he had not known his sister's fate until the fairy -queen uttered these rhymes, and even now he was left somewhat in the -dark. Besides, as you will recollect, the excellent elfin had not told -him the exact truth after all, because she led him distinctly to infer -that Evelyn had become one of the elves by her own consent and free -will, whereas we know perfectly well that she had no intention of -becoming anything of the kind, and that as to "resisting not herself," -she had no idea that resistance would do any good, and if she had -thought so, would not have known in what way to resist, when the fern -leaf was waved over her head, and she began to be sensible of the magic -charm which came over her. - -It is quite true that she had taken kindly to the life of an elf, but -it was certainly hardly fair to let her brother suppose she had become -one by choice. This, however, was not a point upon which he was at all -troubled. For one instant he doubted whether, if she were really so -happy, it would be doing her a real kindness to take her away from the -fairies. But it was only for an instant. He felt sure that she must be -under some charm which prevented her declaring her own sentiments, and -therefore he did not at once put the question to her. - -But he remembered to have read in various books concerning elves and -fairies, that though they are a very interesting part of creation, they -are in some respects inferior to mankind, and that they are a kind of -being existing entirely and for ever in their present condition, with -no soul and with no such future as that for which Christian men and -women hope. Therefore, according to this view, his sister's condition -would be materially changed for the worse if she remained an elf, and -it was his duty, if possible, to prevent it. Moreover, his father and -mother had some claim to be considered; and he could not help thinking -that if Evelyn was a free agent and could say what she thought, felt, -and wished, she would not only promptly recognise that claim, but would -long to rejoin the parents of whom she was so devotedly fond. He -thought, perhaps, also of the mutual affection which had so long -existed between his sister and himself; but I will do him the justice -to say that I do not think he would have wished her back if he had been -satisfied that it would be best for her own happiness that she should -stay where she was. - -All these thoughts flashed through Philip's mind during the fairy's -speech, and by the time it was ended he had quite made up his mind what -to do. He looked firmly--though not unkindly--at the little lady, and -then, turning to his sister, he said in a loud, clear, steady voice,-- - -"Evelyn, I wish you to come to me and we will go home together." - -As soon as the words were out of his mouth, a long, low wailing sound -arose on all sides of him, as if the little beings of the glade were -bemoaning an affliction which they saw preparing for them and had no -power to prevent. It hung in the air for a few seconds, and then died -away in mournful cadence among the trees. - -Meanwhile the effect of Philip's words upon his sister were immediate -and wonderful. She threw back her head, rubbed her eyes again, looked -first to the right and then to the left, and then stepped straight -forward for a couple of yards, and stopped, just as if somebody was -trying to hold her back. I suppose that she was too big to be held back -by the little elves, since she had resumed her old mortal form at the -first summons of her brother; but I also suppose from this circumstance -that they tried to keep her, and she always said afterwards, that soft -musical voices were in her ears, telling her of the joys of fairy-land -and the happiness of the little elves, and begging her not to leave -their merry party who had loved her so well. - -Philip, observing her apparent hesitation, deemed it quite necessary to -take forthwith another and a more decided step. Elevating his voice a -little, and speaking in a very firm tone, he said: - -"Come along, Evelyn dear, pray do not dawdle any longer. I wish you -would come directly. By jingo, we shall hardly be in time for tea!" - -The words were scarcely spoken, when the same mournful sound arose, -even more piteous than before, and rang through the evening stillness -with a melancholy cadence which might have melted the hardest heart, so -much did it convey of real sorrow. But at the same moment all attempts -to retain Evelyn ceased--her natural look, colour, and manner seemed -suddenly to have returned, and she bounded into the magic circle, and -ran into her brother's arms. - -"Oh, Philip dear!" she cried. "Where _have_ you been? I haven't seen -you for _such_ a time! How nice it is to have you at home again!" - -The brother returned her affectionate caresses, and reminding her of -the lateness of the hour, said that they must return home at once. He -purposely forebore to say anything of what had recently occurred, not -knowing what the consequences might be, either to his sister or -himself, and putting his arm tenderly round her waist, began to leave -the glade, calling Pincher to follow him. They had not moved many yards -forward, however, before low strains of sweet music were heard behind -them, and turning round, they saw the form of the fairy queen, who was -gazing after them with a look of mingled tenderness and regret. She -gracefully waved her hand to them as they retreated, and in her own -sweet voice thus addressed them: - - "Farewell! ye mortal children twain, - Perchance we ne'er may meet again; - Yet, should we ever chance to meet, - My elves the twain will kindly greet. - And ye, in prose or minstrel lays, - When ye shall read of woodland fays, - Have friendly feeling for the elves - Who love you as they love themselves. - No more amid our glade to roam-- - The brother leads his sister home. - From Fairy-land the twain depart, - To gladden soon a mother's heart, - And make a saddened home, to-night, - Once more enraptured with delight. - True brother! thou hast brought thine aid - To rob us of our captured maid; - Yet wast thou right, and for the same - 'Tis not for fairy lips to blame. - And thou, sweet Eve, who thus has left - Thy elf companions all bereft, - Since thou with us no more wilt dwell, - We wish thee, lovingly, farewell." - -Then the fairy stepped lightly and gracefully back, still waving her -hand; the music grew fainter and fainter, and ere long both the sound -and the fairy form melted away from the sight and hearing of the -brother and sister, though the last lingering word, Farewell, once and -again repeated, still seemed to fall softly on their ears as they left -the glade. - -They hastened home as fast as they could, and you may imagine the -excitement with which their arrival was greeted. Evelyn and her mother -devoured each other with kisses, and the father had such share of them -as was left for him. Philip was at once restored to favour, and not -only was his former silence forgiven, but every amends was made to him, -in the way of diet, for his fasting upon the previous day. - -Mrs. Trimmer was so rejoiced at the happy conclusion of the adventure, -that she did not scold Evelyn for a month, in consequence of which her -progress in French and German was visibly slower than for some time -past. - -Everybody in the house was glad to get the child back, and the only -provoking part of it was that, even after her extraordinary adventures, -disbelief in fairies still existed even in that well-informed -household. One gave one explanation of Evelyn's absence, and one -another; one laid it to the gipsies, another said she had run away and -hid in a hollow tree, but nobody seemed to be entirely satisfied with -the plain, unvarnished truth as I have told it to you. - -But so it is in this wicked world. Invent a perfectly untrue story, but -make it seem a little probable, and everybody will believe you, and not -throw the slightest doubt upon your veracity. On the other hand, let an -extraordinary thing really happen, and if it falls to your lot to tell -it, you are generally considered a "story-teller" in the worst sense of -the word. - -This makes me so cross sometimes, that I think I will give up writing -about fairies altogether, and only write about grave and serious -subjects. But if I do that, I am afraid that nobody except members of -parliament and diplomatists, politicians and teetotalers, and all those -silly sort of people, will read what I write, and so I think I will go -on for a little while longer in my old style. - -_I_ know that elves and fairies exist, and if all the rest of the world -believes differently, it does not cause me the slightest inconvenience; -_they_ can go their way, and I can go mine; and if they don't see any -fairies, it is probably their own fault, as it is, I am sure, their own -loss. - -I have no more to tell you of Philip and Evelyn now, except that they -both grew up and prospered, and that Evelyn often tells _her_ little -girls the story of her adventure with the fairies; and if anyone who -reads this story would like to know more particulars, she is so -good-natured that I am quite sure she will tell them all about it if -they will only take the trouble to ask her when she does not happen to -be particularly engaged. - - - - -CAT AND DOG. - - -To "live like cat and dog" has long been proverbial as a description of -a state of life in which quarrels and bickerings are of frequent -occurrence. No one, however, as far as I am aware, has ever followed to -its sources the proverb which is so familiar to us all; nor has anyone -attempted to explain the reason of the antagonistic spirit which -undoubtedly prevails between these domestic animals. Its prevalence is -certain, its consequences not seldom unfortunate, and many a once happy -household has been rendered miserable by its existence. - -Animated by a sincere desire to acquire information, which might be at -once interesting to myself, and instructive as well as beneficial to my -fellow creatures, I have spared no pains to discover the truth upon -this all-important subject; and if I can succeed in placing that truth -clearly and dispassionately before the world, I shall feel--and I think -I may cherish the feeling without exposing myself to the charge of -presumption,--that I have not lived in vain. - -Whatever rumours may, in a less enlightened age, have prevailed upon -the subject, I believe that there is no doubt as to the origin of the -unfortunate difference which first caused hostility to become deeply -rooted in the breasts of the canine and feline races. Some have -supposed it to have sprung from certain acts of favouritism displayed -by the human race towards one or other of the two species of animals; -others have come to the conclusion that in-bred and natural wickedness -gave rise to the evil, whilst others again have started different, but -equally unsound theories. - -The true reason--the real beginning--the cause and foundation of the -whole thing, is to be found in the words of the old song, so familiar -to nursery people: - - "Hey diddle, diddle; the cat and the fiddle; - The cow jumped over the moon: - The little dog laughed to see such sport, - And the dish ran away with the spoon." - -The author of this ballad is unknown, but it has always been vastly -popular with the race of cats, who see in it at once a tribute to the -musical genius of their people, as being identified with the violin -(vulgarly herein called fiddle) and a recognition of their supremacy -and superiority over other animals, inasmuch as "the cat" is mentioned -first, before either cow or dog, fiddle or moon, and is evidently -pointed out as the chief personage celebrated by the rhyme. - -On the other hand, dogs have never liked the verse. They directly and -positively object to the precedence given to the cat; they dispute -altogether the statement about the cow and the moon, as being -improbable, if not palpably false; and they further say that, if the -laughter of the little dog is intended to refer to this occurrence, it -is a reflection upon the gravity and decorum of the dog race, whilst, -if it is to be referred to the last line of the verse, it displays -their representative as treating with unworthy levity that which, as -far as the dish is concerned, was either an unlawful elopement or a -pitiful theft. - -At one time, when there was still a hope that the enmity of the two -races might be appeased, and a better state of things brought about, a -joint committee of dogs and cats sat upon the question, in order to -submit a report to the great council of animals, which might form the -basis of an amicable settlement. A lengthy and acrimonious discussion -ensued. The cats claimed precedence, and advanced many arguments to -prove their superiority over their opponents. They boldly purred out -their declaration to the effect that nature, custom, and all the -evidence at command was clearly in their favour. They cited the -opinions of mankind, as given in many books, speeches, wise proverbs, -and witty sayings. They called to mind how that, in the case of heavy -rain, men always remarked that "it rained cats and dogs;" placing, as -they averred, the superior animal of the two first, when it was -necessary to mention both, and the inferior one last. Moreover, many -other things in the history of mankind denoted the prevalence and -undoubted predominance of the same opinion. One of their favourite -names for their daughters was Kate--spelt commonly with a C when given -in full, Catherine--and evidently a name adopted from that of cat, and -affording another implied recognition of the general superiority of the -feline race. - -Then, said they, look at the way in which dogs are habitually spoken of -with contempt, and their name used as a reproach. If one man call -another a "dog," it is held to be an insult. Tell anyone that such and -such a person has a "hang-dog" look about him, and it is known you -intend to convey the idea of his being a rascal only fit to be strung -up at once. If a man is tiresome in argument, his companions term him -"dogmatic;" if he is of an obstinate temper and sullen disposition, he -is frequently called dog-ged; whilst on crossing the channel a person -who suffers from the malady of the sea is said to be "as sick as a -dog;" and when mankind desire to express the failure in life, the ruin, -the abject and miserable condition of one of their own race, there is -no more common or proverbial expression than that he has "gone to the -dogs." - -All these, and many other instances, they quoted, as bearing upon the -great question of the superiority of cats to dogs, and in fact, -establishing the same beyond any reasonable doubt. - -The dogs, having listened to these observations and arguments with an -attention which was only equalled by their indignation, advanced their -counter-arguments with great force, and evinced much learning and -erudition. They took a preliminary objection to the evidence founded -upon the manners and habits of human beings; avowing that even if they -admitted every instance which had been adduced, they might appeal to -the general practice of man, and the greater trust and reliance which -he habitually placed in the dog, as utterly negativing the supposition -that he had ever intended to imply the superiority of the feline tribe -by any casual proverb or familiar saying. When was a cat employed to -tend sheep? What keeper would trust a cat to do the office of a -retriever, and to watch the young birds? To what cat was ever committed -the custody of a house, or when was a kennel provided for a cat, to -serve the purpose for which only a mastiff, or some similar specimen of -the noble breed of dogs, was fit? All this forbad the supposition that -men preferred cats before dogs, or esteemed them at all equally, either -as useful or ornamental animals. But if they considered the arguments -brought forward by the cats, one by one, with logical acuteness, they -would not find a single argument which was not susceptible of an -entirely different construction from that put upon it by the cat -orators. - -For instance, the expression that "it rained cats and dogs" clearly -signified (if taken for more than a colloquial expression to convey the -meaning that it rained hard) that the heavens from which the rain came -desired to get rid of the inferior animals first, and that it was only -when the cats had been got rid of that a possible superfluity of dogs -was taken into consideration. The name Kate (which, by the way, was the -abbreviation of Katharine, and had really nothing to do with the name -Catherine) was not derived from anything to do with cats or kittens -either; and it was much the same as if the dogs on their part were to -claim affinity with the ancient Doges of Venice, or to pretend to -unwonted holiness because most of the good books of the early church -were written or translated by the monks into Dog Latin. - -Again, as to one man insulting another by calling him a dog, that was -not exactly the case. Dogs did not speak with human tongues, and -therefore, when a man was called a "dumb dog," it was only implied that -he was as dumb as a dog as far as the human tongue was concerned; dogs, -moreover, did not pretend to universal goodness--there were good dogs -and bad dogs, mad dogs and sad dogs. When men wished to bestow praise -upon one of themselves, they constantly called him a "jolly dog;" and -if they sometimes called one of their own kind a "cur," they alluded to -an inferior species of dog, and in fact acknowledged the superiority of -the canine race by the very fact that they selected it as the race with -which alone they could fairly compare one of themselves. - -The "hang-dog" argument also told directly against, instead of for, the -cats. What did it mean? Why, that any man who was a villain and a -rascal looked as if he would actually be ready to hang a dog; and such -a crime would, in fact, constitute him both rascal and villain at once. -What better proof could be afforded of the high estimation in which -dogs were held by men? - -The dogs further said that the cats had attributed a bad meaning to -the word "dog-matic," but that it was also susceptible of a good -interpretation, being derived from a Greek word, dogma, a settled -opinion, and signifying one who, knowing the truth, and having -confidence in the opinion at which he had duly arrived, had the courage -of his convictions and stuck to them gallantly, which was certainly no -reproach either to dog or man. The word "dogged" also might of course -be taken to mean "sullen" or "sulky," but its primary signification was -rather "pertinacious;" and it really meant that steadiness with which -an honest dog pursued his course through life, yielding neither to -bribes nor temptations, from whatever quarter they might chance to -come. - -With regard to the expression, "sick as a dog," they stated that it was -scarcely more commonly used among men than the equivalent expression, -"sick as a cat;" and they forbore, out of delicacy, to advance -arguments upon so disagreeable a point. It bore but little upon the -question, and they might as well say that men hated cats, because they -were subjected to catalepsy; or that they evinced their dislike to the -feline portion of creation by calling a misfortune a "cat-astrophe," a -bad cough a "cat-arrh," and a disease in the eye, a "cataract." The -last allusion of the cats, namely, that to a man spoken of as having -"gone to the dogs," was the subject of a long and able argument on the -part of the latter; who principally contended that the real meaning of -the phrase, duly considered and wisely interpreted, was quite different -from that which their adversaries supposed; inasmuch as no man, being -ruined and miserable, would go to persons or beings who were held in -contempt or were in disgrace. What was really meant was, that, when a -man had really failed in everything, and, being penniless and wretched, -found neither support, sympathy, nor consolation from those of his own -species, he went where kindness, good faith, honesty, and charity were -ever to be found, and sought among the true-hearted and friendly race -of dogs that kindly welcome and reception which had been denied to him -by his own people. It was a tribute, indeed, paid to dog-nature by -mankind; and nothing of the sort had ever been said with regard to -cats, who were well-known to be much more likely to scratch, than to -comfort, the unfortunate. - -The arguments so forcibly advanced by the dogs made very little -impression on the cats who were upon the joint committee. There was a -good deal of purring, setting up of backs, miawing, and I fear a little -spitting; but they listened with tolerable attention, and then replied -in the same style as before. - -They mentioned a bad, useless fish--which was called the dog-fish, on -account, they said, of its bad qualities; the dog-days--so called -because hotter and more unbearable than any other days in the summer: -they drew attention to the fact that loose, bad rhyme was said to be -"doggerel," and that an inferior kind of flower was termed "dog-rose." - -The dogs rejoined, with spirit, that men called a depository for dead -bodies a "cat-acomb," a disagreeable insect a "cat-apillar," and that -anyone who was made use of by another to obtain his own ends was -contemptuously designated a "cat's-paw." - -A debate carried on in this spirit could clearly lead to no -satisfactory result, and the end of the matter was that the committee -separated without having been able to agree to any report. The -consequence naturally was, that each race continued to regard the other -with suspicion and aversion; and that the relations between the two -became, and seemed likely to remain, exceedingly unpleasant. - -This version of the matter was given me by an animal whose veracity is -above suspicion, being none other than old Jenny, the donkey. She was a -most learned antiquarian, and had lived to a very advanced age before -she had finally settled her opinion upon the merits of the question. -But, being an ass of well-balanced mind, and entirely impartial between -the two races, I believe that she fairly stated the arguments on both -sides, and that her accuracy may be thoroughly relied on. - -She went on to relate to me chronicles of the past, which I found most -interesting; and it is with a view to the better understanding, by -those who care to read them, of those chronicles, that I have ventured -to give the above preliminary facts upon the authority of this -venerable quadruped. - -There was a time, she said, when dogs and cats were certainly upon -better terms than at the present day. It was a happier time for both, -she had no doubt; but still, being but a donkey, and very humble, she -did not wish to put forward her opinion as by any means conclusive upon -that or any other point. She could not recollect the time when the two -races were positively upon friendly terms, but she believed such a time -to have existed, and that within the memory of ravens, if not of asses. - -There was a curious legend which had been told her by a tinker's -donkey, who had been a great traveller, and knew more than most of his -kind, though there was, as a rule, much more knowledge among donkeys -than men supposed. This particular donkey, however, had seen and -learned in his travels a great deal more than many men; who, when they -travel abroad, only seem to try how far they can go, and when they -arrive at a city, live with their own fellow-countrymen as much as they -can, import their own method of life into foreign countries, instead of -living as the people of the country do; and come home again with a very -small addition to the knowledge with which they started. - -The tinker's donkey, being of a very different cast of character, and -much given to careful and attentive observation of all he saw in the -various places he visited, always brought home a vast deal of useful -information, with which he never refused to enliven his brother asses -as they enjoyed a friendly bray over their thistles. And it was during -one of these long journeys of his that he picked up the legend which he -told old Jenny, and which she generously imparted to me. - -At a remote period of history--no matter exactly when and no matter -exactly where--perfect love and harmony existed between the two great -races of dog and cat. There was neither jealousy nor rivalry between -them; and, indeed, why should there have been such at any period of -time? - -Dogs have ever preferred bones, or portions of the carcasses of -slaughtered animals, to any other food; whilst, to cats, the flesh of -the mouse, disdained as a rule by the canine species, and the tender -breast of the newly-fledged bird, form more attractive feasts. - -True it is, that both races are fond of milk, but there is nothing in -that single similarity of taste to excite ill-feeling and bitterness; -and no dog ever clashed with the love of the cat for fish, nor have -cats the same partiality for biscuits which some of the other race have -frequently displayed. - -Then, again, their pursuits in life are of a somewhat different -character, those of the dog being more varied than those of the feline -species. The sheep-dog guards with vigilance the flock entrusted to his -care; the foxhound follows his prey with keen scent and unfailing -ardour; the greyhound stretches his lanky form in eager pursuit of the -unfortunate hare; the mastiff, seated in front of his kennel in the -backyard, warns the inmates of the house of the approach of beggars or -persons of doubtful character: the pug-dog, the terrier, the -pomeranian, all have their separate employments and varied uses, in -none of which does a cat seek to share, and with none of which does she -ever wish to interfere. - -The cat, on the other hand, has amusements and occupations to a great -extent peculiar to herself. She loves to bask in the sun, upon the -window-sill if such be available, on fine days, and in wet or cold -weather to nestle snugly upon the hearthrug. When she goes out, it is -not to run here and there and everywhere, after the fearless and -sometimes intrusive manner of the dog. She prefers to steal quietly and -leisurely along, placing her velvety feet softly upon the ground, and -peering round on each side of her, to see that the country is secure. -Crawling along the top of a wall, or creeping up the stem of a tree, -she strives to capture the unwary bird, who may afford her sport and -amusement first, and a meal afterwards. Or, seated demurely in some -corner of a room or near some tree, where mice frequent, she does not -object to watch patiently, whilst minutes and hours pass away, in the -hope of at last finding an opportunity to pounce upon her favourite -victim. With all this no dog has any reason to interfere, and none has -ever attempted to rival the cat in the pursuit of bird or mouse. - -Again: dogs are more apt to attach themselves to the persons of men or -women, cats more readily become attached to the places in which they -have lived; so that, once for all, if we consider the nature, the -character, and the habits of these two great races, we shall, I am -confident, come to the conclusion that there can be no real cause for -their natural enmity, but that, in the great scheme of creation, they -were intended to be upon as friendly and harmonious terms as was -certainly the case at the time of which we now speak. - -Such were the reflections of Jenny, and I am inclined to endorse them -all, and to think that I see the confirmation of their truth in the -legend which I am about to tell as she told to me. - -It chanced that at this time a worthy couple possessed an animal of -each sort, of which they were extremely fond. The dog was a handsome, -black, curly fellow; of what particular breed I don't know, but this -description of him sounds as if he was a Romney-Marsh retriever, or -something of the sort. The cat was a tortoise-shell, and one of the -most perfect specimens of her kind; with glossy fur, elegantly-shaped -body, and tail like a fox's brush, which swept the ground as she -walked. - -Jenny did not know the names of the worthy couple who owned these -animals; and in fact I have noticed that, in most of the stories which -animals have told me from time to time, men and women are made to play -a very subordinate part, and are indeed for the most part considered as -altogether inferior beings by the excellent animals of and by whom the -stories are told. Thus, in the present instance, although the good ass -knew perfectly well that the dog's name was Rover, and the cat's Effie, -she knew no more than an ignorant calf might have done of the names of -the people with whom they lived. Nay, if I remember rightly, her -expression was that, "Some people lived in and kept the house in which -Rover and Effie dwelt;" so that very likely the donkey, and perhaps the -animals themselves, considered that the premises belonged to -themselves, and that the man and woman were merely lodgers on -sufferance. - -And very likely, as a matter of fact, this is the actual view -entertained by many of our animals--horses, dogs, cats, possibly even -pigs and chickens--at the present day, if we did but know it. Perhaps -it is as well we do not, as we might consider our supremacy challenged -and our rights invaded, and this might make us less kind to the poor -animals, which would be very sad. - -I should not wonder, however, if it was the truth; for I am sure our -servants--or some of them--have firmly-rooted convictions that our -houses and everything in them, are at least as much, if not more, -theirs than ours, and some of us give in to them very much as if we -thought so too. So I do not see why the four-legged creatures, as well -as the two-legged, should not think the same thing,--and perhaps they -do. - -Rover and Effie, as I have said, lived in this house, which, to put the -matter in a way not likely to be offensive to anybody, was also -inhabited by an old couple--I mean a man and his wife; because, of -course, "a couple" might, standing alone, mean a couple of ducks, or a -couple of fowls, or rabbits, or anything else of the kind. But it was a -man and his wife, and they had no children, and they were very fond of -the dog and cat, and petted them both exceedingly. They passed very -happy lives, having very little to trouble themselves about, and being -possessed of a comfortable home, and plenty of agreeable neighbours. - -Rover and Effie used to walk out together, and were for some time, as -most of their respective races were, the very best of friends. Neither -of them would have suffered a strange dog or cat to breathe a syllable -against the other; and in their tastes, thoughts, and actions, they -were as much allied as was possible under the circumstances. - -Things continued in this happy condition until an old weasel, who lived -in the immediate neighbourhood, cast his envious and malicious eye upon -the two friends and determined it possible to interrupt their amicable -relations. He had his own reasons for so doing. - -The family of weasels, though of ancient lineage and old blood, had -never been considered as particularly respectable. In fact they had -always been a set of arrant scamps. The rats and rabbits complained -bitterly of their intrusive habits, and extremely disliked their -abominable practice of entering the holes used by other animals, and -carrying blood and murder into homes that were otherwise peaceful and -contented. The hens also raised their homely cackle in the same strain, -and counting egg-sucking as among the worst of crimes, brought heavy -charges against the weasels on that account. In fact, no one had a good -word for the little animals, except indeed their cousins the stoats, -and some of the unclean sorts of birds, to wit, the jay, the magpie and -the carrion crow, who themselves lived chiefly by thieving. - -The weasel had a great jealousy of the cat, because she interfered with -him in the matter of rats, mice, and small birds, to all of which he -was partial; and he also saw in the dog a rival as regarded rabbits. - -Whilst the two remained in such close alliance, he thought that they -were able to wield a power which, although not actively exerted against -himself, was little likely to be ever used in his favour; and he -therefore resolved to lessen that power if he possibly could, by sowing -the seeds of discord between the hitherto friendly animals. But clever -as he was, the weasel racked his brains in vain for a long time. He -could think of nothing which would effect his object, and could satisfy -himself with no plan by which he might approach the two animals with -that intent. - -It would not, indeed, have been hard for him to have entered the house -by the means open to him, namely, a drain or a rat's hole, of which -there were several. But, should he do so, he ran the greatest risk of -having his intentions mistaken, and of suddenly falling a victim to one -of the very two animals with whom (though not from any kindly feeling) -he wished to communicate. The same fear prevented his accosting them -during their walks, for he could not tell but that they might turn upon -him and seize him before he could escape. Direct communication, then, -appeared to be out of the question; and he accordingly resolved to seek -a confederate, through whom he might perchance accomplish his wicked -ends. - -So he went to a neighbouring magpie, knowing the love of meddling which -characterises that class of birds, and sought her aid in his scheme. -The magpie was a very wary and cunning bird, and would not trust -herself within paws' length of the weasel, for although she knew that, -happily for herself, she was not a morsel which even a weasel could eat -with relish, yet she was also well aware of the bloodthirsty nature of -the animal, and thought it better not to expose him to the temptation -of getting her neck into his mouth. So she sat up in the old hawthorn -tree, and chattered away to herself, whilst the little animal came -underneath and tried to attract her attention. - -When at last she condescended to see him, she would not enter upon -business for some time, but, like many persons who, not being blameless -themselves, are very ready to blame other people, chattered away to him -for a good five minutes upon the subject of his general bad behaviour, -and read him a lesson upon morality, coupled with a homily upon the sin -of thieving, which would have come admirably from the beak of a -respectable rook, but was very ill-placed in that of a notorious bad -liver and evil-doer like the magpie. - -The weasel, however, keeping his object steadily in view, heard her -remarks with great apparent politeness, although as a matter of fact -her advice (like that which many better people give, both in and out of -season) went in at one of his ears and out at the other, and produced -not the smallest effect upon his future conduct. When her chatter came -at last to an end, he unfolded the nature of his business and asked her -counsel and assistance in the matter. - -Now the magpie was by no means friendly to the dog and cat, having an -idea that they were better off in their worldly affairs than she was, -which is always a sufficient cause for evil-minded people to dislike -others. So she had no objection at all to enter upon a scheme which -might annoy and injure them, and indeed her natural love of mischief -would have prompted her to do so, had she had no other feeling in the -matter. Having always, however, an eye to the main chance, she asked -the weasel what she should gain by the transaction, and having been -faithfully promised the eye-picking out of the first twelve young -rabbits he should catch, she at once consented to go into the business. - -The idea of the two confederates was to create in the first place a -coldness between the dog and cat, by means of inducing the couple -already mentioned, to show greater favour to one than the other. - -Here, however, arose another difficulty. How could either weasel or -magpie obtain access to a man and woman, or in any shape exercise an -influence over their conduct and actions? The idea was so preposterous -that they had to give it up. - -Then came the question whether they could not persuade either the cat -or dog to do something which would offend and annoy the other, either -by being opposed to his or her feelings and prejudices, or being -actually unpleasant and disagreeable. If they could only settle on -something of this kind, it did not appear so impossible to carry out -the plan. The weasel need not be seen in the matter, and would incur no -such personal danger as that to which he might have been exposed by any -scheme which entailed his actual communication with the enemy. The -thing must be done by the magpie, who, seated upon the roof of the -house, or in an adjacent tree, could converse with either cat or dog -without the smallest risk, and was sly and crafty enough to poison the -minds of both. - -So it was agreed that this should be the course taken, and what was to -be the precise form of the magpie's address will be speedily gathered -from the story. - -The two innocent animals who were the object of this nefarious plot -upon the part of creatures so vastly inferior to themselves, were all -the while quite unconscious of the conspiracy which was being hatched -against them. They went on just the same, and were as friendly as ever. -Nor was their harmony disturbed by the introduction into the household -of a small poodle, whom somebody gave to the mistress of the house, and -who rather amused them than otherwise by his curious antics and -grotesque behaviour. He was a curious dog, and had some funny tricks, -but old Jenny said that she never heard that there was much against -him, or that he had any concern in the wicked plot of the weasel and -the magpie. - -Having fully determined upon the plan to be pursued, the crafty pair of -rascals waited until they could hit upon a time when the cat and dog -were not together. The opportunity soon occurred. One fine morning the -human occupier of the house (who laboured under the strange but, among -human beings, not uncommon delusion that the place and all that it -contained belonged to him) went out for a walk in the country, -accompanied, as was frequently the case, by honest Rover. - -The sun was shining so brightly that Mrs. Effie thought that she had -better make the most of it, and get some fresh air at the same time, -with no more exertion than was necessary. So she climbed quietly up on -the window-sill, stretched herself at full length thereupon, and basked -luxuriously in the warm rays of the sun. - -Seeing her thus enjoying herself, the magpie flew leisurely into an -apple tree which grew near the house, and began to chatter in a way -which was certain to attract the cat's attention before long. After a -little while Effie began to wink and blink her eyes, move her ears -against the woodwork on which she lay, and appear as if disturbed by -the noise. Presently she lifted up her head, shook it, and sneezed -violently. - -"Bless you, Pussy," immediately said the magpie from the apple tree. - -Effie looked at her in some surprise. - -"Many thanks," she said; "the more so, indeed, since I do not happen to -have the pleasure of your acquaintance." - -"More's the pity," replied the bird; "but that is no reason why I -should refrain from giving a civil blessing to a person who happens to -sneeze, for you know well enough that if you sneeze three times without -someone blessing you, evil is sure to follow within the week." - -"Indeed," answered the cat, somewhat coldly, for she hardly approved of -being addressed by a mere bird, and that, too, a perfect stranger, in -such a familiar manner. "Indeed, I am sure you are very kind." - -And she laid her head calmly down again upon the windowsill. But the -magpie was not to be daunted, and determined not to lose the -opportunity which she had so carefully sought. - -"Although you don't know me," continued she, "which is not surprising, -considering that you move in high circles, whilst I am only, as one may -say, a humble drudge among the inferior parts of creation, it does not -follow, madam, that I am not well acquainted with _you_, and have long -wished to obtain your friendship. The beauty of your fur, the elegant -shape of your body, the graceful action with which you move, and, above -all, the sweetness of your voice (which I have sometimes been fortunate -enough to hear at nights), have all made an impression upon me which -will not easily be removed. I only wish I might know you better." - -As the bird spoke, she hopped from twig to twig of the apple-tree, -until she came within easy speaking distance of Effie, and lowered her -voice so as to make it less harsh, and more impressive in conversation. -Now cats, as is well known to the attentive student of natural history, -are by no means averse to flattery. It has sometimes been said that the -same is true of women, but this is by no means fair as a general -description of the latter, many of them cordially disliking it, and -taking it as anything but a compliment when men bespangle them with -empty flattery, instead of carrying on sensible conversation, and -treating them like reasonable beings. But it is undoubtedly true of -cats. Three things they can never resist: cream, scratching their -heads, and flattery; and as the magpie had no cream, and forbore to -attempt scratching the cat's head for reasons of her own, she fell -back, as we have seen, upon flattery. - -Effie listened, it must be confessed, with pleasure, and drank in the -words of the magpie as greedily as if they had been inspired by the -undoubted spirit of truth. As a matter of fact, her elegance of body, -beauty of fur, and gracefulness of action might all have been fairly -conceded to be matters of opinion, in which many would have agreed with -the magpie. But as to the beauty of her voice, anybody who has ever -lain awake at night and listened to a concert of cats upon the adjacent -roofs will be inclined to stop his ears at the bare recollection of it, -and to confess that the magpie must have well known that she was -telling a--well, a tarradiddle. - -Strange to say, however, the allusion to her voice touched and pleased -Effie more than anything else in the magpie's speech, and this the -cunning bird had fully expected. She knew cat nature well, which -differs but little from human nature in this respect, that people very -often fancy themselves to possess some talent or virtue, in which they -are, as a matter of fact, deficient, and not unfrequently, whilst -priding themselves upon the fancied possession, neglect to cultivate -and develop some other quality which they really have, and which might -be made much more useful to themselves and others. - -So Effie was proud of her voice--where there was nothing to be proud -of--and extremely pleased to hear it praised by the magpie, whom she -instantly set down in her mind as an evidently respectable and -well-informed bird, and one whose acquaintance it might be well to -make. Without lifting her head, however, or disturbing the position of -her body, which was so placed as to get as much sun as possible, she -replied in a languid tone of voice: - -"You are really very kind, Madam Magpie, and I am far from wishing to -decline the acquaintance you offer." - -The magpie broke in at once in a quick chatter, her words tumbling one -over another as if they could not get fast enough out of her beak. - -"Oh, how good, and kind, and nice, and polite, and generous, and -affable, and altogether charming you are! I have often watched you -sunning on the window-sill or strolling about the gardens, or looking -out for mice, or amusing yourself in one way or another, and I have -always looked, and longed, and hoped, and wished, and wondered if I -might make so bold as to speak to such a grand, lady-like, beautiful, -queenly creature; and when I've heard your voice, I've often said to -myself, 'Here's music, and melody, and taste, and feeling, and harmony, -and everything that is delightful in sound, and if the lady would only -learn singing (though little learning it is she wants), and take it up -as a profession, how happy the world and everybody in it would be made: -and what so pleasant as to make people happy with the good gifts we -have, and who has more than she?'" - -As the magpie rattled on, Effie felt more and more pleased, and became -still more strongly convinced than before that the bird was a superior -creature, who had well used her opportunities, and possessed opinions -which were entitled to great weight. - -Meantime the weasel, who was listening to the conversation from an old -rat's hole in which he had hidden hard by, was fit to kill himself with -laughter when he heard the flattery of his ally, and how the cat took -it all in. - -The latter now raised not only her head but her body, and sat up upon -the window-ledge, looking with friendly glance at the old bird in the -tree. - -"Really," she said, in rather an affected tone, "really, you think too -well of me--you do indeed--but now you speak of it, I _have_ (so my -friends say at least) something of a voice, and have often thought of -cultivating it more than I have hitherto done. But all are not of the -same opinion, and I know that my friend Rover the dog thinks -differently." - -Here the magpie quickly interposed. - -"Oh the jealousy of this wicked world and of them dogs in particular! -To hear that black, ugly, shaggy animal howl at the moon, or what not, -of a night. I declare if it isn't enough to drive one crazy; and for -such an animal as _that_ to think anything but good of your lovely, -sweet, tuneful, angelic notes! 'Tis really shocking to think he should -do so--but envy and meanness, my dear creature, and malice and jealousy -was ever in the hearts of dogs--forgive me that I should say so, -knowing as how you live in the same house and bear with him as you do." - -These words rather gave Effie a new idea of her situation, but as they -were evidently intended to be complimentary to herself, though at her -friend's expense, she listened to them with complacency. - -"You must not blame my friend," she demurely answered, "because he has -not such a voice as mine. Few have such, as I think I may say without -being suspected of vanity, and I have no reason to think that he is -either mean or envious. True, he does not evince the same pleasure in -my notes as that which you so kindly express, but this is merely a -matter of taste." - -"Ah, you dear, kind, good, charitable creature," rejoined the magpie, -"it is so like you to take the best and most pleasant view of whatever -anybody else says or does. But never mind, if the dog don't like it, -others do, and for _my_ part, I should like to hear you play and sing -all day and all night long." - -"As for playing," returned the cat, "I do not pretend to do _that_; in -fact I have never learned, and have always been accustomed to trust to -my natural voice without any accompaniment." - -"Never learned to play?" cried the magpie in a voice of astonishment. -"Dear me, dear me, what a pity! I have so often heard good singers like -you speak of the pleasure of being able to accompany oneself, and I am -sure you _could_ play if you liked. Now I have a neighbour who plays -the violin in the most delightful manner, and what is more, he gives -lessons upon that charming instrument. A very few lessons from him, and -I am sure you would play so well that the whole neighbourhood would -flock to hear you!" - -"Really," said Effie, "this sounds very tempting. I have always felt -that one ought to cultivate one's talents, and make the most of the -gifts which Nature has given us. Your words are well worth -consideration," and she mused for a few moments, purring all the while -in a contented and self-satisfied tone. - -The magpie, who had now brought the conversation to the very point she -desired, according to the plan agreed upon with the weasel, began to -press the matter home to the cat, telling her that she was wronging -herself as well as all the other animals in not making her talents of -more avail to them, and taking advantage of the opportunity which now -offered. - -The musical neighbour of whom she had spoken, turned out to be "Honest -John," the hare, and although his services were in great requisition, -the magpie said, she was sure that she should be able to secure them -for so distinguished a person as the cat, provided that she would -consent to take lessons. - -After a little more talk, Mrs. Effie decided to allow the magpie to -sound the hare upon the subject, and appointed another meeting upon the -following day in order to discuss the matter further. Then the magpie, -having done a good morning's work, and successfully laid the train by -which she hoped to carry out her plot with the weasel, flew chuckling -off, whilst the weasel stole silently away, and occupied himself on his -own affairs. - -Meanwhile the cat was much gratified by all that had passed. She felt -that she was appreciated; and that those who lived around evidently -recognized her as a person to be considered and made much of. She -resolved that she would tell the dog nothing whatever of her interview -with the magpie, partly because she thought he would laugh at the -readiness with which she had listened to the bird's flattery, and -partly because she was quite sure that he would entirely disapprove of -her proposed lessons upon the violin. Thus, then, were the first seeds -sown of that unhappy quarrel which was destined to divide the two once -united races. - -Rover returned from his walk in a cheerful and pleasant mood, and -behaved in the most friendly spirit towards his old friend. He could -not help observing, however, that she hardly treated him after the same -fashion. She seemed to hold her head higher than usual, and stood more -upon her dignity than had formerly been the case. Being a good-natured -dog, he took no notice of this, and, in fact, attributed her conduct to -some accidental derangement of the nerves or the digestion. But when -the same thing continued during the whole of the next day, he began to -feel rather annoyed. Still he said nothing, and went for his walk as -usual. As soon as his back was fairly turned, the magpie again made her -appearance, and commenced another conversation with the cat. She had -not been able to see Honest John, she said, but had made an appointment -for the following day, and would call again on the morning after. Then -she went on in her former strain, praising the cat's beauty and -sweetness of voice to the skies, and throwing in all the nasty -insinuations she could think of against poor Rover. Jenny always used -to get angry when she came to this part of the story, vowing that no -faithful person, and, in fact, no real lady, would have allowed anyone -to say such things of an absent friend, but would have stopped the -mischievous gossip at once. - -Effie, however, did no such thing; and after all, we must own that she -only acted in the same manner as a great many men and women, for -everybody likes to hear himself praised, and when a person wants to -abuse or run down another, if he manages to do so in the same -conversation in which he flatters his listener, he has an excellent -chance of escaping without rebuke from the latter. Besides, whatever -Jenny's opinion may have been, we know very well that, after all, she -was but an ass. - -So the second visit passed off as successfully as the magpie could have -wished, and then there was a third, and at each interview she scattered -her poisoned seed so cleverly, that day by day the difference between -the two old friends grew imperceptibly wider. I think it was not until -the magpie had paid her fourth visit that the arrangement about the -violin lessons was finally made. - -"Honest John" had reasons for declining to visit the house in which -Mrs. Effie lived, but, on being bribed by promises of lettuce and -parsley from the garden, freely given by the cat, and conveyed to him -by the magpie, the hare consented to give evening lessons three times a -week to Effie, provided that she would consent to come down and receive -them by the stream which crossed the meadow close to the wood in which -Honest John generally resided. In that meadow lived a most respectable -cow, reputed to be a great lover of music, and John suggested that -after a short time it might be possible for the two to take lessons -together, and that a duet between them would be most melodious. - -Still this arrangement was kept completely secret from the dog, and the -results that followed almost entirely arose from this silence on -Effie's part, which was really as foolish as it was unnecessary. Had -she opened her heart to her old friend, all might yet have been well, -but she had promised the magpie to conceal the matter, and so she did. - -She was obliged to practise deceit in order to go forth to her lessons -without the knowledge of the dog. She therefore pretended to him that -she had a great fancy for cockchafers, which always came buzzing about -in the early summer evenings, which was the best time to catch them. So -she made this the excuse for stealing out of the house somewhat late, -and Rover, finding that she evidently did not want his company, and -being too proud to force himself upon anybody, stayed quietly at home. - -So the lessons began, and it must have been a curious sight to see the -hare and the cat sitting side by side between the wood and the stream, -the former instructing the latter how to hold the violin and to wring -from it those sounds with which, according to the magpie, she would -soon delight the world. - -The worthy Rover, albeit quite unsuspicious of what was going on, saw -no improvement in the manners and behaviour of his old friend. She was -not only cold to him, but not unfrequently behaved with positive -discourtesy, making faces when he wished to engage in a friendly game -of play with her, frequently setting up her back at him, and -occasionally going to the length of spitting. In fact, whatever harmony -she might be learning from the hare, the harmony of the household was -certainly not increased, and a most uncomfortable state of things -prevailed. The good dog became positively unhappy when he found that -such an estrangement had grown up between his old friend and himself, -and often wondered whether he had given her any just cause of offence, -and whether any action on his part would be able to set matters right -again. - -So matters went on for some time, and the magpie and weasel chuckled -vastly over the success of their wicked plot. The cat, meanwhile, made -some progress with her lessons, and received the compliments of honest -John upon her performance, which in reality was execrable. She had not -the slightest idea of time or tune, and could hardly produce a sound -from the violin, whilst her voice was so disagreeable that the cow, far -from consenting to join her in a duet, invariably left that part of the -meadow as soon as she began, and went away to moo by herself as far off -as possible. Still the cat persevered, the foolish hare expressed -himself satisfied, and the magpie lost no opportunity of encouraging -Effie in her praiseworthy exertions. - -She irritated Rover exceedingly about this time by caterwauling -frequently at night, which made the honest fellow quite fidgety, and no -doubt contributed in some degree to the final catastrophe which was now -drawing near. - -The magpie, who, as it may be seen, cared neither for dog, cat, hare, -nor for anything nor anybody except her own interest and amusement, saw -plainly enough that the cat could not be deceived for ever by her -flattery, and that some day or other she would discover the truth, -namely that she was making no progress at all with her music, and was -in fact no further advanced than when she first began. Having no regard -whatever for the hare, upon whose large eyes she sometimes cast a -covetous glance as if longing to peck them out, the wicked old bird -thought that her best plan to turn the cat's possible anger from -herself, would be to persuade her that her progress towards musical -perfection was only delayed by the negligence or stupidity of "Honest -John." - -She began by suggesting to Effie that although her voice was as fine as -ever, and her notes as clear and true, she did not seem to be able to -accompany herself as yet upon the violin. Considering her great natural -talent this was certainly rather strange. Was she _quite_ satisfied -with her master? Hares were jealous animals. Was this one free from the -disease? Would it not be well to ask him why she could not yet -accompany herself as she wished to do? - -By means of such words as these, the cunning magpie succeeded in -gradually instilling into the mind of Effie discontent and suspicion of -the hare, towards whom she had up to that time entertained nothing but -feelings of gratitude and friendship. At her very next lesson she -complained of not getting on fast enough, and questioned Honest John -sharply upon the subject. The hare made the best excuses that he could, -took most of the blame upon himself, denied that there was any such -want of progress as was supposed, and promised that the very next -evening he would persuade the cow to be present, and join in their -musical performance. That night Effie nearly drove Rover mad with her -attempts at a private rehearsal. - -The dog passed a sleepless night, baying angrily but uselessly at the -moon, and wondering how on earth any living creature, cat, dog, or man, -could find pleasure in squalling all night instead of going comfortably -to bed, and seeking their natural rest. When next morning came, he had -nearly had enough of it, and felt cross all day towards the cat, who -had really become such a disagreeable inmate of the house as to have -almost altogether destroyed its comfort as a home. The day wore on, and -as evening approached, the cat made her usual preparations to leave the -house for the purpose of taking her lesson. - -In order fully to understand how it was that the events came to pass -which I am about to relate, I must here remark that the little poodle, -whose name was Frisky, had observed the constant absence of Effie at -this particular time, and had once or twice spoken about it to Rover. - -On this evening, when the same thing happened again, he remarked to the -old dog that it was curious that the cat should so often go out of an -evening, and suggested that they should stroll out together and see if -they could find out where she had gone to, and how she managed to catch -the cockchafers. - -To this Rover consented, partly out of good nature towards the little -poodle, and partly because, being rather out of sorts, and irritated by -all he had lately had to go through, he thought a moonlight stroll -might cool his heated blood and do him good. So, about an hour after -the departure of the cat, when the moon was up and shining brightly, -the two dogs sauntered forth for their walk. - -Meanwhile Effie had gone down to her accustomed trysting place with the -hare, and there she found Honest John, and saw that, true to his word, -he had induced the cow to cross the stream and consent to join in their -performance. - -[Illustration: THE CAT'S LAST MUSIC LESSON.--P. 212] - -They began well enough: the hare playing a solo upon the violin, on -which he was really skilful; and the cow afterwards mooing melodiously; -then the cat, after a gentle "miauw," which hurt nobody's ears, took -the violin, and made a prodigious effort after success, raising her -voice at the same time in tones so discordant that the hare -involuntarily clapped his paws to his ears to keep out the horrible -sounds. This action suddenly and at once disclosed to the cat the real -poverty of her performance; and the manner in which she had been -deceived by those who had flattered her upon an excellence of voice -which she had never possessed. Forgetful of the real culprit, who had -led her to the pass at which she had now arrived, she turned the full -current of her rage against the master who had failed to supply her -with that voice and taste for music which nature had denied. Dropping -the violin in a paroxysm of rage, she clasped the unhappy hare suddenly -round the neck, as if in a loving embrace, perhaps meaning at first -only to give him a good shaking for his misbehaviour. As she did so, -she exclaimed-- - -"Honest John, Honest John, do you laugh at your pupils, then, and stop -your ears against the sounds you yourself have taught them to make?" - -The hare could only reply by a faint squeak, for the cat held him -tight, and pressed his body close to her own. As she did so, I suppose -nature asserted itself in her breast, and she could not resist the -temptation of fastening her teeth in the throat which was so invitingly -near her mouth. A fatal nip it was that she gave the poor hare. The -warm blood followed immediately. The tiger's thirst was awakened in the -cat at once, and, all the more excited by the struggles of the hare to -escape, she threw her paws more closely around him, and bit so fiercely -that the poor wretch soon knew that he was lost indeed. Forgetful of -music, of the cow, of the violin, of everything but the mad passion of -the moment, Effie clung tightly to the dying hare, purring to herself -with a savage and horrible satisfaction as she did him slowly to death, -and his large liquid eyes, turned to her at first with a piteous look -as if to ask for mercy, grew fixed and glassy and dull as he yielded up -his innocent life and lay dead beneath his cruel pupil. - -All this passed in a minute, and so indeed did that which followed. The -cow, too utterly astonished at what had happened to think of -interfering, even if her peaceful disposition would not in any case -have prevented her doing so, stood aghast during the short struggle, -rooted to the ground with horror and amazement. Then, when the horrid -deed was done, she gave vent to a mighty, unearthly bellow, turned -round, rushed to the stream, in which the reflection of the glorious -moon above was clearly shining at the moment, leaped straight over it, -and ran wildly away to the other end of the meadow. - -Other actors appeared upon the scene at the same moment. Rover and -Frisky had by chance come that way in their stroll, and had seen the -musical performers just at the very moment when the cat gave vent to -those discordant notes which had so offended the ears of the -unfortunate hare. - -They had precisely the same effect upon worthy Rover, who no sooner -heard them than he threw himself upon the ground, buried his head in -his paws, and tried to shut them out altogether. As he shut his eyes at -the time, he did not immediately see what followed. In fact he lay -still, groaning audibly for a minute or two, until aroused by shouts of -laughter from his little companion. - -"Look, Mr. Rover," exclaimed little Frisky, still holding his sides -with merriment. "See what fun they are having! Effie and a hare are -rolling about together so funnily. And see--oh, _do_ look. Here comes -the cow! Oh, what a jump!" - -And he went off into another fit of laughter as the cow came thundering -by them in her mad career. - -But when Rover raised his head and looked forward, he comprehended the -scene at once, and knew that it was no laughing matter, at least for -one of the actors. For an instant--but only for an instant--he paused, -but in the next moment his resolution was taken. With a loud, indignant -bark, he sprang forward, and rushed towards the spot where the -treacherous Effie still held her lifeless victim in her fatal embrace. - -"Murderess!" he shouted, as he sprang across the stream. "Vile -murderess, these then are your cockchafers, and this the meaning of -your moonlight rambles! But you shall be punished for this abominable -crime, and that without delay!" - -Perhaps if good Rover had made a shorter speech, or rushed upon the cat -without making one at all until he had caught her, he would have -succeeded in his object, and avenged the poor hare. - -But Effie was no fool, and as soon as she heard the honest bark of her -old companion, she knew by instinct that the game was up, and that the -sooner she was off the better. Therefore, without a moment's delay, she -tore herself from the still panting body of the luckless hare, and -darted into the wood scarce half-a-dozen yards in front of the pursuing -Rover. In fact I think he would actually have caught her, and possibly -changed the whole current of the future relations which were -thenceforward to exist between their respective races, but for her -skill in climbing, of which she took advantage by rushing up a large -leafy oak which stood near the outside of the wood, and from the lofty -branches of which she presently sat licking her lips and looking down -in safety upon her late friend, but now justly incensed enemy. - -With bitter words did the good dog upbraid her with her cold unkindness -and deceit towards himself, and with her still worse treachery and -cruelty towards her more recent acquaintance, the hare. He warned her -against approaching any more the house which had hitherto been their -joint home, and declared that for his part he could no longer have any -friendship for one so utterly base and wicked. - -The cat, having no real defence to make against honest Rover's attack, -contented herself with setting up her back, and spitting violently -until she had somewhat cooled down. Then, with consummate craft, she -began to excuse herself, declaring that the dog was himself in fault, -that his arrogance and overbearing manners had become perfectly -insufferable, and that if she had done anything unworthy of her noble -race, it was not to a dog that she looked to be reproved for the same. - -The bitter language which passed between these two animals is believed -by Jenny to have been the source and origin of the subsequent -estrangement of the two races, and there seems no reason to doubt the -accuracy of her information. Certain it is that Effie never returned -home; whether remorse for her disgraceful conduct had any share in -producing this result, or whether it was simply from the fear of -Rover's threats, it is at this distance of time impossible to say. - -But from that day to this not only did this particular cat never -associate with dogs upon friendly terms, but for any cat to do so, -after she had left kittenhood and reached years of discretion, was and -is quite exceptional conduct. - -Some of Effie's race frequent the woods and mountain fastnesses, -avoiding altogether the abodes of men; others, indeed, consent to be -considered as "domestic" animals, but they, for the most part, regard a -dog as an intruder if he enters the house-door, and keep him at arm's -length as much as possible. - -Rover returned home on that eventful night tired in body and sad at -heart. To his honest and confiding nature it had been a cruel blow to -find that one whom he had of old trusted and loved had turned out to be -both treacherous and cruel. Singularly enough, in his return home, whom -should he encounter but the weasel, who, forgetful of his usual -caution, and desirous of annoying his enemy, let him know that he was -aware of the cat having deceived him, and too plainly showed his -exultation at the quarrel which had taken place, and his hope that it -would be permanent. Rover rushed upon the little beast before he could -escape, and made an end of him with a single shake. - -The result as regarded the magpie was more curious still. Being an -inveterate thief, she no sooner saw that both the dogs, as well as the -cat, were out of the house, than she flew in through the window, and -seized a silver spoon which was lying upon an ordinary meat dish for -the usual purpose to which such articles are devoted, namely, the -helping of the gravy. Delighted with her booty, she flew to the -window-sill, and having hid the spoon in the ivy which clustered round -it, had just hopped into the room again, when the door suddenly opened, -and the window blew to with a bang in consequence of the sudden -draught. - -As it was a self-fastening window, the bird was unable to get out, and -sat there trembling whilst the man-servant belonging to the house -entered the room. Looking round, he presently perceived some gravy -spilt on the clean table-cloth, and another glance satisfied him that -the silver gravy spoon was missing. - -As he knew he should be held responsible for the loss, the plate being -all in his charge, the man was naturally much annoyed, and looked right -and left to see where on earth the spoon could have flown to. Soon he -espied the magpie crouching in the corner of the window-seat, and -trying to hide herself. - -"There's the thief, I'll be bound!" he cried, and stepped towards her. - -The bird, quite beside herself with fear, fluttered on this side and -that, vainly endeavouring to escape through the window. - -"No you don't!" said the man. "You've been stealing, have you, Mistress -Mag. Where's the silver gravy spoon?" - -"Oh!" shrieked the magpie; "I never stole it!--I never stole it!" - -"What has become of it?" said the man. - -"Oh, I don't know--indeed I don't know! The dish ran away with it!" -shrieked the magpie, in great distress of mind, as the man reached out -his hand to seize her. - -"Tell that to the marines!" replied the man, which was an idle and -useless saying, for there were no marines there; and if there had been, -it was highly improbable that the magpie would have told _them_. - -He seized the bird by the wing, and in the agitation and confusion of -the moment, she resented the affront by giving him a sharp peck on the -hand, a compliment which he returned by immediately wringing her neck. - -Thus (said Jenny invariably, when she reached this point in her story) -you see that treachery and cunning, although they may be successful for -a time, in the long run always bring those who practise them into -trouble. So the magpie and weasel, who, by their malicious tricks -brought disunion among friends, and introduced strife into a once -united family, both lost their own lives within a very short time after -the success of their wily arts had been accomplished. - -It was upon this old legend that the song was founded to which I -alluded at the beginning of the story. I confess that I am not quite -clear about the first words, "Hey diddle diddle!" Wise men and learned -writers have given several interpretations of this interjaculation, or -invocation, or exclamation, or whatever you please to call it. - -Some think that the word "diddle" (not to be found in any English -dictionary of repute) must be a proper name, and that either it -belonged to the man who, owning the house in which the dog and cat -lived, knew all the circumstances of the story, and being likely to be -interested in it, was naturally invoked by the author at the beginning -of his song; or that it was, in fact, the name of the author himself, -and that the words mean that "I, Diddle, wish to call your attention to -the following extraordinary facts." Others, however, equally learned, -hold that the word to "diddle" signifies, in slang or common language, -to "do"--to "get the better of"--"to cheat," and that so the words -intend to convey the moral of the whole story; namely, that those who -try to cheat others generally suffer for it in some way or other. -Another interpretation is that it is only another form of the word -"Idyll," and that this song about the cat and dog is meant as a species -of "Idyll" or "Diddle," on one of the most important topics which has -ever agitated the animal world. But, whatever be their origin, there -the words are, and they are the only words in the song which have -caused me the slightest doubt. They are the more curious if the story -be true that the song was composed by a very respectable jay, who was -fully acquainted with the facts as they occurred. - -_She_ could have known nothing about "Diddle," if he was a man; and -very likely only put the words in to suit the jingle of the rhyme. -There can be no doubt that "the cat and the fiddle," are words in which -is intended a satirical allusion to Effie's lessons on the violin with -the unfortunate hare; and "the cow jumped over the moon," is an -unmistakeable allusion to the cow's leap over the stream in which the -image of the moon was reflected at the moment. - -When I think of the palpable reference in the next words to the conduct -of the little poodle who had accompanied Rover, and remember the -unhappy magpie's attempt to avoid her well-deserved fate by attempting -to impute her crime to the dish, I can have no difficulty whatever in -coming to the conclusion that it is upon Jenny's legend that this -remarkable song has been founded. - -Judging, moreover, from the acknowledged antiquity of the legend, and -the extraordinary way in which the facts it relates seem to fit and -dove-tail in with the circumstances we all know of as bearing upon the -general relations between cat and dog, I am inclined to strongly favour -the opinion that the story is the correct version of the first -beginning of the great and terrible schism which exists between the -races. It should be a warning to us human beings to be careful how we -place confidence either in dog or cat with regard to the other. - -If a breakage occurs in my house, and the servant in whose department -it has happened brings forward the not altogether unfamiliar statement -that "the cat did it," I always suspect that some dog has probably -whispered it in his or her ear; and any imputation upon the conduct of -my dogs I invariably attribute to the suggestion of some old cat. -Still, the world is wide enough for both races; and, looking at it from -a selfish point of view, their feud does not so much matter, so long as -they are both obedient and useful to mankind. - -Wherefore, after I had heard Jenny's narrative, and duly rewarded her -with a carrot, I always used to go home and think how much we may all -learn from the habits of the different animals with which our world is -peopled, and how their errors are in reality no greater than our own. -For I am sure I have before now heard people both sing and play the -fiddle, without any more pretension than Effie to be able to do either; -I have heard people boast of having done things quite as impossible as -that the cow should really have jumped over the moon; I have known -people over and over again laugh in the wrong place like the little -dog, and call things sport which are nothing of the kind, and I have -listened to those who could accuse their neighbours of crimes just as -unlikely as that which the magpie attributed to the dish. - -I will say no more, save that I hope it never happens _now_ among men -and women, that husband and wife ever live in such a manner as to -justify the description of their existence as being "like Cat and Dog!" - - - - -OPHELIA. - - -Next to an insane Giant there is nothing more terrible than a mad -Pigmy. It was therefore a dreadful event for all people concerned when -the King of the Pigmies went out of his senses. The disease came on -gradually, and was not immediately discovered. - -His majesty had never been of a very lively disposition, and the court -was therefore not much amazed when he withdrew from the public gaze, -little by little, until he was very rarely visible beyond the precincts -of the palace, and was understood to be deep in his studies. Those, -however, who had the privilege of being immediately about his royal -person, were well aware that his majesty was seriously indisposed. At -first the symptoms were only those of profound melancholy. He declined -his food repeatedly, refused to open his letters, buried his face -constantly in his hands, and went to bed when the dinner bell rang. - -This was unpleasant, as the royal household were forbidden by the laws -of that kingdom to have any dinner except at the same time with the -king, and as pigmies are invariably blessed with good appetites, much -inconvenience would have been caused but for the recognised fact that -nobody ever obeyed the laws unless it happened to suit him to do so. In -this manner the difficulty was got over, and the illness of the king -might have been concealed from his people if no other symptoms had -appeared. But from silent melancholy the unhappy monarch shortly passed -to the stage of frantic violence. - -He threw anything he could lay hands on at the head of any individual -who came near him, used the most fearful language, and gave the most -extraordinary orders. These at first were evaded or received in silence -in the hope they might be forgotten as soon as spoken. But when the -king insisted upon it that the Prime Minister should be cut in pieces, -the Lord Chamberlain fed upon rabbit skins and oil, and the Chief -Justice baked without further delay, these functionaries severally and -together came to the conclusion that the thing could go no further. - -The laws of Pigmyland were clear and well known; upon the death or -incapacity through illness of the reigning sovereign, his eldest son -always ascended the throne as a matter of course, and, failing sons, -his nearest relative succeeded to the sceptre. - -Unfortunately, however, the King of the Pigmies had neither son nor -relative of any kind, which arose principally from the fact of his -having destroyed his father's and mother's families, owing to those -jealous fears which often disturb and distract the minds of tyrants, -and from the additional circumstance that he had never seen fit to -marry. Thus King Pugpoz was the last of his race, and although he was -undoubtedly no longer fit to govern the nation, the question as to his -successor was, as will readily be imagined, one of very great doubt and -difficulty. - -The three great officers of state, that is to say, the Prime Minister, -the Lord Chamberlain and the Chief Justice, who rejoiced in the ancient -and highsounding names of Binks, Chinks and Pigspud, laid their heads -together several times before they could by any means agree as to what -should be done. Each of them would have been willing to undertake the -government himself, and each thought that he was the best person to -whom it could possibly be entrusted. But the other two held quite a -different opinion. Chinks and Pigspud well knew that Binks, eaten up -with gout and rheumatism, was not a person whom the Pigmy nation would -ever accept for their king: Pigspud and Binks were perfectly well aware -that Chinks had a wife and family, whose combined arrogance and -extravagance would certainly ruin the kingdom if he were placed upon -the throne, and Binks and Chinks were thoroughly acquainted with the -evil life which caused the public to regard Pigspud as one of the worst -of men though the best of judges. - -So, since it was evident that none of the three could be safely -elevated to the throne, it became necessary to look about for somebody -else. - -The names of all the great people about the court were duly considered, -but although there were several who would have been very willing to -undertake the business, there were objections to all. One was too old, -another too idle, a third of too tyrannous a disposition, and a fourth -too stupid for the place. So for a time it really seemed as if it would -be impossible to find a king, and that they must either put up with -their mad sovereign or go without one altogether. - -Neither of these results, however, would have been satisfactory, either -to the court or to the nation, and it was therefore with joy rather -than anger that the three great officers of state received the news -that a relation of the royal family had been discovered to exist, in -whom a successor to the unhappy madman might be found. This was the -only son of the king's uncle, who, having been cruelly treated by his -father in early youth, had left Pigmyland in disgust and had been -currently reported to have died shortly afterwards. This, however, had -not been the case. - -Prince Famcram had done nothing of the kind, and had never intended to -leave the world unless compelled to do so, by circumstances beyond his -control. He had embarked on board a vessel which was bound on a long -voyage, and had possibly cherished the hope that his absence from home -would soften his father's heart, and procure for him kinder treatment -upon his return. It is impossible to say whether this might or might -not have been the result, inasmuch as the opportunity of proving the -same never occurred. - -It was not long after the prince's flight, that his cousin the king -took it into his royal head to destroy all his blood relations, among -whom his uncle, the prince's father, naturally perished. When, -therefore, the young man next received news of his family, he learned -that there were none of them left alive except the royal destroyer of -the rest. This news, strange as it may appear, afforded him no -inducement to return to the land of his nativity, for, dear as one's -country should be to every well regulated mind, life is not -unfrequently dearer still, and Prince Famcram was unable to discover -any sufficient reason why he should imperil the one by visiting the -other. - -He stayed away, therefore, and lived as best he could in foreign lands, -until the insanity of his cousin King Pugpoz had been officially -proclaimed and publicly made known. Then, having no longer any fear for -his life, he returned to Pigmyland without delay, and at once advanced -his claim to the sovereignty. - -There were, as is usual in such cases, some persons who pretended to -doubt his identity and declared that he was only an impostor. The -evidence in his favour was, however, too strong for these disloyal and -worthless persons. - -The prince had all the characteristics of his noble family. His hair -was of a bright, staring red; he squinted frightfully with both eyes, -had one leg considerably shorter than the other, and was gifted with a -protuberance between his shoulders which was not far removed from a -hump. He had, moreover, the family dislike to cold water, a strong -propensity to drink spirits, and a temper which of itself was enough to -stamp him as one of the royal line which he claimed to represent. Add -to this, that his language was by no means well chosen or polite, that -his disposition was cowardly and cruel, and that he cared for nobody in -the world but himself, and you have a fair and accurate picture of the -prince upon whose head the crown of the unhappy Pugpoz was about to -descend. - -It may readily be inferred that the prospects of Pigmyland did not seem -to have been much brightened by the change. Indeed, between a mad king -and a bad king the difference appeared so small to some people that -they were unable to see what the country had gained by the substitution -of the one for the other. Nevertheless, the unswerving devotion to -royalty which has always distinguished Pigmies did not fail that mighty -nation upon the present occasion. - -Famcram was welcomed by the voice of the people, and those who doubted -his identity were got rid of as soon as possible. His first act, -indeed, put beyond doubt the righteous nature of his claim. He directed -Pugpoz to be immediately strangled, partly to avenge the death of his -relatives, and partly because he thought it a safer and more -satisfactory arrangement that any chance of his returning to a sane -condition of mind should at once be destroyed. - -Being now undeniably the only legitimate claimant to the throne of his -ancestors, he determined to enjoy himself as much as he possibly could. - -There were considerable treasures in the royal coffers, which had been -amassed by Pugpoz and his predecessors, and with which King Famcram -might have purchased as much enjoyment as would have served him for a -prolonged life-time. Being, however, of opinion that to be merry at -other people's expense is by far the best plan if you can possibly -manage it, he gave out that he expected the principal grandees of the -country to entertain him at banquets, balls, croquet and lawn-tennis -parties, and in order to encourage them in their endeavours to out-do -each other in pleasing their beloved monarch, he declared his intention -of marrying the daughter of the nobleman who, at the end of the next -six months, should have best succeeded in that laudable attempt. The -influence of such a promise was of course prodigious. - -To be the father-in-law of the king was an object well worth the -attainment, and every great man throughout the length and breadth of -the country felt his heart beat high at the royal announcement. Some -indeed there were, who, having no daughters, were not particularly -impressed by the circumstance, and spoke of the whole affair as a whim -of the monarch to which slight importance was to be attached. Others, -who, having seen the manner in which the late king had disposed of his -relations, doubted the advantage of becoming too closely connected with -the royal family, proposed to themselves to take no particular pains to -surpass their neighbours in the attempt to please King Famcram. But, to -tell the truth, the great majority of those who heard the royal -determination, and who happened to have marriageable daughters, -received the news with great delight, and determined to spare no -exertion which might secure such a son-in-law for themselves. - -Conspicuous among these would-be competitors for the prize were the -three great officials, Binks, Chinks, and Pigspud. Each was married, -and none was daughterless. To all three, therefore, the field was open, -and hope beat high in their official breasts. - -Since they first heard of the arrival and claims of Famcram, the three -statesmen had unitedly and steadily welcomed and supported him. They -had therefore some claims upon the royal gratitude, and hitherto their -interests had been so far identical that they had been able to work -together. Now, however, the interests of each were opposed to those of -the other two. - -According to the laws of Pigmyland, the king could only marry one wife, -and therefore his selection of the daughter of either of the three -ministers would at once throw the others in the shade, and place the -father of the bride in a position far superior to that of the other -two. This circumstance, as might have been expected, caused some slight -interruption of the harmony which had hitherto prevailed between these -three illustrious personages. At first, however, the only intention of -each of them was honestly to outdo the other two in the splendour of -the reception which he should afford his sovereign. To Binks, as Prime -Minister, fell the first opportunity, and King Famcram gave him due -notice that he should shortly honour him with a visit to his villa, -which was situate near the Pigmy metropolis. - -Now it so chanced that Binks was a widower, principally in consequence -of his wife having died, and of his having thought it unnecessary to -seek another. He had, however, two fair daughters, gems of their sex, -and bright ornaments of the court of Pigmydom. - -Euphemia was above the height ordinarily allotted to her race, and -could not have been less than three feet and a half high. Her nose was -aquiline, her cheeks flushed with the red blossom of youth, her eyes -dark and piercing, her figure all that could be desired, and her voice -clear as a lover's lute in a still evening. - -Araminta, less tall than her sister, had a delicacy of complexion -unrivalled in Pigmyland; her blue eyes were modestly cast down if you -accosted her. She spoke in tones soft and low like the south wind -whispering in the mulberry-trees, and whilst her sister took your heart -by storm, she stole into it unawares, and made you captive before you -knew you were in danger. - -Such is the description of the two daughters of the noble house of -Binks, as given by a Pigmy writer of eminence at that time, and such -were the charms against which King Famcram had to contend at the -beginning of the campaign. The Prime Minister had intended that his -entertainment should take the shape of a banquet; but the ladies -insisted upon a ball, and a ball it was consequently to be. Immense -preparations were made for days, nay, for weeks beforehand. The villa -was gorgeously decorated, the ball-room tastefully arranged, the -choicest music was provided, and no pains spared to ensure the desired -success. At last the day arrived, and the hearts of Binks and his -daughters beat high with expectation. - -The villa was beautifully placed upon the slope of a mountain, at the -foot of which a broad river wound through flowery meads and fertile -fields, enriching and beautifying both in its onward course. The -grounds of the villa stretching along the banks of the river, were -beautiful to a degree seldom seen out of Pigmyland, and never had they -appeared to greater advantage than on the present occasion. Gay flags -streamed from staffs placed in the most conspicuous positions as well -as from many of the tallest of the trees which abounded in those -magnificent gardens; sounds of lively music were wafted upon the soft -summer breeze to the entranced ear of the listener; and every heart was -filled with rejoicing and merriment. - -King Famcram was received at the entrance by a crowd of well-dressed -courtiers and obsequious attendants, who awaited his coming with all -that exuberant loyalty which is pre-eminently characteristic of the -true Pigmy. He appeared somewhat late, as was in those days always -deemed becoming in royal personages, and his coming was announced by -the enthusiastic cheers of the dense crowd which thronged the -approaches to the garden gates. - -Seated in the hereditary coach of the Pigmy monarchs, drawn by eight -cream-coloured guinea-pigs, and clad in rich garments of various hue, -Famcram drew near to the habitation of the honoured Binks. In his hand -he held the ancient sceptre of his race, which was nothing less than -the petrified skull of an early occupant of the Pigmy throne, who had -by his will left his head to be devoted to this purpose, and directed -that it should be rivetted in gold settings upon his favourite -walking-stick, and further ornamented by such gifts as his faithful -subjects might choose to bestow out of respect for the memory of their -deceased lord. As his successors, each upon his accession to the -throne, invited new gifts to the sceptre as a test of continuous -loyalty and devotion to the throne, the head of the dead king had -practically brought greater wealth to his family than it had ever done -during his life-time, and although an additional precious stone or two -was set in the skull after each recurrence of gifts, the greater -portion of these were, it was more than supposed, converted into cash -by the various monarchs who received them, and appropriated to their -own royal purposes. This valuable weapon King Famcram waved in his hand -as he neared his prime minister's dwelling, and looked round upon his -people with a proud and kingly gaze as he passed along. - -Binks, as was but natural, met his royal master at the gate, and -prepared to escort him up the avenue to the door of the villa, across a -profusion of flowers with which the way thereto was covered. - -Famcram alighted from his carriage, and suffered his host to conduct -him through the great gates, and to go bowing and scraping before him -up the avenue. He followed, squinting around him in a friendly manner, -and graciously expressing his approval of the beauty of the place. But -as soon as he had reached the stone steps which led up to the villa -door, the latter was thrown open, and, one on each side of the doorway, -stood the two daughters of the ancient house of Binks, clad in gorgeous -attire, and each holding in her hand a magnificent bouquet of the -choicest flowers, which it was their intention to humbly offer to their -august sovereign, and which they lost not a moment in presenting. -Scarcely, however, had Famcram set eyes upon the sisters and perceived -their intention, than he positively snorted with disgust, and starting -hastily backwards, (during which process he planted his heel firmly -upon the gouty toe of his Prime Minister,) he turned round fiercely -upon the latter and accused him of having intended to poison him: - -"Wretch!" he cried, "there is poison in those flowers which your -daughters--if such they be--offer to me, and doubtless it has not been -placed there without the knowledge and consent of their vile parent. I -know it but too well. Make no excuses, for they will all be useless. -The nose of a Pigmy of the royal race is never mistaken. My -great-great-grandfather was poisoned by a subtle venom concealed in a -carnation, and in the similar flowers which are conspicuous in each of -the bouquets I see before me, I detect the fate you had in store for -your sovereign. But you shall bitterly rue it! Seize him, guard!" - -The unhappy Binks, overcome with astonishment and terror, in vain -raised his voice to protest that nothing was further from his thoughts -than to perpetrate such a terrible crime as that which the king -suspected--and that, too, against a prince whose cause he had espoused -from the first, and in whose favour his whole hopes were placed. He -vowed that his daughters were certainly as innocent as he was, and -implored that the bouquets might be carefully examined, in order to -prove that no poisonous substance had been placed therein. It was all -to no purpose. Famcram only flew into a still more violent passion. - -"No poison in the flowers!" he cried. "The villain doubts his king's -nose and his king's words! Off with him, guards, at once; and let his -daughters be taken too!" - -At these words Euphemia and Araminta, who had listened with awe-struck -countenances and beating hearts to the extraordinary remarks of the -king, gave utterance to wild shrieks, and fell fainting upon the -doorway, from which they were speedily dragged by the king's orders, -and hurried away, with their unhappy father, to the dungeons of the -palace. - -Having thus got rid of his host and hostess, Famcram allowed himself to -calm down gradually, and, entering the ball-room, permitted those to -dance who wished to do so, whilst he himself proceeded without delay to -the supper-room, and made himself as comfortable as possible. He then -directed all the plate and valuables of the luckless Binks to be packed -up and taken to the palace; and, having placed a guard over the villa, -which he declared should in future be a royal residence, he departed, -with the satisfactory feeling of having made a good night's work of it. - -When news of what had been done reached Chinks, the soul of the Lord -Chamberlain was greatly exercised thereat. He did not for a moment -imagine that Binks or his daughters had been guilty of the crime -imputed to them by their royal master; but in the acts of the latter he -discerned a steady determination to possess himself of the wealth of -his richest subjects, and to reign more absolutely and despotically -than his predecessors. - -How to escape the fate of Binks was a problem by no means easy of -solution. He was blessed with three daughters, Asphalia, Bettina, and -Paraphernalia, so much alike that they could not be known apart, and so -beautiful that nobody could see them without immediately becoming -devoted to them. In these damsels Chinks placed his hopes, and could -not but believe that the king, however hardly he had dealt with his -Prime Minister, would not be insensible to the charms of his Lord -Chamberlain's daughters. Still, he received with some fear and -trembling the notice which Famcram shortly sent him, that he would -visit him at his country house in the following week. - -As the selection of a ball had not turned out well in the case of -Binks, the Chinks family resolved upon another sort of entertainment, -and at vast expense hired a celebrated conjuror to perform before the -sovereign and his court. - -The preparations were great--the company numerous--the weather all that -could be desired, and the monarch, with his attendant courtiers, -arrived in due time at the house, and was ushered into the spacious -hall, where everything had been arranged for his reception. The three -daughters of the house, dressed exactly alike, were there to receive -him; but not a flower was to be seen about any of them, so that the -fatal error of the Prime Minister's children might be avoided. They -were dressed simply, and reverently knelt before the king as they -raised their voices to sing (in tones as true as they were sweet) an -ode which their father had himself composed in honour of his -sovereign's visit. - -Scarcely, however, had they finished the first verse, when the little -tyrant roared out at the top of his voice-- - -"They sing out of tune! they sing out of tune! A royal ear is never -deceived! He has made them do it because he knows I cannot bear a false -note. Seize him, guards! away with him and his shabbily-dressed girls!" - -Chinks stepped forward to explain matters in his most courtly fashion, -when the king brought down his sceptre upon his head with such a -"thwack," that you might have heard it at the other end of the hall, -and, though his wig, which was particularly large, partially saved him, -he dropped senseless upon the floor, whilst his daughters broke into -shrieks of despair which were really out of tune, and were painful -indeed to hear. - -Famcram stopped his ears, and howled loudly for his guard, and before -many minutes had passed, the Lord Chamberlain and his daughters were on -their way to the same dungeons whither Binks and his girls had preceded -them, and the king was occupied in selecting everything in the house -which appeared to be most costly and beautiful, and directing that it -should be forthwith sent to his palace. - -Thus within a few days were two out of the three great functionaries of -the kingdom dismissed, disgraced, and left in great peril of their -lives, whilst the king had added considerably to his wealth, and had -got rid of two people whom he had either suspected or pretended to -suspect of being likely to be troublesome. - -These events made a profound impression upon the mind of Pigspud, and -all the more so when notice came from the king that he should pay him a -visit in the following week. The Lord Chief Justice was a wily and -astute man. Although his life had not been reputable, the peccadilloes -of great lawyers in that country were so usual as to be regarded by the -public with a lenient eye, and, late in life, his appearance had become -so eminently respectable, that a stranger would certainly have taken -him for a dean rather than for a judge, for a deep divine rather than -for a learned lawyer. - -He had but one daughter. Tall, majestic of stature (for she was nearly -four feet high), and with dark hair and eyes so bright that they seemed -to look right through you, Ophelia Pigspud was a most remarkable woman. -She was well read; so well read that people said she could have passed -an examination with credit in almost any subject she had been pleased -to try. Reading, in fact, was no effort to her, and her powers of -memory were extraordinarily great. It was even said that she knew more -of law than many lawyers of the day, whilst no one could deny her skill -in modern languages, and her astonishing proficiency in general -literature. - -As the venerable Chief Justice gazed upon his child, who was indeed the -pride of his heart, he could not but feel uneasy at the prospect of her -being sent to join the families of Binks and Chinks in the dungeons of -the royal palace. - -"Never," he exclaimed, "shall such a fate befall my peerless Ophelia!" - -And having given utterance to this exalted sentiment, he thought for -three days and three nights how to carry it out, and utterly failed to -discover anything at all likely to succeed. Then he bethought himself -of consulting the young lady herself, of whose opinion he thought so -highly that it is curious he had not done so before. - -She smiled calmly when he laid the case before her, reminding her at -the same time that there wanted but three more days to the time fixed -by the king for his visit. - -"Be not alarmed, my beloved father," said she, "but be assured that the -blood of a true Pigspud will not be untrue to itself in the coming -trial. Besides, the education which your kind care has provided for me, -has taught me means of escape from even worse dangers than those which -can proceed from our tyrannical sovereign. Doubt not that it will turn -out well." - -With such reassuring words did the daughter of the Chief Justice -restore courage to the heart of her parent, and he began to look -forward with less fear to the banquet at which it had been arranged -that he should entertain his royal master. It was to be served in the -large banqueting hall of his town house, and great preparations were -set on foot for several days before that appointed for the festive -gathering. But instead of busying herself about the matter, Ophelia -treated it as if it was one wholly indifferent to her, and refused to -be troubled about it in any way whatever. It was in vain that the -domestics, who were accustomed to take all orders from her, besought -her to give various directions upon different questions which arose. -She declined altogether; deputing everything to Mrs. Brushemup, the -housekeeper; and telling old Winelees, the butler, not to come near her -on pain of instant dismissal. - -Her own rooms were in a wing of the house which stretched down to the -banks of the river already mentioned, and from a private door she could -get down upon the banks without coming in sight of the windows of the -principal apartments. - -But before I relate that which happened to the fair Ophelia at this -eventful time, it is but right to inquire what had become of the -unhappy families who had already felt the weight of the tyrant -Famcram's displeasure. Binks, with his two, and Chinks, with his three -daughters, had been cast into the dungeons of the Royal Palace, and the -wife of Chinks having been added to the party, greatly increased the -misery of all by her continual upbraidings of her husband and his -friend as the cause of the misfortune which had befallen their two -families, which were all the more hard to bear, because they were -totally unreasonable and without foundation. - -The dungeons were small, hot, and unsavoury, and the prisoners suffered -greatly, especially as the food supplied to them was scanty in quantity -and wretched in quality. The young ladies endeavoured to pass away the -time in composing epitaphs upon their parents and themselves, which -after all did but little towards raising their spirits, being, as such -things not uncommonly are, of a somewhat melancholy character. Euphemia -and Araminta, however, were so proud of one of their compositions, that -it would be a pity that it should be lost to the world:-- - - "Here lies the minister, great Binks, - No more he for his country thinks; - No more he eats--no more he drinks-- - But, conquered by misfortune, sinks." - -The daughters of the Lord Chamberlain were scarcely equal to such a -poetic effort as the above; but, determined not to be behindhand, -presented their parent with the following stanza:-- - - "Look through these bars with eye of lynx, - And see the chamberlain, Lord Chinks! - He scarce can breathe, and feebly winks, - Quite done to death by prison stinks." - -In this manner did the innocent maidens endeavour to lighten the hours -of captivity which passed over their heads, and when, upon the second -week of their imprisonment, they were moved into larger and more airy -apartments, hope at once revived within their drooping bosoms. It must, -however, be confessed, that in the midst of their distress both Binks -and Chinks contemplated with silent but real satisfaction the probably -speedy advent of Pigspud to join them in their prison, and share their -sorrows. This event they both regarded as quite certain to occur, and -without having any particular ill-feeling towards the Chief Justice, -the three had been too long in the position of rivals to make either -two sorry for any misfortune that befell the third, especially if it -had previously fallen upon themselves. - -Leaving these worthies to their expectations, we will now endeavour to -discover what was passing at the abode of Pigspud. It was the evening -but one before the projected banquet. The shades of evening were fast -closing in around the city, and the mists of the river were beginning -to rise like vapoury spirits from the water, when the private door of -Ophelia's wing was stealthily and quietly opened, and a figure emerged, -clothed from head to foot in a cloak of dark gray. Slowly but surely, -as one who knew the road well, the figure passed along the low -terrace-walk that led down to the bank of the river, and stood at the -brink, silently for a few moments, and then began to murmur words in a -low tone. A listener, however attentive, could scarcely have made out -the meaning of that which Ophelia (for it was none other than the -daughter of the house of Pigspud) was reciting, for the language in -which she spoke was strange, and her tone somewhat indistinct;-- - - "Marley-quarley-pachel-farley, - Mansto macken furlesparley, - Mondo pondo sicho pinto, - Framsigalen hannotinto." - -Such were the mystic words which issued from the lips of the maiden. -Nor was it long before a response was given. A low murmuring sound -proceeded from the river, and out of the rushes which fringed the bank -there presently arose a form of strange and weird appearance. It was -that of an old, a very old woman, with a red cloak wrapped around her, -an umbrella in her hand, and a poke bonnet upon the top of her head. -She was small, though not much below the ordinary height of a Pigmy; -but the most remarkable thing about her was the extreme keenness of her -eye, which seemed to pierce you through and through when she fixed it -upon you. Slowly she rose from among the rushes, and scrambled, somehow -or other, up the bank, until she stood opposite to the maiden who had -summoned her. As soon as she had accomplished this feat, she struck her -umbrella upon the ground, and remarked in a somewhat masculine tone of -voice: - - "What is it, Ophelia, and what do you fear, - That you've called your affectionate godmother here? - Has your 'Pa' been unkind? (since no 'Ma' you have got), - Or a lover appeared when you'd rather he'd _not_? - Are you ill, or unhappy, or is't for a freak - That your godmother's presence you suddenly seek?" - -Ophelia listened with respectful attention whilst the old woman uttered -these words, and then replied in a low, sweet voice:-- - - "Did I not deem the crisis grave - I had not called thee from thy wave: - And if in doing so I err, - Forgive me, gracious godmother! - My father knows thee not, great dame; - My mother told me, all the same, - Thou _wast_ my godmother, and so - I love thee in my weal and woe. - O'ercome by cruel destiny, - Poor Binks and Chinks in dungeons lie, - And our bad king--a grievous sin-- - Hath likewise put their daughters in. - Dear godmother! 'twere sad, you know, - My father should to prison go; - But sadder still (you'll hardly fail - To see) that _I_ should go to gaol. - Yet is the time but two days hence - When Famcram comes; on some pretence - He'll surely send us both to pris'n, - And make _our_ valuables hisn. - Dear Godmother! Pray leave thy wave - Thy loving god-daughter to save, - Or tell me how, by thy kind aid, - The tyrant's power I may evade!" - -Whilst Ophelia was speaking, the old woman kept tapping her umbrella -upon the ground in visible wrath, and a frown appearing upon her face, -which was otherwise not particularly beautiful, did not greatly improve -her personal appearance. As soon as the maiden ceased, she lost not a -moment in making her reply:-- - - "I'm ready, my darling, to do your behest, - For tyrants like Famcram I greatly detest, - And if your good father was not such a dolt, - From the land of the despot he'd speedily bolt. - For Binks and for Chinks I have nothing to say, - And they're probably just as well out of the way; - But as to their daughters--I'm really inclined - To think that the king has gone out of his mind, - And in _your_ case, I'll teach him, as well as I can, - A woman has rights just as much as a man, - And he's vastly mistaken, poor wretch, if he thinks - A god-child of mine is the same as Miss Binks. - Now listen to me: when King Famcram comes here, - Betray not the slightest suspicion of fear, - But enter, quite calmly, the banqueting room - Arrayed in your commonest morning costume. - He'll show irritation; and rage, beyond doubt - (You know he could scarcely be royal without); - But never mind _that_, tho' he rages meanwhile, - Bestow on the fool a contemptuous smile; - In spite of his anger, continue the same, - And ask 'If he isn't content, why he came?' - Whate'er he replies, pray be careful of this, - And do not one word or one syllable miss; - As soon as he threatens, stand just as you are, - But hold up before him this earthenware jar, - Remarking, 'King Famcram, determined I am - To ask you to taste of my raspberry jam.' - He'll do it--he must--since, the truth for to tell, - This jar carries with it a wonderful spell; - And when I've said o'er it the words I'll now say, - Whoever you choose will acknowledge your sway. - While kept in your hand (not a difficult task) - Each person you speak to will do what you ask; - And once the jam tasted, you'll have for your slave - King Famcram, and teach him the way to behave. - But keep the jar safe, for, broken or chipped, - Of your spell and your sway you'll be speedily stripped." - -With these words the old lady, who, whilst speaking, had pulled out of -some pocket or other, or else from the folds of her umbrella, a small -jar, now held it aloft in her hand and displayed it before the eyes of -Ophelia. As soon as she had done so for as long a time as she thought -fit, she stuck her umbrella firmly into the ground, and holding the jar -immediately over it, pronounced certain mystic and fearful words, which -no mortal of ordinary nature could utter, much less write, and which -there is the less reason to mention, because if they were written or -uttered, no child of man could possibly understand them. But when she -had finished this fearful muttering to herself, she spoke out more -loudly, addressing herself thus to the jar and its contents: - - "Jar! possessed of mighty spell, - Do thy work, and do it well. - Serve Ophelia night and day-- - Famcram bring beneath her sway. - Jam! do duty day and night; - Tempt the royal appetite-- - Be to Famcram wine and meat, - Bring him to Ophelia's feet; - Cause him eagerly to crave - Life but as Ophelia's slave; - Bow him humbly, bring him down, - At her footstool place his crown, - And, thy mission to fulfil, - Let him live but by her will." - -Having finished her incantation, and repeated these lines in a voice -sufficiently distinct, though not unlike the croak of a raven, the old -woman now turned once more to Ophelia, as if to ascertain whether she -had anything more to say. The maiden smiled sweetly upon her, and at -once expressed her thanks in the following words:-- - - "Dear godmother! how good thou art! - The burden now has left my heart, - Which like a weight has bowed me down - With fear of tyrant Famcram's frown. - Well do I know 'twere hard to find - A councillor more wise and kind; - And, with thy might and magic aid - No longer shall I feel afraid. - I'll use the jar and jam as told, - And very tight the former hold, - And when King Famcram is subdued - I, with this magic power imbued, - Will make him slave--and let him know it-- - And ne'er forget to whom I owe it!" - -So speaking, Ophelia held out her hand for the promised jar, when the -old woman, making a stride forward, placed it in her hands, and then, -throwing both her arms round the maiden, clasped her tightly in a long -and loving embrace with which she could very well have dispensed. -Gratitude, however, for the immense favour which she was about to -receive at the hands of her excellent godmother, prevented her from -disclosing the repugnance which she probably felt at the vehemence of -the old lady's affection, and having endured it with silent fortitude, -she took the jar into her hands, and, bidding her companion a -respectful farewell, forthwith re-entered the private door through -which she had come, and shortly disappeared within the house. - -The old woman then took up her umbrella, and slowly descending the bank -of the river to the rushes from which she had emerged, speedily became -invisible. The shades of night closed in, and darkness soon set its -seal upon the Pigmy capital and nation. - -The Chief Justice did not see his daughter that evening, and although -he had great confidence in her sagacity, talents, and resources, it -must be confessed that he rose next morning with a heavy heart. In all -probability, he thought, it was his last day of office, and not only of -office, but of freedom. With the fate of the Prime Minister and the -Lord Chamberlain before his eyes, how could he possibly hope to escape? -For a moment the thought of flight crossed his mind, but was as -instantly banished. His hopes, his wealth, his relations, his -home--everything that could make life pleasant was fixed and centred in -his native country, and at his age no change was to be thought of or -could be endured. And then, where could he fly to, and how escape from -the tyrant's spies? - -No: the thought was madness--the event, be it what it might, must be -encountered: the morrow must come in its due course, and, after all, -he, a lawyer, a statesman and a philosopher, ought to be able to put up -with his fate at least as well as other people. - -While the worthy Pigspud thus mused upon the melancholy prospect before -him, he was interrupted by the approach of his daughter, the calmness -of whose countenance and demeanour was certainly calculated to reassure -her anxious parent. However, although she spoke hopefully and bade the -old man take courage and be sure that things would turn out better than -he expected, she told him not one word about her secret interview of -the previous evening, or of the powerful assistance she had procured. - -So the old gentleman passed but a sad day, and could only console -himself by resolving to be loyal to the last to his sovereign, and to -provide him an entertainment of which he should not be ashamed. - -Vast, indeed, were the preparations made for that banquet. So many -delicacies had probably not been collected together for one repast -within the memory of man. Nothing was omitted. From the oysters with -which each guest was to be furnished at the beginning, down to the -liqueurs at the end of the feast, everything was there, and everything -was in perfection. - -Pigspud had even hired a special poet to compose and recite an ode in -praise of the King, but there were doubts expressed as to the complete -success of the composition, confined as it was to the doings of the -table, and celebrating dishes which were made to tickle the palate by -their taste rather than the ear by their well-sung praises. The ode -began,-- - - "Come servants all, the table put on - Well-roasted beef and tender mutton. - Guests, down your throats white veal and lamb cram, - And drink the health of good King Famcram! - Consume the oaten cakes and wheat-bread, - The calves-foot jelly and the sweet-bread, - And own the table splendid, that is - So well supplied with oyster-patties." - -There was much more of this, in a similar strain, but in the confusion -that afterwards followed, and in the interesting events which I shall -presently have to chronicle, the ode itself was lost, and as no copies -could be afterwards obtained, I am unable to supply the rest of it to -the anxious reader. With regard to the entertainment, generally, there -was certainly no fault to be found. - -Old Winelees and Mrs. Brushemup had surpassed themselves, and the -confectioners, cooks and pastrycooks to whom had been assigned the -duties connected with the preparation of the affair, had exerted -themselves beyond all praise. - -The decorations were gorgeous, and everything appeared to have been -arranged with such care and good taste, and with such an utter -disregard of expense, that there were not wanting many, even among -those who were acquainted (as who was not) with the upshot of the -efforts made by the Prime Minister and the Lord Chamberlain to do -honour to their sovereign, who prophesied a greater success and even a -triumphant result to the Chief Justice. The hour drew near at which -Famcram was expected, and ere long the distant trumpets heralded his -approach. The mob cheered him lustily along the streets, not because he -was popular, but because he was handsomely dressed, had his crown upon -his head and the famous sceptre in his hand, which facts were quite -sufficient to justify a mob in cheering anybody. - -Nearer and nearer his carriage drew, and at last stopped before the -door of Pigspud's mansion. Then, after one last loud flourish, the -trumpets ceased to sound. The king alighted to his feet. The Chief -Justice received him kneeling on one knee. - -Famcram bowed coldly, glanced right and left, and then slowly entered -the banqueting room, while his host tremblingly followed behind, his -heart balanced between hope and fear, but much, it must be owned, -inclining to the latter. The king paused at the entrance of the room. -Everything was so beautifully arranged that it was difficult to find -fault, even for one who was determined to do so. The flowers, the -fruit, the flags, the garlands, the decorations which met his eye were -all so splendid, that those who saw them, and knew at the same time -that the tyrant was certain to find some occasion to carry out his -purpose, marvelled within themselves, what cause for fault-finding he -could possibly discover, or what excuse he would be able to invent for -his action. - -They had not long to marvel, however, for the next moment the eyes of -all were turned upon Ophelia, who came sauntering down the room, -between the tables, very leisurely, even carelessly, and advanced -towards the king. - -She was dressed in her morning dress of an unpretending brown colour, -fitting closely to the figure, and unadorned by ornament of any kind -save a steel chatelaine, from which hung sundry useful articles, -scissors, thimble, needlecase and the like; but which added to the -suspicion which her general appearance created, that she had merely -walked from her sitting-room to the banquetting-hall without any change -of toilet in honour of the king. - -This was quite enough for Famcram, and furnished him with an excuse for -anger against his Chief Justice, far more legitimate than those which -had been made the pretext for the punishment of his two brother -officials. The king lost no time in flying into a violent passion. - -"What ho!" he cried, in as loud a voice as his anger would permit him -to raise. "What bold hussey is this who comes to meet her sovereign in -common everyday garments? What malapert conduct have we here?" and he -strutted forward puffing and fuming like a turkey-cock. - -Ophelia, who had learned her lesson well, and knew how much depended -upon it, paid not the smallest attention to the anger of the king, but -advanced towards him with the same careless step, and a contemptuous -smile upon her countenance. Of course this made matters worse, and the -unhappy Pigspud trembled in his shoes in dire anticipation of what -would follow, whilst the courtiers and attendants opened their eyes -wider than they had ever done at the strange conduct of the infatuated -maiden. - -The sight of the smile upon the maiden's face incensed Famcram to a -still greater degree. He stamped violently upon the floor, and turning -to the Chief Justice demanded in imperious tones what was the meaning -of this insult. - -"Who is it?" he cried, "who is this brazen-faced daughter of a demon -who dares to come thus into our presence?" - -The unhappy Pigspud in trembling tones admitted that it was his own -daughter. - -"Your daughter?" exclaimed the king, with a smile or rather grin in -which fury, triumph and revenge contended for the mastery. "It is then -in your house and by your daughter that I am thus treated? I will deal -with you presently, Chief Justice. What do you mean, hussey, by this -shameful impudence?" - -To the surprise of the king himself and of every person present, -Ophelia actually yawned whilst the monarch was speaking, and when he -had concluded, kept smiling upon him with palpable contempt, and -glancing round at the decorations and beautiful objects right and left -of her, remarked in a languid, drawling tone--"If you are not content, -King Famcram, why did you come?" - -This filled up the measure of her iniquity, and drove the king nearly -mad. Half beside himself with rage, he seemed to those about him to -foam at the mouth as he spluttered forth his furious answer. - -"Vile wench! you and your father shall suffer for this! You shall, by -all that a Pigmy holds dear I swear it. The fate of Binks and Chinks -shall be paradise to _your_ lot, you wretched scum of the earth. Ho! -guard, seize these traitors at once, and have the lowest and darkest -dungeon made ready for them without delay!" - -A groan burst from the lips of the unfortunate Pigspud as the royal -lips pronounced these words, for in them he naturally saw the -realisation of his worst fears. But before one of the guards could move -hand or foot, the fair Ophelia, with the same smile continuously upon -her lips, took a step or two forward, and, holding out in her hand the -little jar of which we know--but of the existence of which everyone -present was profoundly ignorant, said in a remarkably calm and clear -voice-- - - "Pray listen: King Famcram, determined I am - To ask you to taste of my raspberry jam!" - -Scarcely were the words out of her mouth when a perceptible change came -over the face, voice, and manner of Famcram. The first turned ghastly -white; the second sank to a low whisper; and the third lost all its -violence, and became as quiet as the manner of a sheep when in the -hands of its executioner. - -One shiver passed over the king's frame, as if there was a strong -internal struggle; but it was over in a moment. Murmuring something so -indistinctly that no one was quite sure what he said, but apparently -something about "not liking to refuse a lady," he shuffled forward to -meet Ophelia, whilst the crowd around was plunged in the deepest -amazement at his strange and altered conduct. - -The maiden, as he approached, took a small silver salt-spoon from the -table near her, scooped out of her jar a good spoonful of the jam, and -held it to Famcram's mouth. He meekly received the spoon therein, and -devoured the jam without a word, good, bad, or indifferent. The next -moment he grovelled--literally grovelled--at Ophelia's feet, covering -them with kisses, and vowing that he was her slave for life. - -The people could hardly believe their eyes, and looked at each other as -if they felt that they must all be in a dream, or suffering from some -optical delusion, and that it could not be a reality which was passing -before them. But Ophelia took it all quite as a matter of course. - -She ordered Famcram, in haughty tones, to kneel on all fours, and as -soon as he had done so, she sat down upon him with the greatest -calmness. - -Wonder upon wonders! The tyrant, who had shown every disposition to -treat his people like miserable slaves, seemed now to be reduced to -more abject slavery than the meanest of his vassals. - -A moment before, he was uttering threats of vengeance against his host; -now, he was prostrate and humble, the meek servitor of that host's -daughter. - -No one could imagine whence or how this mighty change had come, but the -voice of Ophelia soon turned their thoughts to other things. Still -seated upon her living stool, she bade the guests be seated, and told -them that her father would do the honours. - -Having seen her power displayed in so miraculous a manner, no one felt -the least inclined to disobey her, the more particularly as her -commands were by no means of an unwelcome nature, and the feast was one -of a very inviting description. - -No one offered to interfere between the lady and the sovereign, being -probably of opinion that to do so would expose themselves to danger -without benefit to their lord and master, for whom, moreover, none of -them had any very particular affection. Accordingly they obeyed -Ophelia's commands without either reluctance or hesitation, seated -themselves at the tables and began to attack the good things thereupon -without any unnecessary delay. - -Meantime Ophelia kept her seat, and Famcram, not being particularly -strong, soon groaned beneath her weight, especially as she did not try -to lighten his burden, but sat as heavy as she could, occasionally -lifting her feet from the ground to give greater weight to her body. -The king spoke not a word, however, being apparently restrained by some -power. He merely panted and breathed deeply, once or twice trembling so -as to shake the maiden. Whenever he did so, she struck him a sharp blow -on the side of the head with the back of her hand, addressing him at -the same time with epithets the reverse of complimentary. - -"Beast, keep quiet." "Be still, you stupid brute," and such like -ejaculations were all the king got from his fair mistress, and this -continued until the banquet was well nigh over, and most of the good -things consumed. Then Ophelia arose, and taking the king by the ear -(which she pinched and twisted so that an involuntary yell broke from -the unhappy sufferer), led him to the head of the table at which her -father was presiding. The latter trembled even then, partly for fear of -the extraordinary power possessed by his daughter, and perhaps in a -greater degree lest it should suddenly fail her after all, and the -vengeance of the enslaved monarch be worse to endure than would have -been his first anger. - -No such fear, however, troubled Ophelia, who had her own purpose in -what she was now about to do. She desired to show to the people her -great and full power over their sovereign, and this she had already -done; but it was by no means part of her plan that they should cease to -pay him deference, or at least obedience, for it was through him that -she could alone possess that power over them which she fully intended -to gain. She therefore caused him to be seated at her father's right -hand, and to be supplied with food and drink of which she directed him -to partake. Famcram obeyed at once, meekly and without complaint, and -ate what was given to him with a grateful glance at Ophelia, such as a -dog might have given to a master who had thrown him a bone. - -She, meanwhile, seating herself on the other side of her father, -listlessly asked for some boiled chicken, and, whilst she trifled with -her knife and fork, began to converse upon indifferent subjects, making -no allusion whatever to the incidents of the day. This behaviour caused -the Chief Justice the greatest astonishment, and at another time he -would have demanded explanations of his daughter without delay. - -But his joy at the unexpected turn which things had taken, and at his -own safety, at least for the time, from the peril with which he had -been so recently threatened, caused him to take less notice of the -matter than he would otherwise have done. - -To speak the truth, moreover, his joy had been somewhat increased and -his spirits in no small degree elated by an unusual quantity of dry -champagne which he had imbibed in the excitement of the moment, so that -things appeared natural and reasonable to him which would generally -have seemed most extraordinary. - -Ophelia meantime was playing her game well. She judged--and judged -rightly--that the conduct of the king in throwing himself at her feet, -in allowing her to sit upon him as if he were a chair or stool, and in -afterwards meekly following her to the head of the table, would be -attributed to nothing else than devoted love by a great many of those -who were present, and especially by such as had not been near enough to -witness his first outburst of anger, or to hear his first words, which -had certainly not been those of affection. - -This idea would be speedily followed by another, when the guests saw -her seated on one side of the Chief Justice and King Famcram on the -other. - -What _could_ it mean save that she was about to be raised to the -highest dignity in the kingdom, and to share the throne and power of -Famcram as his queen? - -This was in fact the resolution which she had formed, and determined to -omit no precaution which might ensure its success. So she sat and ate -at the banquet, already looking and feeling like a queen, and her -device fully succeeded in making the people believe that things were as -she desired. - -But all this would be insufficient without some public avowal on the -part of the king, and she resolved that this should be given. - -Presently, therefore, she leant forward across her father, and, -steadily looking Famcram in the face, thus addressed him:-- - -"King, your wish--the anxious wish of your heart--shall be gratified. I -consent to become your queen, and you may at once announce the happy -tidings to this august assembly." - -As she said these words, the luckless Famcram turned quite red in the -face, and there was visibly another struggle within his breast between -contending passions. This struggle lasted longer than the first, and -not only did he make no sign of acquiescence to the lady's proposal, -but there were those who afterwards declared that they heard--deep and -low like the sound of fire struggling to burst loose from walls within -which it is enclosed--a sepulchral voice within the king which muttered -the words--"I don't want any queen." - -But, whether such words were spoken or not, Ophelia was equal to the -occasion. - -"Jam, dear, did you say?" she asked in her most winning tones, and in -another second the salt-spoon was out, and a portion of the contents of -the little jar transferred without delay to the king's mouth, whilst in -a low, determined voice, the maiden continued, speaking in tones which -could scarcely be heard by anyone save the king himself and the Chief -Justice. - -"Speak out, slave, at once, and acknowledge me as your only queen." - -Mechanically, as if moved by springs, uprose King Famcram. There was a -dead silence for a moment; then there burst forth a loud cheer, for the -guests naturally supposed that the king was about to speak, and knew -that it was proper to cheer before he said anything, in order to show -that they were ready to do so afterwards. - -Then again there was a silence, and Famcram spoke these words: - - "Ophelia Pigspud is my queen, and only she." - -And down he sat again so suddenly that everybody thought it was by -accident, and there must be something more coming. - -As, however, there was _not_, it was evidently the duty of all present -to cheer again, and this they did most lustily, again and again, though -a great many of them had not heard what the king had said, a great many -more thought there was something in the proceeding which they could not -understand, and still a great many more did not care sixpence, one way -or other, about the announcement. - -Nevertheless, Ophelia had gained her end: the king had publicly -declared that she, and she only, was his queen, and the rest appeared -to depend upon herself. - -By this time the Chief Justice was in a condition which rendered it -desirable that no further business of importance should be transacted, -for the excitement of the afternoon had proved altogether too much for -him. He was therefore assisted to his room, and retired amid loud -cheers from such of the guests as had not made sufficient noise before. -Then Ophelia directed the butler and his attendants to conduct Famcram -to the state chamber, and to direct the guards to be placed in the -usual manner. - -The courtiers and guests were forthwith dismissed, and the eventful day -drew to its close. - -Many and deep were the thoughts which occupied Ophelia's mind that -night; she had a difficult game to play, and though her spirit was high -and her courage undaunted, it was impossible that she should not feel -some anxiety as to the result. So far, indeed, all had gone well. - -Famcram, who had evidently entered the banqueting-room with no better -intentions towards her father and herself than those which he had -entertained and carried out in the case of the unhappy families of -Binks and Chinks, had been entirely overcome by the magic assistance of -her godmother. - -The jam had proved most efficacious indeed, and the evening had been -one continued triumph. - -But doubts and fears still remained as to the future. At the very -moment of the king's recognition of her as his queen, he had but too -plainly evinced a disinclination to the step which appeared to indicate -that the power of the jam was but temporary, unless, indeed, it was the -last struggle of his obstinate nature against that power. He had -certainly yielded, and nothing could have been more complete than -Ophelia's victory. But then came the question, if the jam had not -sufficient force to keep the king enchained as her slave for a longer -time than the duration of the banquet, might not its power die away -altogether before morning? In that case, what would be her position if -the monarch, too wary to see her, and so run the risk of being again -subjected to the same treatment, should issue orders directed against -her and hers, and fully revenge himself for the events of the previous -evening? - -True--if she retained the jar, she might operate upon his messengers in -such a manner as to prevent their inflicting personal injury upon -herself, but she would probably be unable to protect her father or his -property, as the power she possessed seemed to be personal, closely -connected with the jam, and such as could only be exercised when she -had the jar in her hand. - -Suppose, again, that Famcram should awake during the night, discover -that he was not in his own palace, summon his attendants, and surprise -her father and slay or capture him whilst asleep. Or suppose he should -leave the house by stealth, and that next morning it should be -surrounded by royal guards before she was awake, and her jar possibly -taken from her. - -All these thoughts passed constantly through the mind of the daughter -of Pigspud, and she got but little rest throughout the whole of that -long and dreary night. - -Early in the morning she arose, performed her toilet with the greatest -care, and forthwith descended to the grand drawing-room of the mansion, -where several of the courtiers had already assembled. The king had not -yet made his appearance, and it must be owned that Ophelia awaited his -coming with some anxiety. Presently, however, the doors were thrown -open, and the sun shining through the great windows on the staircase, -fell full upon the bright red hair of the little monarch, making it -brighter than ever. - -As he slowly descended, Ophelia grasped tightly in her hand the little -jar, which she kept concealed in the folds of her dress, quite prepared -to have recourse to it again immediately, if occasion should require. -She soon saw, however, that she need be under no immediate -apprehension. There was a submissive look about Famcram's general -appearance, and a humility even in his squint (which seemed that -morning to be more frightful than ever), which greatly re-assured the -maiden. - -He came limping into the room, and bowed before her as he entered. Now -was the moment when Ophelia's course of action must be clear and -certain. She had already resolved upon it, and proceeded according to -her determination. - -To keep Famcram in awe of herself--to preserve their last evening's -relations of mistress and slave--was positively necessary, but it was -equally desirable not to lower her future husband in the eyes of his -courtiers and attendants. She therefore saluted him with a graceful -bend of the head, and invited him to the breakfast-room, where they -took their seats side by side. - -The Chief Justice was rather late that morning, at which nobody -manifested any surprise, having seen that his fatigue was great on the -previous evening. Ophelia therefore had everything to do, and she did -it admirably. The guests were well treated, the breakfast was -excellently arranged, and everybody appeared satisfied and in good -spirits. - -At the conclusion of the repast, Ophelia notified to the king that he -should appoint a time that morning at which he would receive his -subjects, and publicly fix the day upon which their marriage should be -celebrated. - -The little man made no objection, and trembled visibly when the maiden -fixed her eyes upon him. So it was arranged that at a public audience -to be held at twelve o'clock, the king should make solemn proclamation -of his intended marriage, and that, as delays in such matters were -undesirable, the ceremony should be performed the very next day. - -Thus far had Ophelia Pigspud certainly overcome the evils with which -fate had threatened her, and she began to feel confident that all would -go well, and that her triumph would be final and complete. Twelve -o'clock came, and the appointed reception was duly held, the -proclamation that it would be so having attracted many of the better -class of Pigmies. The shortness of the notice was no hindrance to this -result. - -In some countries, I have been told, when subjects are admitted to the -presence of their sovereign, they are compelled, whether men or women, -to adopt a costume which they never think of wearing at any other time, -which is exceedingly inconvenient and sometimes ridiculous. Although -these ceremonies take place, like the royal receptions in Pigmyland, in -the broad daylight, the ladies who attend are obliged to do so in -dresses more fit for evening parties, with their heads fantastically -arranged and crowned with feathers, more ludicrous than imposing, -while, irrespective of weather, their throats and chests are exposed in -a manner exceedingly likely to produce colds and coughs and such like -undesirable ailments. - -The gentlemen, all armed with swords, as if the sovereign was likely to -order a sudden attack upon them, or to require their services in order -to repel one upon himself, are dressed in various degrees of absurdity, -according to the particular rank or grade to which each belongs, but no -one wears an ordinary dress, and the whole thing is somewhat like a -fancy ball or a masquerade without the masks. These, however, are of -course only half civilized people, and not an intelligent and -progressive race such as the Pigmies. The latter appear before their -monarch in their ordinary clothes, the only regulation being that they -shall be decent and respectable, as in fact they always are. Thus the -sovereign sees his people as they really are, whilst they on their part -come into the royal presence without restraint, or the uncomfortable -feeling of presenting an appearance similar to that of a jackdaw in -peacock's feathers. This ensures a large attendance on reception days, -which are also the more frequently held, and at short notice, since -they do not entail upon the people, as in the countries to which I have -alluded, the necessity of long notice to dress-makers and tailors, and -the not inconsiderable expense contingent upon dealings with such -people. So although the proclamation was only made upon the same -morning, the greater part of the aristocracy of Famcram's capital, -together with many of the middle classes, who were not excluded from -that court, attended his reception. - -Ophelia stood by his side, carefully retaining the jar of jam all the -time, and the little monarch was as submissive as upon the previous -day. The people saw and recognised her position. - -Whether they murmured at all, or entertained any objection to the -sudden elevation of the daughter of Pigspud, I cannot say, but at all -events no such feeling was evinced, the reception passed off as well as -Ophelia could possibly have wished, and Famcram was as much her slave -as ever. - -For greater security, she gave him a small piece of bread and jam -immediately after luncheon, and he really seemed to require no more in -order to keep him perfectly submissive and obedient to the will of his -mistress. Of course it was necessary to make great preparations for the -next day. - -Chief Justice Pigspud, finding his daughter's position, to all -appearance, firmly established, took heart again, recovered much of his -former confidence, and began to hold up his head and to prepare to take -a full share in the future government of the kingdom. He naturally took -the lead in arranging the proceedings of the following day, the more -especially as Famcram seemed to have suddenly changed his character. -Instead of being captious, jealous, ill-tempered, arbitrary, and -tyrannical, he appeared to have subsided into a meek, quiet, timid -being, who hardly dared call his soul his own. He spoke, looked, and -moved as if in a kind of stupor, and obeyed every command of Ophelia -without a protest or even a murmur of objection. - -The Chief Justice, seeing that this result had been obtained in some -mysterious way, was too well satisfied with it to trouble his daughter -by inquiries into the means she had used or the agencies she had -employed. It is due to the old man to say that he suspected nothing -unlawful, but even had he entertained such suspicions, I do not know -that he would have deemed it necessary to take any action upon them, -since, whatever the means taken, the end secured had been one so -desirable. - -With all his faults Pigspud was not without generosity, and now that he -saw good prospects of prosperity before him and his house, he bethought -himself of his old associates, Binks and Chinks, and determined, if -possible, to effect their release from unmerited imprisonment. - -With this object he went to his daughter in the afternoon of the day -before the wedding, representing to her that it would be a graceful act -on her part, and one likely to be popular with the people, if she were -to persuade the king to release his old ministers and their families, -and invite them to be present at his approaching nuptials. - -Ophelia was somewhat vexed at the request. She hardly felt as yet -sufficiently secure in her position to run any risks, and, although she -would have been glad enough to have aided in the release of the Prime -Minister and the Lord Chamberlain, an indefinable something seemed to -tell her that in the daughters of the two ministers she would find -enemies who had better not be placed in any position in which they -could possibly do harm. - -She knew the power which jealousy has over the female mind--that is to -say, in Pigmyland, though, of course, in ordinary countries, such a -feeling is unknown to the softer sex--and she feared she knew not what. -However, she felt that it would be ungracious, as well as ungrateful, -to refuse her father his first request, and she, therefore, told -Famcram that the prisoners must be released in order to be present at -the wedding next day. The king raised no objection, but did as he was -told, and orders were immediately sent to the dungeons for the -liberation of the ex-ministers and their families, at which they were, -of course, delighted; but some difficulty was experienced after their -release from prison, as to where they should go to, inasmuch as King -Famcram had appropriated all their property. As, however, their -respective houses remained unoccupied, they were permitted to return -thither, and make themselves as comfortable as they could. The ladies -of the party were the worst off, and great were their complaints of -total inability to appear in proper dresses at the festivities on the -ensuing day. - -Ophelia felt for their difficulty, and did all she could to remove it, -supplying them with many articles of dress from her own wardrobe, and -assuring them of her sincere sympathy for their sufferings in the past, -and her readiness to promote their happiness in the future. So when the -morning fixed for the royal marriage dawned, all seemed likely to go -well, and content reigned upon the face of every Pigmy. - -Owing to a conflagration which, at a subsequent period, destroyed all -the records in the public offices of that country, I am unable to -supply my readers with a full and accurate account of all the details -of the interesting ceremony which united Ophelia to her royal husband. - -Various accounts were written and published at the time, but none of -them by authority, and I am unwilling to trust to unauthorized -narratives when dealing with a subject of such immense importance. That -which it most concerns us to know, however, is that the wedding -actually took place, which fact having been once ascertained, even the -appearance of the bride and the dresses of the bridesmaids become -matters of comparatively little moment Of this great fact there is -happily no doubt. - -King Famcram was legally married to Ophelia Pigspud after the custom of -Pigmy marriages, and the maiden was undoubtedly Queen of the Pigmies. -Her first act was at once gracious and becoming. She caused Binks and -Chinks to be reinstated in their former offices, and arranged that -pecuniary compensation should be given them for the losses they had -sustained. Furthermore, she appointed Euphemia and Araminta Binks, -together with the three daughters of the lord chamberlain, Asphalia, -Bettina, and Paraphernalia, as her ladies in waiting, and promised to -them and to herself that the court should ever be made the scene of -gaieties and entertainments to which it had long been a stranger. - -But however good were the motives of Ophelia, however kind her feeling -towards these five young ladies, however pleasant her plans might have -appeared to them under other circumstances, I am sorry to say that they -neither believed in nor appreciated them. - -Feelings of jealousy had sprung up within their tender breasts, from -the first moment that they had found Ophelia preferred to the throne -before themselves. Possessed, as has been related, of beauty, wit, and -fascination in different degrees, but in the case of each of them, a -superior degree to the generality of maidens, they felt that they had, -each and all, as good a right to have shared the throne of Famcram as -the more fortunate damsel who had obtained that position. - -Instead, therefore, of being loyal to Ophelia, and grateful for her -kindness towards them, they regarded her with envy and spite, and their -beautiful faces but ill reflected the ugly feelings which occupied -their hearts. Ignorant of this, Ophelia had forgotten her first fears -and doubts upon the question of their release, and, unsuspicious of -evil, kept one or other of the maidens constantly near her. - -For a day or two all went well. The king kept in the same state of -torpor, and his passive obedience to his wife made him, in the general -opinion of Pigmy ladies, a model for all husbands. Ophelia, however, -knowing the source from which her power was derived, kept her jar -always at hand, so that she might be able to have immediate recourse to -it if the occasion should arise. It was not extraordinary that, under -these circumstances, her ladies in waiting should become acquainted -with, and take notice of, the fact. It became, very shortly after their -appointment, a matter of conversation amongst them, and of wonder that -the Queen should always carry about with her a common looking little -jar, of which they knew neither the use nor the contents. - -Paraphernalia, the youngest and prettiest of the Chinks family, wished -to ask a question about it outright, but the worldly wisdom of her -elder sisters checked her, for they feared that their position at court -might be imperilled by any forwardness or impertinence of the kind. - -Whether Ophelia, if asked, would have given such information, or at -least have dropped such hints, as might have prevented the occurrence -of the facts I am about to relate, cannot now be known. The opportunity -was not afforded her, and the five ladies in waiting remained in -ignorance upon the subject. - -On the third day after her marriage, Ophelia was to receive the ladies -of the court and such of the fairer portion of Pigmyland as desired to -be presented to her. She was richly arrayed in garments well suited to -the occasion, and looked right royal as she stood to receive her -guests. The king, with meek and submissive gait, stood by her side, and -never had she looked more lovely or felt more triumphant. Resolved, -however, to take care of safety as well as of appearance, she kept in -her left hand the little jar, having a scarf lightly thrown over her -arm and concealing it from view. It had not, however, escaped the sharp -eyes of Paraphernalia Chinks, who determined in her own mind that the -day should not pass by without her knowing something more about the -evident mystery to which that jar related. The ladies in waiting were, -naturally enough, near the queen, and stood looking on whilst those who -were presented to her majesty trooped by, making their reverent -obeisances as they did so. - -After a while, Ophelia began to feel rather tired of bowing and -smiling, but still continued graciously to do so, until an elderly dame -in passing, tripped over her train and seemed in danger of falling. The -queen made an involuntary movement forward as if to save her, and in so -doing happened to loosen her hold upon the jar in her left hand. At the -very same instant, Paraphernalia, who had been watching her opportunity -all the time, started forward as if to assist her majesty, and, as if -by accident, gave a violent push to her left arm, when, sad to relate, -the jar fell from her hand upon the marble pavement at her feet, and -was instantly broken in pieces. - -At the sight of the contents, which appeared to be ordinary jam, the -ladies-in-waiting could hardly restrain themselves from exclamations of -surprise, and all the more so when they perceived the pallor which -immediately overspread the countenance of the queen. But their -attention was at once directed to something else. - -Scarcely had the accident happened, and the jar slipped from Ophelia's -grasp and met with the fate I have described, when a great and -marvellous change came over the appearance and demeanour of the king. -No longer meek and subdued, his countenance flushed with rage, his -squinting appeared more furiously malicious than ever, and he stood -before the Court, not the obedient slave and husband, but once more the -tyrant Famcram, restored to his former self. - -He passed his hand across his brow, as if to sweep away from him some -unpleasant memories, and then glared fiercely around him for a minute -without uttering a syllable. There was a dead silence. Everybody feared -some dreadful outburst, and nobody knew what to expect. - -Then Famcram broke forth in fury-- - -"What sorcery is here?" he cried. "What witchcraft has been going on? -What drab is this whom I see beside me assuming a place as if she were -queen? Who are these over-dressed peacocks on every side? Toads, -vipers, serpents! Ho, guards! away with them!" and again he looked with -frightful grimaces upon those who stood about him. - -Binks, Chinks, and Pigspud fell instantly on their knees, all in a row. -The ladies-in-waiting, between trembling and fainting, did nothing for -the moment, whilst Ophelia, recognising at once that her power of -compulsion was gone, resolved to make an instant appeal to the better -feelings of the king. - -"Sire," she said, turning round and confronting him with dignity, "I am -your lawful queen. Three days ago you wedded me, and I share your -throne. Pray let us govern with justice and mercy, and you shall never -have cause to repent of having elevated me to this position." - -"Position! You! Throne! Queen! _Us_ govern!" shrieked Famcram at the -top of his voice, now perfectly beside himself with fury. "You fool! -You idiot! You jackanapes! You witch! You vile creature! _You_ a queen, -forsooth! Out upon your folly, that led you to try and deceive Famcram. -Seize her, guards!" he continued; "seize the whole lot of them! Strip -off their fine robes, and away with them to the palace dungeons! We -will soon see who is to be king and master here!" - -As he spoke, the obedient guards came forward; and, in spite of all -that Ophelia could do or say, stripped her of her ornaments, and cloak -of rich fur, took from her head the crown with which the queens of that -country were always decorated on state occasions, and began to drag her -away. - -Famcram grinned with malicious spite as he saw her in the hands of his -rough attendants. - -"Ah!" said he, "this is _real_ jam, now!" and from these casual words -of the king sprang an expression which has now become proverbial in -that country, indicating some special pleasure or remarkably gratifying -incident. - -Ophelia was not alone in her misfortune. Her five ladies-in-waiting -were all seized at the same time, their fine clothing taken from them, -and themselves conveyed back again to the same dungeons which they had -previously occupied, and which the wretched Ophelia now shared with -them. - -Their behaviour to the fallen queen was, I am sorry to say, neither -ladylike nor generous. Forgetful of the fact that it was to her they -had owed their liberty, and that she had shown them all possible -kindness during her brief period of prosperity, they only remembered -that it was through her discomfiture that they were themselves -suffering at the moment They overwhelmed her with reproaches, in which -Paraphernalia, herself the real cause of their joint misfortune, was -especially forward, and not content with this, the three daughters of -Chinks set upon her, cuffed her, scratched her, slapped her, pulled her -hair, and vowed that they would do much worse before they had done with -her. - -Paraphernalia went so far as to suggest cutting off all her hair, and -spoiling her beauty by burning or otherwise marking her face; but the -others had hardly come to such a state of wickedness and malice as -this, although they joined in making the poor girl more miserable than -she would otherwise have been, and showed a want of consideration and -good feeling which was much to be blamed. - -The discomfort and misery of all the ladies were, as may be supposed, -considerable; nor was their condition at all improved by the news that -Famcram had resolved that the parents of the three families, Binks, -Chinks, and Pigspud, should be executed in the public market place -within three days. This news, conveyed to them by some of those -officious persons who always like to bring unpleasant tidings, if only -that they may watch their effects upon the people they are likely to -make unhappy, plunged all six ladies into the deepest sorrow. - -Nor was the next piece of news at all calculated to lighten the burden -of affliction which weighed them down. Famcram sent a special messenger -to inform the captives that they should all suffer the extreme penalty -of the law also. At first he had declared that they should be publicly -whipped in the square opposite the palace, and afterwards be beheaded, -but upon an earnest representation being made to him by a deputation -from the anti-flogging society, who were numerous in the city, he -consented to forego that part of the punishment, and to have them sewn -up in sacks and thrown into the river, which was a form of punishment -much in vogue in that part of the world. - -Resolved, however, to make them suffer as much as possible, he directed -that their execution should take place upon the day preceding that of -their fathers, and that the latter should be obliged to tie the mouths -of the sacks, and roll their own children into the water. - -The girls heard this doom with horror, but there was no way of averting -it. On the morning of the day on which the sentence was to be carried -into effect, the daughters of Chinks became more furious than ever -against Ophelia, and declared that she ought to be scratched to death -in the dungeon, and not share the fate of honourable damsels like -themselves. But a better spirit had come over Euphemia and Araminta, -the daughters of the late Prime Minister. - -They had felt some compunction at the treatment of Ophelia by their -friends and prison companions, and had not joined in the personal -attack which had been led by Paraphernalia. And when they remembered -how Ophelia had behaved as queen, and saw how meekly she bore the cruel -insults now heaped upon her by the others, they spoke out boldly, and -interfered to prevent further violence. - -So the hours passed by until the afternoon arrived, and all six ladies, -having a thick coarse white sheet cast round each of them, as if about -to stand and do penance, were led forth from the palace dungeons and -taken to the appointed place of execution. - -Everything had been arranged under the direct orders of the tyrant -himself. Marshalled two and two between their guards, the poor girls -found that they had to pass through a crowd of gaping and staring -people, and to walk over the mud and stones upon their bare feet. - -Their beauty attracted general notice, but Ophelia's form and bearing -made by far the greatest impression upon the bystanders. - -Side by side she walked by Euphemia Binks, but the latter's beauty was -entirely eclipsed by that of the late queen. The daughter of Pigspud -walked with a royal air--upright, majestic in figure, with a look of -resignation and yet contempt of fate--she excited an universal feeling -of pity and admiration. - -Low murmurs were heard among the crowd, and whispers which, had they -come to Famcram's ears, would certainly have caused the whisperers -trouble. The tyrant, however, was so much feared, and the loyalty of -Pigmies is ever so devoted, even when their sovereign is one whom no -one can love or respect, that no sign of an outbreak was shown. - -Slowly the mournful procession marched upon its way, until it reached -the road leading directly to the river. - -At this moment the great cathedral bell began to toll, filling the -hearts of those who heard it with a certain awful feeling impossible to -be described in words, which was increased in intensity when men in -black garments, with masks over their faces, appeared, carrying the -sacks which were to be employed in the execution of the unhappy -maidens. - -With a refinement of cruelty, the brutal tyrant had directed that the -procession should turn aside and pass through the hall of the Chief -Justice's house, so that Ophelia in her disgrace and misery, should be -made to look upon the place in which her recent but shortlived triumph -had occurred. So they marched into the house and through the great -banqueting-room, and out into the gardens, and as they slowly descended -to the river, again the solemn deep death-warning clang of the -cathedral bell sounded in their ears, and the girls knew that now -indeed their end was very near. - -Close to the spot which he had fixed for the execution, in a -magnificent arm-chair upon a kind of temporary dais erected for the -occasion, sat Famcram himself, uglier than ever, with his crown upon -his head, and the famous sceptre in his hand. As the procession drew -near he arose from his chair, around which stood his principal -courtiers, whilst at a little distance might be observed the wretched -Binks, Chinks, and Pigspud, each guarded by two armed attendants. - -When the ladies had approached quite close to the king, he grinned upon -them with more than his usual malice, and began to sneer at and abuse -them. - -"Is this our queen?" he asked in a jeering tone. "The queen that was to -share our throne, and it was to be 'us' who would govern, was it not? -Poor wretch! the bed of the river will soon be your royal couch, and -you shall share it with the eels--if" (and here he grinned horribly) -"they can make their way through the sack which will hold your lovely -form. _You_ to be queen, you nasty, staring, goggle-eyed vixen! And -here come our Prime Minister's and Lord Chamberlain's children! Pretty -ducklings, you shall be sown up nice and tight, and your own fathers -shall give you to the pike and the rats. Nice tender morsels for these -ye will be!" - -To these taunts the poor girls made no reply, and the tyrant continued -to insult them, having ordered the procession to stand still for the -purpose. And still the great bell tolled on. - -They had stopped very near to the river, and now, at a signal from the -king, the men clothed in black came forward with the sacks, the white -sheets were taken from the fair shoulders of the victims, and each was -thrust into her sack in the dishevelled garments she wore, and left -there for a few moments until the unhappy fathers should perform the -duties assigned to them. - -Up to this time Ophelia had kept silence. She despised the wretched -Famcram too much to condescend to answer his taunts. If death was to be -met, she would meet it like a true daughter of Pigspud, and her ancient -lineage should never be disgraced by her behaviour. - -But, at this extreme moment, a ray of hope darted suddenly into her -heart. Where was she? Upon the very spot where she had received the -mystic jar which had worked for her such wonders. The place was the -same--the hour, though not so late, was possibly not unpropitious, for -the sun was beginning to sink behind the higher buildings of the city. -Was it impossible that the same power which had helped her before might -again befriend her? The effort was at least worth making, and failure -could make matters no worse. - -So, even in the sack, before it was closed over her head, with enemies -seemingly all around, and death staring her in the face, Ophelia lifted -up her head and looking towards the river, slowly pronounced these -words. - - "Marley-quarley-pachel-farley-- - Mansto macken furlesparley,-- - Mondo pondo sicho pinto, - Framsigalen hannotinto!" - -Everybody was surprised at the words and behaviour of the unfortunate -lady. - -But what followed surprised them infinitely more. A curious whining, -murmuring, incomprehensible sound came along the banks of the river, -filling the hearts of those who heard it with a strange sense of fear, -and a feeling that something wonderful was about to happen. - -The river, too, instead of flowing on in its usual quiet and majestic -manner, seemed perturbed in an extraordinary manner, and became as -rough as the open ocean in a storm. - -By common consent everyone who was present stood as if struck by one -feeling of awe, which palsied and unfitted them for action. The men who -were supporting the sacks in which the unhappy maidens stood, shivering -with fear, remained rooted to their places, and mingled fear and wonder -sat upon the faces of the people. - -Then slowly arose from the rushes by the waterside the same grotesque -figure which had once before held converse with Ophelia. The red cloak, -the umbrella, the poke bonnet, the keen eye, were all there, and the -old woman stood upon the bank within a very short distance of the -sacks. - -She looked round upon the people as if rather surprised at seeing them -there, but appeared after a short time to have eyes only for Ophelia, -upon whom she fixed her gaze attentively, and striking her umbrella -upon the ground accosted her in the following words: - - "What is it, Ophelia! and what do you fear - That you've called your affectionate godmother here? - Have matters gone wrong since you wanted me last? - I fear that they have, as my eyes round I cast-- - You haven't got on the same dress that you wore - When you came down to see the old lady before-- - And unless my old eyesight its certainty lacks - You seem hampered and bound in the coarsest of sacks, - And some other girls, too! in what sad plight you are; - My darling; has aught gone amiss with the jar?" - -In a mournful voice Ophelia replied at once:-- - - "Dear godmother! my woes are great, - And miserable is my fate: - The jar is broken! and I am - Both 'out of luck' and 'out of' jam! - This cruel tyrant, whom I wed - (I would I'd been at Bath instead!) - His senses managed to recover, - And, now no more obedient lover, - Used language really quite past bearing - (He always _was_ too prone to swearing), - Swore I no more his wealth should sponge on, - And clapt me in a dirty dungeon. - And then, his wrath no way abating, - My ladies--five of them--in waiting - He also sent there--scarce politely-- - And tho' they've not behaved quite rightly, - They scarcely have in crime abounded - So much--as to be sacked--and drownded! - Tho' if my throne I once were back in - _I_ should have given _three_ a "sacking"-- - But, godmother, see what I'm brought to! - That naughty king!--he didn't ought to!" - -Ophelia sobbed aloud when she had concluded these words, which were -uttered somewhat incoherently, as if the poor girl was quite overcome -by her misfortune. But scarcely had she finished, when the old woman -strode up to the sack without another word, and drawing a large pair of -scissors from her belt, immediately cut it open in such a manner that -the maiden was set free. - -Up to this time King Famcram had remained quiet, as if sharing in the -general fear and astonishment. No sooner, however, did he see that the -old woman's purpose was to set free at least one of his prisoners, and -that the chief offender, than fear gave way to wrath, and he leaped up -from his armchair in a tremendous passion. - -"Who is this?" he cried loudly, "who is this that interferes with the -King's sentence? Seize her, guards! Vile hag, you shall soon receive -your deserts." - -But not a guard moved. Some power greater than that of Famcram seemed -to restrain them, and the old woman quietly accomplished her task -without taking the slightest notice of anybody but Ophelia. - -When the latter was free, and standing by her side, she once more spoke -in the same masculine voice as at first, and smiling upon the maiden, -thus addressed her:-- - - "Tho' jars may be broken and jam may be spoiled, - The plans of your godmother never are foiled, - And power and good-will I must certainly lack - Ere my favourite god-child be drowned in a sack. - Yet if you desire it, my god-daughter sweet, - These ladies of thine shall their recompense meet-- - And since they've behaved, dear, so badly to thee, - We'll give them a ducking--just say--shall it be!" - -Ophelia, who now began to feel sure that she was safe, was too much -rejoiced thereat to wish harm to anyone else, and in a few well chosen -words she begged her godmother not to be severe on the poor creatures, -who, she was certain, would never do it again. - -She also told her of the better behaviour of the two daughters of -Binks, upon which the old lady cut their sacks open immediately, but -could hardly be restrained from punishing the others, especially -Paraphernalia, who cried like a great baby from sheer fright and begged -Ophelia to forgive her. The godmother then took from her finger a ring -which she held before Ophelia and addressed her in these words. - - "I give thee, my daughter, this emerald ring - (Its colour, you see, is a wonderful green), - And tho' you may lose your detestable king - You still shall be owned as the Pigmy-land queen. - Reign long and be happy--through many bright days, - May all your past troubles your happiness prove, - And would you be safe--hear what godmother says, - Be kind to your people, and govern by love!" - -As she said these words the old woman placed the ring upon Ophelia's -finger, and smiled upon her in an affectionate manner. - -At this moment Famcram's rage grew beyond all bounds. He literally -foamed at the mouth with fury--both at the scene which was being -enacted before his eyes, and the unwillingness or impotence of his -guards to help him. He yelled out to them again at the top of his -voice, whilst his red hair seemed to blaze with fury as he whirled his -sceptre round his head. - -"Seize the vile witch, I say!" he shouted. "Who dares to talk of any -one reigning here while Famcram lives? Seize her and burn her! Varlets! -Will none of ye stand by your king?" - -With these words the king jumped from the dais on which he had been -sitting, and rushed forward himself, calling loudly to his guards to -come on. - -But his cries were to no purpose--every man stood rooted to the ground, -and not a hand was lifted to help the tyrant. Then the smile left the -face of the old woman, and she turned from Ophelia to face the king. He -paused, as she raised her hand and pointed at him with her umbrella, -while she spoke again in the same voice as before. And these were her -words:-- - - "Thou slayer of women, disgrace to thy line, - The vengeance is near--be thy punishment mine-- - You wished my dear god-child in river to drown. - No, no, tyrant Famcram, _this_ time you're 'done brown!'" - -She had no time for more, for, overcoming his fear or whatever had -hitherto restrained him, the little tyrant rushed upon her. - -The old woman now adopted a most curious course. Dropping her umbrella -upon the ground, she made no more ado, but seized Famcram the moment he -was within reach, wrenched his sceptre from him, and shook him -severely. - -He struggled, bit, kicked and yelled, but it was all in vain. That -fearful grasp was upon him, against which twenty times his strength had -been of no avail. - -The fight, if such indeed it could be called, was soon over. The -wretched creature writhed in the hands of his enemy, who shook him to -her heart's content, and then, raising him with apparent ease by the -scruff of the neck, calmly placed him in the sack from which she had -just liberated her goddaughter. - -In spite of his continued struggles, she swiftly tied the mouth of the -sack in a knot, which she managed to make; and then, without a word -more, good, bad, or indifferent, descended the bank, threw in the sack, -and sat down upon it. - -[Illustration: OPHELIA.--P. 280] - -To the surprise of the people, instead of sinking, the sack floated -away into the midst of the river, which boiled and surged around it, so -that every now and then it went down, and then came up again in sight -of the crowd--the old woman keeping her seat upon it all the time, and -smiling grimly as she bobbed up and down in a manner which would have -made many respectable old ladies of my acquaintance feel remarkably -unwell. No such effect, however, was produced upon the old woman, and -she apparently enjoyed the whole thing very much. - -When they first left the bank, stifled screams were heard issuing from -the sack, but these soon died away, and it was plain enough that the -wretched Famcram must have been very speedily drowned. - -In a little while the old woman and the sack had floated out of sight, -and the people began to recover somewhat from their amazement. Then -occurred another marvellous thing. - -The river suddenly rose in several places, in the form of a waterspout, -and came dashing over the crowd. But the extraordinary part of it was -that whilst it drenched and half drowned the black executioners and all -Famcram's particular friends, Ophelia and those who were on her side -were not touched by it. The courtiers and guards of Famcram turned and -fled. Then, after a short pause, the three late ministers, Binks, -Chinks, and Pigspud came forward together and knelt at Ophelia's feet. -Binks was the spokesman of the party. - -"Madam," he said, "after what has just happened, we cannot doubt that a -higher power than ours has designated you as our queen. I am sure that -I speak in the name of all that is great, good and powerful in -Pigmyland, when I ask you to reign over us in the place of him who has -proved himself so unworthy to do so." - -Ophelia replied at once:--"Rise, sir," she said, "and you too, dear -father, for it is not meet that you should kneel before your child. -There might, doubtless, have been found worthier sovereigns for our -country, but since Fate has thus decreed it, I accept the position -which is offered." - -As soon as the words were out of her mouth, loud shouts of joy broke -forth from the surrounding people. At a sign from Ophelia, the other -damsels were all set free, and they now came and stood humbly before -her, expressing in meek and lowly tones their deep contrition for the -offences they had committed against her. - -Paraphernalia was especially vehement in her expressions of regret, -vowing that she had always entertained the greatest affection for -Ophelia, and that if some demon had not possessed her, she should never -have acted as she had done. Her sisters made various protestations of -the same sort, whilst Euphemia and Araminta stood with blushing cheeks -and downcast eyes awaiting the queen's decision. - -Ophelia did not keep them long in suspense. She told the two daughters -of the Prime Minister that she freely forgave them all that had -occurred, being satisfied that it was not from them or their hostility -that it arose. Moreover, they had been the playmates of her childhood, -and she should wish still to retain them about her person. She told the -daughters of the Lord Chamberlain, however, that she must take a -different course with them. - -At these words Asphalia, Bettina, and Paraphernalia burst into a -dreadful howl, and the latter threw herself at the feet of Ophelia and -endeavoured to kiss them. But the queen bade her arise, and told her -that she and her sisters need not fear that the commencement of her -reign would be sullied by the infliction of any severe punishment upon -those who had been her companions in misfortune. - -Upon this Paraphernalia turned joyous again, and began vociferously to -express her thanks, but was again stopped by the royal lady. - -"I cannot have about my court," she said, "persons who have behaved as -you have done, nor indeed can I retain you in my service. I wish that I -could have done so for your father's sake, but he must himself -acknowledge that it is impossible. Out of respect to him I will only -condemn Asphalia and Bettina to be confined to the limits of the city -walls for a year, and during that time they will be forbidden to attend -my court. As for Paraphernalia, she must be banished from Pigmyland -altogether, until I shall have proofs--which I much doubt my ever -receiving--of her entire reformation of character." - -At this decision the unhappy Paraphernalia raised a shrill scream and -fell fainting upon the ground, but was speedily carried off by the -attendants. Her sisters, who felt that they had deserved, and fully -expected, to share her fate, returned thanks to Ophelia for her great -clemency, and vowed to lead such lives as should convince her of their -undying loyalty and sincere devotion to her throne and person. - -These professions the queen received with a gracious inclination of the -head, and expressed her hope that they might prove to be founded on a -true desire on the part of the damsels to repent of the past and do -better for the future. She then turned to her father and requested that -he, Binks, and Chinks would again resume their former offices, and -render her their best assistance in carrying on the government of the -country. - -To this the three statesmen readily assented, having, in fact, desired -nothing better. Ophelia in the first place directed them to prepare a -proclamation, announcing her accession to the throne, and her -determination to govern upon constitutional principles, which, being a -high sounding phrase, and one which nobody exactly understood, -naturally gave great satisfaction. - -One or two discontented people did indeed whisper that as the -constitution of Pigmyland had always been a pure despotism, Ophelia -only meant to say that she should rule as other Pigmy kings and queens -had ruled before her. These murmurs, however, were soon silenced, and -this the more effectually when the queen issued the next day a second -proclamation, in which she gave free pardon to all those who had -supported Famcram in his late acts of tyranny, provided they would at -once acknowledge her as their sovereign and obey her authority. - -Some people indeed objected to this proclamation, on the ground that -those who had obeyed Famcram, whether he had been right or wrong, were -only acting in accordance with the country's laws in carrying out the -orders of their lawful sovereign (which he undoubtedly was), and -required no pardon at all. - -But these people, again, were held to be mere cavillers and idle -talkers, and so general was Ophelia's popularity that whatever she -might have chosen to make the subject of a proclamation would have been -hailed with delight by her loving and loyal subjects. - -She ascended the throne under the happiest auspices: the good-will of -her people filled her heart with happiness and strengthened the -stability of her throne, whilst her great talents secured for her -kingdom the blessings of good government, her many virtues afforded a -bright example to all her subjects, and her reign was throughout, that -which it promised at the first to become, an era of unmixed happiness -and prosperity to Pigmyland. - - - -THE CRONES OF MERSHAM. - - -Things are very dull now-a-days in the country districts of England. - -The country gentlemen have got into the habit of going to London a -great deal more than they used to do before railroads were made as -extensively as has been the case of late years. The farmers, too, move -about more than they did in the olden days, and act very differently in -many respects from their forefathers. - -Nor are the labourers quite the same; they ask more wages, touch their -hats to master, squire, and parson less than they did, and discuss -matters of politics and the government of the country, which formerly -never entered their heads. - -I dare say it is all right: it is a wise and good frame of mind to -cherish, which teaches one that whatever _is_, is right, although -it is sometimes very difficult to think so. - -For instance, when my tooth takes to aching without any obvious cause, -and certainly very much against my will, the fact of its doing so is -well established, but the existing state of things in my face is not -recognised by me--not for one single moment--as right because it _is_ -the existing state. And when I have overdrawn my account at my -banker's, and the state of things is that he will not let me do so any -more, the circumstance that it is so does not reconcile me to the fact -in the very slightest degree. - -Still, as regards the progress which this country has made, and the -condition at which we have now arrived, I am ready to bow my head -meekly, and allow that as a general maxim, the general results may be -admitted by me to be "all right." - -There _are_ the railroads, and (though the carriages are not always -comfortable, and the trains generally late) they afford such facilities -for the gentryfolk to go to town, that we cannot wonder at their doing -so. If it is not right that they should, surely railroads would never -have been permitted, cutting up the beautiful country as they do, and -sending their screaming engines along through the green fields and -thriving plough-lands, where all before was peaceful and quiet. - -Then if the farmers are changed, it is also all for the best without -doubt. Changed they are, beyond all question. They are a different -class of men from the old species of farmer who existed fifty years -ago, and who seldom went further than his market town. - -Our farmers, now-a-days, have all visited London again and again, and -instead of the homely talk over a market dinner which used to take -place in old days, they have got "Chambers of Agriculture," in which -they evince a remarkable ability in discussing anything which -Parliament proposes to do about agricultural matters, and talk nearly -as wisely, I am told, as the members of the House of Commons itself! - -Still, however, I stick to my text, and say that, being as it is, it -must be all right. - -Of course it is, and so also with regard to the labourers. When I was a -boy they did not know half as much as they do now, but they worked well -for all that. - -I have lodged in two rooms in this farmhouse in which I write for -twenty-seven years come next Michaelmas, and I have often heard farmer -Barrett say that his best labourers were generally those who could -neither read nor write. - -Most of them can do both now, and people used to say that it was a sin -and a shame that every labourer should not be able to read his Bible -and write his name in it. - -"All right," again say I, only unfortunately (as I sometimes venture to -think) it is not their Bibles they read, so much as the penny papers, -and these sometimes teach them different lessons from the Bible, I -fancy. Then there is a lot of cheap--well, trash I was going to say, -and I think I must, too--a lot of cheap trash which is sent about all -over the country, or which they pick up here and there, and which -teaches them lessons altogether mischievous. - -Moreover, they have societies, which are curious sort of concerns, I am -told, and through which they are taught actually to demand an increase -of wages, and various other things which were never thought of in old -times. - -All these things have made the country districts of England very -different places from what they used to be when I first knew them. That -is now a long time ago, but I know a great deal that happened before I -knew anything from my own eyesight and observation--I mean before I was -born. - -I am an old man now, and having enough money to live upon and be -comfortable, I have all my lifetime indulged my inclination for living -in the country. - -I used to make it my principal endeavour to avoid railways. I hired -lodgings in rustic villages, and lived quietly therein, studying the -ways and habits of the people, and picking up old legends, which was -always my chief delight. But wherever I went, a railroad was sure to be -immediately afterwards projected through that particular district. - -The steam fiend seemed to have marked me out as an involuntary pioneer -to herald his advance; and, move where I would, he and his myrmidons -very shortly appeared in my wake. - -This continued for five and twenty years--for I began my system of -country-lodging when I was a tolerably young man--barely turned thirty. -When I tell you, as I did just now, that I have been in my present -abode for twenty-seven years, a little calculation will show you that I -shall never again see my eighty-second birthday. You will therefore, I -hope, excuse the garrulity of old age, and forgive me if I have -somewhat wandered from the tale which in fact I have not yet begun, but -which I have been leading up to all this time. - -For you must know that the changes of which I have been speaking have -had great effect upon other people besides gentry, farmers, and -labourers. There are nothing like so many witches, wizards and curious -creatures of that kind as there were, in country places, in the good -old times. - -I do not for one moment say that this is to be regretted. On the -contrary, I say again, that being so, I have no doubt it is "all -right." - -But, right or wrong, it is undoubtedly true that the witches, warlocks -and wise women have greatly diminished, if indeed they have not -altogether vanished. I hope it will be understood that by "wise women" -I do not allude to the ladies who give scientific lectures and talk -about a variety of subjects upon which they evidently know much more -than an old gentleman like I am could ever know, and, I must say, more -than I should like to know about some things. - -This is a different kind of wisdom altogether, and there are plenty of -persons who possess it, or think they do, which serves their purpose -quite as well. I mean "wise," in the sense of possessing an unusual and -supernatural insight into things which are commonly hidden from mortal -knowledge. - -Of these people there are few, if any, left in the present day; or if -there are such, they do not come to the front as they once did. There -are, indeed, many persons in the world now, who actually disbelieve in -witches and all creatures of that sort, and who not only disbelieve in -their existence now, but who stoutly maintain that they never _did_ -exist. - -I don't know how they get over the Witch of Endor, or the various other -allusions to witches in the Bible, but I suppose they _do_ somehow or -other. - -People are much too clever for me, nowadays, and get over any -difficulty that comes in their way--or fancy that they do so, and -trouble themselves no more about it. I have even heard people -disbelieve in fairies, but that of course is sheer nonsense; and no one -who wanders--as I have often done, at all seasons and at all -hours--through the glorious English woodlands, can doubt the existence -of the dear little elves. - -Doubt their existence! I should as soon think of doubting my own! How -do the fairy-rings come, I should like to know? Whence comes the name -of "the Fairy Well"--not uncommon by any means? Oh, no! I do not -believe that anybody disbelieves that fairies exist, though I know that -there is a dreadful amount of unbelief in the world regarding warlocks -and witches. - -I am glad to say that good Farmer Barrett was never one of the -unbelievers. He was near upon seventy when I first came to lodge under -his roof, so that if he had lived till now he would have been -ninety-seven. As he didn't, however, it is no use making the remark. He -died some twelve years ago, when about eighty-five; cut off, as one may -say, in the prime of life. - -Ah, me! how our friends, young and old, fall around us, like grass. My -godson, Jack Barrett, here remarks, with less of reverence than I could -have wished, in speaking of his grandfather, that a man taken away at -eighty-five would be better compared to hay than grass. Well, well, -Jack is young; barely forty, and boys _must_ have their jokes, as we -all know. - -I was going to say that good Farmer Barrett's death affected me very -much. He was a very great comfort to me, was Farmer Barrett. It was not -only that we agreed upon most points, and thought alike in a manner -most satisfactory to both of us. _That_ was a great comfort, living as -we did under the same roof, and sitting together, either in his kitchen -or my parlour, almost every evening, to enjoy a quiet gossip. But there -were other comforts too, and the chief one--that which I may fairly -consider the principal advantage which I reaped from the society of -Farmer Barrett--was derived from his extraordinary knowledge of the -legends and traditions of his native county concerning witches and -wizards. - -Many and many an evening have we sat talking upon such matters, till I -have really felt quite nervous about going to bed. Not that I am a -nervous man: not by any means; but I own that more than once, after -discussing witches and their cats to a late hour, I have felt a curious -sensation when the house cat came rubbing herself against my shins, and -have looked with a species of creepy feeling over my left shoulder as I -went upstairs to bed, almost thinking I should see something "uncanny" -close behind me. - -I never knew any man with such a collection of stories and legends as -old Barrett. He had tales without end of the "Warlock of Coombe," the -"Wizard of Bockhanger," and the "Witch of Brook Hollow." He could tell -of the dark doings of the "Hag of Hothfield," and the fearful creature -who so long inhabited the regions of Charing, and darkened the woods of -Longbeach with her awesome shadow. - -I do not believe that any witch or wizard ever existed in Kent whose -story was not well known to Barrett. Of his own knowledge he could tell -something. Once there happened a curious thing in his stables. - -His two teams of horses, fed alike, housed equally well, and treated -with precisely the same care, strangely varied in their appearance and -condition. One team were always sleek and slim, "fat and well-liking," -like Pharaoh's fat kine, and the admiration of all beholders. The other -team were just the reverse. Nothing they took seemed to agree with -them, they fell away, their bones started through their skins, and -their appearance was a disgrace to the farm. This state of things -greatly puzzled and annoyed the farmer and his men. - -Barrett himself laid the blame upon the waggoner and his mate, and -threatened to discharge both of them if things went on so, as he felt -sure they petted one team of horses at the expense of the other. The -men earnestly denied the charge, and were evidently much vexed at its -having been made. - -Things went on the same until at last the waggoner, who was a clever -and withal a courageous man, determined to sit up all night and watch. -He did so, being carefully hidden in the corner of the stable. The -horses fed well, and lay down as usual. All was quiet until twelve -o'clock struck. At that moment several little men, about a foot high, -leaped down from the loft above the stables, and going to the favoured -team, began to brush and comb them with great care and energy, rubbing -them well all over and uttering no words to anybody as they did so, -save to each other as they worked, as if to encourage themselves to -greater exertions. - -"I work--you work, I work--you work," they kept saying, and the coats -of the horses rapidly became more smooth and glossy, until, when the -little men had finished, they were perfect models of what horses should -be. - -They merely looked at the other team with funny faces, and then -hastened up again to their loft. All this the waggoner duly told his -master next morning, and, of course, with the natural incredulity of -man, he at first refused to believe it. - -But when, upon the man again and again assuring him of its truth, he -determined to put the matter to the proof by hiding himself that same -night, he saw precisely the same thing, and was of course convinced. - -I forget how the story ended, but I know that, somehow or other, he -managed to get some "wise" person in the neighbourhood to speak up for -the poor, thin team, and prevent the little elves, or whatever they -were, from "spiting" them any more. - -Then the farmer had a tale which had been told him by a groom he had -once in his service, who came from the hill above Charing. Up over the -hill there was a reputed witch, Mrs. Dorland. - -I questioned the groom about this woman myself, so I may as well give -the story in his own words. - -"She were a noted witch, she were," he said. - -"How do you know?" I asked, not because I myself doubted for a moment, -but because I wanted to glean all the particulars I possibly could. - -"Bless ye, sir," replied the youth, "I knows all about it because o' my -grandfather. She wouldn't never let him alone. I expect he'd affronted -her, one time or other. I recollect when I was a-staying along with him -once, and the door locked and all--he looked over the stairs and there, -sure enough, was old Dame Dorland on the mat at the bottom, and her -eyes! oh they _glounded_ in her head, they did!" - -"But how did she get in?" I asked. - -"That's just what I want to know," answered the boy. "The door was shut -and fast locked; but there she was, anyhow. Another time my grandfather -had to drive some bullocks down to Ashford market, and he overtook Dame -Dorland. She had a basket on her arm, and she asked my grandfather to -carry it for her. He wouldn't. I expect he didn't know what bad game -might be up. Well, do you think he could keep his bullocks in the road, -after that? Not he: they was over the hedge, first one side and then -another, and then they was for running back. He couldn't do nothing -with them, so he turns back and offers to carry the old girl's basket. -Then the bullocks was all right directly, and he hadn't no trouble in -getting them along all the way to Ashford." - -Since Farmer Barrett had lived all his life in a county where such -people as Dame Dorland were to be found, there can hardly be much -surprise felt at his entire and implicit belief in witchcraft. - -But the most wonderful tale that he ever told me was that which not -only concerned the county, but the very district in which he dwelt. It -is a story to which I listened with intense interest when first I heard -it, and my interest was never lessened by its repetition. - -Again and again I asked the old farmer to go over it once more, and I -cross-examined him upon all the particulars of his tale in a manner -which would really have offended some people of my acquaintance. He, -however, was not only not offended, but pleased at the perseverance -with which I questioned him. - -He told me the story, in fact, so often, that I got to know it nearly -by heart; and I think it is one which I ought to relate for the benefit -of a world, in which, as far as I can see, belief of any kind, and -certainly belief in witches and the like, will shortly be extinct. - -The parish of Mersham has long been known as a favourite resort of -queer people of the kind of whom I am speaking. It is a very long, -narrow parish: much narrower, of course, at some parts than others. - -Its north end runs into and beyond the park of Mersham Hatch--that is, -the west side of the park, the east side being in the parishes of -Brabourne and Smeeth. The south part of the parish joins Bilsington and -Aldington, and on the south west you are very close upon the Ruckinge -and Orlestone big woods--so close that I am not sure whether a portion -of that vast tract of woodland does not actually lie within the -boundaries of the parish of Mersham. Be that as it may, it is a wild -part of the world, and just the very sort of place in which you would -fancy witches and their confederates to abound. Whether you fancy it or -not, however, beyond all doubt such was the case, in the good old times -of which I speak. - -No one ever dreamed of being out at night in those parts if he could -possibly help it. The roads were wretchedly bad, full of deep ruts and -big stones, with ditches inconveniently exposed on either side, and -bushes jutting out from the adjoining woods in the most awkward manner -for the traveller. - -But it was not the badness of the roads which deterred people from -moving about at night, or towards evening, but something much worse, -namely the strange and terrible beings who frequented the locality. - -All kinds of rumours were current with respect to witch meetings, and -gatherings held by wicked creatures, upon which, if a mortal man of -ordinary mould happened to come, he ran a terrible risk of some -dreadful misfortune happening to him and his, shortly afterwards. - -Cottages were few and far between: there was scarce a public house to -be found in the neighbourhood, save one or two which had an evil -reputation as the haunt of smugglers and outlawed men. - -No gentleman's house was near, and Bilsington Priory had passed away -with all its holy train of priests, and nothing was to be seen of their -former glory, and no vestige of themselves either, unless it was true -that a monk walked occasionally round the walls with ghostly tread, and -moaned, deeply and sadly, as he compared the past with the present. In -short, it was a wild, weird country, and wild, weird people dwelt -there. - -From Aldington Knoll, right away down to the other side of Ham-street, -the thick woods contained a class of beings who, if they lived there -nowadays, would be a horror to all Christian men, and an intolerable -nuisance to the Kent County Constabulary. There were, however, honest -men there, as everywhere else; and, although for the most part such -people preferred to dwell nearer Mersham-street or immediately below -the church, yet the scattered cottages further south were not -altogether without inmates, who, having nowhere else to live, lived -there. - -John Gower was one of these, a respectable middle-aged man, who won his -bread by the sweat of his brow, and was proud of the name of a Kentish -labourer. - -John had married early in life, lost his wife after the birth of their -fourth child, and remained a widower ever since. Although he could -neither read nor write, he was blessed with good common sense, and was -able to give his children plain and sensible advice, which might serve -them, he said, in as good stead as book-learning, if they would only -lay it to heart and act upon it. - -His eldest girl, Mary, was as good a girl as you would meet in a day's -journey. She had her good looks (as most Mersham girls have), but she -had that which is even better than good looks, an even temper and a -good disposition. She was about seventeen when our story begins; her -brother Jack, between fifteen and sixteen, was away at work "down in -the sheers" (shires), as the neighbours called all other counties but -their own; and two little ones, Jane, under fourteen, and Billy, just -twelve, were at home, the former helping her sister as well as she -could, and the latter doing such odd jobs as could be found for him, -and doing no more mischief than a boy of his age could help. - -The cottage in which they lived was very near the big woods--too near -to be pleasant for anyone who feared witches or wizards--and it must be -confessed that John Gower was not without his fears. - -He had various horse-shoes nailed up about his premises to keep the -evil creatures off, and he carefully barred his doors and windows every -night, not knowing what might happen if any of them were left open. He -could tell of strange cries heard in the woods at night, and if you -suggested that they might proceed from owls, he shook his head sadly -and gravely, as one who knew better, and grieved over your doubting -spirit. - -But in spite of his fears and precautions, and the strange locality in -which he lived, Gower could not be called otherwise than a cheerful -man. He worked all day, got home as soon as he could, was pleasant and -happy with his children (of whom he was very fond), and was certainly -of a contented disposition, and one who made the best of the world and -took things as he found them. - -Such was he and such was his family at the time that the occurrences -took place which I am about to relate. - -Some years before the date at which our story commences, there had -lived at the extreme south of the parish of Mersham a woman of the name -of Betty Bartlet. She was not only a reputed witch, but the fact of her -being so was testified to by a great number of credible witnesses who -had either suffered in their own persons from her evil power, or had -seen and heard things which could not have been had she been an -ordinary and Christian woman. - -She lived to a very great age--nobody knew exactly how old she was when -she died; and, although the rumours respecting her career caused the -clergyman of the Parish to entertain serious doubts as to the course he -should pursue, she was eventually carried to Mersham churchyard to be -therein interred. - -But if I am correctly informed--and I obtained my information from -highly respectable people--there were strange and terrible doings at -her funeral. - -She was carried on a waggon, from the cottage in which she had breathed -her last, as far as the bridge over the river Stour, which flows, as -all the world knows, a few hundred yards south of the church. There, -from some unknown cause, the horses would not cross the bridge; and it -was told me that they seemed quite exhausted with the short -journey--little over three miles--which they had performed. - -So the people unharnessed them from the waggon, placed all that -remained of old Betty on the shoulders of eight stout bearers, and -marched forward towards the churchyard. But not only was their burden -wondrously heavy, but it seemed to grow heavier as they went on, and -they had the greatest difficulty in making their way up the short hill, -and so round to the right towards the churchyard. And just before they -got to the gate, why or wherefore nobody could tell, one of the bearers -stumbled, and in doing so tripped up another, and down came the whole -concern with a great crash upon the ground. Everything connected with -their burden suddenly disappeared: a vast cloud of black dust arose and -blew all over the place, and out of the dust flew a great black bird, -with a strange and awful croak, with which it terribly frightened the -bystanders and bearers, as it flew off directly in the contrary -direction to the churchyard. - -What happened immediately afterwards Farmer Barrett never heard, or, at -least, he never told me, but nobody ever doubted that the old witch had -flown off in the shape of the black, fearsome bird, being unable to -enter the holy ground of the churchyard. Be this as it may, the ancient -woman left behind her three daughters, who had all inherited their -mother's wickedness, and were witches every one of them. Their actual -names were Betty, Jane, and Sarah, but they were popularly known as -Skinny, Bony, and Humpy, the two elder sisters being thin and gaunt, -whilst the youngest was shorter, and had a species of hump between her -shoulders. - -Every one in Mersham, and, for the matter of that, in the adjoining -parishes also, knew these three sisters by sight, and avoided them as -much as possible. No conceivable misfortune ever happened in that -neighbourhood that was not attributed to their influence, and all that -went wrong was immediately laid at their door. - -The sisters were well aware of the awe with which the neighbours -regarded them, and took good care that it should not diminish, never -losing an opportunity of frightening those simple people with whom they -came in contact. They lived in a long, low cottage--scarcely worthy of -the name of cottage--so miserable was it both as regards the outside -building and the inside accommodation. The roof was of thatch, and the -dwelling itself was at one end built of Kentish rag-stone, but badly -constructed, and all the rest of it was composed entirely of wood, and -apparently afforded but poor shelter against wind and rain. - -The women lived mostly at the stone-built end of their house, for there -was their kitchen, such as it was; but very little was known of the -interior of this place, inasmuch as nobody came near it who could -possibly go another way. It was situate, however, barely half a mile -from John Gower's cottage, a fact which caused him and his no little -annoyance, inasmuch as the three Crones of Mersham, as they were -usually called, were not the best of neighbours, and never very -particular as far as other people's property was concerned. - -Now John Gower had a great number of relations; in fact there was and -is an old proverb in his native parish, to the effect that "if you know -the Gowers, you know all Mersham;" and certainly the knowledge would to -this day make you acquainted with a large quantity of people. - -They were none of them rich relations, certainly, unless you might have -applied that adjective to the wife of a certain Farmer Long who lived a -few miles off, and whose husband might certainly be said to be -thriving. - -Sally Long was a stout, comfortable-looking dame, who could not fairly -have found fault if you had called her fat, but who, unlike most fat -people, was not gifted with the best of tempers. If all reports were -true, she led her husband rather a life of it, and scolded pretty -equally all her household. She had no children, and her husband's son -by a former wife being a trifle weak in the head, and for that reason -generally known by the name of "Simple Steenie," there was no one to -dispute her authority in house, yard or farm. - -These worthy people lived in the parish of Aldington, and although John -Gower was no looker after dead men's shoes, and a man who would have -scorned to bow down before any one for the sake of their wealth, he -thought it was but right and fair towards his children to encourage -them to maintain friendly relations with his distant cousin, Dame Long. - -She had noticed the children more than once, when they were quite -little things; and when a woman of a certain age, with no children of -her own, notices the children of other people, who happen to be her own -relations, there is no telling what may come of it. So the boys had -orders to take their caps off and the girls to drop a respectful -curtsey whenever they passed Mrs. Long, and any little act of civility -which they could possibly perform was never forgotten. - -Now it happened that someone, many years ago, had given to the Gower -family a very particular cat. When I use the word "particular," I do -not mean to imply a very strict or fastidious cat, but one that was -particular in the sense of being different from the general run of -cats, which was certainly true of this individual cat. - -She was jet black, which you will say is not at all uncommon; but -Farmer Barrett always maintained that no cats that he ever heard of -were _so_ jet and so glossy as the Gower cats. She was a magnificent -animal: her whiskers unusually long, her tail splendidly bushy, her -body beautifully and symmetrically made, and her head, in size, shape, -and the intelligence which was displayed upon her face, little short of -perfection. - -This cat lived until a great age, and nobody exactly knew when or where -it died. To tell the truth there was always a legend in the Gower -family that it never _did_ die, at least not in their cottage, but that -it disappeared on the very day of old Betty Bartlet's death. - -I do not know--for Farmer Barrett could not tell me, though I asked him -more than once--how they connected the two events, but nevertheless -they had this legend, if so I may call it. - -But whatever happened to this cat, of one thing there is certainly no -doubt, namely, that during her lifetime she several times went through -the ceremony of kittening, and that her race seemed by no means likely -to be extinct. Her kittens were always black, always very glossy and -always remarkably clever and intelligent, and people were always glad -to get a kitten of the Gower breed. - -So when, upon a fine summer's morning, one of the descendants of the -famous animal of which I have spoken was found by John Gower with a -little family of four kittens around her, he and his children were not -displeased at the addition to their household. And when, after a few -days, one of these kittens appeared to be developing into an animal -more comely and more sprightly than the rest, the worthy man thought it -would be a proper and becoming compliment upon his part if he made a -present of it to good Mrs. Long. - -So he told Mary that she should take it up in a little basket the very -next day, give his "duty" to "old aunt Sally" (for so they called her -in the cottage when they spoke of her among themselves, though it was -always "Mrs. Long" when they spoke _to_ her) and ask her acceptance of -the gift. Mary made her preparations accordingly. She could not go up -to the farm in the morning, for she had the rooms to "do," the house to -sweep, father's dinner to get ready and carry to him, and a number of -little jobs to get done which it was necessary to finish before she -could feel herself at liberty to go out. - -At last, however, every duty seemed to have been discharged, as is -always the case, at some time or other, if people will only set -themselves at work to do resolutely that which they have before them to -do, instead of sitting down with folded hands and sighing over the -prospect of it. - -It must have been between three and four o'clock in the afternoon when -Mary found that she could get away with a clear conscience. Then she -put on her little straw hat, donned her grey cloak, put the kitten in a -little basket with a little hay for it to lie on, and called her -brother Billy to come with her, wisely thinking this the most likely -way to keep him out of mischief. - -It was a truly glorious afternoon, such as an English summer's -afternoon often is. - -"Talk to me about foreign countries," as Farmer Barrett often used to -say, snapping his fingers audibly, "_that_ for your furrineerers; there -an't no land like old England, to my mind;" and, being myself old and -prejudiced, I confess that I am very much of the good old farmer's -opinion. - -It is very charming, no doubt, to roam through foreign lands, and there -is doubtless much to admire. When I shut my eyes and muse over -beautiful views that I have seen, many such come back to me with -pleasing memories. - -I see the sparkling Rhine with castle-crowned heights, and scenery -world-worshipped for its varied beauty; I gaze with a delight tempered -with awe upon the mighty snow-clad mountains of life-breathing -Switzerland; I sit upon the shores of the sea of seas, the -Mediterranean, and I cast my eyes upon its waters of eternal blue; and, -most wonderful sight of all, I stand upon the plateau opposite the -Cascatelle at Tivoli, and, with the waterfall and town on one side, -Adrian's Villa nestling below on the left, and the hills behind, look -out over the vast Campagna with its ever-changing lights, see -Rome--grand, glorious Rome--in the far distance, and feel carried out -of myself and away from all ideas of mere earth and earthly things as I -lose all individuality of being in the absorbing contemplation of a -beauty so divinely sublime. - -And then--as the magic power of thought enables me to move faster than -railroads, steamers, or electric telegraphs--I suddenly transport -myself to a quiet, homely, English scene upon a summer's afternoon; and -I think to myself that neither the Rhine, Switzerland, nor Italy can -produce anything more pleasing to the eye, more soothing to the senses, -or more entirely enjoyable to any person capable of enjoyment, and not -given to despise the beauties of scenery merely because they can be -seen at home without hurrying off to foreign lands. - -[Illustration: MARY AND BILLY MEET THE CRONES.--P. 305] - -Such a summer's afternoon fell on this particular day of which we are -now speaking. There was hardly a breath of air, but the woods having -got their shady green dress on, kept off the heat of the sun from the -traveller on the road which intersected them. It was very warm, though, -and very still; and you might hear the voices of the woodland birds, -singing in notes which seemed somewhat subdued, as if the heat forbade -the songsters to exert themselves to their full strength. - -But, warm as it was, there was a very pleasant feeling in the air. -Nature seemed to be basking in the sun and thoroughly enjoying -herself--the rabbits hopped across the road as quietly as if there were -no such things as weasels in the world, and keepers had never existed: -the old jay flitted heavily from tree to tree, her hard note softened -down to a low guttural sound--all insect life was on the move, and -every living being seemed to delight in the genial weather. - -Of course, under these circumstances, Mary and Billy Gower did not walk -very fast. On the contrary, they rather dawdled, for Billy saw now and -then a butterfly, now and then a birds' nest, and was constantly -tempted to leave the road and dive into the woods on either side, -whilst his sister did not like to hurry on and leave him, and saw no -reason for particular haste. - -They passed along for some way without adventure, until Aldington Knoll -came in sight, although they were still in the shady lanes of their own -parish. Then, on turning a corner, they came suddenly upon two figures -approaching them from the opposite direction, that is to say, as if -they had come from Aldington Knoll. The children needed no second -glance to tell them that they were in the presence of two of the -Mersham crone. "Lanky" and "Skinny" were the lovely pair whom they had -the good fortune thus to meet, and the children felt by no means -comfortable when they saw them. Mary, indeed, being now seventeen, and -hardly to be deemed a child any longer, felt no babyish fear at the -sight of the old women. She was, as I have said, a good sort of girl, -and one who tried to do her duty; and she had a feeling within her (as -such people generally have) that as long as she did so, no great harm -would be allowed to happen to her. - -But, as for little Billy, who had occasionally been threatened, when -naughty, that he should be given to the crones, he could by no means be -restrained from great manifestations of fear. He trembled greatly as -soon as he saw the two, clutched hold of his sister's gown, and begged -her to turn back and run away, as they were still forty or fifty yards -from the old women. This, however, would have been contrary to Mary's -sense of right. - -She had been sent by her father to perform a certain duty, and that -duty, come what would, she meant to discharge, unless prevented by -superior force. So she trudged on steadily along the road, and her -brother accompanied her, probably because he thought it the least of -two evils, and was too much terrified to run away. As they neared the -two crones, they could not but feel that there was nothing either -prepossessing or agreeable in the appearance of the latter. - -Their clothes were untidy and ill-fitting: each had a kind of hood half -drawn over her head; but not sufficiently so as to conceal her -decidedly ugly features, whilst a certain wild, haggard look, which sat -upon their faces, was anything but calculated to put the traveller at -his ease. They walked, or rather crawled, along one side of the road, -and close behind them followed a gaunt cat, which, if formerly black, -was now gray with age, and which wore upon its face the same haggard -look which was so plainly discernible upon those of the hags -themselves. - -Mary and Billy walked quietly on, and were just passing these strange -beings, and really beginning to hope they might be allowed to do so -without interruption, when they were suddenly pulled up by the harsh -voice of the crone nearest to them, who called out "Stop!" in a voice -harsher than the croak of a raven, but with such a tone of authority -that no thought of disobeying her entered the head of either of those -she addressed even for a single moment. - -"Stop, young people!" she said a second time; "whither away so fast -this afternoon?" - -Mary civilly replied, "We are going up to Farmer Long's, ma'am; father -sent us." - -"Ah!" replied the crone; "going up to Farmer Long's for father, are ye, -my chickens? Fine times, forsooth, when John Gower's children go -visiting instead of minding their business at home. But pray, what have -you got in that basket, my pretty Minnikin?" - -"Only a kitten, ma'am, that father is going to give to Aunt Sal--I mean -to Mrs. Long," replied the girl. - -"_Only_ a kitten!" cried the other crone, who had not yet spoken; -"_only_ a kitten, indeed! and how does John Gower the labourer have -kittens to give away, I should like to know? Our poor old Grimalkin -here has lost a kitten lately--I wonder whether this can be the same, -strayed over to John Gower's house. If he _had_ a kitten to give away, -he might have thought of his poor neighbours, methinks, instead of the -rich farmer's wife!" - -When Mary heard these words she begin to tremble for the safety of her -kitten, for as I have already remarked, the Crones of Mersham were not -famous for distinguishing clearly between other people's property and -their own. - -So she made reply very quickly in these words: "Please, ma'am, this -kitten can't be your cat's, because we've known it ever since it was -born, and its mother too, and it has never been out of our charge yet." - -"No matter, no matter," said the crone in a testy voice; "let me see -it, and I shall soon know all about it." - -Mary did not dare refuse, nor would it have been of much use if she had -done so. - -The crone stretched out her long, skinny hand, and lifting the -basket-lid, saw the little black kitten; which, immediately that it saw -her, crouched down in the corner of the basket and uttered a low -moaning sound. - -"Poor little thing!" said the old hag. "Poor little thing! I can hardly -see it so. Look, sister Jane!" and the other crone came and peered also -into the basket, whilst the kitten continued to crouch and moan. - -"The very image of our grimalkin, I do declare!" cried the second crone -after a moment. "It _must_ be hers--there can be no doubt at all about -it." - -So saying, she put her hand down and stroked the back of the kitten, as -if about to take it out of the basket. - -As soon as she touched it, however, the little animal, young as it was, -appeared to go into a paroxysm of fear and fury; it growled and spit, -made as if it would spring out of the basket, and suddenly inflicted a -severe scratch on the hand which was about to seize it. - -The old woman's face immediately became distorted with rage, and as she -hastily withdrew her hand, she fixed her eyes steadily upon the kitten, -muttering at the same time some words which the children could not -understand, but which sounded in their ears like anything but a prayer. -Neither of the crones, however, tried further to interfere with the -kitten, but begged of the children to give them money, saying that they -were nearly starving. - -Billy of course had nothing, and Mary only a penny, but she thought it -best to give that for fear of being bewitched if she refused; so, -sorrowfully enough, the poor child drew out her only coin and placed it -in the hand of one of the hags, who grinned frightfully by way of -thanks, and allowed the children to proceed on their way--although -before they did so they could not help noticing the strange conduct of -grimalkin, who threw herself on the side of the road, turned over and -over, grinned like a Cheshire cat, and appeared to be convulsed with -laughter at all that had occurred. - -Mary and Billy, however, glad to have got away from the old women, -hurried forward towards Farmer Long's dwelling. - -But now the conduct of the kitten became inexplicable. Up to the time -of their meeting the crones, it had behaved like a decent little animal -of tender years, nestling quietly in its basket, and giving no trouble -to anybody. - -It now took quite a different course. It moaned and whined as if it -wanted to get out--it pushed against the basket, first on one side and -then on the other, as if trying to force its way through, and behaved -in all respects as if it was a mad kitten,--although, as I never saw a -mad kitten, I am not sure how they _do_ behave exactly--but this was -Farmer Barrett's expression, and a man of his years and experience was -not likely to be wrong. - -But more than this, although the kitten was young and small, and had -therefore been very light and easy to carry, scarcely had the children -passed the crones than its weight seemed to increase vastly, and it -became four times as heavy as before, until poor Mary's arm quite ached -with carrying it. - -Billy, seeing her trouble, advised her to turn it out into the woods; -but Mary would not do this, being determined to obey her father's -orders, so she trudged steadily on until they came to the farm to which -they had been sent. - -There they asked if Mrs. Long was at home, and were presently ushered -into the presence of that good lady, to whom they told the object of -their visit. She received them very graciously, and expressed herself -much pleased with John Gower's attention in sending her the kitten, -saying that she had always desired to have one of that breed. - -They opened the basket, and she was going to take the creature out, -when it looked her straight in the face, and she drew back her hand at -once. - -"Lawkes! child!" she said to Mary; "how the thing's eyes do shine! Like -live coals of fire, I do declare. I never seen such eyes in all my born -days, that I never did!" - -As she spoke, the kitten saved her the trouble of removing it from the -basket by jumping out of its own accord on to the table, where it sat -glowering at the party, and making a low noise between a purr and a -growl, until Mrs. Long brought it some milk, with which it proceeded to -regale itself, and the children, having had a slice of cake each, and -been duly charged with the good lady's thanks to their father, took -their departure, and reached the cottage without further adventure. - -Now I verily believe that the doings of that kitten at Farmer Long's -farm were of such a wonderful and unheard of character that a whole -book, and a very amusing book, too, might be written about them. But -people did not write many books in those days, and Farmer Barrett could -not recollect many particulars about this part of his story. At all -events, there can be no doubt (to use his own expression) that the -animal's "tantrums" were extraordinary; the cream was constantly -devoured, and the best cream-jug broken on one occasion, in order to -get at it; the milk was for ever being upset; the marks of dirty paws -were daily to be seen on clean table cloths, or on the counterpanes of -beds just made, and, in short, just wherever they ought not to be. - -Mrs. Long's best cap, having mysteriously disappeared one afternoon, -was seen in the kitten's clutches upon the hearthrug, a perfect wreck -of a cap, and useless for ever afterwards. Then the perverse little -animal appeared to entertain a strong and marked partiality for young -ducks and chickens, which she ruthlessly murdered whenever she could -lay her paws upon them, neglecting to touch any of the rats upon which -her energies might have been much more beneficially employed. - -Day by day depredations were committed, all of which were attributed to -the kitten, and most of which were probably perpetrated by her. From -the moment of her arrival at the farm, nothing seemed to prosper with -the Longs. - -Everything turned out just the reverse way to that which they had -hoped, and it really seemed as if some evil spell had been cast upon -them. Looking calmly back upon the whole history, I have no doubt at -all but that the crones had bewitched the kitten when they met the -children on that memorable afternoon, and that to this must be -attributed all that afterwards occurred. - -However this may be, it was certainly an unlucky day for the Longs when -that kitten came upon their premises, and that they very soon found -out. - -Still, people do not always put the saddle upon the right horse -immediately, and they did not at first believe that the animal had -anything to do with their ill-luck. Mrs. Long, however, who had an eye -to business, could not stand the constant inroad upon her ducks and -chickens, to say nothing of the cream-jug, and the loss of her cap very -nearly brought matters to a climax. - -She might perhaps, however, have borne it a little longer, had not an -event occurred which was really beyond anybody's bearing. One morning, -when the worthy couple were at breakfast, the kitten calmly jumped on -to the table, seized a piece of bacon which the farmer was about to -place upon his own plate, and deliberately carried it off. - -After this it was quite evident that she must be got rid of. No man can -stand being robbed of his breakfast in such a barefaced manner, and the -good farmer spoke up pretty strongly on the subject. As the breed was -supposed to be a particularly good one, he did not order the animal to -be killed, nor indeed would he have ventured to do so unless his wife -had especially wished it, but he expressed himself in forcible terms as -to the desirability of its quitting his premises with as little delay -as possible. - -Mrs. Long had by this time become so entirely of the same opinion, that -she resolved to take immediate steps to carry out the joint views of -her husband and herself. She accordingly directed that the cart should -be got ready the same afternoon, and that Tom the Bailiff should drive -her down to Mersham, where she determined to restore the kitten to the -Gowers with her own hands. - -Accordingly, at the appointed time the cart was brought round, old -Dapple, the steady pony, was in it, and Tom prepared to drive. Mrs. -Long got in, and the kitten, who had shown an unwonted and marvellous -docility in submitting to be placed once more in a basket, was safely -deposited in her lap. - -Off they went, out of the farmyard into the lane, and taking a turn -which brought them near to Aldington Knoll, descended towards the woods -through which runs the road from Mersham and Aldington to the canal, -and so away across Romney Marsh to Dymchurch. - -You must understand that Tom and his mistress were heading away from -the canal, only they had come into that road in order to reach the -lower part of Mersham, in which was situate John Gower's cottage. So -when they came past Aldington Knoll, and descended the hill, the marsh -road led back to the left, nearly parallel with that from which they -came, whilst they pushed straight forward along the road through the -woods. - -As soon as they got well into the wood, or rather, into the road on -each side of which the wood was wide and thick, old Dapple began to -show visible signs of uneasiness. He swerved first on one side of the -road, and then on the other, abandoning all the good, quiet habits of a -respectable middle-aged pony, and behaving much more like a giddy young -colt who had never been broken to harness. - -Tom the Bailiff who was a simple country lout, did not know what to -make of it, and was both confused and frightened when his mistress -began to tell him that it was only his bad driving. But this was -evidently not the case. Dapple wanted very little driving at all, and -the best "whip" in the world could not have kept him straight when he -was in the mood which seemed now to have possessed him. Another cause -also disquieted good Mrs. Long. - -The kitten began to fidget in her basket in a most unaccountable way, -and to give vent to various discordant sounds, whilst the weight upon -the good lady's knees, as the basket had been on Mary's arm, was really -unpleasantly heavy. - -They managed to get through the wood somehow or other, until they were -well out of the parish of Aldington and had entered that of Mersham. -Here all their troubles increased--the kitten's struggles were more -violent than before, and Dapple became perfectly unmanageable, until -all at once they perceived a large black cat upon one side of the road, -which suddenly darted in front of the cart, and so startled the pony -that he shied quite across the road, brought the wheel of the cart over -the side of the ditch, and in another moment it was overset and its -occupants were tumbled into the brambles and bushes with which the -ditch was choked. - -Had it been winter, or had there been much rain lately, poor Mrs. Long -would probably have been drowned, or at best would only have escaped -with a severe ducking. As it was, the principal risk of life or limb -she ran was from the kicking of the pony and as Dapple was too fat to -indulge in any great manifestations of this kind, she was tolerably -safe from personal injury. - -But a stout woman overturned into a ditch full of brambles, is, after -all, a pitiable object, and is not likely to be improved either in -temper or in appearance by the event. So as soon as the good lady could -scramble up into a sitting position she began to abuse everybody and -everything to the best of her ability, which was not inconsiderable -when applied to such an attempt. She told Tom he should certainly "get -the sack" as soon as they got home; she declared Dapple was old and -worn out, and only fit to draw the dung-cart in future, and she abused -the kitten in no measured terms. - -But where was the kitten? In the tumble and scrimmage, the lid of the -basket had come off, and the animal had disappeared. Disappeared, -however, only for a moment, for Tom the bailiff suddenly exclaimed in a -terrified voice,-- - -"Look'ee, missis, do look'ee now--there be our kitten sure-ly!" and -casting up her eyes, Mrs. Long beheld--or at least so she always -declared to her dying day--the kitten, seated upon the back of the -large black cat which had been the cause of their disaster, and which -was now careering full tilt down the road with this rider upon it. - -The old lady, being brave as she was stout (which is saying a great -deal) felt nothing but rage when she saw what had happened, not only at -the impudence of the cat, but because this occurrence threw a light -upon the past, and at once opened her eyes to the truth, and disclosed -the reason of the kitten's abominable behaviour at the farm. - -After a moment's pause she broke out in great wrath: - -"It's them crones!" she cried in loud and excited tones. "It's them -crones, or some like 'em! That kitten's been bewitched--that's what -come to it, Tom, you may depend upon't. Drat them witches!" Scarcely -were the words out of her mouth when she shrieked loudly--"Ah-a-ah!" - -"What's the matter, missis?" said Tom. - -"Why," replied she, "something scratched me;" and pointing to her arm, -the sleeve around which had been pushed up high in her struggles to sit -upright, there indeed was a long, red scratch as if inflicted by the -nail of a hand or the claw of an angry cat. - -To be sure, a lady who is seated in the middle of a bed of brambles -cannot be expected to escape unscratched, and no supernatural agency -need be invoked in order to produce such a misfortune. Still Mrs. Long -always declared that this was no bramble scratch, and coming as it did -at the very moment when she was speaking strongly against the witches, -there could be very little doubt as to the source from which the injury -really came. However, witches or no witches, it was impossible to sit -all the livelong afternoon in a ditch full of brambles, so with much -difficulty and many struggles, Mrs. Long contrived to get up, and Tom -the Bailiff having looked to Dapple, found there was no very serious -damage done either to him or to the cart. So they righted the latter, -and having got into it, proceeded on their journey. - -True it was that there was now no kitten to take back to the Gowers, -but the farmer's wife was determined to let them know the extraordinary -manner in which the animal had conducted itself, and had a great -dislike to turning back without reaching the place for which she had -started. So she directed Tom to drive on along the cross road which -leads from the Aldington woods to Bilsington, and comes out into the -main road from Mersham to Romney Marsh. At that point, if you turn to -the left you can go to the Marsh, or to Ruckinge and Orlestone by a -road which lies a little further south, and if you turn to the right, -you pass through the end of the great range of woods which occupy so -much of that district, and presently come from Bilsington into Mersham. - -Of course it was to the right that Mrs. Long turned, having made a kind -of half-circle round Bilsington Priory, which was thus at her right -hand all the time. - -It is necessary to be thus particular, in order that no innocent parish -may be wrongfully suspected of having harboured the strange and wicked -creatures whose power was almost entirely confined to parts of Mersham, -Bilsington and Aldington, and some parishes further west on the borders -of the Marsh. A good name is a great possession, and the adjacent -parishes of Sevington, Hinxhill, Smeeth and Sellinge have always been -so free from the worst class of witches that, in writing of this -neighbourhood, one wishes to be precise. - -After they had turned to the right, as I say, a short mile brought our -travellers to John Gower's cottage; but before they reached it, they -had to pass within a hundred yards or so of the abode of the crones, to -which a very little-frequented by-road led, branching off from the road -on which they were driving. It showed courage in Mrs. Long to take this -route, especially after what had happened, but she was naturally a bold -woman, and perhaps she thought that the witches had probably done all -that they cared to do in having overturned her cart once, and stolen -her kitten. - -Be this as it may, she reckoned without her host, for Dapple, who had -been quiet enough since the accident, began to grow restive again as -they neared the part of the road which I have mentioned, and, when -within fifty yards of it, suddenly stopped and refused to move an inch. - -Tom the Bailiff laid the whip over the pony's back with a will, but the -only effect was to make him rear and back, so that they were in -imminent danger of a disaster similar to the first. Then, to make -matters worse, there arose a cloud of fog before them, which was so -thick they could see nothing, and had a disagreeable smell of smoke -about it. Whence or wherefore it came they could not tell, for the sun -was still high in the heavens and the sky above their heads clear and -blue. - -It was evident that something evil was at hand and at work, and neither -Mrs. Long nor her servant knew what to make of it. - -Presently the good lady called out angrily, "How dare you pinch my arm, -Tom?" and gave a short, sharp scream as she said so. - -"Oh, don't, please don't, missis!" cried the man at the same moment, as -a hand hit him a cruel box on the ear. - -It need scarcely be said that neither of the occupants of the cart had -touched the other; but the matter did not end there. Pinches, pushes, -scratches, thumps, hair-pulling, and kicking began to a most -extraordinary extent. - -No one could be seen, but invisible hands assailed both Mrs. Long and -Tom so fiercely and so vigorously, that they both shouted aloud with -pain and terror, whilst, as if in answer to their cries, hoarse -chuckles and deep bursts of laughter rang in their astonished ears, -although no human being of any description was to be seen. - -Never was there a more unpleasant experience than that which the worthy -pair underwent, and how it would have ended I really cannot say, but -for an unlooked-for and fortunate event. - -All of a sudden the pinching and beating ceased, the laughter came to -an end, and the fog or cloud disappeared, as it had come, by magic, as -a cheery voice shouted out, close at hand,-- - -"Halloo! who is this making such a noise in the road. My good people, -it is too bad that you should let drink get the better of you in this -way!" - -Glancing indignantly round, they beheld no less a person than the -worthy rector of Mersham himself, riding upon a stout gray cob, and -evidently coming home from some expedition to the further extremity of -his parish. - -Mrs. Long knew not what reply to make, but as soon as she recovered -herself sufficiently, she answered the appeal. - -"I am sure, sir, there is no call to say a word about drink, to which -some folk lays everything that happens, be it what it will. But if -you'd keep your parish clear of these here witches, you'd find things -go a good deal better!" - -The clergyman gravely shook his head. - -"You must know, my good woman," he replied, "that there are no such -beings as witches, and you ought not to wrong elderly and respectable -females by using such terms. There is nobody here, and nothing to -hinder your journey. I am quite ashamed to see you stopping your cart -in the middle of the road and quarrelling as has evidently been the -case. Take my advice, and get home as fast as you can." So saying, the -good man passed the cart and began to trot gently on. - -Dapple, as if his difficulties were suddenly over, and his objections -to advance removed, immediately started after the rector's cob, and -thus they passed the dreaded by-road without further trouble. But to -her dying day, Mrs. Long always declared that she was sure they never -would have got past if the rector hadn't come along just when he did. -This shows the great and proper respect for the clergy which then -existed, and is, moreover, a proof that Mrs. Long was a decent and -respectable woman, whose word may be taken as establishing beyond doubt -the truth of the events which I have undertaken to relate. But it lay -heavy on her soul, for many a long day, that the reverend man should -have thought she had been drinking, and made her more than ever angry -with the crones whose wicked dealings had caused such an imputation to -rest upon her. - -The rector had trotted briskly on, and was before long out of sight, -but the cart was soon close to John Gower's cottage, between which and -the road was a bit of waste land; it might be as much as two or three -perches in size, for in those days every strip of land was not enclosed -as it is now-a-days, but there were plenty of green patches by the side -of the roads, and in many places you could ride on grass for miles -together. - -It is very different now, and although it may be said on the one hand -that we travel faster, witches are not heard of, and England is richer -than in those days; yet I often say to Jack Barrett that I think there -were a good many pleasant things in the old times, especially in -country life, which we do not get now, and for my part I should not -mind having them back again, even with a few witches here and there -with them, provided we could get rid of some of the strange new-fangled -ideas and curious goings on which we have got instead, and which are -much worse for all of us, than a witch or two or even a stray wizard. -Well, Mrs. Long told Tom the Bailiff to drive upon this bit of waste as -near to the garden gate of John Gower's cottage as he could manage to -get, and then down she scrambled and went into the house. John had not -yet come home from his work, though he was expected every moment; but -Mary received her guest with much civility, for she was a good-mannered -girl, and knew how to behave to her betters. - -So she did the honours of the house, whilst her sister and Billy sat -still and listened. Mrs. Long was, as you may suppose, not exactly in -the best of humours, nor was her dress in precisely that condition in -which ladies like their dresses to be when they go out visiting. You -cannot be overturned into a ditch, scratched, pinched, hustled, and -pushed, without some little disarrangement of your attire, and Mrs. -Long's dress consequently required a good deal of "putting tidy," in -which Mary Gower assisted her to the best of her ability. Whilst doing -so, she listened to the account of all that had occurred since the day -upon which she and Billy had left the kitten at the farm, and, upon -being questioned by Mrs. Long as to the possible cause of its -behaviour, she told her of their having met the two crones as I have -described. - -The farmer's wife then said that, had she known the circumstances, she -would have had nothing to do with the kitten; but that she did not -blame Mary for not having told her, as of course she had not suspected -that there was anything wrong with the animal. As she spoke, in came -John Gower from his work, and to him the whole story was soon told. - -John expressed his great regret at what had happened, and went so far -as to offer the farmer's wife another kitten, but, under the -circumstances, she deemed it better to decline the offer; and, -presently afterwards departed, taking good care to avoid the road by -which she had come, and turning up instead by the road, at the corner -of which the "Good Intent" public-house now stands; by which means she -kept to the north of the big woods, and got safely home. Her adventure, -however, made no little talk in the neighbourhood, and people shook -their heads, gravely and wisely, whenever the matter was mentioned. -Mrs. Long herself was so angry at the disrespectful manner in which she -had been treated, and the unjust suspicion that had been raised in the -clergyman's breast, that she could by no means be satisfied to rest -quiet. - -Before taking any steps, however, to get matters set right, she -determined to make an expedition to Brabourne, where lived a wise woman -named Goody Flaskett, from whom she obtained sundry charms against -witchcraft, with which she decorated herself, in order that she might -be able to speak and act against witches with impunity. Thus armed, she -never lost an opportunity of doing both the one and the other; and I -suppose the charms must have had a certain power, because Farmer -Barrett declared that the good woman, when she had them on, never felt -any of those strange scratches from invisible hands which she had -experienced when speaking against witches on the occasion already -mentioned. - -Still, say and do what she would, the power of the Mersham crones did -not seem to be diminished. They seldom appeared all three together, but -might be said, generally, to "hunt in couples," although sometimes they -were met singly, but hardly ever without a great black cat. - -The kitten was never again seen by its former owners, but in all -probability had been taken by the crones to form one of the guardian -cats by which they were thus attended. - -Petty thefts abounded in the neighbourhood, and no one suffered from -them more than Farmer Long, although his farm was at a considerable -distance from the cottage of the crones. - -At last things got so bad that the farmer really thought he could stand -it no longer. So one day, after the disappearance of a fine lamb from -one of his fields, when the crone Humpy had shortly before been seen in -the immediate proximity of the flock, and one man went so far as to say -he had seen her driving a lamb before her in the road, the farmer -boldly applied to the nearest justice of the peace for a warrant to -search the cottage. - -There was some little difficulty in the matter, owing to the -circumstance that old Finn, the Mersham constable, positively declined -for some time to go near the place, but upon being encouraged by the -parish constable of Smeeth, bold Joe Worrell, who offered to go with -him, they proceeded to perform their duty, accompanied by the farmer. - -Mrs. Long had gone to Dymchurch that day for a breath of sea air, so -that he knew she would not be uneasy about him, and deemed it but right -to back up the officers of justice, whom he met by appointment at the -foot of Collier's Hill in Mersham, and they advanced together. But the -road appeared to be endless, for although it could not be much more -than two miles, if so much, to the cottage, it seemed as if they would -never get there. - -Then, although the weather had been fine, there came on a hailstorm -which nearly blinded them, and, notwithstanding that Finn had been born -in the parish and the others knew it well, they actually lost their -way, and found themselves close to Kingsnorth Church, which everybody -knows to be in quite an opposite direction. They hastily retraced their -steps, but then it suddenly became dark. Finn and the farmer both had -their hats plucked off their heads by invisible hands, and although -Worrell was untouched (it being well-known that no witch dare lay hands -on a Smeeth man) yet he felt far from comfortable. Determined, however, -to do their duty, the men made another attempt, and going round towards -Aldington, were about to try and approach that side, when, all darkness -having cleared away, they saw at a distance a light in the sky which -betokened a fire, and from the direction, it appeared to be burning -somewhere very near to Farmer Long's house. This put out of his head -altogether the business upon which he was out, and he immediately -retraced his steps as fast as possible, accompanied by the constables. -When he got near home the flames seemed to have died away, but a heavy -smoke hung over the place, and as he approached still nearer a sad -sight indeed met his eyes. His stables were utterly burned to the -ground, and three valuable horses destroyed, despite every effort to -save them. Farmer Long rushed hastily to the spot, but all he found was -his poor half-witted son sitting calmly on the grass contemplating the -smouldering embers with a vacant expression of countenance. - -"What has happened, Stephen lad? Where's Tom? How did all this begin? -Who has done it?" were the eager questions of the excited man; but to -all of them the youth replied with the stolid indifference of idiocy, -"Steenie not know." - -Subsequent inquiries proved that two (as usual) of the crones had been -seen in the vicinity of the farm that day. As a public road ran very -near, this may perhaps be deemed by some to have been slight and -inconclusive evidence of their guilt; but it was universally accepted -at the time as beyond all doubt connecting them with the affair. - -Some few there were who insinuated that the idiot boy had set the -stables on fire for amusement, unconscious of the mischief he was -doing; but these of course were some of those foolish and obstinate -people who always like to differ from the rest of the world, and put -forward their own views against those of everybody else. Of course it -was the Mersham crones who had done the thing, else why should it have -occurred at the very time when Farmer Long was engaged on an -expedition, the object of which was to search their cottage? At all -events, so entirely convinced upon the subject was the whole -neighbourhood, that it was resolved that the matter could not rest -there, but must be taken up seriously. - -The question was, how to do it? Inquiry before the magistrates appeared -useless, for if two constables, and one of them a Smeeth man, too, -could not even approach the crones' dwelling, of what avail was it to -invoke the authority of the law? The church might be tried, but the -rector of Mersham was known to have steadily set his face against any -belief in witches, and it was more than probable that no other -clergyman would like to interfere in his parish without his knowledge -and consent. - -Long consultations were held, and wise heads laid together about the -business, and at last it was determined to rouse the honest people of -the neighbourhood round, most of whom had suffered more or less from -the pilfering habits of the crones, and, covered with as many charms -and magic tokens as they could obtain from old Goody Flaskett and one -or two other wise women who lived near the place, to advance in great -numbers against the enemy, in order to try what ducking in a horsepond -would do for them. So on one fine afternoon, a great concourse of -people, meeting in several parties, bore down from different quarters -upon the cottage of the crones. - -It was a mellow day in autumn, and hopping was just over at the time -when this proceeding took place. John Gower had come home that day to -dinner, and a memorable day it was in his family. Mary, Jane, and Billy -were all at home and they had just sat down to their homely meal when a -low, hurried knocking was heard at the door. At this very moment it so -happened that the horse-shoe which was usually nailed over that door -had fallen down, owing to one of the nails which supported it having -given way, and consequently it lay on the grass near the door instead -of hanging in its usual place. Farmer Barrett was always particular in -mentioning this circumstance, else, he said, people might think that a -horseshoe is not a real protection against witches, whereas it is the -best and surest safeguard, only it must be nailed up against a wall or -over a door. John bade his son open the door, and as soon as he had -done so, they perceived a good-looking young woman leading two others, -apparently older than herself, but perfectly blind, whilst on her arm -each carried a basket. They were quite strangers to John and his -family, and appeared to have walked some way. - -"Might we ask to rest awhile in your cottage, good friend?" asked the -young woman. "I and my two blind sisters have walked all the way from -Ashford to-day, and are bound to Romney." - -"Sartainly, ma'am," said John in reply. "But surely this be a long walk -for such as ye?" - -"Ah!" replied the other, "we should have thought so once, but a cruel -landlord has turned us out of our house, these poor afflicted creatures -and me, and having relations at Romney we are going there in the only -way the poor can travel--on our feet, and we have nothing with us but -our tame rabbits, poor creatures, which we always carry in our baskets. -We should be very thankful if we might come in for a couple of hours or -so." - -"By all means," said worthy John, whose simple heart was at once -touched by this tale. "Come in, come in by all means," and stepping -forward, he helped one of the blind girls over the threshold and they -all entered the cottage. - -The moment they were inside, Mary's favourite cat, who had been seated -by the fireside, intently watching the proceeding, jumped up and sprang -through the open window without saying a word to anybody, which indeed, -as a respectable but ordinary cat, she was not likely to have done -under any circumstances. Mary observed this, and wondered at the animal -being so shy of strangers; but nobody made any remark upon the -incident, and seats being found for the new comers, they not only sat -down, but condescended to share the family dinner, and that with such -appetites, that the children of the house themselves came off but -second best. John Gower asked several questions which were -satisfactorily answered, but he always said afterwards that he never -felt quite at home with his visitors, which he put down to their being -better educated and of a position apparently somewhat above his own. As -they sat and ate and talked, a distant shout was heard, and then -another. - -"Father, what's that?" asked Billy. - -"Oh!" replied Gower, "I expect it's the people out after the crones. I -forgot all about it, not being a busy man in such matters, or I ought -to have helped my neighbours, perhaps, for those old women are no -better than they should be--ah! oh! oh, dear!" and whilst the words -were still in his mouth, John Gower jumped up and began to hop about -the room upon one leg, having been suddenly seized, he said, with a -violent fit of cramp therein. - -"What are they going to do with the crones, father?" asked Billy. - -"Duck 'em, I expect, boy," replied he; upon which the lad rejoined,-- - -"Oh, what fun! how I should like to see it!" and almost immediately -afterwards burst out crying, saying that he had such a bad pain come in -his inside. - -Meanwhile more shouting was heard, and not very far off, and presently -the door was thrown open, and in came a neighbour, James Firminger by -name, and a noted enemy to witches, besides being so worthy and -well-thought-of a man that he had more than once been spoken of as fit -to be parish churchwarden. - -"Neighbour Gower!" he shouted, as he came in, "why ar't not out with -the rest of us after the crones? 'Twill be a grand day for Mersham if -we get quit of them. But you've got company, I see--bless us, what a -smell of sulphur!" - -As he spoke, he turned his eyes on the young woman and her two blind -companions, and started as he did so. Firminger never went about -without some potent witch-charm upon him, which at once protected him -from the malice of such creatures, and enabled him to detect them when -disguised, and upon this occasion he had nothing less than a relic of -the great Kentish saint, Thomas a Becket, being a small piece of the -hair-shirt of that holy man, cut off shortly after his death by one of -the monks of Canterbury, who happened to be a Firminger, and -religiously preserved in the Firminger family ever afterwards. - -Naturally, as Farmer Barrett observed, no witch could stand against -_that_, and Firminger was a lucky man to possess it. It was doubtless -in consequence, and by virtue of this relic, that as soon as the good -man was well inside the cottage, he not only smelt the sulphur which -had not been smelt by the family, but saw what was the real character -of John Gower's visitors. He took no second look, but shouted aloud, -"The crones! the crones!" and seizing the little case in which was his -relic in his hands, displayed it openly before them. - -The effect was instantaneous. All beauty disappeared from the face of -the young woman, her form changed, her countenance shrivelled, and she -stood confessed before the party as Humpy, the youngest of the three -Crones of Mersham. - -No less sudden and complete was the alteration in her two companions, -who recovered their sight at once, but together therewith resumed the -unpleasant forms and features of Skinny and Bony, the two other sisters -of this disreputable family. There was a visible agitation at the same -moment in the baskets which the sisters had carried upon their arms, -and which they had deposited on the floor upon taking their seats. - -The lids shook, the baskets quivered, and in another instant -overturned, when out sprang three enormous black cats upon the floor of -the room. - -With a yell, which seemed to burst simultaneously from the throats of -all the crones and all the cats, they rushed out at the door; flying -from the charm which James Firminger kept earnestly shaking before -their eyes. Out of the door, over the green space in front of the -cottage, into the road, and as far and fast as they could get away from -the object of their terror. - -John Gower and his children sat stupified with mingled surprise and awe -for some seconds; and then, jumping from their seats, they all rushed -through the door after Firminger; who, having done so, stood still -outside, eagerly gazing after the retreating crones. He knew well -enough that, if nought had prevented them, the honest people who were -out after the witches, would by this time have attacked and harried -their home. Whither, then, would they fly? - -If they had quitted their cottage ignorant of the coming of their -enemies, and only bent on paying John Gower a visit--doubtless -intending to do him some mischief or other; it might be that they would -hurry home, and encounter the angry mob of people, in which case there -would be wild work one way or the other. If, however, as was more -probable (and as was generally believed to be the case when the matter -was considered afterwards), the three crones had been well aware of the -projected attack upon them, and had purposely left home--hoping that -they might lie safely hid in the abode of so honest and quiet a man as -Gower until the danger was over, then it became a serious question as -to what other refuge they would seek, now that they had been so -manfully driven from their intended place of safety. The doubts of the -lookers-on, however, were soon solved. - -A strange thing happened, which would never have been believed in -those days, but that Firminger and Gower both solemnly declared it, -and which perhaps actually will _not_ be believed in these days of -doubt and want of faith, but which I must nevertheless relate as -Farmer Barrett told it to me. As soon as they were well on the other -side of the road, each crone jumped upon her cat, and the animals, -lightly springing over the hedge into the next field, set off full -gallop in an easterly direction--or, in other words, heading as -straight as a line to Aldington Knoll, well-known in those good old -days as the great fortress of witches. That was their point, no doubt, -and it looked very much as if they were going to give up Mersham as a -bad job, and betake themselves to other and safer quarters. - -As soon as Firminger saw the line which the crones took, he turned to -Gower and said in a hasty tone, "Come on, mate, this must be seen to at -once. Let us join the chaps who are gone to the old cottage as fast as -we can, and tell them what we have seen, and all that has happened." - -John Gower was too wise a man to hesitate. Had he done so, he knew well -enough that he would be suspected of having knowingly harboured the -crones, and of being in league with them, a suspicion which would have -ruined him for ever in his native parish, and probably driven him from -the county. - -So he bade Mary mind the house, and keep Jane and Billy at home, and -then he set off at best pace with Firminger down the road in the -direction of the cottage of the crones. They very soon reached it, and -found it surrounded by a number of people, who were engaged in -demolishing the premises altogether. They had not found much, probably -because there was not much to find; and the owners of the place, as we -know, had taken themselves off before the arrival of their unwelcome -visitors. But they broke everything they could find, tore down the -thatched roof to search for magic charms, none of which they found, but -only a number of mice, and a great deal of dust. They pulled to pieces -the wooden part of the cottage, and knocked down a great part of the -stone corner, counting everything as fair game, as witches' property, -and striving their utmost to destroy as much as they possibly could. - -There were more than a couple of hundred people, all told, Farmer -Barrett believed, and he gave me a great many names, but I forget most -of them. There was Bully Robus, of the "Farriers' Arms," I know, and -little Dick Broadfoot, the tailor, of Mersham Street, and Bill Parsons, -all the way from Warehorne Green. There were Gowers, and Farrances, -Sillibournes and Swaflers, Swinerds and Finns--in short, not a family -in that or any of the other parishes which was not represented, and -they all seemed to vie with each other, which should do the most -mischief, and be foremost in pulling down and destroying that evil -place. - -It was several minutes before James Firminger and John Gower could -command the attention of people so eagerly occupied about their -business as these witch-seekers, and it would have been still longer, -but for the position and character of Firminger, and his known hatred -of all that pertained to witchcraft. He presently succeeded in making -them listen to the wonders he had to relate, and when they knew for -certain what had happened and the direction which the crones had taken, -the whole current of their thoughts was turned into one eager desire to -follow, and, if possible, to make an end of the inmates of that awful -cottage as well as of the abode itself. - -They lost no time, therefore, in finishing the work on which they were -then engaged, and immediately afterwards the whole party swarmed up the -road in the direction of Aldington Knoll, keeping up each other's -courage by many brave words, and shouting uncomplimentary epithets with -regard to the three crones. So they pushed on until they came to the -spot where four roads met; one, that which our party had traversed in -walking from the cottage, another bearing back to Bilsington and -Ruckinge, a third to Newchurch and the Marsh, and the fourth to -Aldington Knoll. - -Down this last road the people turned, and then, immediately before -them they had the mass of wood upon the side of the hill, which then, -as now, encompassed the knoll itself upon the north, west, and south, -the ground to the east being somewhat less woody. The knoll--apparently -a grass hill, only that the grass being a good deal worn away, showed -the bare rock at several places--peered over the woods, and the road to -it lay right through the latter for some distance, until by turning -into a gate upon your right hand, you entered the field out of which -the knoll rose, and from the higher points of which were magnificent -views over the Marsh and all the country east, west, and south, the -hills behind shutting out the view to the north. - -The people were now some three-quarters of a mile from this gate, and, -if the truth could be known, I have no doubt whatever that some of them -would very gladly have been a great deal further off. - -The power of the crones themselves was so well known, and the -reputation of Aldington Knoll was so bad, that no one felt sure that -some terrible misfortune might not result from braving the one and -attacking the other. - -They had all heard strange tales of people bewitched, changed into -animals, losing their senses, and all kinds of other disagreeable -things, and of course such tales _would_ recur to them at such a -moment. But there were brave hearts--then as now--among the men of -Kent, and although fears and doubts may have been there, they did not -operate so as to turn any man back from the work he had undertaken. The -people moved down the road towards Aldington, and reached the point at -which the woods began. At that moment a loud clap of thunder pealed -through the air, and vivid lightning flashed across the sky. - -A shudder passed through many a stout frame, but the men pushed boldly -on. Then came a severe hailstorm--so severe that the people took -shelter beneath the trees, and waited until its violence seemed to be -passed. - -But none turned back. Then came a bitter, chilling wind, though it had -been a lovely, soft, mellow day: the wind cut through the trees with a -moaning sound, and pierced the people like a mid-winter blast. - -Still they pressed on, knowing that witchcraft was at work, and that -retreat would be ruin. They were half-way between the point at which -the road entered the woods and the gate before mentioned, when a loud -and terrible roaring was heard upon the right, from the woods which -stretched up close to the knoll itself. So strange and so dreadful was -this sound, that it made the blood of those who heard it run cold, and -for a moment the foremost men of the throng paused. - -But three men there were in that crowd who neither quailed nor paused -for a moment, so resolutely determined were they to carry out the work -they had commenced that day. These men were James Firminger, Farmer -Long, and old David Finn, the parish clerk of Mersham. The last named -knew but little of crones or witches, but tradition said that there -always must be a Finn for parish clerk, and that Mersham would not be -Mersham without one. This being the case, the old man felt it to be his -duty to take such prominent part in an affair like the present as -became one of an ancient family, filling an hereditary office. - -Therefore, although he knew that the rector would most likely have -disapproved of the step he was taking, he had started early that day, -and in company with Bully Robus and sundry other notables of the -parish, had taken an active part in the proceedings from the beginning. - -These three men, then, were not deterred by the roaring, though it much -resembled that of wild and savage beasts desiring their prey, and -seeing it before their eyes. And when no beasts appeared, and it seemed -to be nothing but sound, the rest of the people regained their courage, -and all continued to push on towards the gate into the knoll-field. -About a hundred yards before they reached it, however, they found that -they had to encounter an unexpected obstacle in the shape of several -enormous elms which lay stretched across the road in such a manner as -to most effectually bar any further progress. - -But to the astonishment of all, no sooner had Firminger, Long, and Finn -(who were now recognised as the leaders of the expedition) approached -close to the barrier, than it vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, -and left the roadway free. - -Encouraged by this result, as unexpected as it was satisfactory, the -party advanced a few yards farther, to find a great ditch yawning in -front of them, and evidently intended to stop their farther advance. On -seeing this, Finn rushed to the front, and standing close to the edge -of the abyss, pronounced in a loud voice the word "Amen," which he had -long held to be the most sacred and powerful form of invocation known -to the world, and one which never failed to repel any evil creature to -whom it was addressed. - -Whether from the effects of his utterance, or from any other reason, I -cannot say, but certain it is that as the worthy clerk put one leg -forward as if to step into the ditch, it closed up as if it had never -been dug, which perhaps was the case. At all events, whether it was a -real ditch or only a delusion of the eye, the chasm disappeared -altogether, and once more the party proceeded, until they reached the -gate of the field, and faced it, about to enter and approach the knoll, -which now lay upon their right, the field in which it was situate -stretching back into the woods. - -On entering the gate, they were at once struck by the novel and curious -appearance of the knoll. Smoke appeared to envelope it on all sides, -and a deep rumbling proceeded from within it, as if a volcano were at -work, and a volcano that meant mischief too. The party paused for a -moment, looked at each other and then at the knoll, and began to wonder -what they had better do next. Everybody thought that everybody else was -stopping quite unnecessarily, but nobody seemed inclined to move on -first. - -Even the three bold men, Firminger, Long, and Finn, seemed less eager -than hitherto, and whispered to each other in low, mysterious tones, -that they fancied they saw dark and fearful figures moving about among -the smoke in which the knoll was enveloped. It was well known to these -men, and indeed to most or all of their companions, that Aldington -knoll was reputed to be the abode and principal gathering-place of all -the evil creatures in that part of the country. - -By common consent men had for a long time past shunned it as a haunted -and wicked spot, and it was no common evidence of courage that so many -men had been found to approach it upon this occasion. After a few -moments, the three men recollected the responsibility of their -position, and the absolute certainty that if their party returned home -defeated, the neighbourhood would thenceforward be worse off than ever. -The crones would never forget the plunder and destruction of their -cottage, and would doubtless exact a severe compensation from the -perpetrators of that ruthless deed. - -Moreover, for a couple of hundred people to have it said that they had -been circumvented and beaten by three old women, was a thing not to be -thought of; so, shame overcoming their reluctance, they boldly marched -forward again, and encouraged their followers to charge up to the very -foot of the knoll. They had got quite close to it when, either by -accident, or because he pulled it too hard in his nervous fidgeting -with it, the string by which James Firminger's relic was tied round his -neck suddenly broke, and the charm itself fell to the ground. - -Hardly had this occurred, when a yell, most discordant in its tone, but -appearing to express a mingled feeling of joy, triumph, fury and -revengeful longing all in one, broke from the interior of the mount. -The next instant the knoll itself opened wide, just like the mouth of a -man preparing for a tremendous yawn, and a whole volley of cinders and -ashes came bursting over the approaching party in a most disconcerting -and unpleasant manner. At the same time strange and uncouth figures -suddenly appeared issuing from the knoll, some with goat's heads and -horns, others with the bodies of men but a pig's head, snout and -bristles, others like monkeys (but oh! such frightful monkeys as never -were seen) and all with eyes that rolled fearfully in their heads and -glittered like fire. Conspicuous among this awful band appeared the -figures of the three crones, Bony, Skinny, and Humpy, each carrying a -broomstick in her hand, and followed by her cat, which bounded forward -as if to attack the invaders of the haunted hill. This was more than -the latter could stand--they wavered--looked round--tottered a step or -two backward, and then, as the cinders, hot cinders too, came upon them -and the evil creatures almost touched them, they turned round with one -accord, and fled down from the knoll as fast as their legs would carry -them. Farmer Long was the first of the three leaders who gave way, for -he afterwards declared that he recognized the lost kitten in a cat -which seemed to select him as her particular object of attack, and as -he ran, he vowed that he felt a scratch which penetrated, sharp and -deep, in such a manner that he could not sit down comfortably for a -fortnight, and felt perfectly sure that only the claws of that kitten -could or would have dealt him such a wound. As for Finn, he so lost his -head, that he ran off, bawling out "Amen" continuously at the top of -his voice, but in a tone which conveyed so little of the real -importance and dignity attaching to the word, that it is little wonder -that it had no effect. - -James Firminger--as became a man of his character and position--stood -his ground longest, but his charm being gone, he felt less confidence, -and when he, too, turned and ran, he felt himself belaboured by an -invisible stick all the way down to the gate of the field. - -Shouts, shrieks and yells of laughter, followed the retreating party, -and there was scarcely a man in whose breast, amid all his fears, the -thought did not arise that the result of this day's work had turned out -to be one so utterly unfortunate for the people, and so triumphant for -the crones, that the neighbourhood would have to submit to be -witch-ridden for ever after. - -But, sometimes, in human affairs, whether those of an individual or a -community, at the very moment when things seem to be at their worst, -they begin to mend, and that amendment is not unfrequently brought -about by some agent which, to the wise and knowing of mankind, would -have appeared the most insignificant and the most unlikely to have -effected the change. So it was in the present instance. The affrighted -people came rushing through the gate, and, avoiding the road through -the wood, which was their natural way home, turned in an easterly -direction, and ran up the road leading away from the woods, and into -the main road leading from Aldington Corner to Hythe. They had run but -a very short distance when they came upon the "innocent," simple -Steenie Long, sitting on the bank of the road side, apparently looking -for flowers. He looked up with a vacant expression upon his face (which -I am told was not unusual with idiots in those days) and seemed -astonished to see so many people all running in such a hurry. - -Several of the party hurried past the boy, too much occupied about -providing for their own safety to think either of him or of anybody -else. Presently, however, Farmer Long came running by, already somewhat -out of breath, and burning with rage and shame at having been unable to -resist the impulse which had made him fly before the power of the evil -creatures of the knoll. When he came to the place where his son was -sitting, he stopped short in his flight, and seizing the boy by the -arm, hastily exclaimed, "Come along, lad, come along; this is no place -for the likes of you!" endeavouring at the same time to hurry the youth -away with him. - -But "Simple Steenie" was by no means of the same opinion. He drew -himself away from his father's hold, opened his large blue eyes to -their fullest extent, and observed in a calm but very decided tone. -"Steenie not." - -"Not _what_, boy?" said the farmer eagerly. "You'd better not stop -here, anyhow; leastways if you do, the witches will have you." But the -boy, who had by this time risen to his feet, only smiled pleasantly -upon his father, with the simple smile of the weak of intellect, and -answered in a gentle tone. "Steenie not 'fraid. People run. Steenie not -run." - -At this moment up came James Firminger, already bitterly repenting the -flight which seemed certain to lead to such disastrous consequences. -Overhearing the words of the boy, the thought instantly struck him that -they might be turned to good account. - -Well did stout Firminger know that whatever be the power of witches and -warlocks, it has no effect upon those whom Heaven has deprived of their -full share of reason and intellect, and it occurred to him (and perhaps -it was true) that this unexpected meeting with "Simple Steenie" was not -accidental, but that it was possibly so ordered, that the victory of -the evil ones might be prevented. - -He stopped instantly, and shouted aloud to the rest of the party. -"Mates!" he cried. "Are we not shamed by the words of this innocent? -_He_ will not run, he--why then should _we_ do so? The power which -protects _him_ can protect _us_. Let us turn once more, and never give -way like this to the evil ones." - -The words of Firminger produced a great effect upon those who heard -him. Some indeed there were who had already made their way so far that -they neither saw nor heard anything that followed, but fully two-thirds -of the party checked their flight, and waited to see what would follow. - -They were much reassured by that which immediately occurred. James -Firminger went up to the boy and spoke to him kindly to the following -effect. "Steenie boy, that's right! _You_ won't run, will you, lad? -_You_ ban't afraid of no witches nor crones neither, be you?" - -Thus addressed, Steenie drew himself up to his full height, smiled upon -his questioner as he had upon his father, and said very gravely. "No. -Steenie not 'fraid. Good people help Steenie." - -As this was immediately interpreted by all who heard him to mean that -the half-witted lad was assured of supernatural assistance in any -encounter which might ensue, it had a wonderfully comforting effect -upon the whole party. - -The courage which, in the case of most of them, had been "oozing out at -their fingers' ends," suddenly and miraculously returned to its natural -home in their hearts, and they began to encourage each other by speech -and gesture, and to ask what there was to be afraid of. - -Seeing his opportunity, Firminger used all his arts of persuasion, and -the result was that those of the party who had not got beyond hearing -when the above mentioned incident took place, wheeled boldly and bodily -round, and retraced their steps towards the knoll-field, Firminger and -Long leading the way, preceded by "Simple Steenie," who declined to -walk with any of them, but trotted on ahead. As for Finn, he had -disappeared and was no more seen that day, having been so completely -overcome by the total failure of the great invocation to which he had -pinned his faith, that he was incapable of further action for the time, -and was indeed never quite the same man afterwards. - -When the party got near the gate, there was no sign of anything -unusual, but as soon as they set foot within the field, the same -roaring arose which they had heard before, and the same smoke began to -puff out from the knoll and to enwrap it once more in dark wreaths. At -this moment Firminger, Long, and their followers suddenly started with -surprise. - -"Simple Steenie" was indeed walking before them, having left the -trotting pace at which he had started, but he was no longer alone! A -short, thick-set man, clad entirely in gray from head to foot, was -leading the boy by the hand as they advanced together. In his hand he -held a long staff, but otherwise appeared to be entirely unarmed. -Whence he had sprung from no one could tell; they had not seen any of -their own party rush forward, and certainly no one had descended from -the knoll. However, there was the Gray Man, sure enough, and on he -marched by "Simple Steenie's" side, as if they were the best friends in -the world, and had long ago arranged the enterprise on which they were -jointly bound. The others followed at a respectful distance, more and -more astonished as matters went on. - -The roaring continued and presently the same process was repeated as -that which the people had previously witnessed and undergone. Figures -moved rapidly amid the thick smoke, and ever and anon a lurid flame -flashed from one side of the knoll to the other, affording a momentary -glimpse of awful forms with threatening gestures directed towards those -who appeared desirous to invade their territory. - -Still "Simple Steenie" and his companion walked calmly on until they -were within a very short distance of the knoll, when, as before, it -opened, and a volume of cinders and ashes was again poured forth. But, -at the same instant, the Gray Man raised his staff high above his head -and shook it in the air. Suddenly, without a cloud in the sky or any -appearance whatever of rain, a perfect torrent of water descended from -the heavens upon the knoll, the effect of which was to produce just -such a "fiz" as when you throw a tumbler of water upon the fire, only -this sound was as if several hundred thousand tumblers had been thrown -upon the same number of fires all at once, producing the loudest and -most wonderful "fiz" that you can imagine. At the same moment a -prolonged and terrible howl arose from inside the hill, as if the -effects of the water had caused great discomfort therein. - -Next happened a remarkable incident. The mouth of the knoll opened with -the same kind of yawning action as has been already described, as if -the same onslaught as before was about to be repeated. But instead of -waiting for this, "Steenie" and the "Gray Man" both raised a loud -shout, the latter brandished his staff once more over his head, and -both of them rushed boldly forward into the mound, which immediately -closed behind them. The bystanders were struck with horror and -amazement. - -Was the Gray Man in league with the enemy, and had he thus lured poor -Steenie to his destruction? If so--why and whence the torrent of water, -which had evidently not been relished by the inhabitants of the knoll? -What on earth did it all mean? - -For a few moments the whole party stood fearful and irresolute. Soon it -became evident that warm work was going on inside the knoll. Shouts, -yells, rumblings, howls, and the most discordant noises were heard -within, whilst there were those among the people, and notably James -Firminger and Bully Robus, who always declared that they heard, in and -above the outcry, the word, "Dunstan! Dunstan!" repeated ever and anon, -and the same thought crossed the minds of both of them at the same -time, namely, that the appearance of the Gray Man greatly resembled the -description of the great Saint Dunstan, so famous for the manner in -which he tackled the arch-enemy upon one occasion with a pair of tongs, -and whose name was said to be especially dreaded by all evil creatures. - -Be this as it may, the noise had not continued above a minute or two, -before the spirit of James Firminger became too much excited to allow -of his remaining quiet any longer. - -Calling to his companions to come on and help poor Steenie, he rushed -boldly forward, and was followed by most of the others. But they were -still several yards away from the scene of action, when they were -stopped by an occurrence so extraordinary that no one who witnessed it -ran the smallest chance of ever forgetting it. - -The knoll burst open in at least twenty different places, and from it -there issued the same sort of creatures as those who had previously -attacked and routed the Mersham forces. But their aspect was now as -completely changed as their behaviour. Cowering, shrieking, huddling -together as if to escape some terrible pursuer, they rushed frantically -away on all sides, with heart-rending cries of despair and anguish. - -Then, in the very middle of the knoll, rushing after the retreating -foe, appeared no less a personage than the Gray Man, flourishing his -staff, and closely followed by "Simple Steenie," whose features were -glowing with excitement, and whom they distinctly saw in the act of -administering a violent kick to a repulsive-looking creature with a -serpent's head and man's body, who was beyond all question an evil one -of the worst description, but whose departure was much quickened by the -action of the "innocent." - -As everybody among the lookers-on was greatly confused and alarmed at -the extraordinary spectacle suddenly presented to their view, one -hardly knows how far it would be safe to rely upon the many different -accounts which were afterwards given of the details of the transaction -of which I am writing, and good Farmer Barrett always used to warn me -against believing as gospel every particular of this part of the story. - -However, there were many worthy people out upon this day who declared -solemnly that among the strange and horrible creatures who were turned -out of Aldington Knoll that day, they recognised the faces and features -of several of their neighbours, dead and gone, who had been reputed -witches in their life-times. And little Dick Broadfoot, the tailor of -Mersham Street, an acute man as well as an honest, and one that would -not willingly either lie or exaggerate, always took his bible oath that -he saw, as plainly as he ever saw anything in his life, three awful -creatures, with cats' heads and bodies, but with horns and wings, and -with claws longer than any possessed by mortal cat, fly out of the -mount and down the woods, each having fast hold of and carrying with it -a form which writhed and struggled as if in fearful agony, but writhed -and struggled in vain. And furthermore, Dick avowed that he saw--though -how he had time to see it I don't know--he saw, I say, and knew it for -a certain fact, that these three unhappy wretches were the three crones -of Mersham, doubtless being carried off to their own place by the three -evil ones who had hitherto served them under the form of cats. - -Whether to believe the little tailor or not I hardly know, but Bully -Robus backed him up in the story, and as the three crones never again -appeared in that part of the world, it may have been quite true. - -Certain it is that all those creatures who issued from the knoll in the -way I have described were evidently driven out against their will, -utterly defeated and brought to tribulation by a superior power. In a -very short time they had utterly disappeared, a strong smell of sulphur -being the only remaining token that they had ever been there, whilst -upon the knoll, which had closed up behind them, "Simple Steenie" and -his companion remained, standing alone in triumph. - -The people saw the Gray Man lay his hand upon the lad's head for an -instant, as if calling down a blessing upon him; then there came a mist -or cloud over the knoll, and when they looked again, Steenie was -standing alone. They hurried towards him, instinctively knowing that -there was no more danger to be apprehended from the place, and he -turned smilingly to meet them with an air of triumph. - -"Steenie not 'fraid," he said. "Naughty people run 'way! All gone!" - -[Illustration: SIMPLE STEENIE AND THE GRAY MAN ON THE KNOLL--P. 344] - -But to all their questions about his late companion he could only -answer by a vacant smile and incoherent words, which left them as -ignorant as before. They had, however, the great consolation of knowing -that, whether it had come about by the aid of "Simple Steenie's" -innocent efforts, or whether the Gray Man had of his own accord planned -the whole affair, and arranged for the discomfiture of the wicked ones, -that discomfiture was certain and complete. - -From that day forth Aldington Knoll has been a peaceful quiet spot, -from whence the views to which I have already alluded may be -contemplated without any fear of interference by any unpleasant inmates -of the mound, for there are none worse than rabbits now. More might be -told about some of the characters of our story, but short and casual -allusions are not desirable, and to do more would be to lengthen the -story too much. So I will leave my readers to fancy for themselves all -that happened afterwards to John Gower and his family, as well as to -Farmer Long, Simple Steenie, and all the rest of them. It is a good -many years ago now since these things occurred, and the actors in the -stirring scenes which I have related have long since passed away. - -If I had not chronicled them now, from my recollection of good old -Farmer Barrett's gossips, I dare say Jack Barrett--who is a careless -fellow at best, and not equal to his father--(young men seldom are in -these days, according to my opinion) would have told the story -differently, and only in fragments, to his children, and they would -have varied it again in telling it to _their_ children, so that in -a couple of generations it would have been quite uncertain, and the -real truth never would have been known. - -This is why I have thought it right to tell it. I drove down in my -pony-carriage the other day, with a young lady by my side, to see the -very spot where the crones' cottage used to stand, and to go through -all the places where these scenes occurred. I could make them all out -pretty clearly, though there is no vestige of the cottage left. We -drove on to Bilsington and back towards Aldington by the same road that -Mrs. Long and Tom the Bailiff drove, when they were taking the kitten -back to the Gowers. - -We did not see any witches for certain, and perhaps there are none -left, though, as it is a good way from a railroad, I am not very sure -on this point. In a secluded spot by one of the woods, there was the -figure of a man seated by the side of the road breaking stones, and I -thought there was something in his look more than common. It was on a -hill, up which I was walking, and if I had been alone I might have -stopped and tried to find out more. But as I did not want to run the -least chance of the young lady with me being frightened, I only took -care to walk on the side of the road between the pony-carriage and the -figure, and as we passed it I laid my right hand on my heart, and -pronounced that famous mystic word of power---- Oh! I forgot, I must -not write it, because that is forbidden, but if any little girl wants -to know (boys are never curious, of course, so they won't mind not -being told) she must just write me a pretty little letter and ask, and -as I am very easily coaxed, I shall very likely either come and tell -her, or make some arrangement by which she shall be able to find out -for herself. It answered very well that day (as, indeed, it always -does) and we got home quite safe. Home is the best place at which to -leave one's friends, and therefore, having brought myself there in my -writing, I think I will stop, and only hope that others beside myself -will be interested in hearing the famous legend of the "Crones of -Mersham." - - -BRADBURY, AGNEW, & CO., PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS. - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. - -Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained -as printed. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNCLE JOE'S STORIES*** - - -******* This file should be named 44924.txt or 44924.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/4/9/2/44924 - - - -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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