the enchanted island of yew-第2章

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overhanging　branches　for　its　roof。

〃How　pretty！〃　cried　Seseley；　gaily。　　〃Let　us　eat　our　luncheon　in　this　lovely　banquet…hall！〃

So　Berna　and　Helda　spread　a　cloth　and　brought　from　their　baskets　some　golden　platters　and　a　store　of　food。　　Yet　there　was　little　ceremony　over　the　meal；　you　may　be　sure；　and　within　a　short　space　all　the　children　had　satisfied　their　appetites　and　were　laughing　and　chatting　as　merrily　as　if　they　were　at　home　in　the　great　castle。　　Indeed；　it　is　certain　they　were　happier　in　their　forest　glade　than　when　facing　grim　walls　of　stone；　and　the　three　were　in　such　gay　spirits　that　whatever　one　chanced　to　say　the　others　promptly　joined　in　laughing　over。

Soon；　however；　they　were　startled　to　hear　a　silvery　peal　of　laughter　answering　their　own；　and　turning　to　see　whence　the　sound　proceeded；　they　found　seated　near　them　a　creature　so　beautiful　that　at　once　the　three　pairs　of　eyes　opened　to　their　widest　extent；　and　three　hearts　beat　much　faster　than　before。

〃Well；　I　must　say　you　DO　stare！〃　exclaimed　the　newcomer；　who　was　clothed　in　soft　floating　robes　of　rose　and　pearl　color；　and　whose　eyes　shone　upon　them　like　two　stars。

〃Forgive　our　impertinence；〃　answered　the　little　Lady　Seseley；　trying　to　appear　dignified　and　unmoved；　〃but　you　must　acknowledge　that　you　came　among　us　uninvited；　andand　you　are　certainly　rather　odd　in　appearance。〃

Again　the　silvery　laughter　rang　through　the　glade。

〃Uninvited！〃　echoed　the　creature；　clapping　her　hands　together　delightedly；　〃uninvited　to　my　own　forest　home！　　Why；　my　dear　girls；　you　are　the　uninvited　onesindeed　you　areto　thus　come　romping　into　our　fairy　bower。〃

The　children　did　not　open　their　eyes　any　wider　on　hearing　this　speech；　for　they　could　not；　but　their　faces　expressed　their　amazement　fully；　while　Helda　gasped　the　words：

〃A　fairy　bower！　　We　are　in　a　fairy　bower！〃

〃Most　certainly；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃And　as　for　being　odd　in　appearance；　let　me　ask　how　you　could　reasonably　expect　a　fairy　to　appear　as　mortal　maidens　do？〃

〃A　fairy！〃　exclaimed　Seseley。　　〃Are　you；　then；　a　real　fairy？〃

〃I　regret　to　say　I　am；〃　returned　the　other；　more　soberly；　as　she　patted　a　moss…bank　with　a　silver…tipped　wand。

Then　for　a　moment　there　was　silence；　while　the　three　girls　sat　very　still　and　stared　at　their　immortal　companion　with　evident　curiosity。　Finally　Seseley　asked：

〃Why　do　you　regret　being　a　fairy？　　I　have　always　thought　them　the　happiest　creatures　in　the　world。〃

〃Perhaps　we　ought　to　be　happy；〃　answered　the　fairy；　gravely；　〃for　we　have　wonderful　powers　and　do　much　to　assist　you　helpless　mortals。　　And　I　suppose　some　of　us　really　are　happy。　　But；　for　my　part；　I　am　so　utterly　tired　of　a　fairy　life　that　I　would　do　anything　to　change　it。〃

〃That　is　strange；〃　declared　Berna。　　〃You　seem　very　young　to　be　already　discontented　with　your　lot。〃

Now　at　this　the　fairy　burst　into　laughter　again；　and　presently　asked：

〃How　old　do　you　think　me？〃

〃About　our　own　age；〃　said　Berna；　after　a　glance　at　her　and　a　moment's　reflection。

〃Nonsense！〃　retorted　the　fairy；　sharply。　　〃These　trees　are　hundreds　of　years　old；　yet　I　remember　when　they　were　mere　twigs。　　And　I　remember　when　mortals　first　came　to　live　upon　this　island；　yesand　when　this　island　was　first　created　and　rose　from　the　sea　after　a　great　earthquake。　　I　remember　for　many；　many　centuries；　my　dears。　　I　have　grown　tired　of　rememberingand　of　being　a　fairy　continually；　without　any　change　to　brighten　my　life。〃

〃To　be　sure！〃　said　Seseley；　with　sympathy。　　〃I　never　thought　of　fairy　life　in　that　way　before。　　It　must　get　to　be　quite　tiresome。〃

〃And　think　of　the　centuries　I　must　yet　live！〃　exclaimed　the　fairy　in　a　dismal　voice。　　〃Isn't　it　an　awful　thing　to　look　forward　to？〃

〃It　is；　indeed；〃　agreed　Seseley。

〃I'd　be　glad　to　exchange　lives　with　you；〃　said　Helda；　looking　at　the　fairy　with　intense　admiration。

〃But　you　can't　do　that；〃　answered　the　little　creature　quickly。　〃Mortals　can't　become　fairies；　you　knowalthough　I　believe　there　was　once　a　mortal　who　was　made　immortal。〃

〃But　fairies　can　become　anything　they　desire！〃　cried　Berna。

〃Oh；　no；　they　can't。　　You　are　mistaken　if　you　believe　that；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃I　could　change　YOU　into　a　fly；　or　a　crocodile；　or　a　bobolink；　if　I　wanted　to；　but　fairies　can't　change　themselves　into　anything　else。〃

〃How　strange！〃　murmured　Seseley；　much　impressed。

〃But　YOU　can；〃　cried　the　fairy；　jumping　up　and　coming　toward　them。　〃You　are　mortals；　and；　by　the　laws　that　govern　us；　a　mortal　can　change　a　fairy　into　anything　she　pleases。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Seseley；　filled　with　amazement　at　the　idea。

The　fairy　fell　on　her　knees　before　the　baron's　daughter。　　〃Pleaseplease；　dear　Seseley；〃　she　pleaded；　〃change　me　into　a　mortal！〃



4。　　Prince　Marvel


It　is　easy　to　imagine　the　astonishment　of　the　three　girls　at　hearing　this　strange　request。　　They　gazed　in　a　bewildered　fashion　upon　the　kneeling　fairy；　and　were　at　first　unable　to　answer　one　word。　Then　Seseley　saidsadly；　for　she　grieved　to　disappoint　the　pretty　creature：

〃We　are　but　mortal　children；　and　have　no　powers　of　enchantment　at　all。〃

〃Ah；　that　is　true；　so　far　as　concerns　yourselves；〃　replied　the　fairy；　eagerly；　〃yet　mortals　may　easily　transform　fairies　into　anything　they　wish。〃

〃If　that　is　so；　why　have　we　never　heard　of　this　power　before？〃　asked　Seseley。

〃Because　fairies；　as　a　rule；　are　content　with　their　lot；　and　do　not　wish　to　appear　in　any　form　but　their　own。　　And；　knowing　that　evil　or　mischievous　mortals　can　transform　them　at　will；　the　fairies　take　great　care　to　remain　invisible；　so　they　can　not　be　interfered　with。　　Have　you　ever；〃　she　asked；　suddenly；　〃seen　a　fairy　before？〃

〃Never；〃　replied　Seseley。

〃Nor　would　you　have　seen　me　to…day；　had　I　not　known　you　were　kind　and　pure…hearted；　or　had　I　not　resolved　to　ask　you　to　exercise　your　powers　upon　me。〃

〃I　must　say；〃　remarked　Helda；　boldly；　〃that　you　are　foolish　to　wish　to　become　anything　different　from　what　you　are。〃

〃For　you　are　very　beautiful　NOW；〃　added　Berna；　admiringly。

〃Beautiful！〃　retorted　the　fairy；　with　a　little　frown；　〃what　does　beauty　amount　to；　if　one　is　to　remain　invisible？〃

〃Not　much；　that　is　true；〃　agreed　Berna；　smoothing　her　own　dark　locks。

〃And　as　for　being　foolish；〃　continued　the　fairy；　〃I　ought　to　be　allowed　to　act　foolishly　if　I　want　to。　　For　centuries　past　I　have　not　had　a　chance　to　do　a　single　foolish　thing。〃

〃Poor　dear！〃　said　Helda；　softly。

Seseley　had　listened　silently　to　this　conversation。　　Now　she　inquired：

〃What　do　you　wish　to　become？〃

〃A　mortal！〃　answered　the　fairy；　promptly。

〃A　girl；　like　ourselves？〃　questioned　the　baron's　daughter。

〃Perhaps；〃　said　the　fairy；　as　if　undecided。

〃Then　you　would　be　likely　to　endure　many　privations；〃　said　Seseley；　gently。　　〃For　you　would　have　neither　father　nor　mother　to　befriend　you；　nor　any　house　to　live　in。〃

〃And　if　you　hired　your　services　to　some　baron；　you　would　be　obliged　to　wash　dishes　all　day；　or　mend　clothing；　or　herd　cattle；〃　said　Berna。

〃But　I　should　travel　all　over　the　island；〃　said　the　fairy；　brightly；　〃and　that　is　what　I　long　to　do。　　I　do　not　care　to　work。〃

〃I　fear　a　girl　would　not　be　allowed　to　travel　alone；〃　Seseley　remarked；　after　some　further　thought。　　〃At　least；〃　she　added；　〃I　have　never　heard　of　such　a　thing。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　fairy；　rather　bitterly；　〃your　men　are　the　ones　that　roam　abroad　and　have　adventures　of　all　kinds。　　Your　women　are　poor；　weak　creatures；　I　remember。〃

There　was　no　denying　this；　so　the　three　girls　sat　silent　until　Seseley　asked：

〃Why　do　you　wish　to　become　a　mortal？〃

〃To　gain　exciting　experiences；〃　answered　the　fairy。　　I'm　tired　of　being　a　humdrum　fairy　year　in　and　year　out。　　Of　course；　I　do　not　wish　to　become　a　mortal　for　all　time；　for　that　would　get　monotonous；　too；　but　to　live　a　short　while　as　the　earth　people　do　would　amuse　me　very　much。〃

〃If　you　want　variety；　you　should　become　a　boy；〃　said　Helda；　with　a　laugh；　〃The　life　of　a　boy　is　one　round　of　excitement。〃

〃Then　make　me　a　boy！〃　exclaimed　the　fairy　eagerly。

〃A　boy！〃　they　all　cried　in　consternation。　　And　Seseley　added：

〃Whyyou're　a　GIRL　fairy；　aren't　you？〃

〃Wellyes；　I　suppose　I　am；〃　answered　the　beautiful　creature；　smiling；　〃but　as　you　are　going　to