reformattedX.json

{
  "The Cash Boy" : {
    "ID": 296,
    "Image": "https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41kxHZXkTfL.jpg",
    "Text": [
      [
        "CHAPTER ONE\r\nA REVELATION"
      ],
      [
        "A group of boys was assembled in an open field to the west of the public schoolhouse in the town of Crawford."
      ],
      [
        "Most of them held hats in their hands, while two, stationed sixty feet distant from each other, were \"having catch.\""
      ],
      [
        "Tom Pinkerton, son of Deacon Pinkerton, had just returned from Brooklyn, and while there had witnessed a match game between two professional clubs."
      ],
      [
        "On his return he proposed that the boys of Crawford should establish a club, to be known as the Excelsior Club of Crawford, to play among themselves, and on suitable occasions to challenge clubs belonging to other villages."
      ],
      [
        "This proposal was received with instant approval."
      ],
      [
        "\"I move that Tom Pinkerton address the meeting,\" said one boy."
      ],
      [
        "\"Second the motion,\" said another."
      ],
      [
        "As there was no chairman, James Briggs was appointed to that position, and put the motion, which was unanimously carried."
      ],
      [
        "Tom Pinkerton, in his own estimation a personage of considerable importance, came forward in a consequential manner, and commenced as follows:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr. Chairman and boys.",
        "You all know what has brought us together.",
        "We want to start a club for playing baseball, like the big clubs they have in Brooklyn and New York.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How shall we do it?\"",
        "asked Henry Scott."
      ],
      [
        "\"We must first appoint a captain of the club, who will have power to assign the members to their different positions.",
        "Of course you will want one that understands about these matters.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He means himself,\" whispered Henry Scott, to his next neighbor; and here he was right."
      ],
      [
        "\"Is that all?\" asked Sam Pomeroy."
      ],
      [
        "\"No; as there will be some expenses, there must be a treasurer to receive and take care of the funds, and we shall need a secretary to keep the records of the club, and write and answer challenges.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Boys,\" said the chairman, \"you have heard Tom Pinkerton\"s remarks.",
        "Those who are in favor of organizing a club on this plan will please signify it in the usual way.\""
      ],
      [
        "All the boys raised their hands, and it was declared a vote."
      ],
      [
        "\"You will bring in your votes for captain,\" said the chairman."
      ],
      [
        "Tom Pinkerton drew a little apart with a conscious look, as he supposed, of course, that no one but himself would be thought of as leader."
      ],
      [
        "Slips of paper were passed around, and the boys began to prepare their ballots.",
        "They were brought to the chairman in a hat, and he forthwith took them out and began to count them."
      ],
      [
        "\"Boys,\" he announced, amid a universal stillness, \"there is one vote for Sam Pomeroy, one for Eugene Morton, and the rest are for Frank Fowler, who is elected.\""
      ],
      [
        "There was a clapping of hands, in which Tom Pinkerton did not join."
      ],
      [
        "Frank Fowler, who is to be our hero, came forward a little, and spoke modestly as follows:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Boys, I thank you for electing me captain of the club.",
        "I am afraid I am not very well qualified for the place, but I will do as well as I can.\""
      ],
      [
        "The speaker was a boy of fourteen."
      ],
      [
        "He was of medium height for his age, strong and sturdy in build, and with a frank prepossessing countenance, and an open, cordial manner, which made him a general favorite."
      ],
      [
        "It was not, however, to his popularity that he owed his election, but to the fact that both at bat and in the field he excelled all the boys, and therefore was the best suited to take the lead."
      ],
      [
        "The boys now proceeded to make choice of a treasurer and secretary.",
        "For the first position Tom Pinkerton received a majority of the votes."
      ],
      [
        "Though not popular, it was felt that some office was due him."
      ],
      [
        "For secretary, Ike Stanton, who excelled in penmanship, was elected, and thus all the offices were filled."
      ],
      [
        "The boys now crowded around Frank Fowler, with petitions for such places as they desired."
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope you will give me a little time before I decide about positions, boys,\" Frank said; \"I want to consider a little.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"All right!",
        "Take till next week,\" said one and another, \"and let us have a scrub game this afternoon.\""
      ],
      [
        "The boys were in the middle of the sixth inning, when some one called out to Frank Fowler: \"Frank, your sister is running across the field.",
        "I think she wants you.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank dropped his bat and hastened to meet his sister."
      ],
      [
        "\"What\"s the matter, Gracie?\" he asked in alarm."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, Frank!\" she exclaimed, bursting into tears.",
        "\"Mother\"s been bleeding at the lungs, and she looks so white.",
        "I\"m afraid she\"s very sick.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Boys,\" said Frank, turning to his companions, \"I must go home at once.",
        "You can get some one to take my place, my mother is very sick.\""
      ],
      [
        "When Frank reached the little brown cottage which he called home, he found his mother in an exhausted state reclining on the bed."
      ],
      [
        "\"How do you feel, mother?\"",
        "asked our hero, anxiously."
      ],
      [
        "\"Quite weak, Frank,\" she answered in a low voice.",
        "\"I have had a severe attack.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Let me go for the doctor, mother.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t think it will be necessary, Frank.",
        "The attack is over, and I need no medicines, only time to bring back my strength.\""
      ],
      [
        "But three days passed, and Mrs. Fowler\"s nervous prostration continued."
      ],
      [
        "She had attacks previously from which she rallied sooner, and her present weakness induced serious misgivings as to whether she would ever recover."
      ],
      [
        "Frank thought that her eyes followed him with more than ordinary anxiety, and after convincing himself that this was the case, he drew near his mother\"s bedside, and inquired:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Mother, isn\"t there something you want me to do?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Nothing, I believe, Frank.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I thought you looked at me as if you wanted to say something.\"",
        "\"There is something I must say to you before I die.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Before you die, mother!\" echoed Frank, in a startled voice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes.",
        "Frank, I am beginning to think that this is my last sickness.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But, mother, you have been so before, and got up again.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"There must always be a last time, Frank; and my strength is too far reduced to rally again, I fear.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can\"t bear the thought of losing you, mother,\" said Frank, deeply moved."
      ],
      [
        "\"You will miss me, then, Frank?\" said Mrs. Fowler."
      ],
      [
        "\"Shall I not?",
        "Grace and I will be alone in the world.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Alone in the world!\" repeated the sick woman, sorrowfully, \"with little help to hope for from man, for I shall leave you nothing.",
        "Poor children!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That isn\"t what I think of,\" said Frank, hastily."
      ],
      [
        "\"I can support myself.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But Grace?",
        "She is a delicate girl,\" said the mother, anxiously.",
        "\"She cannot make her way as you can.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"She won\"t need to,\" said Frank, promptly; \"I shall take care of her.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But you are very young even to support yourself.",
        "You are only fourteen.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I know it, mother, but I am strong, and I am not afraid.",
        "There are a hundred ways of making a living.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But do you realize that you will have to start with absolutely nothing?",
        "Deacon Pinkerton holds a mortgage on this house for all it will bring in the market, and I owe him arrears of interest besides.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I didn\"t know that, mother, but it doesn\"t frighten me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And you will take care of Grace?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I promise it, mother.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Suppose Grace were not your sister?\" said the sick woman, anxiously scanning the face of the boy."
      ],
      [
        "\"What makes you suppose such a thing as that, mother?",
        "Of course she is my sister.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But suppose she were not,\" persisted Mrs. Fowler, \"you would not recall your promise?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, surely not, for I love her.",
        "But why do you talk so, mother?\" and a suspicion crossed Frank\"s mind that his mother\"s intellect might be wandering."
      ],
      [
        "\"It is time to tell you all, Frank.",
        "Sit down by the bedside, and I will gather my strength to tell you what must be told.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Grace is not your sister, Frank!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Not my sister, mother?\" he exclaimed.",
        "\"You are not in earnest?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am quite in earnest, Frank.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then whose child is she?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"She is my child.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then she must be my sister--are you not my mother?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, Frank, I am not your mother!\""
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER TWO\r\nMRS.",
        "FOWLER\"S STORY"
      ],
      [
        "\"Not my mother!\" he exclaimed.",
        "\"Who, then, is my mother?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I cannot tell you, Frank.",
        "I never knew.",
        "You will forgive me for concealing this from you for so long.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No matter who was my real mother since I have you.",
        "You have been a mother to me, and I shall always think of you as such.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You make me happy, Frank, when you say that.",
        "And you will look upon Grace as a sister also, will you not?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Always,\" said the boy, emphatically.",
        "\"Mother, will you tell all you know about me?",
        "I don\"t know what to think; now that I am not your son I cannot rest till I learn who I am.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can understand your feelings, Frank, but I must defer the explanation till to-morrow.",
        "I have fatigued myself with talking, but to-morrow you shall know all that I can tell you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Forgive me for not thinking of your being tired, mother,\" and he bent over and pressed his lips upon the cheek of the sick woman.",
        "\"But don\"t talk any more.",
        "Wait till to-morrow.\""
      ],
      [
        "In the afternoon Frank had a call from Sam Pomeroy."
      ],
      [
        "\"The club is to play to-morrow afternoon against a picked nine, Frank,\"  he said.",
        "\"Will you be there?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can\"t, Sam,\" he answered.",
        "\"My mother is very sick, and it is my duty to stay at home with her.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"We shall miss you--that is, all of us but one.",
        "Tom Pinkerton said yesterday that you ought to resign, as you can\"t attend to your duties.",
        "He wouldn\"t object to filling your place, I fancy.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He is welcome to the place as soon as the club feels like electing him,\" said Frank.",
        "\"Tell the boys I am sorry I can\"t be on hand.",
        "They had better get you to fill my place.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I\"ll mention it, but I don\"t think they\"ll see it in that light.",
        "They\"re all jealous of my superior playing,\" said Sam, humorously.",
        "\"Well, good-bye, Frank.",
        "I hope your mother\"ll be better soon.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, Sam,\" answered Frank, soberly.",
        "\"I hope so, too, but she is very sick.\""
      ],
      [
        "The next day Mrs. Fowler again called Frank to the bedside."
      ],
      [
        "\"Grace is gone out on an errand,\" she said, \"and I can find no better time for telling you what I know about you and the circumstances which led to my assuming the charge of you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Are you strong enough, mother?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, Frank.",
        "Thirteen years ago my husband and myself occupied a small tenement in that part of Brooklyn know as Gowanus, not far from Greenwood Cemetery."
      ],
      [
        "My husband was a carpenter, and though his wages were small he was generally employed.",
        "We had been married three years, but had no children of our own."
      ],
      [
        "Our expenses were small, and we got on comfortably, and should have continued to do so, but that Mr. Fowler met with an accident which partially disabled him."
      ],
      [
        "He fell from a high scaffold and broke his arm.",
        "This was set and he was soon able to work again, but he must also have met with some internal injury, for his full strength never returned."
      ],
      [
        "Half a day\"s work tired him more than a whole day\"s work formerly had done.",
        "Of course our income was very much diminished, and we were obliged to economize very closely."
      ],
      [
        "This preyed upon my husband\"s mind and seeing his anxiety, I set about considering how I could help him, and earn my share of the expenses."
      ],
      [
        "\"One day in looking over the advertising columns of a New York paper I saw the following advertisement:"
      ],
      [
        "\"\"For adoption--A healthy male infant.",
        "The parents are able to pay liberally for the child\"s maintenance, but circumstances compel them to delegate the care to another.",
        "Address for interview A. M.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I had no sooner read this advertisement than I felt that it was just what I wanted."
      ],
      [
        "A liberal compensation was promised, and under our present circumstances would be welcome, as it was urgently needed."
      ],
      [
        "I mentioned the matter to my husband, and he was finally induced to give his consent."
      ],
      [
        "\"Accordingly, I replied to the advertisement."
      ],
      [
        "\"Three days passed in which I heard nothing from it.",
        "But as we were sitting at the supper table at six o\"clock one afternoon, there came a knock at our front door."
      ],
      [
        "I opened it, and saw before me a tall stranger, a man of about thirty-five, of dark complexion, and dark whiskers.",
        "He was well dressed, and evidently a gentleman in station."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Is this Mrs.",
        "Fowler?\" he asked."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Yes, sir,\" I answered, in some surprise"
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Then may I beg permission to enter your house for a few minutes?",
        "I have something to say to you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Still wondering, I led the way into the sitting-room, where your father--where Mr. Fowler----\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Call him my father--I know no other,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Where your father was seated."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"You have answered an advertisement,\" said the stranger."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Yes, sir,\" I replied."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"I am A. M.,\" was his next announcement.",
        "\"Of course I have received many letters, but on the whole I was led to consider yours most favorably."
      ],
      [
        "I have made inquiries about you in the neighborhood, and the answers have been satisfactory.",
        "You have no children of your own?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"\"No, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"\"All the better.",
        "You would be able to give more attention to this child.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Is it yours, sir?\"",
        "I asked"
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Ye-es,\" he answered, with hesitation.",
        "\"Circumstances,\" he continued, \"circumstances which I need not state, compel me to separate from it.",
        "Five hundred dollars a year will be paid for its maintenance.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Five hundred dollars!",
        "I heard this with joy, for it was considerably more than my husband was able to earn since his accident."
      ],
      [
        "It would make us comfortable at once, and your father might work when he pleased, without feeling any anxiety about our coming to want."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Will that sum be satisfactory?\"",
        "asked the stranger."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"It is very liberal,\" I answered."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"I intended it to be so,\" he said.",
        "\"Since there is no difficulty on this score, I am inclined to trust you with the care of the child.",
        "But I must make two conditions.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"\"What are they, sir?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"\"In the first place, you must not try to find out the friends of the child.",
        "They do not desire to be known.",
        "Another thing, you must move from Brooklyn.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Move from Brooklyn?\"",
        "I repeated."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Yes,\" he answered, firmly.",
        "\"I do not think it necessary to give you a reason for this condition.",
        "Enough that it is imperative.",
        "If you decline, our negotiations are at an end.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I looked at my husband.",
        "He seemed as much surprised as I was."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Perhaps you will wish to consult together,\" suggested our visitor.",
        "\"If so, I can give you twenty minutes.",
        "I will remain in this room while you go out and talk it over.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"We acted on this hint, and went into the kitchen."
      ],
      [
        "We decided that though we should prefer to live in Brooklyn, it would be worth our while to make the sacrifice for the sake of the addition to our income."
      ],
      [
        "We came in at the end of ten minutes, and announced our decision.",
        "Our visitor seemed to be very much pleased."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Where would you wish us to move?\" asked your father."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"I do not care to designate any particular place.",
        "I should prefer some small country town, from fifty to a hundred miles distant.",
        "I suppose you will be able to move soon?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Yes, sir; we will make it a point to do so.",
        "How soon will the child be placed in our hands?",
        "Shall we send for it?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"\"No, no,\" he said, hastily.",
        "\"I cannot tell you exactly when, but it will be brought here probably in the course of a day or two."
      ],
      [
        "I myself shall bring it, and if at that time you wish to say anything additional you can do so.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He went away, leaving us surprised and somewhat excited at the change that was to take place in our lives.",
        "The next evening the sound of wheels was heard, and a hack stopped at our gate."
      ],
      [
        "The same gentleman descended hurriedly with a child in his arms--you were the child, Frank--and entered the house."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"This is the child,\" he said, placing it in my arms, \"and here is the first quarterly installment of your pay.",
        "Three months hence you will receive the same sum from my agent in New York."
      ],
      [
        "Here is his address,\" and he placed a card in my hands.",
        "\"Have you anything to ask?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Suppose I wish to communicate with you respecting the child?",
        "Suppose he is sick?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"\"Then write to A. M., care of Giles Warner, No. ---- Nassau Street."
      ],
      [
        "By the way, it will be necessary for you to send him your postoffice address after your removal in order that he may send you your quarterly dues.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"With this he left us, entered the hack, and drove off.",
        "I have never seen him since.\""
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER THREE\r\nLEFT ALONE"
      ],
      [
        "Frank listened to this revelation with wonder.",
        "For the first time in his life he asked himself, \"Who am I?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How came I by my name, mother?\" he asked."
      ],
      [
        "\"I must tell you.",
        "After the sudden departure of the gentleman who brought you, we happened to think that we had not asked your name."
      ],
      [
        "We accordingly wrote to the address which had been given us, making the inquiry.",
        "In return we received a slip of paper containing these words: \"The name is immaterial; give him any name you please.",
        "A. M.\"\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You gave me the name of Frank.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It was Mr. Fowler\"s name.",
        "We should have given it to you had you been our own boy; as the choice was left to us, we selected that.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It suits me as well as any other.",
        "How soon did you leave Brooklyn, mother?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"In a week we had made all arrangements, and removed to this place.",
        "It is a small place, but it furnished as much work as my husband felt able to do."
      ],
      [
        "With the help of the allowance for your support, we not only got on comfortably, but saved up a hundred and fifty dollars annually, which we deposited in a savings bank."
      ],
      [
        "But after five years the money stopped coming.",
        "It was the year 1857, the year of the great panic, and among others who failed was Giles Warner\"s agent, from whom we received our payments."
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Fowler went to New York to inquire about it, but only learned that Mr. Warner, weighed down by his troubles, had committed suicide, leaving no clew to the name of the man who left you with us.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How long ago was that, mother?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Seven years ago nearly eight.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And you continued to keep me, though the payments stopped.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Certainly; you were as dear to us as our own child--for we now had a child of our own--Grace.",
        "We should as soon have thought of casting off her as you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But you must have been poor, mother.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"We were economical, and we got along till your father died three years ago.",
        "Since then it has been hard work.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You have had a hard time, mother.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No harder on your account.",
        "You have been a great comfort to me, Frank.",
        "I am only anxious for the future.",
        "I fear you and Grace will suffer after I am gone.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Don\"t fear, mother, I am young and strong; I am not afraid to face the world with God\"s help.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What are you thinking of, Frank?\" asked Mrs. Fowler, noticing the boy\"s fixed look."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mother,\" he said, earnestly, \"I mean to seek for that man you have told me of.",
        "I want to find out who I am.",
        "Do you think he was my father?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He said he was, but I do not believe it.",
        "He spoke with hesitation, and said this to deceive us, probably.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am glad you think so, I would not like to think him my father.",
        "From what you have told me of him I am sure I would not like him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He must be nearly fifty now--dark complexion, with dark hair and whiskers.",
        "I am afraid that description will not help you any.",
        "There are many men who look like that."
      ],
      [
        "I should know him by his expression, but I cannot describe that to you.\""
      ],
      [
        "Here Mrs. Fowler was seized with a very severe fit of coughing, and Frank begged her to say no more."
      ],
      [
        "Two days later, and Mrs. Fowler was no better.",
        "She was rapidly failing, and no hope was entertained that she would rally."
      ],
      [
        "She herself felt that death was near at hand and told Frank so, but he found it hard to believe."
      ],
      [
        "On the second of the two days, as he was returning from the village store with an orange for his mother, he was overtaken by Sam Pomeroy."
      ],
      [
        "\"Is your mother very sick, Frank?\" he asked."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, Sam, I\"m afraid she won\"t live.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Is it so bad as that?",
        "I do believe,\" he added, with a sudden change of tone, \"Tom Pinkerton is the meanest boy I ever knew.",
        "He is trying to get your place as captain of the baseball club."
      ],
      [
        "He says that if your mother doesn\"t live, you will have to go to the poorhouse, for you won\"t have any money, and that it will be a disgrace for the club to have a captain from the poorhouse.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Did he say that?\" asked Frank, indignantly."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"When he tells you that, you may say that I shall never go to the poorhouse.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He says his father is going to put you and your sister there.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"All the Deacon Pinkertons in the world can never make me go to the poorhouse!\" said Frank, resolutely."
      ],
      [
        "\"Bully for you, Frank!",
        "I knew you had spunk.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank hurried home.",
        "As he entered the little house a neighbor\"s wife, who had been watching with his mother, came to meet him."
      ],
      [
        "\"Frank,\" she said, gravely, \"you must prepare yourself for sad news.",
        "While you were out your mother had another hemorrhage, and--and--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Is she dead?\" asked the boy, his face very pale."
      ],
      [
        "\"She is dead!\""
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER FOUR\rTHE TOWN AUTOCRAT"
      ],
      [
        "\"The Widder Fowler is dead,\" remarked Deacon Pinkerton, at the supper table.",
        "\"She died this afternoon.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I suppose she won\"t leave anything,\" said Mrs. Pinkerton."
      ],
      [
        "\"No.",
        "I hold a mortgage on her furniture, and that is all she has.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What will become of the children?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"As I observed, day before yesterday, they will be constrained to find a refuge in the poorhouse.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What do you think Sam Pomeroy told me, father?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am not able to conjecture what Samuel would be likely to observe, my son.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He observed that Frank Fowler said he wouldn\"t go to the poorhouse.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Ahem!\" coughed the deacon.",
        "\"The boy will not be consulted.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That\"s what I say, father,\" said Tom, who desired to obtain his father\"s co-operation.",
        "\"You\"ll make him go to the poorhouse, won\"t you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I shall undoubtedly exercise my authority, if it should be necessary, my son.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He told Sam Pomeroy that all the Deacon Pinkertons in the world couldn\"t make him go to the poorhouse.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will constrain him,\" said the deacon."
      ],
      [
        "\"I would if I were you, father,\" said Tom, elated at the effect of his words.",
        "\"Just teach him a lesson.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Really, deacon, you mustn\"t be too hard upon the poor boy,\" said his better-hearted wife.",
        "\"He\"s got trouble enough on him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will only constrain him for his good, Jane.",
        "In the poorhouse he will be well provided for.\""
      ],
      [
        "Meanwhile another conversation respecting our hero and his fortunes was held at Sam Pomeroy\"s home."
      ],
      [
        "It was not as handsome as the deacon\"s, for Mr. Pomeroy was a poor man, but it was a happy one, nevertheless, and Mr. Pomeroy, limited as were his means, was far more liberal than the deacon."
      ],
      [
        "\"I pity Frank Fowler,\" said Sam, who was warm-hearted and sympathetic, and a strong friend of Frank.",
        "\"I don\"t know what he will do.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I suppose his mother left nothing.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I understood,\" said Mr. Pomeroy, \"that Deacon Pinkerton holds a mortgage on her furniture.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"The deacon wants to send Frank and his sister to the poorhouse.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That would be a pity.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I should think so; but Frank positively says he won\"t go.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am afraid there isn\"t anything else for him.",
        "To be sure, he may get a chance to work in a shop or on a farm, but Grace can\"t support herself.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Father, I want to ask you a favor.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What is it, Sam?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Won\"t you invite Frank and his sister to come and stay here a week?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Just as your mother says.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I say yes.",
        "The poor children will be quite welcome.",
        "If we were rich enough they might stay with us all the time.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"When Frank comes here I will talk over his affairs with him,\" said Mr. Pomeroy.",
        "\"Perhaps we can think of some plan for him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish you could, father.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"In the meantime, you can invite him and Grace to come and stay with us a week, or a fortnight.",
        "Shall we say a fortnight, wife?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"With all my heart.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"All right, father.",
        "Thank you.\""
      ],
      [
        "Sam delivered the invitation in a way that showed how strongly his own feelings were enlisted in favor of its acceptance.",
        "Frank grasped his hand."
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, Sam, you are a true friend,\" he said."
      ],
      [
        "\"I hadn\"t begun to think of what we were to do, Grace and I.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You\"ll come, won\"t you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You are sure that it won\"t trouble your mother, Sam?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"She is anxious to have you come.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then I\"ll come.",
        "I haven\"t formed any plans yet, but I must as soon--as soon as mother is buried.",
        "I think I can earn my living somehow.",
        "One thing I am determined about--I won\"t go to the poorhouse.\""
      ],
      [
        "The funeral was over.",
        "Frank and Grace walked back to the little house, now their home no longer.",
        "They were to pack up a little bundle of clothes and go over to Mr. Pomeroy\"s in time for supper."
      ],
      [
        "When Frank had made up his bundle, urged by some impulse, he opened a drawer in his mother\"s bureau."
      ],
      [
        "His mind was full of the story she had told him, and he thought it just possible that he might find something to throw additional light upon his past history."
      ],
      [
        "While exploring the contents of the drawer he came to a letter directed to him in his mother\"s well-known handwriting.",
        "He opened it hastily, and with a feeling of solemnity, read as follows:"
      ],
      [
        "\"My Dear Frank: In the lower drawer, wrapped in a piece of brown paper, you will find two gold eagles, worth twenty dollars.",
        "You will need them when I am gone.",
        "Use them for Grace and yourself."
      ],
      [
        "I saved these for my children.",
        "Take them, Frank, for I have nothing else to give you.",
        "The furniture will pay the debt I owe Deacon Pinkerton.",
        "There ought to be something over, but I think he will take all."
      ],
      [
        "I wish I had more to leave you, dear Frank, but the God of the Fatherless will watch over you--to Him I commit you and Grace."
      ],
      [
        "\"Your affectionate mother,"
      ],
      [
        "\"RUTH FOWLER.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank, following the instructions of the letter, found the gold pieces and put them carefully into his pocketbook."
      ],
      [
        "He did not mention the letter to Grace at present, for he knew not but Deacon Pinkerton might lay claim to the money to satisfy his debt if he knew it."
      ],
      [
        "\"I am ready, Frank,\" said Grace, entering the room.",
        "\"Shall we go?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, Grace.",
        "There is no use in stopping here any longer.\""
      ],
      [
        "As he spoke he heard the outer door open, and a minute later Deacon Pinkerton entered the room."
      ],
      [
        "None of the deacon\"s pompousness was abated as he entered the house and the room."
      ],
      [
        "\"Will you take a seat?\" said our hero, with the air of master of the house."
      ],
      [
        "\"I intended to,\" said the deacon, not acknowledging his claim.",
        "\"So your poor mother is gone?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir,\" said Frank, briefly."
      ],
      [
        "\"We must all die,\" said the deacon, feeling that it was incumbent on him to say something religious.",
        "\"Ahem!",
        "your mother died poor?",
        "She left no property?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It was not her fault.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Of course not.",
        "Did she mention that I had advanced her money on the furniture?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"My mother told me all about it, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Ahem!",
        "You are in a sad condition.",
        "But you will be taken care of.",
        "You ought to be thankful that there is a home provided for those who have no means.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What home do you refer to, Deacon Pinkerton?\"",
        "asked Frank, looking steadily in the face of his visitor."
      ],
      [
        "\"I mean the poorhouse, which the town generously provides for those who cannot support themselves.\""
      ],
      [
        "This was the first intimation Grace had received of the possibility that they would be sent to such a home, and it frightened her."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, Frank!\" she exclaimed, \"must we go to the poorhouse?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, Grace; don\"t be frightened,\" said Frank, soothingly.",
        "\"We will not go.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Frank Fowler,\" said the deacon, sternly, \"cease to mislead your sister.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am not misleading her, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Did you not tell her that she would not be obliged to go to the poorhouse?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then what do you mean by resisting my authority?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You have no authority over us.",
        "We are not paupers,\" and Frank lifted his head proudly, and looked steadily in the face of the deacon."
      ],
      [
        "\"You are paupers, whether you admit it or not.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"We are not,\" said the boy, indignantly."
      ],
      [
        "\"Where is your money?",
        "Where is your property?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Here, sir,\" said our hero, holding out his hands."
      ],
      [
        "\"I have two strong hands, and they will help me make a living for my sister and myself.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"May I ask whether you expect to live here and use my furniture?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I do not intend to, sir.",
        "I shall ask no favors of you, neither for Grace nor myself.",
        "I am going to leave the house.",
        "I only came back to get a few clothes."
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Pomeroy has invited Grace and me to stay at his house for a few days.",
        "I haven\"t decided what I shall do afterward.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You will have to go to the poorhouse, then.",
        "I have no objection to your making this visit first.",
        "It will be a saving to the town.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then, sir, we will bid you good-day.",
        "Grace, let us go.\""
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER FIVE\rA LITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING"
      ],
      [
        "\"Have you carried Frank Fowler to the poorhouse?\"",
        "asked Tom Pinkerton, eagerly, on his father\"s return."
      ],
      [
        "\"No,\" said the deacon, \"he is going to make a visit at Mr. Pomeroy\"s first.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I shouldn\"t think you would have let him make a visit,\" said Tom, discontentedly.",
        "\"I should think you would have taken him to the poorhouse right off.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I feel it my duty to save the town unnecessary expense,\" said Deacon Pinkerton."
      ],
      [
        "So Tom was compelled to rest satisfied with his father\"s assurance that the removal was only deferred."
      ],
      [
        "Meanwhile Frank and Grace received a cordial welcome at the house of Mr. Pomeroy."
      ],
      [
        "Sam and Frank were intimate friends, and our hero had been in the habit of calling frequently, and it seemed homelike."
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish you could stay with us all the time, Frank--you and Grace,\" said Sam one evening."
      ],
      [
        "\"We should all like it,\" said Mr. Pomeroy, \"but we cannot always have what we want.",
        "If I had it in my power to offer Frank any employment which it would be worth his while to follow, it might do."
      ],
      [
        "But he has got his way to make in the world.",
        "Have you formed any plans yet, Frank?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That is what I want to consult you about, Mr. Pomeroy.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will give you the best advice I can, Frank.",
        "I suppose you do not mean to stay in the village.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, sir.",
        "There is nothing for me to do here.",
        "I must go somewhere where I can make a living for Grace and myself.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You\"ve got a hard row to hoe, Frank,\" said Mr. Pomeroy, thoughtfully.",
        "\"Have you decided where to go?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir.",
        "I shall go to New York.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What!",
        "To the city?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir.",
        "I\"ll get something to do, no matter what it is.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But how are you going to live in the meantime?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I\"ve got a little money.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That won\"t last long.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I know it, but I shall soon get work, if it is only to black boots in the streets.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"With that spirit, Frank, you will stand a fair chance to succeed.",
        "What do you mean to do with Grace?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will take her with me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can think of a better plan.",
        "Leave her here till you have found something to do.",
        "Then send for her.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But if I leave her here Deacon Pinkerton will want to put her in the poorhouse.",
        "I can\"t bear to have Grace go there.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"She need not.",
        "She can stay here with me for three months.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Will you let me pay her board?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can afford to give her board for three months.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You are very kind, Mr. Pomeroy, but it wouldn\"t be right for me to accept your kindness.",
        "It is my duty to take care of Grace.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I honor your independence, Frank.",
        "It shall be as you say.",
        "When you are able--mind, not till then--you may pay me at the rate of two dollars a week for Grace\"s board.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then,\" said Frank, \"if you are willing to board Grace for a while, I think I had better go to the city at once.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will look over your clothes to-morrow, Frank,\" said Mrs. Pomeroy, \"and see if they need mending.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then I will start Thursday morning--the day after.\""
      ],
      [
        "About four o\"clock the next afternoon he was walking up the main street, when just in front of Deacon Pinkerton\"s house he saw Tom leaning against a tree."
      ],
      [
        "\"How are you Tom?\" he said, and was about to pass on."
      ],
      [
        "\"Where are you going?\" Tom asked abruptly."
      ],
      [
        "\"To Mr. Pomeroy\"s.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How soon are you going to the poorhouse to live?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Who told you I was going?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"My father.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then your father\"s mistaken.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Ain\"t you a pauper?\" said Tom, insolently.",
        "\"You haven\"t got any money.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I have got hands to earn money, and I am going to try.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Anyway, I advise you to resign as captain of the baseball club.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Because if you don\"t you\"ll be kicked out.",
        "Do you think the fellows will be willing to have a pauper for their captain?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That\"s the second time you have called me a pauper.",
        "Don\"t call me so again.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You are a pauper and you know it.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank was not a quarrelsome boy, but this repeated insult was too much for him.",
        "He seized Tom by the collar, and tripping him up left him on the ground howling with rage."
      ],
      [
        "As valor was not his strong point, he resolved to be revenged upon Frank vicariously."
      ],
      [
        "He was unable to report the case to his father till the next morning, as the deacon did not return from a neighboring village, whither he had gone on business, till late, but the result of his communication was a call at Mr. Pomeroy\"s from the deacon at nine o\"clock the next morning."
      ],
      [
        "Had he found Frank, it was his intention, at Tom\"s request, to take him at once to the poorhouse.",
        "But he was too late.",
        "Our hero was already on his way to New York."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER SIX\rFRANK GETS A PLACE"
      ],
      [
        "\"So this is New York,\" said Frank to himself, as he emerged from the railway station and looked about him with interest and curiosity."
      ],
      [
        "\"Black yer boots?",
        "Shine?\" asked a bootblack, seeing our hero standing still."
      ],
      [
        "Frank looked at his shoes."
      ],
      [
        "They were dirty, without doubt, but he would not have felt disposed to be so extravagant, considering his limited resources, had he not felt it necessary to obtain some information about the city."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes,\" he said, \"you may black them.\""
      ],
      [
        "The boy was on his knees instantly and at work."
      ],
      [
        "\"How much do you make in a day?\" asked Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"When it\"s a good day I make a dollar.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That\"s pretty good,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Can you show me the way to Broadway?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Go straight ahead.\""
      ],
      [
        "Our hero paid for his shine and started in the direction indicated."
      ],
      [
        "Frank\"s plans, so far as he had any, were to get into a store.",
        "He knew that Broadway was the principal business street in the city, and this was about all he did know about it."
      ],
      [
        "He reached the great thoroughfare in a few minutes, and was fortunate enough to find on the window of the corner store the sign:"
      ],
      [
        "\"A Boy Wanted.\""
      ],
      [
        "He entered at once, and going up to the counter, addressed a young man, who was putting up goods."
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you want a boy?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I believe the boss wants one; I don\"t.",
        "Go out to that desk.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank found the desk, and propounded the same question to a sandy-whiskered man, who looked up from his writing."
      ],
      [
        "\"You\"re prompt,\" he said.",
        "\"That notice was only put out two minutes ago.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I only saw it one minute ago.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"So you want the place, do you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I should like it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you know your way about the city?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, sir, but I could soon find out.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That won\"t do.",
        "I shall have plenty of applications from boys who live in the city and are familiar with the streets.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank left the store rather discomfited."
      ],
      [
        "He soon came to another store where there was a similar notice of \"A Boy Wanted.\"",
        "It was a dry goods store."
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you live with your parents?\" was asked."
      ],
      [
        "\"My parents are dead,\" said Frank, sadly."
      ],
      [
        "\"Very sorry, but we can\"t take you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why not, sir?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"In case you took anything we should make your parents responsible.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I shouldn\"t take anything,\" said Frank, indignantly."
      ],
      [
        "\"You might; I can\"t take you.\""
      ],
      [
        "Our hero left this store a little disheartened by his second rebuff."
      ],
      [
        "He made several more fruitless applications, but did not lose courage wholly.",
        "He was gaining an appetite, however."
      ],
      [
        "It is not surprising therefore, that his attention was drawn to the bills of a restaurant on the opposite side of the street."
      ],
      [
        "He crossed over, and standing outside, began to examine them to see what was the scale of prices.",
        "While in this position he was suddenly aroused by a slap on the back."
      ],
      [
        "Turning he met the gaze of a young man of about thirty, who was smiling quite cordially."
      ],
      [
        "\"Why, Frank, my boy, how are you?\" he said, offering his hand."
      ],
      [
        "\"Pretty well, thank you,\" said our hero bewildered, for he had no recollection of the man who had called him by name."
      ],
      [
        "The other smiled a little more broadly, and thought:"
      ],
      [
        "\"It was a lucky guess; his name is Frank.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am delighted to hear it,\" he continued.",
        "\"When did you reach the city?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"This morning,\" said the unsuspecting Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, it\"s queer I happened to meet you so soon, isn\"t it?",
        "Going to stay long?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I shall, if I can get a place.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Perhaps I can help you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I suppose I ought to remember you,\" ventured our hero, \"but I can\"t think of your name.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Jasper Wheelock.",
        "You don\"t mean to say you don\"t remember me?",
        "Perhaps it isn\"t strange, as we only met once or twice in your country home.",
        "But that doesn\"t matter.",
        "I\"m just as ready to help you."
      ],
      [
        "By the way, have you dined?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No more have I. Come in and dine with me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What\"ll you take?\" asked Jasper Wheelock, passing the bill of fare to Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"I think I should like to have some roast beef,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"That will suit me.",
        "Here, waiter, two plates of roast beef, and two cups of coffee.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How are they all at home?\" asked Jasper."
      ],
      [
        "\"My mother has just died.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You don\"t say so,\" said Jasper, sympathetically."
      ],
      [
        "\"My sister is well.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I forgot your sister\"s name.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Grace.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Of course--Grace.",
        "I find it hard to remember names.",
        "The fact is, I have been trying to recall your last name, but it\"s gone from me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Fowler.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"To be sure Frank Fowler.",
        "How could I be so forgetful.\""
      ],
      [
        "The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the coffee and roast beet, which both he and his new friend attacked with vigor."
      ],
      [
        "\"What kind of pudding will you have?\" asked the stranger."
      ],
      [
        "\"Apple dumpling,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"That suits me.",
        "Apple dumpling for two.\""
      ],
      [
        "In due time the apple dumpling was disposed of, and two checks were brought, amounting to seventy cents."
      ],
      [
        "\"I\"ll pay for both,\" said Jasper.",
        "\"No thanks.",
        "We are old acquaintances, you know.\""
      ],
      [
        "He put his hand into his pocket, and quickly withdrew it with an exclamation of surprise:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, if that isn\"t a good joke,\" he said.",
        "\"I\"ve left my money at home.",
        "I remember now, I left it in the pocket of my other coat.",
        "I shall have to borrow the money of you.",
        "You may as well hand me a dollar!\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank was not disposed to be suspicious, but the request for money made him uneasy.",
        "Still there seemed no way of refusing, and he reluctantly drew out the money."
      ],
      [
        "His companion settled the bill and then led the way into the street."
      ],
      [
        "Jasper Wheelock was not very scrupulous; he was quite capable of borrowing money, without intending to return it; but he had his good side."
      ],
      [
        "\"Frank,\" said he, as they found themselves in the street, \"you have done me a favor, and I am going to help you in return.",
        "Have you got very much money?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No.",
        "I had twenty dollars when I left home, but I had to pay my fare in the cars and the dinner, I have seventeen dollars and a half left.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then it is necessary for you to get a place as soon as possible.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes; I have a sister to support; Grace, you know.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, I don\"t know.",
        "The fact is, Frank, I have been imposing upon you.",
        "I never saw you before in the whole course of my life.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What made you say you knew me?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I wanted to get a dinner out of you.",
        "Don\"t be troubled, though; I\"ll pay back the money.",
        "I\"ve been out of a place for three or four weeks, but I enter upon one the first of next week."
      ],
      [
        "For the rest of the week I\"ve got nothing to do, and I will try to get you a place."
      ],
      [
        "\"The first thing is to get a room somewhere.",
        "I\"ll tell you what, you may have part of my room.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Is it expensive?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No; I pay a dollar and a half a week.",
        "I think the old lady won\"t charge more than fifty cents extra for you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then my share would be a dollar.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You may pay only fifty cents.",
        "I\"ll keep on paying what I do now.",
        "My room is on Sixth Avenue.\"",
        "They had some distance to walk.",
        "Finally Jasper halted before a baker\"s shop."
      ],
      [
        "\"It\"s over this,\" he said."
      ],
      [
        "He drew out a latch-key and entered."
      ],
      [
        "\"This is my den,\" he said.",
        "\"It isn\"t large you can\"t get any better for the money.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I shall have to be satisfied,\" said Frank.",
        "\"I want to get along as cheap as I can.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I\"ve got to economize myself for a short time.",
        "After this week I shall earn fifteen dollars a week.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What business are you in, Mr. Wheelock?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am a journeyman printer.",
        "It is a very good business, and I generally have steady work.",
        "I expect to have after I get started again.",
        "Now, shall I give you some advice?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish you would.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You don\"t know your way around New York.",
        "I believe I have a map somewhere.",
        "I\"ll just show you on it the position of the principal streets, and that will give you a clearer idea of where we go.\""
      ],
      [
        "The map was found and Jasper explained to Frank the leading topographical features of the Island City."
      ],
      [
        "One thing only was wanting now to make him contented, and this was employment.",
        "But it was too late to make any further inquiries."
      ],
      [
        "\"I\"ve been thinking, Frank,\" said Jasper, the next morning, \"that you might get the position as a cash-boy.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What does a cash-boy do?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"In large retail establishments every salesman keeps a book in which his sales are entered.",
        "He does not himself make change, for it would not do to have so many having access to the money-drawer."
      ],
      [
        "The money is carried to the cashier\"s desk by boys employed for the purpose, who return with the change.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you think I can get a situation as cash-boy?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will try at Gilbert & Mack\"s.",
        "I know one of the principal salesmen.",
        "If there is a vacancy he will get it for you to oblige me.\""
      ],
      [
        "They entered a large retail store on Broadway.",
        "It was broad and spacious.",
        "Twenty salesmen stood behind the counter, and boys were running this way and that with small books in their hands."
      ],
      [
        "\"How are you, Duncan?\" said Jasper."
      ],
      [
        "The person addressed was about Jasper Wheelock\"s age.",
        "He had a keen, energetic look and manner, and would be readily singled out as one of the leading clerks."
      ],
      [
        "\"All right, Wheelock.",
        "How are you?\" he responded.",
        "\"Do you want anything in our line?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No goods; I want a place for this youngster.",
        "He\"s a friend of mine.",
        "I\"ll answer for his good character.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That will be satisfactory.",
        "But what sort of a place does he want?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He is ready to begin as cash-boy.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then we can oblige you, as one of our boys has fallen sick, and we have not supplied his place.",
        "I\"ll speak to Mr. Gilbert.\""
      ],
      [
        "He went up to Mr. Gilbert, a portly man in the back part of the store.",
        "Mr. Gilbert seemed to be asking two or three questions."
      ],
      [
        "Frank waited the result in suspense, dreading another disappointment, but this time he was fortunate."
      ],
      [
        "\"The boy can stay,\" reported Duncan.",
        "\"His wages are three dollars a week.\""
      ],
      [
        "It was not much, but Frank was well pleased to feel that at last he had a place in the city."
      ],
      [
        "He wrote a letter to Grace in the evening, announcing his success, and expressing the hope that he would soon be able to send for her."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER SEVEN\rTHE CASH BOY HAS AN ADVENTURE"
      ],
      [
        "Four weeks passed.",
        "The duties of a cash-boy are simple enough, and Frank had no difficulty in discharging them satisfactorily."
      ],
      [
        "At first he found it tiresome, being on his feet all day, for the cash-boys were not allowed to sit down, but he got used to this, being young and strong."
      ],
      [
        "All this was very satisfactory, but one thing gave Frank uneasiness.",
        "His income was very inadequate to his wants."
      ],
      [
        "\"What makes you so glum, Frank?\" asked Jasper Wheelock one evening."
      ],
      [
        "\"Do I look glum?\" said Frank.",
        "\"I was only thinking how I could earn more money.",
        "You know how little I get.",
        "I can hardly take care of myself, much less take care of Grace.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can lend you some money, Frank.",
        "Thanks to your good advice, I have got some laid up.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, Jasper, but that wouldn\"t help matters.",
        "I should owe you the money, and I don\"t know how I could pay you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"About increasing your income, I really don\"t know,\" said Jasper.",
        "\"I am afraid Gilbert & Mack wouldn\"t raise your wages.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t expect it.",
        "All the rest of the cash-boys would ask the same thing.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"True; still I know they are very well pleased with you.",
        "Duncan told me you did more work than any of the rest of the boys.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I try to do all I can.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He said you would make a good salesman, he thought.",
        "Of course you are too young for that yet.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I suppose I am.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Frank, I am earning fifteen dollars a week, you know, and I can get along on ten, but of the five I save let me give you two.",
        "I shall never feel it, and by and by when you are promoted it won\"t be necessary.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Jasper, you are a true friend,\" said Frank, warmly; \"but it wouldn\"t be right for me to accept your kind offer, though I shan\"t forget it.",
        "You have been a good friend to me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And you to me, Frank.",
        "I\"ll look out for you.",
        "Perhaps I may hear of something for you.\""
      ],
      [
        "Small as Frank\"s income was, he had managed to live within it.",
        "It will be remembered that he had paid but fifty cents a week for a room."
      ],
      [
        "By great economy he had made his meals cost but two dollars a week, so that out of his three dollars he saved fifty cents.",
        "But this saving would not be sufficient to pay for his clothes."
      ],
      [
        "However, he had had no occasion to buy any as yet, and his little fund altogether amounted to twenty dollars."
      ],
      [
        "Of this sum he inclosed {sic} eight dollars to Mr. Pomeroy to pay for four weeks\" board for Grace."
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope I shall be able to keep it up,\" he said to himself, thoughtfully.",
        "\"At any rate, I\"ve got enough to pay for six weeks more.",
        "Before that time something may turn up.\""
      ],
      [
        "Several days passed without showing Frank any way by which he could increase his income.",
        "Jasper again offered to give him two dollars a week out of his own wages, but this our hero steadily refused."
      ],
      [
        "One Friday evening, just as the store was about to close, the head salesman called Frank to him."
      ],
      [
        "\"Where do you live?\" he asked."
      ],
      [
        "\"In Sixth avenue, near Twenty-fifth street.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"There\"s a bundle to go to Forty-sixth street.",
        "I\"ll pay your fare upon the stage if you\"ll carry it.",
        "I promised to send it to-night, and I don\"t like to disappoint the lady.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can carry it just as well as not.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank took the bundle, and got on board a passing omnibus.",
        "There was just one seat vacant beside an old gentleman of seventy, who appeared to be quite feeble."
      ],
      [
        "At Forty-fifth street he pulled the strap and prepared to descend, leaning heavily on his cane as he did so."
      ],
      [
        "By some mischance the horses started a little too soon and the old man, losing his footing, fell in the street.",
        "Frank observed the accident and sprang out instantly to his help."
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope you are not much hurt, sir?\" he said, hastily."
      ],
      [
        "\"I have hurt my knee,\" said the old gentleman."
      ],
      [
        "\"Let me assist you, sir,\" said Frank, helping him up."
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, my boy.",
        "I live at number forty-five, close by.",
        "If you will lead me to the door and into the house I shall be much indebted to you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Certainly, sir.",
        "It is no trouble to me.\""
      ],
      [
        "With slow step, supported by our hero, the old gentleman walked to his own door."
      ],
      [
        "It was opened by a maid servant, who looked with some surprise at Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"I fell, Mary,\" explained her master, \"and this young gentleman has kindly helped me home.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Did you hurt yourself much, sir?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Not seriously.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Can I do anything more for you, sir?\" asked Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Come in a moment.\""
      ],
      [
        "Our hero followed his new acquaintance into a handsomely furnished parlor."
      ],
      [
        "\"Now, my young friend tell me if you have been taken out of your way by your attention to me?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, no, sir; I intended to get out at the next street.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"My dinner is just ready.",
        "Won\"t you stop and dine with me?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, sir,\" he said, hesitatingly, \"but I promised to carry this bundle.",
        "I believe it is wanted at once.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"So you shall.",
        "You say the house is in the next street.",
        "You can go and return in five minutes.",
        "You have done me a service, and I may have it in my power to do something for you in return.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Perhaps,\" thought Frank, \"he can help me to some employment for my evenings.\"",
        "Then, aloud:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, sir; I will come.\""
      ],
      [
        "Five minutes later Frank was ushered into a handsome dining-room.",
        "The dinner was already on the table, but chairs were only set for three."
      ],
      [
        "The one at the head of the table was of course occupied by the old gentleman, the one opposite by Mrs. Bradley, his housekeeper, and one at the side was placed for Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mrs.",
        "Bradley,\" said the old gentleman, \"this is a young gentleman who was kind enough to help me home after the accident of which I just spoke to you.",
        "I would mention his name, but I must leave that to him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Frank Fowler, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And my name is Wharton.",
        "Now that we are all introduced, we can talk more freely.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Will you have some soup, Mr. Fowler?\"",
        "asked the housekeeper."
      ],
      [
        "She was a tall thin woman, with a reserved manner that was somewhat repellant.",
        "She had only nodded slightly at the introduction, fixing her eyes coldly and searchingly on the face of our hero."
      ],
      [
        "It was evident that whatever impression the service rendered might have made upon the mind of Mr. Wharton, it was not calculated to warm the housekeeper to cordiality."
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you,\" he answered, but he could not help feeling at the same time that Mrs. Bradley was not a very agreeable woman."
      ],
      [
        "\"You ought to have a good appetite,\" said Mr. Wharton.",
        "\"You have to work hard during the day.",
        "Our young friend is a cash-boy at Gilbert & Mack\"s, Mrs. Bradley."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, indeed!\" said Mrs. Bradley, arching her brows as much as to say: \"You have invited strange company to dinner.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Do your parents live in the city, Frank--I believe your name is Frank?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, sir; they are dead.",
        "My mother died only a few weeks since.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And have you no brothers and sisters?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I have one sister--Grace.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I suppose she is in the city here with you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, sir.",
        "I left her in the country.",
        "I am here alone.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will ask you more about yourself after dinner.",
        "If you have no engagement, I should like to have you stay with me a part of the evening.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank accepted the invitation, though he knew Jasper would wonder what had become of him."
      ],
      [
        "He saw that the old gentleman was kindly disposed toward him, and in his present circumstances he needed such a friend."
      ],
      [
        "But in proportion as Mr. Wharton became more cordial, Mrs. Bradley became more frosty, until at last the old gentleman noticed her manner."
      ],
      [
        "\"Don\"t you feel well this evening, Mrs Bradley?\" he asked."
      ],
      [
        "\"I have a little headache,\" said the housekeeper, coldly."
      ],
      [
        "\"You had better do something for it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It will pass away of itself, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "They arose from the dinner table, and Mr. Wharton, followed by Frank, ascended the staircase to the front room on the second floor, which was handsomely fitted up as a library."
      ],
      [
        "\"What makes him take such notice of a mere cash-boy?\" said Mrs. Bradley to herself.",
        "\"That boy reminds me of somebody.",
        "Who is it?\""
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER EIGHT\rAN UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT"
      ],
      [
        "\"Take a seat, Frank,\" said Mr. Wharton, pointing to a luxurious armchair on one side of the cheerful grate fire; \"I will take the other, and you shall tell me all about yourself.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, sir,\" said our hero."
      ],
      [
        "His confidence was won by Mr. Wharton\"s kind tone, and he briefly recounted his story."
      ],
      [
        "At the conclusion, Mr. Wharton said:"
      ],
      [
        "\"How old are you, Frank?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Fourteen, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You are a brave boy, and a good boy, and you deserve success.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But I am bound to say that you have a hard task before you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I know it, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why not let your sister go to the poorhouse for a few years, till you are older, and better able to provide for her?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I should be ashamed to do it, sir,\" he said.",
        "\"I promised my mother to take care of Grace, and I will.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How much do you earn as a cash-boy?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Three dollars a week.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Only three dollars a week!",
        "Why, that won\"t pay your own expenses!\" said the old gentleman in surprise."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir, it does.",
        "I pay fifty cents a week for my room, and my meals don\"t cost me much.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But you will want clothes.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I have enough for the present, and I am laying up fifty cents a week to buy more when I need them.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You can\"t buy many for twenty-six dollars a year.",
        "But that doesn\"t allow anything for your sister\"s expenses.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That is what puzzles me, sir,\" said Frank, fixing a troubled glance upon the fire.",
        "\"I shall have to work in the evenings for Grace.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What can you do?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I could copy, but I suppose there isn\"t much chance of getting copying to do.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then you have a good handwriting?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Pretty fair, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Let me see a specimen.",
        "There are pen and ink on the table, and here is a sheet of paper.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank seated himself at the table, and wrote his name on the paper."
      ],
      [
        "\"Very good,\" said his host, approvingly.",
        "\"Your hand is good enough for a copyist, but you are correct in supposing that work of that kind is hard to get.",
        "Are you a good reader?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you mean in reading aloud, sir?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will try, if you wish.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Take a book from the table--any book--and let me hear you read.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank opened the first book that came to hand--one of Irving\"s and read in a clear, unembarrassed voice about half a page."
      ],
      [
        "\"Very good indeed!\" said Mr. Wharton.",
        "\"You have been well taught.",
        "Where did you attend school?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Only in the town school, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You have, at any rate, made good use of your advantages.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But will it do me any good, sir?\" asked Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"People are not paid for reading, are they?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Not in general, but we will suppose the case of a person whose eyes are weak, and likely to be badly affected by evening use."
      ],
      [
        "Then suppose such a person could secure the services of a good, clear, distinct reader, don\"t you think he would be willing to pay something?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I suppose so.",
        "Do you know of any such person?\"",
        "asked Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"I am describing myself, Frank.",
        "A year since I strained my eyes very severely, and have never dared to use them much since by gaslight."
      ],
      [
        "Mrs. Bradley, my housekeeper, has read to me some, but she has other duties, and I don\"t think she enjoys it very much."
      ],
      [
        "Now, why shouldn\"t I get you to read to me in the evening when you are not otherwise employed?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish you would, Mr. Wharton,\" said Frank, eagerly.",
        "\"I would do my best.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I have no doubt of that, but there is another question--perhaps you might ask a higher salary than I could afford to pay.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Would a dollar a week be too much?\"",
        "asked Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t think I could complain of that,\" said Mr. Wharton, gravely.",
        "\"Very well, I will engage you as my reader.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But about the pay; I have made up my mind to pay you five dollars a week.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Five dollars a week!\"",
        "Frank repeated.",
        "\"It is much more than my services will be worth sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Let me judge of that, Frank.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t know how to thank you, sir,\" said Frank, gratefully.",
        "\"I never expected to be so rich.",
        "I shall have no trouble in paying for Grace\"s board and clothes now.",
        "When do you want me to begin reading to you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You may as well begin to-night--that is, unless you have some other engagement.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, no, sir, I have nothing else to do.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Take the Evening Post, then, and read me the leading editorial.",
        "Afterward, I will tell you what to read.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank had been reading about half an hour, when a knock was heard at the door."
      ],
      [
        "\"Come in,\" said Mr. Wharton."
      ],
      [
        "Mrs. Bradley entered, with a soft, quiet step."
      ],
      [
        "\"I thought, sir,\" she began, \"you might like me to read to you, as usual.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, Mrs. Bradley, but I am going to relieve you of that portion of your labors.",
        "My young friend here is to come every evening and read to me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Indeed!\" ejaculated the housekeeper in a tone of chilly displeasure, and a sharp glance at Frank, which indicated no great amount of cordiality.",
        "\"Then, as I am intruding, I will take my leave.\""
      ],
      [
        "There was something in her tone that made Frank feel uncomfortable."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER NINE\rTHE HOUSEKEEPER\"S NEPHEW"
      ],
      [
        "\"By no means,\" said Mr. Wharton, as the housekeeper was about to withdraw; \"don\"t imagine you are intruding.",
        "Come in and sit down.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, sir,\" said Mrs. Bradley, in a measured tone.",
        "\"You are very considerate, I am sure, but if you\"ll excuse me, I won\"t come in this evening.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Mrs.",
        "Bradley has been with me a good many years,\" explained Mr. Wharton, \"and I dare say she feels a little disturbed at seeing another occupy her place, even in a duty like this.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am afraid she will be offended with me, sir,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, no; I will explain matters to her.",
        "Go on with your reading, Frank.\""
      ],
      [
        "At half-past nine, Mr. Wharton took out his watch."
      ],
      [
        "\"It is getting late,\" he said.",
        "\"I have no doubt you are tired and need rest.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am not tired, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I believe in going to bed early.",
        "I shall seldom keep you later than this.",
        "Do you think you can find your way out?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir.",
        "When shall I come to-morrow evening?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"A little before eight.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will be punctual.\""
      ],
      [
        "Jasper was waiting for him, not wholly without anxiety, for it was very unusual for Frank to be late."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, Frank!\" he exclaimed; \"this is a pretty time for you to come home.",
        "I began to think you had got into trouble.",
        "I was just going around to the nearest station house in search of you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I was in quite a different place, Jasper.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank told his story, including an account of his engagement."
      ],
      [
        "\"So it seems I am to lose your company in the evening.",
        "I am sorry for that, but I am glad you are so lucky.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It was better than I expected,\" said Frank, with satisfaction."
      ],
      [
        "\"What sort of a man is this Mr. Wharton?\" said Jasper."
      ],
      [
        "\"He is very kind and generous.",
        "I am lucky to have so good a friend.",
        "There\"s only one thing that is likely to be disagreeable.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What\"s that?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"The housekeeper--her name is Mrs. Bradley--for some reason or other she doesn\"t want me there.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What makes you think so?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Her manner, and the way she speaks.",
        "She came in to read to Mr. Wharton last evening, and didn\"t seem to like it because I had been taken in her place.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"She is evidently jealous.",
        "You must take care not to offend her.",
        "She might endeavor to have you dismissed.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I shall always treat her politely, but I don\"t think I can ever like her.\""
      ],
      [
        "Meanwhile, the housekeeper, on leaving the library, had gone to her own room in dudgeon."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr.",
        "Wharton\"s a fool!\" she muttered to herself."
      ],
      [
        "\"What possessed him to take this cash-boy from the streets, invite him to dinner, and treat him as an honored guest, and finally to engage him as a reader?",
        "I never heard of anything so ridiculous!"
      ],
      [
        "Is this little vagabond to take my place in the old man\"s good graces?",
        "I\"ve been slaving and slaving for twenty years, and what have I got by it?"
      ],
      [
        "I\"ve laid up two thousand dollars; and what is that to provide for my old age?"
      ],
      [
        "If the old man would die, and remember me handsomely in his will, it would be worth while; but this new favorite may stand in my way.",
        "If he does I\"ll be revenged on him as sure as my name is Ulrica Bradley.\""
      ],
      [
        "Here the area bell rang, and in a moment one of the housemaids entered Mrs. Bradley\"s room."
      ],
      [
        "\"There\"s your nephew outside, ma\"am, and wanting to see you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Tell him to come in,\" and the housekeeper\"s cold face became softer and pleasanter in aspect as a young man of twenty entered and greeted her carelessly."
      ],
      [
        "\"How are you, aunt?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Pretty well, Thomas,\" she answered.",
        "\"You haven\"t been here for some time.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No.",
        "I\"ve had a lot of work to do.",
        "Nothing but work, work, all the time,\" he grumbled.",
        "\"I wish I was rich.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You get through at six o\"clock, don\"t you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope you spend your evenings profitably, Thomas?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I ain\"t likely to go on any sprees, aunt, if that\"s what you mean.",
        "I only get twelve dollars a week.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I should think you might live on it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Starve, you mean.",
        "What\"s twelve dollars to a young fellow like me when he\"s got his board to pay, and has to dress like a gentleman?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You are not in debt, I hope, Thomas?\" said Mrs. Bradley, uneasily."
      ],
      [
        "\"I owe for the suit I have on, and I don\"t know where I\"m going to get the money to pay for it.\""
      ],
      [
        "He was dressed in a flashy style, not unlike what is popularly denominated a swell."
      ],
      [
        "His coarse features were disfigured with unhealthy blotches, and his outward appearance was hardly such as to recommend him.",
        "But to him alone the cold heart of the housekeeper was warm."
      ],
      [
        "He was her sister\"s son and her nearest relative.",
        "Her savings were destined for him, and in her attachment she was not conscious of his disagreeable characteristics."
      ],
      [
        "She had occasionally given him a five-dollar bill to eke out what he termed his miserable pay, and now whenever he called he didn\"t spare hints that he was out of pocket, and that a further gift would be acceptable."
      ],
      [
        "Indeed, the only tie that bound him to his aunt was a mercenary one."
      ],
      [
        "But the housekeeper, sharp-sighted as she ordinarily was, did not detect the secret motive of such attention she received from her nephew."
      ],
      [
        "She flattered herself that he really loved her, not suspecting that he was too selfish to love anybody but himself."
      ],
      [
        "\"Thomas,\" she said, with a sudden thought, \"I may be able to help you to an increase of your income.",
        "Mr. Wharton needs somebody to read to him evenings.",
        "On my recommendation he might take you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, aunt, but I don\"t see it.",
        "I don\"t want to be worked to death.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But, think, Thomas,\" said his aunt, earnestly.",
        "\"He is very rich.",
        "He might take a fancy to you and remember you in his will.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish somebody would remember me in his will.",
        "Do you really think there\"s any chance of the old boy\"s doing something handsome for me?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That depends on yourself.",
        "You must try to please him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, I must do something.",
        "What\"ll he give?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t know yet.",
        "In fact, there\"s another reading to him just now.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then there\"s no chance for me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Listen to me.",
        "It\"s a boy he\"s picked up in the streets, quite unsuited for the place.",
        "He\"s a cash-boy at Gilbert & Mack\"s.",
        "Why, that\"s where you are,\" she added, with sudden recollection."
      ],
      [
        "\"A cash-boy from my own place?",
        "What\"s his name?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Fowler, I believe.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I know him--he\"s lately come.",
        "How did he get in with the old man?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr.",
        "Wharton fell in the street, and he happened to be near, and helped him home.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You\"ll have to manage it, aunt.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I\"ll see what I can do to-morrow.",
        "He ought to prefer my nephew to a strange boy, seeing I have been twenty years in his service.",
        "I\"ll let you know as soon as I have accomplished anything.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t half like the idea of giving up my evenings.",
        "I don\"t believe I can stand it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It is only for a little while, to get him interested in you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Maybe I might try it a week, and then tell him my health was failing, and get him to do something else for me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"At any rate, the first thing must be to become acquainted.\""
      ],
      [
        "Thomas now withdrew, for he did not enjoy spending an evening with his aunt, the richer by five dollars, half of which was spent before the evening closed at a neighboring billiard saloon."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER TEN\rTHE HOUSEKEEPER SCHEMING"
      ],
      [
        "If Mrs. Bradley had been wiser, she would have felt less confident of her nephew\"s producing a favorable impression upon Mr. Wharton.",
        "She resolved to open the subject at the breakfast table."
      ],
      [
        "\"I didn\"t know, Mr. Wharton,\" she commenced, \"that you intended to engage a reader.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Nor did I propose to do so until last evening.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I think--you\"ll excuse me for saying so--that you will find that boy too young to suit you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t think so.",
        "He reads very clearly and distinctly.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"If I had known you thought of engaging a reader, I would have asked you to engage my nephew.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Indeed, I was not aware that you had a nephew in the city.",
        "Is he a boy?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No; he is a young man.",
        "He was twenty years old last June.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Is he unfavorably situated?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He has a place as salesman.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"With what firm?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Gilbert & Mack.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why, that is the same firm that employs my young friend.",
        "It is a good firm.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Perhaps it is, but my poor nephew receives a very small salary.",
        "He finds it very hard to get along.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Your nephew is young.",
        "He will be promoted if he serves his employers well.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thomas would have been glad to read to you in the evening, sir,\" said Mrs. Bradley, commencing the attack."
      ],
      [
        "\"But for my present engagement, I might have taken him,\" said Mr. Wharton, politely."
      ],
      [
        "\"Have you engaged that boy for any length of time?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No; but it is understood that he will stay while I need him, and he continues to suit me.",
        "I have a favorable opinion of him.",
        "Besides, he needs the pay."
      ],
      [
        "He receives but three dollars a week as a cash-boy, and has a sister to support as well as himself.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am sorry,\" she said in an injured tone.",
        "\"I hope you\"ll excuse my mentioning it, but I took the liberty, having been for twenty years in your employ.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"To be sure!",
        "You were quite right,\" said her employer, kindly.",
        "\"Perhaps I may be able to do something for your nephew, though not that.",
        "Tell him to come and see me some time.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, sir,\" said the housekeeper."
      ],
      [
        "There was one question she wanted to determine, and that was the amount of compensation received by Frank."
      ],
      [
        "She did not like to inquire directly from Mr. Wharton, but resolved to gain the information from our hero.",
        "Some evenings later she had the opportunity."
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Wharton had an engagement, and asked her to tell Frank, when he arrived that he was released from duty.",
        "Instead of this she received him in the library herself."
      ],
      [
        "\"Probably Mr. Wharton will not be at home this evening,\" she said.",
        "\"If he does not return in half an hour, you need not wait.\""
      ],
      [
        "She took up her work, seated in Mr. Wharton\"s usual place, and Frank remained ready for duty."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr.",
        "Wharton tells me you have a sister,\" she said."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, ma\"am.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You must find it hard work to provide for her as well as yourself.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I do, or rather I did till I came here.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How much does Mr. Wharton pay you?\" she asked, in an indifferent tone."
      ],
      [
        "\"Five dollars a week,\" answered Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"You are lucky that you have such a chance,\" she said."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, ma\"am; it is more than I earn, I know, but it is a great help to me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And how much do you get as cash-boy?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Three dollars a week.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"So you actually receive nearly twice as much for a couple of hours in the evening as for the whole day.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, ma\"am.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What a pity Thomas can\"t have this chance,\" she thought."
      ],
      [
        "When it was nine o\"clock, she said:"
      ],
      [
        "\"You need not wait any longer.",
        "Mr. Wharton will not be home in time to hear you read.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-evening, Mrs. Bradley,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-evening!\" she responded, coldly."
      ],
      [
        "\"That boy is in the way,\" she said to herself, when she was left alone.",
        "\"He is in my way, and Tom\"s way.",
        "I can see that he is artfully intriguing for Mr. Wharton\"s favor, but I must checkmate him."
      ],
      [
        "It\"s odd,\"  she resumed, after a pause, \"but there is something in his face and voice that seems familiar to me.",
        "What is it?\""
      ],
      [
        "The following evening the housekeeper received another visit from her nephew."
      ],
      [
        "\"How do, aunt?\" said Thomas Bradley, carelessly, as he entered the housekeeper\"s room."
      ],
      [
        "\"Very well, thank you, Thomas.",
        "I am glad you are here.",
        "I have been wanting to see you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"The old man isn\"t going to do anything for me, is he?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How can you expect it so soon?",
        "He doesn\"t know you yet.",
        "How much do you think he pays the cash-boy that reads to him in the evening?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t know.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Five dollars a week.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I wouldn\"t give up my evenings for that,\" he said."
      ],
      [
        "\"It isn\"t so much the pay, Thomas, though that would be a help.",
        "He might take a fancy to you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That might pay better.",
        "When are you going to introduce me?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"This evening; that is, I will ask Mr. Wharton if he will see you.\""
      ],
      [
        "Mrs. Bradley entered the library, where Frank was engaged in reading aloud."
      ],
      [
        "\"Excuse my interruption,\" she said; \"but my nephew has just called, and I should like to introduce him to you, if you will kindly receive him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Certainly, Mrs. Bradley,\" said Mr. Wharton.",
        "\"Bring him in.\""
      ],
      [
        "The housekeeper left the room, but speedily reappeared, followed by her nephew, who seemed a little abashed."
      ],
      [
        "\"My nephew, Thomas Bradley, Mr. Wharton,\" said his aunt, by way of introduction.",
        "\"You have often heard me speak of Mr. Wharton, Thomas.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How do you do, sir?\" said Thomas awkwardly."
      ],
      [
        "\"Pray take a seat, Mr. Bradley.",
        "Your aunt has been long a member of my family.",
        "I am glad to see a nephew of hers.",
        "I believe you are a salesman at Gilbert & Mack\"s?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then you must know my young friend here?\"",
        "pointing to Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"How are you, Cash?\" said Thomas, laughing, under the impression that he had said something smart."
      ],
      [
        "\"Very well, Mr. Bradley,\" answered Frank, quietly."
      ],
      [
        "\"You see, that\"s all the name we call \"em in the store,\" said Thomas."
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Wharton could not help thinking:"
      ],
      [
        "\"How poorly this young man compares with my young friend.",
        "Still, as he is Mrs. Bradley\"s nephew, I must be polite to him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Are there many cash-boys in your establishment, Mr. Bradley?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"About a dozen.",
        "Ain\"t there, Fowler?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I believe so, Mr. Bradley.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Gilbert & Mack do a good business, I should judge.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, they do; but that doesn\"t do us poor salesmen much good.",
        "We get just enough to keep soul and body together.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am sorry to hear it,\" said Mr. Wharton."
      ],
      [
        "\"Why, sir,\" said Thomas, gaining confidence, \"all they pay me is twelve dollars a week.",
        "How can they expect a fellow to live on that?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I began my career about your age,\" said Mr. Wharton, \"or perhaps a little younger, and had to live on but six dollars a week.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Didn\"t you come near starving?\" he asked."
      ],
      [
        "\"On the contrary, I saved a little every week.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can\"t,\" said Thomas, a little discomfited.",
        "\"Why, it takes half that to dress decently.\""
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Wharton glanced quietly at the rather loud and flashy dress worn by his visitor, but only said:"
      ],
      [
        "\"A small salary, of course, makes economy necessary.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But when a fellow knows he earns a good deal more than he gets, he doesn\"t feel like starving himself just that his employers may grow rich.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Of course, if he can better himself they cannot object.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That\"s just what I want to do,\" said Thomas; \"but I expect I need influence to help me to something better.",
        "That\"s a good hint,\" thought he."
      ],
      [
        "\"I was telling Thomas,\" said the housekeeper, \"that you had kindly expressed a desire to be of service to him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am not now in active business,\" said Mr. Wharton, \"and of course have not the opportunities I formerly had for helping young men, but I will bear your case in mind, Mr. Bradley.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, sir,\" said Thomas.",
        "\"I am sure I earn a thousand dollars a year.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I think, Thomas,\" said Mrs. Bradley, \"we won\"t intrude on Mr. Wharton longer this evening.",
        "When he finds something for you he will tell me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"All right, aunt.",
        "Good-night, Mr. Wharton.",
        "Good-night, Cash,\" said Thomas, chuckling anew at the old joke."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, aunt,\" said he, when they were once more in the housekeeper\"s room, \"do you think the old gentleman will do anything for me?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope so; but I am not sure, Thomas, whether you were not too familiar.",
        "You spoke of money too quick.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It\"s my way to come to business.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish you were his reader, instead of that boy.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, I don\"t.",
        "I wouldn\"t want to be mewed up in that room with the old man every night.",
        "I should get tired to death of it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You would have a chance to get him interested in you.",
        "That boy is artful; he is doing all he can to win Mr. Wharton\"s favor.",
        "He is the one you have most reason to dread.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you think he will do me any harm?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I think he will injure your chances.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Egad! if I thought that, I\"d wring the young rascal\"s neck.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"There\"s a better way, Thomas.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What\"s that?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Can\"t you get him dismissed from Gilbert & Mack\"s?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I haven\"t enough influence with the firm.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Suppose they thought him dishonest?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"They\"d give him the sack, of course.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Can\"t you make them think so, Thomas?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t know.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then make it your business to find out.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I suppose you know what good it\"s going to do, aunt, but I don\"t.",
        "He\"s got his place here with the old man.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"If Mr. Wharton hears that he is discharged, and has lost his situation, he will probably discharge him, too.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Perhaps so; I suppose you know best.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Do as I tell you, and I will manage the rest.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"All right.",
        "I need your help enough.",
        "To-night, for instance, I\"m regularly cleaned out.",
        "Haven\"t got but twenty-five cents to my name.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It seems to me, Thomas,\" said his aunt, with a troubled look, \"you are always out of money.",
        "I\"ll give you five dollars, Thomas, but you must remember that I am not made of money.",
        "My wages are small.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You ought to have a good nest-egg laid aside, aunt.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I\"ve got something, Thomas, and when I die, it\"ll be yours.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope I shan\"t have to wait too long,\" thought Thomas, \"but he did not give utterance to the thought.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Come again, Thomas, and don\"t forget what I have said,\" said Mrs. Bradley."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER ELEVEN\rJOHN WADE"
      ],
      [
        "A tall man, with a sallow complexion, and heavily-bearded face, stood on the deck of a Cunard steamer, only a few miles distant from New York harbor."
      ],
      [
        "\"It\"s three years since I have seen America,\" he said to himself, thoughtfully."
      ],
      [
        "\"I suppose I ought to feel a patriotic fervor about setting foot once more on my native shore, but I don\"t believe in nonsense."
      ],
      [
        "I would be content to live in Europe all my life, if my uncle\"s fortune were once in my possession."
      ],
      [
        "I am his sole heir, but he persists in holding on to his money bags, and limits me to a paltry three thousand a year."
      ],
      [
        "I must see if I can\"t induce him to give me a good, round sum on account--fifty thousand, at least--and then I can wait a little more patiently till he drops off.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"When shall we reach port, captain?\" he asked, as he passed that officer."
      ],
      [
        "\"In four hours, I think, Mr. Wade.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"So this is my birthday,\" he said to himself."
      ],
      [
        "\"Thirty five years old to-day.",
        "Half my life gone, and I am still a dependent on my uncle\"s bounty.",
        "Suppose he should throw me off--leave me out in the cold--where should I be?"
      ],
      [
        "If he should find the boy--but no, there is no chance of that.",
        "I have taken good care of that.",
        "By the way, I must look him up soon--cautiously, of course--and see what has become of him."
      ],
      [
        "He will grow up a laborer or mechanic and die without a knowledge of his birth, while I fill his place and enjoy his inheritance.\""
      ],
      [
        "At six o\"clock the vessel reached the Quarantine."
      ],
      [
        "Most of the passengers decided to remain on board one night more, but John Wade was impatient, and, leaving his trunks, obtained a small boat, and soon touched the shore."
      ],
      [
        "It was nearly eight when John Wade landed in the city.",
        "It was half-past eight when he stood on the steps of his uncle\"s residence and rang the bell."
      ],
      [
        "\"Is my uncle is Mr. Wharton--at home?\" he asked of the servant who answered the bell."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am his nephew, just arrived from Europe.",
        "Let him know that I am here, and would like to see him.\""
      ],
      [
        "The servant, who had never before seen him, having only been six months in the house, regarded him with a great deal of curiosity, and then went to do his biding."
      ],
      [
        "\"My nephew arrived!\" exclaimed Mr. Wharton, in surprise.",
        "\"Why, he never let me know he was coming.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Will you see him, sir?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"To be sure!",
        "Bring him in at once.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"My dear uncle!\" exclaimed John Wade, with effusion, for he was a polite man, and could act when it suited his interests to do so, \"I am glad to see you.",
        "How is your health?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am getting older every day, John.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You don\"t look a day older, sir,\" said John, who did not believe what he said, for he could plainly see that his uncle had grown older since he last saw him."
      ],
      [
        "\"You think so, John, but I feel it.",
        "Your coming is a surprise.",
        "You did not write that you intended sailing.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I formed the determination very suddenly, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Were you tired of Europe?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No; but I wanted to see you, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, John,\" said his uncle, pressing his nephew\"s hand.",
        "\"I am glad you think so much of me.",
        "Did you have a pleasant voyage?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Rather rough, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You have had no supper, of course?",
        "If you will ring the bell, the housekeeper will see that some is got ready for you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Is Mrs. Bradley still in your employ, uncle?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, John.",
        "I am so used to her that I shouldn\"t know how to get along without her.\""
      ],
      [
        "Hitherto John Wade had been so occupied with his uncle that he had not observed Frank.",
        "But at this moment our hero coughed, involuntarily, and John Wade looked at him."
      ],
      [
        "He seemed to be singularly affected.",
        "He started perceptibly, and his sallow face blanched, as his eager eyes were fixed on the boy\"s face."
      ],
      [
        "\"Good heavens!\" he muttered to himself.",
        "\"Who is that boy?",
        "How comes he here?\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank noticed his intent gaze, and wondered at it, but Mr. Wharton\"s eyesight was defective, and he did not perceive his nephew\"s excitement."
      ],
      [
        "\"I see you have a young visitor, uncle,\" said John Wade."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, yes,\" said Mr. Wharton, with a kindly smile.",
        "\"He spends all his evenings with me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What do you mean, sir?\" demanded John Wade, with sudden suspicion and fear.",
        "\"He seems very young company for----\""
      ],
      [
        "\"For a man of my years,\" said Mr. Wharton, finishing the sentence.",
        "\"You are right, John.",
        "But, you see, my eyes are weak, and I cannot use them for reading in the evening, so it occurred to me to engage a reader.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Very true,\" said his nephew.",
        "He wished to inquire the name of the boy whose appearance had so powerfully impressed him but he determined not to do so at present."
      ],
      [
        "What information he sought he preferred to obtain from the housekeeper."
      ],
      [
        "\"He seemed surprised, as if he had seen me some where before, and recognized me,\" thought Frank, \"but I don\"t remember him.",
        "If I had seen his face before, I think I should remember it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Don\"t come out, uncle.\" said John Wade, when summoned to tea by the housekeeper.",
        "\"Mrs.",
        "Bradley and I are going to have a chat by ourselves, and I will soon return.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You are looking thin, Mr. John,\" said Mrs Bradley."
      ],
      [
        "\"Am I thinner than usual?",
        "I never was very corpulent, you know.",
        "How is my uncle\"s health?",
        "He says he is well.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He is pretty well, but he isn\"t as young as he was.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I think he looks older,\" said John. \"But that is not surprising--at his age.",
        "He is seventy, isn\"t he?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Not quite.",
        "He is sixty-nine.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"His father died at seventy-one.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But that is no reason why my uncle should not live till eighty.",
        "I hope he will.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"We all hope so,\" said the housekeeper; but she knew, while she spoke, that if, as she supposed, Mr. Wharton\"s will contained a generous legacy for her, his death would not afflict her much."
      ],
      [
        "She suspected also that John Wade was waiting impatiently for his uncle\"s death, that he might enter upon his inheritance."
      ],
      [
        "Still, their little social fictions must be kept up, and so both expressed a desire for his continued life, though neither was deceived as to the other\"s real feeling on the subject."
      ],
      [
        "\"By the way, Mrs. Bradley,\" said John Wade, \"how came my uncle to engage that boy to read to him?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He was led into it, sir,\" said the housekeeper, with a great deal of indignation, \"by the boy himself.",
        "He\"s an artful and designing fellow, you may rely upon it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What\"s his name?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Frank Fowler.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Fowler!",
        "Is his name Fowler?\" he repeated, with a startled expression."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir,\" answered the housekeeper, rather surprised at his manner.",
        "\"You don\"t know anything about him, do you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, no,\" said John Wade, recovering his composure.",
        "\"He is a perfect stranger to me; but I once knew a man of that name, and a precious rascal he was."
      ],
      [
        "When you mentioned his name, I thought he might be a son of this man.",
        "Does he say his father is alive?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No; he is dead, and his mother, too, so the boy says.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You haven\"t told me how my uncle fell in with him?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It was an accident.",
        "Your uncle fell in getting out of a Broadway stage, and this boy happened to be near, and seeing Mr. Wharton was a rich gentleman, he helped him home, and was invited in."
      ],
      [
        "Then he told some story about his poverty, and so worked upon your uncle\"s feelings that he hired him to read to him at five dollars a week.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Is this all the boy does?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No; he is cash-boy in a large store on Broadway.",
        "He is employed there all day, and he is here only in the evenings.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Does my uncle seem attached to him?\" asked John."
      ],
      [
        "\"He\"s getting fond of him, I should say.",
        "The other day he asked me if I didn\"t think it would be a good thing to take him into the house and give him a room.",
        "I suppose the boy put it into his head.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No doubt.",
        "What did you say?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I opposed it.",
        "I told him that a boy would be a great deal of trouble in the family.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You did right, Mrs. Bradley.",
        "What did my uncle say?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He hinted about taking him from the store and letting him go to school.",
        "The next thing would be his adopting him.",
        "The fact is, Mr. John, the boy is so artful that he knows just how to manage your uncle."
      ],
      [
        "No doubt he put the idea into Mr. Wharton\"s head, and he may do it yet.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Does my uncle give any reason for the fancy he has taken to the boy?\"  demanded John."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes,\" said the housekeeper.",
        "\"He has taken it into his head that the boy resembles your cousin, George, who died abroad.",
        "You were with him, I believe?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, I was with him.",
        "Is the resemblance strong?",
        "I took very little notice of him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You can look for yourself when you go back,\" answered the housekeeper."
      ],
      [
        "\"What else did my uncle say?",
        "Tell me all.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He said: \"What would I give, Mrs. Bradley, if I had such a grandson?",
        "If George\"s boy had lived, he would have been about Frank\"s age.",
        "And,\"  continued the housekeeper, \"I might as well speak plainly."
      ],
      [
        "You\"re my master\"s heir, or ought to be; but if this artful boy stays here long, there\"s no knowing what your uncle may be influenced to do."
      ],
      [
        "If he gets into his dotage, he may come to adopt him, and leave the property away from you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I believe you are quite right.",
        "The danger exists, and we must guard against it.",
        "I see you don\"t like the boy,\" said John Wade."
      ],
      [
        "\"No, I don\"t.",
        "He\"s separated your uncle and me.",
        "Before he came, I used to spend my evenings in the library, and read to your uncle."
      ],
      [
        "Besides, when I found your uncle wanted a reader, I asked him to take my nephew, who is a salesman in the very same store where that boy is a cash-boy, but although I\"ve been twenty years in this house I could not get him to grant the favor, which he granted to that boy, whom he never met till a few weeks ago.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Mrs.",
        "Bradley, I sympathize with you,\" said her companion.",
        "\"The boy is evidently working against us both.",
        "You have been twenty years in my uncle\"s service.",
        "He ought to remember you handsomely in his will."
      ],
      [
        "If I inherit the property, as is my right, your services shall be remembered,\" said John Wade."
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, Mr. John,\" said the gratified housekeeper."
      ],
      [
        "\"That secures her help,\" thought John, in his turn."
      ],
      [
        "\"She will now work hard for me.",
        "When the time comes, I can do as much or as little for her as I please.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Of course, we must work together against this interloper, who appears to have gained a dangerous influence over my uncle.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You can depend upon me, Mr. John,\" said Mrs. Bradley."
      ],
      [
        "\"I will think it over, and tell you my plan,\" said John Wade.",
        "\"But my uncle will wonder at my appetite.",
        "I must go back to the library.",
        "We will speak of this subject again.\""
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER TWELVE\rA FALSE FRIEND"
      ],
      [
        "When John Wade re-entered the library, Frank was reading, but Mr. Wharton stopped him."
      ],
      [
        "\"That will do, Frank,\" he said.",
        "\"As I have not seen my nephew for a long time, I shall not require you to read any longer.",
        "You can go, if you like.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank bowed, and bidding the two good-evening, left the room."
      ],
      [
        "\"That is an excellent boy, John.\" said the old gentleman, as the door closed upon our hero."
      ],
      [
        "\"How did you fall in with him?\"",
        "asked John.",
        "Mr. Wharton told the story with which the reader is already familiar."
      ],
      [
        "\"You don\"t know anything of his antecedents, I suppose?\" said John, carelessly."
      ],
      [
        "\"Only what he told me.",
        "His father and mother are dead, and he is obliged to support himself and his sister.",
        "Did you notice anything familiar in Frank\"s expression?\" asked Mr. Wharton."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t know.",
        "I didn\"t observe him very closely.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Whenever I look at Frank, I think of George.",
        "I suppose that is why I have felt more closely drawn to the boy.",
        "I proposed to Mrs. Bradley that the boy should have a room here, but she did not favor it."
      ],
      [
        "I think she is prejudiced against him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Probably she is afraid he would be some trouble,\" replied John."
      ],
      [
        "\"If George\"s boy had lived he would be about Frank\"s age.",
        "It would have been a great comfort to me to superintend his education, and watch him grow up."
      ],
      [
        "I could not have wished him to be more gentlemanly or promising than my young reader.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Decidedly, that boy is in my way,\" said John Wade to himself.",
        "\"I must manage to get rid of him, and that speedily, or my infatuated uncle will be adopting him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Of what disease did George\"s boy die, John?\" asked Mr. Wharton."
      ],
      [
        "\"A sudden fever.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish I could have seen him before he died.",
        "But I returned only to find both son and grandson gone.",
        "I had only the sad satisfaction of seeing his grave.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, he was buried in the family lot at Greenwood, five days before you reached home.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"When I see men of my own age, surrounded by children and grandchildren, it makes me almost envious,\" said Mr. Wharton, sadly."
      ],
      [
        "\"I declare to you, John, since that boy has been with me, I have felt happier and more cheerful than for years.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That boy again!\" muttered John to himself.",
        "\"I begin to hate the young cub, but I mustn\"t show it.",
        "My first work will be to separate him from my uncle.",
        "That will require consideration."
      ],
      [
        "I wonder whether the boy knows that he is not Fowler\"s son?",
        "I must find out.",
        "If he does, and should happen to mention it in my uncle\"s presence, it might awaken suspicions in his mind."
      ],
      [
        "I must interview the boy, and find out what I can.",
        "To enlist his confidence, I must assume a friendly manner.\""
      ],
      [
        "In furtherance of this determination, John Wade greeted our hero very cordially the next evening, when they met, a little to Frank\"s surprise."
      ],
      [
        "When the reading terminated, John Wade said, carelessly:"
      ],
      [
        "\"I believe, uncle, I will go out for a walk.",
        "I think I shall be better for it.",
        "In what direction are you going, Frank?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Down Sixth Avenue, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Very good; I will walk along with you.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank and his companion walked toward Sixth Avenue."
      ],
      [
        "\"My uncle tells me you have a sister to support,\" said Wade, opening the conversation."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Does your sister resemble you?\" asked John Wade."
      ],
      [
        "\"No, sir! but that is not surprising, for----\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why is it not surprising?\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank hesitated."
      ],
      [
        "\"You were about to assign some reason.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It is a secret,\" said our hero, slowly; \"that is, has been a secret, but I don\"t know why I should conceal it.",
        "Grace is not my sister.",
        "She is Mrs. Fowler\"s daughter, but I am not her son.",
        "I will tell you the story.\""
      ],
      [
        "That story Frank told as briefly as possible.",
        "John Wade listened to it with secret alarm."
      ],
      [
        "\"It is a strange story,\" he said.",
        "\"Do you not feel a strong desire to learn your true parentage?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir.",
        "I don\"t know, but I feel as if I should some day meet the man who gave me into Mrs.",
        "Fowler\"s charge.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You have met him, but it is lucky you don\"t suspect it,\" thought John Wade."
      ],
      [
        "\"I am glad you told me this story,\" said he, aloud."
      ],
      [
        "\"It is quite romantic.",
        "I may be able to help you in your search.",
        "But let me advise you to tell no one else at present.",
        "No doubt there are parties interested in keeping the secret of your birth from you."
      ],
      [
        "You must move cautiously, and your chance of solving the mystery will be improved.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, sir.",
        "I will follow your advice.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I was mistaken in him,\" thought Frank.",
        "\"I disliked him at first, but he seems inclined to be my friend.\""
      ],
      [
        "When Frank reached his lodging he found Jasper waiting up for him.",
        "He looked thoughtful, so much so that Frank noticed it."
      ],
      [
        "\"You look as if you had something on your mind,\" Jasper."
      ],
      [
        "\"You have guessed right.",
        "I have read that letter.\""
      ],
      [
        "He drew from his pocket a letter, which Frank took from his hands."
      ],
      [
        "\"It is from an uncle of mine in Ohio, who is proprietor of a weekly newspaper.",
        "He is getting old, and finds the work too much for him.",
        "He offers me a thousand dollars a year if I will come out and relieve him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That\"s a good offer, Jasper.",
        "I suppose you will accept it?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It is for my interest to do so.",
        "Probably my uncle will, after a while, surrender the whole establishment to me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I shall be sorry to part with you, Jasper.",
        "It will seem very lonely, but I think you ought to go.",
        "It is a good chance, and if you refuse it you may not get such another.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"My uncle wants me to come on at once.",
        "I think I will start Monday.\""
      ],
      [
        "Jasper saw no reason to change his determination, and on Monday morning he started on his journey to Ohio."
      ],
      [
        "Thus, at a critical moment in his fortunes, when two persons were planning to injure him, he lost the presence and help of a valued friend."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER THIRTEEN\rTHE SPIDER AND THE FLY"
      ],
      [
        "\"Uncle,\" said John Wade, \"you spoke of inviting Frank Fowler to occupy a room in the house.",
        "Why don\"t you do it?",
        "It would be more convenient to you and a very good chance for him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I should like it,\" said Mr. Wharton, \"but Mrs. Bradley did not seem to regard it favorably when I suggested it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, Mrs. Bradley is unused to boys, and she is afraid he would give her trouble.",
        "I\"ll undertake to bring her around.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish you would, John.",
        "I don\"t think Frank would give any trouble, and it would enliven the house to have a boy here.",
        "Besides, he reminds me of George, as I told you the other day.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I agree with you, uncle,\" he said.",
        "\"He does remind me a little of George.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, Mrs. Bradley, what do you think I have done?\"",
        "asked John, entering the housekeeper\"s room directly after his interview with his uncle."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t know, Mr. John,\" she answered."
      ],
      [
        "\"I have asked him to give that boy a room in the house.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Are you carried away with him as well as your uncle?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Not quite.",
        "The fact is, I have a motive in what I am doing.",
        "I\"ll tell you.\""
      ],
      [
        "He bent over and whispered in her ear."
      ],
      [
        "\"I never should have thought of that.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You see, our purpose is to convince my uncle that he is unworthy of his favor.",
        "At present that would be rather difficult, but once get him into the house and we shall have no trouble.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I understand.\""
      ],
      [
        "In due time John Wade announced to his uncle that the housekeeper had withdrawn her objections to his plan."
      ],
      [
        "\"Then I\"ll tell him to-night,\" said Mr. Wharton, brightening up."
      ],
      [
        "Shortly after Frank entered the library that evening Mr. Wharton made the proposal."
      ],
      [
        "\"You are very kind, Mr. Wharton,\" he said.",
        "\"I never thought of such a thing.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then it is settled that you are to come.",
        "You can choose your own time for coming.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will come to-morrow, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Very well,\" said Mr. Wharton, with satisfaction."
      ],
      [
        "The next day, by special favor, Frank got off from the store two hours earlier than usual.",
        "He bought at a Sixth Avenue basement store, a small, second hand trunk for two dollars."
      ],
      [
        "He packed his scanty wardrobe into the trunk, which, small as it was he was unable to fill, and had it carried to Mr. Wharton\"s house."
      ],
      [
        "He asked to see Mrs. Bradley, and she came to the door."
      ],
      [
        "\"I am glad to see you,\" she said graciously.",
        "\"You may leave your trunk in the hall and I will have it carried up by the servants.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you,\" said Frank, and he followed the housekeeper up the handsome staircase."
      ],
      [
        "\"This is to be your room,\" said the housekeeper, opening the door of a small chamber on the third floor."
      ],
      [
        "\"It looks very nice and comfortable,\" said Frank, looking about him with satisfaction."
      ],
      [
        "She left the room, and five minutes later our hero\"s modest trunk was brought up and deposited in the room."
      ],
      [
        "That evening Frank read to Mr. Wharton as usual."
      ],
      [
        "When nine o\"clock came he said:"
      ],
      [
        "\"You need not read aloud any more, but if you see any books in my library which you would like to read to yourself you may do so."
      ],
      [
        "In fact, Frank, you must consider yourself one of the family, and act as freely as if you were at home.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How kind you are to me, Mr. Wharton,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "The next morning after Frank had left the house for his daily task, John Wade entered the housekeeper\"s room."
      ],
      [
        "\"The boy is out of the way now, Mrs. Bradley,\" he said.",
        "\"You had better see if you have a key that will unlock his trunk.\""
      ],
      [
        "The two conspirators went upstairs, and together entered Frank\"s room."
      ],
      [
        "Mrs. Bradley brought out a large bunch of keys, and successively tried them, but one after another failed to open it."
      ],
      [
        "\"That\"s awkward,\" said John Wade.",
        "\"I have a few keys in my pocket.",
        "One may possibly answer.\""
      ],
      [
        "The housekeeper kneeled down, and made a trial of John Wade\"s keys.",
        "The last one was successful.",
        "The cover was lifted, and the contents were disclosed."
      ],
      [
        "However, neither John nor Mrs. Bradley seemed particularly interested in the articles for after turning them over they locked the trunk once more."
      ],
      [
        "\"So far so good,\" said John Wade.",
        "\"We have found the means of opening the trunk when we please.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"When do you expect to carry out your plan, Mr. John?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Two weeks from this time my uncle is obliged to go to Washington for a few days on business.",
        "While he is gone we will spring the trap, and when he comes back he will find the boy gone in disgrace."
      ],
      [
        "We\"ll make short work of him.\""
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER FOURTEEN\rSPRINGING THE TRAP"
      ],
      [
        "\"I am going to give you a few days\" vacation, Frank,\" said Mr. Wharton, a fortnight later.",
        "\"I am called to Washington on business.",
        "However, you have got to feel at home here now.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, yes, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And Mrs. Bradley will see that you are comfortable.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am sure of that, sir,\" said Frank, politely."
      ],
      [
        "When Frank returned at night, Mr. Wharton was already gone.",
        "John Wade and the housekeeper seated themselves in the library after dinner, and by their invitation our hero joined them."
      ],
      [
        "\"By the way, Frank,\" said John Wade, \"did I ever show you this Russia leather pocketbook?\" producing one from his pocket."
      ],
      [
        "\"No, sir, I believe not.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I bought it at Vienna, which is noted for its articles of Russia leather.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It is very handsome, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"So I think.",
        "By the way, you may like to look at my sleeve-buttons.",
        "They are of Venetian mosaic.",
        "I got them myself in Venice last year.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"They are very elegant.",
        "You must have enjoyed visiting so many famous cities.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes; it is very interesting.\""
      ],
      [
        "John Wade took up the evening paper, and Frank occupied himself with a book from his patron\"s library.",
        "After a while John threw down the paper yawning, and said that he had an engagement."
      ],
      [
        "Nothing else occurred that evening which merits record."
      ],
      [
        "Two days later Frank returned home in his usual spirits.",
        "But at the table he was struck by a singular change in the manner of Mrs. Bradley and John Wade."
      ],
      [
        "They spoke to him only on what it was absolutely necessary, and answered his questions in monosyllables."
      ],
      [
        "\"Will you step into the library a moment?\" said John Wade, as they arose from the table."
      ],
      [
        "Frank followed John into the library, and Mrs. Bradley entered also."
      ],
      [
        "\"Frank Fowler,\" the enemy began, \"do you remember my showing you two evenings since a pocketbook, also some sleeve-buttons of Venetian mosaic, expensively mounted in gold?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Certainly, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That pocketbook contained a considerable sum of money,\" pursued his questioner."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t know anything about that.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You probably supposed so.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Will you tell me what you mean, Mr. Wade?\" demanded Frank, impatiently.",
        "\"I have answered your questions, but I can\"t understand why you ask them.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Perhaps you may suspect,\" said Wade, sarcastically."
      ],
      [
        "\"It looks as if you had lost them and suspected me of taking them.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"So it appears.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You are entirely mistaken, Mr. Wade.",
        "I am not a thief.",
        "I never stole anything in my life.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It is very easy to say that,\" sneered John Wade.",
        "\"You and Mrs. Bradley were the only persons present when I showed the articles, and I suppose you won\"t pretend that she stole them?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, sir; though she appears to agree with you that I am a thief.",
        "I never thought of accusing her,\" replied Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr.",
        "Wade,\" said the housekeeper, \"I feel that it is my duty to insist upon search being made in my room.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you make the same offer?\"",
        "asked John Wade, turning to Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir,\" answered our hero, proudly.",
        "\"I wish you to satisfy yourself that I am not a thief.",
        "If you will come to my room at once, Mr. Wade, you and Mrs. Bradley, I will hand you the key of my trunk.\""
      ],
      [
        "The two followed him upstairs, exulting wickedly in his discomfiture, which they had reason to forsee."
      ],
      [
        "He handed his key to his artful enemy, and the latter bending over, opened the trunk, which contained all our hero\"s small possessions."
      ],
      [
        "He raised the pile of clothes, and, to Frank\"s dismay, disclosed the missing pocketbook and sleeve-buttons in the bottom of the trunk."
      ],
      [
        "\"What have you got to say for yourself now, you young villain?\" demanded John Wade, in a loud voice."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t understand it,\" Frank said, in a troubled tone.",
        "\"I don\"t know how the things came there.",
        "I didn\"t put them there.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Probably they crept in themselves,\" sneered John."
      ],
      [
        "\"Someone put them there,\" said Frank, pale, but resolute; \"some wicked person, who wanted to get me into trouble.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What do you mean by that, you young vagabond?\"",
        "demanded John Wade, suspiciously."
      ],
      [
        "\"I mean what I say,\" he asserted.",
        "\"I am away all day, and nothing is easier than to open my trunk and put articles in, in order to throw suspicion on me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Look here, you rascal!\" said John Wade, roughly.",
        "\"I shall treat you better than you deserve."
      ],
      [
        "I won\"t give you over to the police out of regard for my uncle, but you must leave this house and never set foot in it again.",
        "It will be the worse for you if you do.\""
      ],
      [
        "John Wade and the housekeeper left the room, and our hero was left to realize the misfortune which had overwhelmed him."
      ],
      [
        "Frank arose at an early hour the next morning and left the house.",
        "It was necessary for him to find a new home at once in order to be at the store in time."
      ],
      [
        "He bought a copy of the Sun and turned to the advertising columns.",
        "He saw a cheap room advertised near the one he had formerly occupied.",
        "Finding his way there he rang the bell."
      ],
      [
        "The door was opened by a slatternly-looking woman, who looked as if she had just got up."
      ],
      [
        "\"I see by the Sun you have a room to let,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes; do you want to see it now?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I should like to.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Come upstairs and I will show you the room.\""
      ],
      [
        "The room proved to be small, and by no means neat in appearance, but the rent was only a dollar and a quarter a week, and Frank felt that he could not afford to be particular, so he quickly closed the bargain."
      ],
      [
        "The next day, about eleven o\"clock in the forenoon, he was surprised at seeing Mrs. Bradley enter the store and thread her way to that part of the counter where her nephew was stationed."
      ],
      [
        "She darted one quick look at him, but gave him no sign of recognition.",
        "His heart sank within him, for he had a presentiment that her visit boded fresh evil for him."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER FIFTEEN\rFROM BAD TO WORSE"
      ],
      [
        "Frank\"s misgivings were not without good cause.",
        "The housekeeper\"s call at the store was connected with him."
      ],
      [
        "How, will be understood from a conversation which took place that morning between her and John Wade."
      ],
      [
        "\"It\"s a relief to get that boy out of the house, Mrs. Bradley,\" he said at the breakfast table."
      ],
      [
        "\"That it is, Mr. John,\" she replied.",
        "\"But he\"ll be trying to get back, take my word for it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He won\"t dare to,\" said John Wade, incredulously.",
        "\"I told him if he came near the house I would give him up to the police.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am afraid he will write to your uncle.",
        "He\"s bold enough for anything.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I didn\"t think of that,\" said John, thoughtfully."
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you know his handwriting, Mrs. Bradley?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I think I should know it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then if any letters come which you know to be from him, keep them back from my uncle.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What shall I do with them?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Give them to me.",
        "I don\"t want my uncle worried by his appeals.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Your uncle seems to be very attached to him.",
        "He may go to the store to see him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That is true.",
        "I should not like that.",
        "How shall we prevent it, that\"s the question.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"If Gilbert & Mack knew that he was not honest they would discharge him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Exactly,\" said John Wade; \"and as probably he would be unable to get another situation, he would be compelled to leave the city, and we should get rid of him.",
        "I commend your shrewdness, Mrs. Bradley."
      ],
      [
        "Your plan is most excellent.\""
      ],
      [
        "John Wade had more reasons than the housekeeper knew of for desiring the removal of our young hero from the city--reasons which the reader has probably guessed."
      ],
      [
        "There was a dark secret in his life connected with a wrong done in years past, from which he hoped some day to reap personal benefit.",
        "Unconsciously Frank Fowler stood in his way, and must be removed."
      ],
      [
        "Such was his determination."
      ],
      [
        "\"I am going out this morning,\" said the housekeeper.",
        "\"I will make it in my way to call at Gilbert & Mack\"s.",
        "My nephew is a salesman there, as I have told you."
      ],
      [
        "I will drop a word in his ear, and that will be enough to settle that boy\"s hash.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Your language is professional, Mrs. Bradley,\" said John Wade, laughing, \"but you shouldn\"t allude to hash in an aristocratic household.",
        "I shall be glad to have you carry out your plan.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope you\"ll speak to your uncle about my nephew, Mr. John.",
        "He gets very poor pay where he is.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I won\"t forget him,\" said John, carelessly."
      ],
      [
        "In his heart he thought Thomas Bradley a very low, obtrusive fellow, whom he felt by no means inclined to assist, but it was cheap to make promises."
      ],
      [
        "The reader understands now why Mrs. Bradley made a morning call at Gilbert & Mack\"s store."
      ],
      [
        "She knew at what part of the counter her nephew was stationed, and made her way thither at once.",
        "He did not at first recognize her, until she said:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-morning, Thomas.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-morning, aunt.",
        "What brings you here this morning?",
        "Any good news for me?",
        "Has the old gentleman come around and concluded to do something handsome?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr.",
        "Wharton is not in the city.",
        "He has gone to Washington.",
        "But that isn\"t what I came about this morning.",
        "You remember that boy who has been reading to Mr. Wharton?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"One of our cash-boys.",
        "Yes; there he is, just gone by.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, he has stolen Mr. John\"s pocketbook and some jewelry belonging to him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What have you done about it?",
        "What does Mr. Wharton say?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He\"s away from home.",
        "He doesn\"t know yet.",
        "Mr. John gave him a lecture, and ordered him to leave the house.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Does he admit that he took the things?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No; he denied it as bold as brass, but it didn\"t do him any good.",
        "There were the things in his trunk.",
        "He couldn\"t get over that.\""
      ],
      [
        "Thomas fastened a shrewd glance on his aunt\"s face, for he suspected the truth."
      ],
      [
        "\"So you\"ve got rid of him?\" he said.",
        "\"What do you propose to do next?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr.",
        "John thinks your employer ought to know that he is a thief.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Are you going to tell them?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I want you to do it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You must tell them yourself, aunt.",
        "I shan\"t.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then introduce me to Mr. Gilbert, Thomas, and I\"ll do it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Follow me, aunt.\""
      ],
      [
        "He led his aunt to the rear of the store, where Mr. Gilbert was standing."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr.",
        "Gilbert,\" he said, \"allow me to introduce my aunt, Mrs. Bradley.\""
      ],
      [
        "The housekeeper was courteously received, and invited to be seated.",
        "She soon opened her business, and blackened poor Frank\"s character as she had intended."
      ],
      [
        "\"Really, Mrs. Bradley, I am sorry to hear this,\" said Mr. Gilbert.",
        "\"You think there is no doubt of the boy\"s guilt?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am sorry to say that I have no doubt at all,\" said the housekeeper, hypocritically."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr.",
        "Mack and myself have had a very good opinion of him.",
        "He is faithful and prompt.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Of course, sir, you will retain him in your employ if you are willing to take the risk, but I thought it my duty to put you on your guard.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am obliged to you, Mrs. Bradley; though, as I said, I regret to find that my confidence in the boy has been misplaced.\""
      ],
      [
        "Late in the afternoon, Frank was called to the cashier\"s desk."
      ],
      [
        "\"I am directed by Mr. Gilbert to say that your services will not be required after to-day,\" he said.",
        "\"Here are the week\"s wages.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why am I discharged?",
        "What have I done?\" demanded Frank, while his heart sank within him."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t know.",
        "You must ask Mr. Gilbert,\" answered the cashier."
      ],
      [
        "\"I will speak to him, at any rate,\" and Frank walked up to the senior partner, and addressed to him the same question."
      ],
      [
        "\"Can you not guess?\"",
        "asked Mr. Gilbert, sternly."
      ],
      [
        "\"I can guess that a false accusation has been brought against me,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"A respectable lady has informed me that you are not honest.",
        "I regret it, for I have been pleased with your diligence.",
        "Of course, I cannot retain you in my employ.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr.",
        "Gilbert,\" said Frank, earnestly, \"the charge is false.",
        "Mrs. Bradley is my enemy, and wishes me harm.",
        "I don\"t understand how the things came into my trunk, but I didn\"t put them there.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope you are innocent, but I must discharge you.",
        "Business is dull now, and I had decided to part with four of my cash-boys.",
        "I won\"t pass judgment upon you, but you must go.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank bowed in silence, for he saw that further entreaty would be vain, and left the store more dispirited than at any moment since he had been in the city."
      ],
      [
        "Ten days Frank spent in fruitless efforts to obtain a place."
      ],
      [
        "All this time his money steadily diminished.",
        "He perceived that he would soon be penniless.",
        "Evidently, something must be done.",
        "He formed two determinations."
      ],
      [
        "The first was to write to Mr. Wharton, who, he thought, must now have returned from Washington, asserting his innocence and appealing to him to see Gilbert & Mack, and re-establish him in their confidence."
      ],
      [
        "The second was, since he could not obtain a regular place, to frequent the wharves and seek chances to carry bundles."
      ],
      [
        "In this way he might earn enough, with great economy, to pay for his board and lodging."
      ],
      [
        "One morning the housekeeper entered the library where John Wade sat reading the daily papers."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr.",
        "John,\" she said, holding out a letter, \"here is a letter from that boy.",
        "I expected he would write to your uncle.\""
      ],
      [
        "John Wade deliberately opened the letter."
      ],
      [
        "\"Sit down, Mrs. Bradley, and I will read the letter aloud.\""
      ],
      [
        "It will be only necessary to quote the concluding sentences:"
      ],
      [
        "\"\"I hope, Mr. Wharton, you will not be influenced against me by what Mrs. Bradley and your nephew say.",
        "I don\"t know why it is, but they are my enemies, though I have always treated them with respect."
      ],
      [
        "I am afraid they have a desire to injure me in your estimation."
      ],
      [
        "If they had not been, they would have been content with driving me from your house, without also slandering me to my employers, and inducing them to discharge me."
      ],
      [
        "Since I was discharged, I have tried very hard to get another place, but as I cannot bring a recommendation from Gilbert & Mack, I have everywhere been refused."
      ],
      [
        "I ask you, Mr. Wharton to consider my situation.",
        "Already my small supply of money is nearly gone, and I do not know how I am to pay my expenses."
      ],
      [
        "If it was any fault of mine that had brought me into this situation, I would not complain, but it seems hard to suffer when I am innocent."
      ],
      [
        "\"\"I do not ask to return to your house, Mr. Wharton, for it would not be pleasant, since your nephew and Mrs. Bradley dislike me, but I have a right to ask that the truth may be told to my employers, so that if they do not wish me to return to their service, they may, at least, be willing to give me a recommendation that will give me a place elsewhere.\"\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I must prevent the boy communicating with my uncle, if it is a possible thing.",
        "\"Strike while the iron is hot,\" I say.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I think that is very judicious, Mr. John.",
        "I have no doubt you will know how to manage matters.\""
      ],
      [
        "John Wade dressed himself for a walk, and drawing out a cigar, descended the steps of his uncle\"s house into the street."
      ],
      [
        "He reached Fifth Avenue, and walked slowly downtown.",
        "He was about opposite Twenty-eighth Street, when he came face to face with the subject of his thoughts."
      ],
      [
        "\"Where are you going?\" John Wade demanded sternly."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t know that I am bound to answer your question,\" answered Frank, quietly, \"but I have no objection.",
        "I am going to Thirty-ninth Street with this bundle.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Hark you, boy!",
        "I have something to say to you,\" continued John Wade, harshly.",
        "\"You have had the impudence to write to my uncle.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What did he say?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Nothing that you would like to hear.",
        "He looks upon you as a thief.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You have slandered me to him, Mr. Wade,\" he said, angrily.",
        "\"You might be in better business than accusingly a poor boy falsely.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Hark you, young man!",
        "I have had enough of your impudence.",
        "I will give you a bit of advice, which you will do well to follow."
      ],
      [
        "Leave this city for a place where you are not known, or I may feel disposed to shut you up on a charge of theft.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I shall not leave the city, Mr. Wade,\" returned Frank, firmly.",
        "\"I shall stay here in spite of you,\" and without waiting for an answer, he walked on."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER SIXTEEN\rAN ACCOMPLICE FOUND"
      ],
      [
        "No sooner had John Wade parted from our hero than he saw approaching him a dark, sinister-looking man, whom he had known years before."
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-morning, Mr. Wade,\" said the newcomer."
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-morning, Mr. Graves.",
        "Are you busy just now?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, sir; I am out of employment.",
        "I have been unfortunate.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then I will give you a job.",
        "Do you see that boy?\" said John Wade, rapidly."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, I see him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I want you to follow him.",
        "Find out where he lives, and let me know this evening.",
        "Do you understand?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I understand.",
        "You may rely upon me, sir,\" answered Nathan Graves; and quickening his pace, he soon came within a hundred feet of our hero."
      ],
      [
        "After fulfilling his errand, Frank walked downtown again, but did not succeed in obtaining any further employment.",
        "Wherever he went, he was followed by Graves."
      ],
      [
        "Unconsciously, he exhausted the patience of that gentleman, who got heartily tired of his tramp about the streets."
      ],
      [
        "But the longest day will come to an end, and at last he had the satisfaction of tracking Frank to his humble lodging.",
        "Then, and not till then, he felt justified in leaving him."
      ],
      [
        "Nathan Graves sought the residence of John Wade.",
        "He rang the bell as the clock struck eight."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, what success?\" asked Wade, when they met."
      ],
      [
        "\"I have tracked the boy.",
        "What more can I do for you?\" asked Graves."
      ],
      [
        "\"I want to get him away from the city.",
        "The fact is--I may as well tell you--my uncle has taken a great fancy to the boy, and might be induced to adopt him, and cut me off from my rightful inheritance."
      ],
      [
        "The boy is an artful young rascal, and has been doing all he could to get into the good graces of my uncle, who is old and weak-minded.\""
      ],
      [
        "It was nine o\"clock when Nathan Graves left the house, John Wade himself accompanying him to the door."
      ],
      [
        "\"How soon do you think you can carry out my instructions?\"",
        "asked Wade."
      ],
      [
        "\"To-morrow, if possible.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"The sooner the better.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It is lucky I fell in with him,\" said Nathan Graves to himself, with satisfaction, as he slowly walked down Fifth Avenue.",
        "\"It\"s a queer business, but that\"s none of my business."
      ],
      [
        "The main thing for me to consider is that it brings money to my purse, and of that I have need enough.\""
      ],
      [
        "Graves left the house richer by a hundred dollars than he entered it."
      ],
      [
        "It was eleven o\"clock on the forenoon of the next day when Frank walked up Canal Street toward Broadway.",
        "He had been down to the wharves since early in the morning, seeking for employment."
      ],
      [
        "He had offered his services to many, but as yet had been unable to secure a job."
      ],
      [
        "As he was walking along a man addressed him:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Will you be kind enough to direct me to Broadway?\""
      ],
      [
        "It was Nathan Graves, with whom Frank was destined to have some unpleasant experiences."
      ],
      [
        "\"Straight ahead,\" answered Frank.",
        "\"I am going there, and will show you, if you like.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, I wish you would.",
        "I live only fifteen or twenty miles distant,\" said Graves, \"but I don\"t often come to the city, and am not much acquainted."
      ],
      [
        "I keep a dry-goods store, but my partner generally comes here to buy goods.",
        "By the way, perhaps you can help me about the errand that calls me here today.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will, sir, if I can,\" said Frank, politely."
      ],
      [
        "\"My youngest clerk has just left me, and I want to find a successor--a boy about your age, say.",
        "Do you know any one who would like such a position?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am out of employment myself just now.",
        "Do you think I will suit?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I think you will,\" said Mr. Graves."
      ],
      [
        "\"You won\"t object to go into the country?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will give you five dollars a week and your board for the present.",
        "If you suit me, your pay will be raised at the end of six months.",
        "Will that be satisfactory?\"",
        "asked his companion."
      ],
      [
        "\"Quite so, sir.",
        "When do you wish me to come?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Can you go out with me this afternoon?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir.",
        "I only want to go home and pack up my trunk.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"To save time, I will go with you, and we will start as soon as possible.\""
      ],
      [
        "Nathan Graves accompanied Frank to his room, where his scanty wardrobe was soon packed.",
        "A hack was called, and they were speedily on their way to the Cortland Street ferry."
      ],
      [
        "They crossed the ferry, and Mr. Graves purchased two tickets to Elizabeth.",
        "He bought a paper, and occupied himself in reading.",
        "Frank felt that fortune had begun to shine upon him once more."
      ],
      [
        "By and by, he could send for Grace, and get her boarded near him.",
        "As soon as his wages were raised, he determined to do this.",
        "While engaged in these pleasant speculations, they reached the station."
      ],
      [
        "\"We get out here,\" said Mr. Graves."
      ],
      [
        "\"Is your store in this place?\"",
        "asked Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"No; it is in the next town.\""
      ],
      [
        "Nathan Graves looked about him for a conveyance.",
        "He finally drove a bargain with a man driving a shabby-looking vehicle, and the two took their seats."
      ],
      [
        "They were driven about six miles through a flat, unpicturesque country, when they reached a branch road leading away from the main one."
      ],
      [
        "It was a narrow road, and apparently not much frequented.",
        "Frank could see no houses on either side."
      ],
      [
        "\"Is your store on this road?\" he asked."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, no; but I am not going to the store yet.",
        "We will go to my house, and leave your trunk.\""
      ],
      [
        "At length the wagon stopped, by Graves\" orders, in front of a gate hanging loosely by one hinge."
      ],
      [
        "\"We\"ll get out here,\" said Graves."
      ],
      [
        "Frank looked with some curiosity, and some disappointment, at his future home.",
        "It was a square, unpainted house, discolored by time, and looked far from attractive."
      ],
      [
        "There were no outward signs of occupation, and everything about it appeared to have fallen into decay.",
        "Not far off was a barn, looking even more dilapidated than the house."
      ],
      [
        "At the front door, instead of knocking--there was no bell--Graves drew a rusty key from his pocket and inserted it in the lock.",
        "They found themselves in a small entry, uncarpeted and dingy."
      ],
      [
        "\"We\"ll go upstairs,\" said Graves."
      ],
      [
        "Arrived on the landing, he threw open a door, and ushered in our hero."
      ],
      [
        "\"This will be your room,\" he said."
      ],
      [
        "Frank looked around in dismay."
      ],
      [
        "It was a large, square room, uncarpeted, and containing only a bed, two chairs and a washstand, all of the cheapest and rudest manufacture."
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope you will soon feel at home here,\" said Graves.",
        "\"I\"ll go down and see if I can find something to eat.\""
      ],
      [
        "He went out, locking the door behind him"
      ],
      [
        "\"What does this mean?\"",
        "thought Frank, with a strange sensation."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER SEVENTEEN\rFRANK AND HIS JAILER"
      ],
      [
        "It was twenty minutes before Frank, waiting impatiently, heard the steps of his late companion ascending the stairs."
      ],
      [
        "But the door was not unlocked.",
        "Instead, a slide was revealed, about eight inches square, through which his late traveling companion pushed a plate of cold meat and bread."
      ],
      [
        "\"Here\"s something to eat,\" he said; \"take it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why do you lock me in?\" demanded our hero."
      ],
      [
        "\"You can get along without knowing, I suppose,\" said the other, with a sneer."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t mean to,\" said Frank, firmly.",
        "\"I demand an explanation.",
        "How long do you intend to keep me here?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I am sorry I can\"t gratify your curiosity, but I don\"t know myself.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Perhaps you think that I am rich, but I am not.",
        "I have no money.",
        "You can\"t get anything out of me,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"That may be so, but I shall keep you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I suppose that was all a lie about your keeping store?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It was a pretty little story, told for your amusement, my dear boy,\"  said Graves.",
        "\"I was afraid you wouldn\"t come without it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You are a villain!\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Look here, boy,\" said Graves, in a different tone, his face darkening, \"you had better not talk in that way.",
        "I advise you to eat your dinner and be quiet.",
        "Some supper will be brought to you before night.\""
      ],
      [
        "So saying, he abruptly closed the slide, and descended the stairs, leaving Frank to his reflections, which it may be supposed, were not of the pleasantest character."
      ],
      [
        "Frank did not allow his unpleasant situation to take away his appetite, and though he was fully determined to make the earliest possible attempt to escape, he was sensible enough first to eat the food which his jailer had brought him."
      ],
      [
        "His lunch dispatched, he began at once to revolve plans of escape."
      ],
      [
        "There were three windows in the room, two on the front of the house, the other at the side."
      ],
      [
        "He tried one after another, but the result was the same.",
        "All were so fastened that it was quite impossible to raise them."
      ],
      [
        "Feeling that he could probably escape through one of the windows when he pleased, though at the cost of considerable trouble, Frank did not trouble himself much, or allow himself to feel unhappy."
      ],
      [
        "He decided to continue his explorations."
      ],
      [
        "In the corner of the room was a door, probably admitting to a closet."
      ],
      [
        "\"I suppose it is locked,\" thought Frank, but on trying it, he found that such was not the case.",
        "He looked curiously about him, but found little to repay him."
      ],
      [
        "His attention was drawn, however to several dark-colored masks lying upon a shelf."
      ],
      [
        "He also discovered a small hole in the wall of the size of a marble.",
        "Actuated by curiosity, he applied his eye to the opening, and peeped into what was probably the adjoining room."
      ],
      [
        "It was furnished in very much the same way as the one in which he was confined, but at present it was untenanted."
      ],
      [
        "Having seen what little there was to be seen, Frank withdrew from his post of observation and returned to his room."
      ],
      [
        "It was several hours later when he again heard steps ascending the stairs, and the slide in the door was moved."
      ],
      [
        "He looked toward it, but the face that he saw was not that of Nathan Graves."
      ],
      [
        "It was the face of a woman."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER EIGHTEEN\r\"OVER THE HILL TO THE POORHOUSE\""
      ],
      [
        "We are compelled for a time to leave our hero in the hands of his enemies, and return to the town of Crawford, where an event has occurred which influences seriously the happiness and position of his sister, Grace."
      ],
      [
        "Ever since Frank left the town, Grace had been a welcome member of Mr. Pomeroy\"s family, receiving the kindest treatment from all, so that she had come to feel very much at home."
      ],
      [
        "So they lived happily together, till one disastrous night a fire broke out, which consumed the house, and they were forced to snatch their clothes and escape, saving nothing else."
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Pomeroy\"s house was insured for two-thirds of its value, and he proposed to rebuild immediately, but it would be three months at least before the new house would be completed."
      ],
      [
        "In the interim, he succeeded in hiring a couple of rooms for his family, but their narrow accommodations would oblige them to dispense with their boarder."
      ],
      [
        "Sorry as Mr. and Mrs. Pomeroy were to part with her, it was obvious that Grace must find another home."
      ],
      [
        "\"We must let Frank know,\" said Mr. Pomeroy, and having occasion to go up to the city at once to see about insurance, he went to the store of Gilbert & Mack, and inquired for Prank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Fowler?",
        "What was he?\" was asked."
      ],
      [
        "\"A cash-boy.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, he is no longer here.",
        "Mr. Gilbert discharged him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you know why he was discharged?\" asked Mr. Pomeroy, pained and startled."
      ],
      [
        "\"No; but there stands Mr. Gilbert.",
        "He can tell you.\""
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Pomeroy introduced himself to the head of the firm and repeated his inquiry."
      ],
      [
        "\"If you are a friend of the lad,\" said Mr. Gilbert, \"you will be sorry to learn that he was charged with dishonesty.",
        "It was a very respectable lady who made the charge."
      ],
      [
        "It is only fair to say that the boy denied it, and that, personally, we found him faithful and trusty."
      ],
      [
        "But as the dullness of trade compelled us to discharge some of our cash-boys, we naturally discharged him among the number, without, however, judging his case.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then, sir, you have treated the boy very unfairly."
      ],
      [
        "On the strength of a charge not proved, you have dismissed him, though personally you had noticed nothing out of the way in him, and rendered it impossible for him to obtain another place.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"There is something in what you say, I admit.",
        "Perhaps I was too hasty.",
        "If you will send the boy to me, I will take him back on probation.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, sir,\" said Mr. Pomeroy, gratefully \"I will send him here.\""
      ],
      [
        "But this Mr. Pomeroy was unable to do.",
        "He did not know of Frank\"s new address, and though he was still in the city, he failed to find him."
      ],
      [
        "He returned to Crawford and communicated the unsatisfactory intelligence."
      ],
      [
        "He tried to obtain a new boarding place for Grace, but no one was willing to take her at two dollars a week, especially when Mr. Pomeroy was compelled to admit that Frank was now out of employment, and it was doubtful if he would be able to keep up the payment."
      ],
      [
        "Tom Pinkerton managed to learn that Grace was now without a home, and mentioned it to his father."
      ],
      [
        "\"Won\"t she have to go to the poorhouse now, father?\" he asked eagerly."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes,\" said Deacon Pinkerton.",
        "\"There is no other place for her that I can see.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Ah, I\"m glad,\" said Tom, maliciously.",
        "\"Won\"t that upstart\"s pride be taken down?",
        "He was too proud to go to the poorhouse, where he belonged, but he can\"t help his sister\"s going there."
      ],
      [
        "If he isn\"t a pauper himself, he\"ll be the brother of a pauper, and that\"s the next thing to it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That is true,\" said the deacon.",
        "\"He was very impudent in return for my kindness.",
        "Still, I am sorry for him.\""
      ],
      [
        "I am afraid the deacon\"s sorrow was not very deep, for he certainly looked unusually cheerful when he harnessed up his horse and drove around to the temporary home of the Pomeroys."
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-morning, Mr. Pomeroy,\" he said, seeing the latter in the yard.",
        "\"You\"ve met with a severe loss.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, deacon; it is a severe loss to a poor man like me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"To be sure.",
        "Well, I\"ve called around to relieve you of a part of your cares.",
        "I am going to take Grace Fowler to the poorhouse.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Couldn\"t you get her a place with a private family to help about the house in return for her board, while she goes to school?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"There\"s nobody wants a young girl like her,\" said the deacon."
      ],
      [
        "\"Her brother would pay part of her board--that is, when he has a place.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Hasn\"t he got a place?\" asked the deacon, pricking up his ears.",
        "\"I heard he was in a store in New York.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He lost his place,\" said Mr. Pomeroy, reluctantly, \"partly because of the dullness of general trade.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then he can\"t maintain his sister.",
        "She will have to go to the poorhouse.",
        "Will you ask her to get ready, and I\"ll take her right over to the poorhouse.\""
      ],
      [
        "There was no alternative.",
        "Mr. Pomeroy went into the house, and broke the sad news to his wife and Grace."
      ],
      [
        "\"Never mind,\" she said, with attempted cheerfulness, though her lips quivered, \"I shan\"t have to stay there long.",
        "Frank will be sure to send for me very shortly.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It\"s too bad, Grace,\" said Sam, looking red about the eyes; \"it\"s too bad that you should have to go to the poorhouse.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Come and see me, Sam,\" said Grace."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, I will, Grace.",
        "I\"ll come often, too.",
        "You shan\"t stay there long.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-by,\" said Grace, faltering.",
        "\"You have all been very kind to me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-by, my dear child,\" said Mrs. Pomeroy."
      ],
      [
        "\"Who knows but you can return to us when the new house is done?\""
      ],
      [
        "So poor Grace went out from her pleasant home to find the deacon, grim-faced and stern, waiting for her."
      ],
      [
        "\"Jump in, little girl,\" he said.",
        "\"You\"ve kept me waiting for you a long time, and my time is valuable.\""
      ],
      [
        "The distance to the poorhouse was about a mile and a half.",
        "For the first half mile Deacon Pinkerton kept silence."
      ],
      [
        "Then he began to speak, in a tone of cold condescension, as if it were a favor for such a superior being to address an insignificant child, about to become a pauper."
      ],
      [
        "\"Little girl, have you heard from your brother lately?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Not very lately, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What is he doing?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He is in a store.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I apprehend you are mistaken.",
        "He has lost his place.",
        "He has been turned away,\" said the deacon, with satisfaction."
      ],
      [
        "\"Frank turned away!",
        "Oh, sir, you must be mistaken.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Mr.",
        "Pomeroy told me.",
        "He found out yesterday when he went to the city.\""
      ],
      [
        "Poor Grace! she could not longer doubt now, and her brother\"s misfortune saddened her even more than her own."
      ],
      [
        "\"Probably you will soon see your brother.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, do you think so, sir?\" asked Grace, joyfully."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes,\" answered the deacon, grimly.",
        "\"He will find himself in danger of starvation in the city, and he\"ll creep back, only too glad to obtain a nice, comfortable home in the poorhouse.\""
      ],
      [
        "But Grace knew her brother better than that.",
        "She knew his courage, his self-reliance and his independent spirit, and she was sure the deacon was mistaken."
      ],
      [
        "The home for which Grace was expected to be so grateful was now in sight.",
        "It was a dark, neglected looking house, situated in the midst of barren fields, and had a lonely and desolate aspect."
      ],
      [
        "It was superintended by Mr. and Mrs. Chase, distant relations of Deacon Pinkerton."
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Chase was an inoffensive man, but Mrs. Chase had a violent temper.",
        "She was at work in the kitchen when Deacon Pinkerton drove up.",
        "Hearing the sound of wheels, she came to the door."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mrs.",
        "Chase,\" said the deacon, \"I\"ve brought you a little girl, to be placed under your care.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What\"s her name?\"",
        "inquired the lady."
      ],
      [
        "\"Grace Fowler.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Grace, humph!",
        "Why didn\"t she have a decent name?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You can call her anything you like,\" said the deacon."
      ],
      [
        "\"Little girl, you must behave well,\" said Deacon Pinkerton, by way of parting admonition.",
        "\"The town expects it.",
        "I expect it."
      ],
      [
        "You must never cease to be grateful for the good home which it provides you free of expense.\""
      ],
      [
        "Grace did not reply.",
        "Looking in the face of her future task-mistress was scarcely calculated to awaken a very deep feeling of gratitude."
      ],
      [
        "\"Now,\" said Mrs. Chase, addressing her new boarder, \"just take off your things, Betsy, and make yourself useful.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"My name isn\"t Betsy, ma\"am.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It isn\"t, isn\"t it?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No; it is Grace.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You don\"t say so! I\"ll tell you one thing, I shan\"t allow anybody to contradict me here, and your name\"s got to be Betsy while you\"re in this house.",
        "Now take off your things and hang them up on that peg."
      ],
      [
        "I\"m going to set you right to work.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, ma\"am,\" said Grace, alarmed."
      ],
      [
        "\"There\"s some dishes I want washed, Betsy, and I won\"t have you loitering over your work, neither.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Very well, ma\"am.\""
      ],
      [
        "Such was the new home for which poor Grace was expected to be grateful."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER NINETEEN\rWHAT FRANK HEARD THROUGH THE CREVICE"
      ],
      [
        "Frank looked with some surprise at the woman who was looking through the slide of his door.",
        "He had expected to see Nathan Graves.",
        "She also regarded him with interest."
      ],
      [
        "\"I have brought you some supper,\" she said."
      ],
      [
        "Frank reached out and drew in a small waiter, containing a cup of tea and a plate of toast."
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you,\" he said.",
        "\"Where is the man who brought me here?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He has gone out.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you know why he keeps me here in confinement?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No,\" said the woman, hastily.",
        "\"I know nothing.",
        "I see much, but I know nothing.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Are many prisoners brought here as I have been?\"",
        "asked our hero, in spite of the woman\"s refusal to speak."
      ],
      [
        "\"No.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can\"t understand what object they can have in detaining me.",
        "If I were rich, I might guess, but I am poor.",
        "I am compelled to work for my daily bread, and have been out of a place for two weeks.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t understand,\" she said, in a low voice, rather to herself than to him.",
        "\"But I cannot wait.",
        "I must not stand here."
      ],
      [
        "I will come up in fifteen minutes, and if you wish another cup of tea, or some toast, I will bring them.\""
      ],
      [
        "His confinement did not affect his appetite, for he enjoyed his tea and toast; and when, as she had promised, the woman came up, he told her he would like another cup of tea, and some more toast."
      ],
      [
        "\"Will you answer one question?\"",
        "asked our hero."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t know,\" answered the woman in a flurried tone."
      ],
      [
        "\"You look like a good woman.",
        "Why do you stay in such a house as this?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will tell you, though I should do better to be silent.",
        "But you won\"t betray me?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"On no account.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I was poor, starving, when I had an application to come here.",
        "The man who engaged me told me that it was to be a housekeeper, and I had no suspicion of the character of the house--that it was a den of--\""
      ],
      [
        "She stopped short, but Frank understood what she would have said."
      ],
      [
        "\"When I discovered the character of the house, I would have left but for two reasons."
      ],
      [
        "First, I had no other home; next, I had become acquainted with the secrets of the house, and they would have feared that I would reveal them.",
        "I should incur great risk.",
        "So I stayed.\""
      ],
      [
        "Here there was a sound below.",
        "The woman started."
      ],
      [
        "\"Some one has come,\" she said.",
        "\"I must go down I will come up as soon as I can with the rest of your supper.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you.",
        "You need not hurry.\""
      ],
      [
        "Our hero was left to ponder over what he had heard.",
        "There was evidently a mystery connected with this lonely house a mystery which he very much desired to solve.",
        "But there was one chance."
      ],
      [
        "Through the aperture in the closet he might both see and hear something, provided any should meet there that evening."
      ],
      [
        "The remainder of his supper was brought him by the same woman, but she was in haste, and he obtained no opportunity of exchanging another word with her."
      ],
      [
        "Frank did not learn who it was that had arrived.",
        "Listening intently, he thought he heard some sounds in the next room."
      ],
      [
        "Opening the closet door, and applying his eye to the aperture, he saw two men seated in the room, one of whom was the man who had brought him there."
      ],
      [
        "He applied his ear to the opening, and heard the following conversation:"
      ],
      [
        "\"I hear you\"ve brought a boy here, Nathan,\" said the other, who was a stout, low-browed man, with an evil look."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes,\" said Graves, with a smile; \"I am going to board him here a while.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What\"s it all about?",
        "What are you going to gain by it?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I\"ll tell you all I know.",
        "I\"ve known something of the family for a long time.",
        "John Wade employed me long ago.",
        "The old millionaire had a son who went abroad and died there."
      ],
      [
        "His cousin, John Wade, brought home his son--a mere baby--the old man\"s grandson, of course, and sole heir, or likely to be, to the old man\"s wealth, if he had lived."
      ],
      [
        "In that case, John Wade would have been left out in the cold, or put off with a small bequest.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes.",
        "Did the boy live?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No; he died, very conveniently for John Wade, and thus removed the only obstacle from his path.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Very convenient.",
        "Do you think there was any foul play?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"There may have been.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But I should think the old man would have suspected.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He was away at the time.",
        "When he returned to the city, he heard from his nephew that the boy was dead.",
        "It was a great blow to him, of course."
      ],
      [
        "Now, I\"ll tell you what,\" said Graves, sinking his voice so that Frank found it difficult to hear, \"I\"ll tell you what I\"ve thought at times.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I think the grandson may have been spirited off somewhere.",
        "Nothing more easy, you know.",
        "Murder is a risky operation, and John Wade is respectable, and wouldn\"t want to run the risk of a halter.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You may be right.",
        "You don\"t connect this story of yours with the boy you\"ve brought here, do you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I do,\" answered Graves, emphatically.",
        "\"I shouldn\"t be surprised if this was the very boy!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What makes you think so?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"First, because there\"s some resemblance between the boy and the old man\"s son, as I remember him.",
        "Next, it would explain John Wade\"s anxiety to get rid of him."
      ],
      [
        "It\"s my belief that John Wade has recognized in this boy the baby he got rid of fourteen years ago, and is afraid his uncle will make the same discovery.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank left the crevice through which he had received so much information in a whirl of new and bewildering thoughts."
      ],
      [
        "\"Was it possible,\" he asked himself, \"that he could be the grandson of Mr. Wharton, his kind benefactor?\""
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER TWENTY\rTHE ESCAPE"
      ],
      [
        "It was eight o\"clock the next morning before Frank\"s breakfast was brought to him."
      ],
      [
        "\"I am sorry you have had to wait,\" the housekeeper said, as she appeared at the door with a cup of coffee and a plate of beefsteak and toast, \"I couldn\"t come up before.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Have the men gone away?\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then I have something to tell you.",
        "I learned something about myself last night.",
        "I was in the closet, and heard the man who brought me here talking to another person.",
        "May I tell you the story?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"If you think it will do any good,\" said the housekeeper, \"but I can\"t help you if that is what you want.\""
      ],
      [
        "He told the whole story."
      ],
      [
        "As he proceeded, the housekeeper betrayed increased, almost eager interest, and from time to time asked him questions in particular as to the personal appearance of John Wade."
      ],
      [
        "When Frank had described him as well as he could, she said, in an excited manner:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, it is--it must be the same man.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"The same man!\" repeated our hero, in surprise."
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you know anything about him?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I know that he is a wicked man.",
        "I am afraid that I have helped him carry out his wicked plan, but I did not know it at the time, or I never would have given my consent.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t understand you,\" said our hero, puzzled."
      ],
      [
        "\"Will you tell me what you mean?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Fourteen years ago I was very poor--poor and sick besides.",
        "My husband had died, leaving me nothing but the care of a young infant, whom it was necessary for me to support besides myself."
      ],
      [
        "Enfeebled by sickness, I was able to earn but little, but we lived in a wretched room in a crowded tenement house.",
        "My infant boy was taken sick and died."
      ],
      [
        "As I sat sorrowfully beside the bed on which he lay dead, I heard a knock at the door.",
        "I opened it, and admitted a man whom I afterward learned to be John Wade.",
        "He very soon explained his errand."
      ],
      [
        "He agreed to take my poor boy, and pay all the expenses of his burial in Greenwood Cemetery, provided I would not object to any of his arrangements."
      ],
      [
        "He was willing besides to pay me two hundred dollars for the relief of my necessities."
      ],
      [
        "Though I was almost beside myself with grief for my child\"s loss, and though this was a very favorable proposal, I hesitated.",
        "I could not understand why a stranger should make me such an offer."
      ],
      [
        "I asked him the reason.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"\"You ask too much,\" he answered, appearing annoyed.",
        "\"I have made you a fair offer.",
        "Will you accept it, or will you leave your child to have a pauper\"s funeral?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That consideration decided me.",
        "For my child\"s sake I agreed to his proposal, and forebore to question him further."
      ],
      [
        "He provided a handsome rosewood casket for my dear child, but upon the silver plate was inscribed a name that was strange to me--the name of Francis Wharton.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Francis Wharton!\" exclaimed Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"I was too weak and sorrowful to make opposition, and my baby was buried as Francis Wharton.",
        "Not only this, but a monument is erected over him at Greenwood, which bears this name.\""
      ],
      [
        "She proceeded after a pause:"
      ],
      [
        "\"I did not then understand his object.",
        "Your story makes it clear.",
        "I think that you are that Francis Wharton, under whose name my boy was buried.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How strange!\" said Frank, thoughtfully.",
        "\"I cannot realize it.",
        "But how did you know the name of the man who called upon you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"A card slipped from his pocket, which I secured without his knowledge.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How fortunate that I met you,\" said Frank.",
        "\"I mean to let Mr. Wharton know all that I have learned, and then he shall decide whether he will recognize me or not as his grandson.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I have been the means of helping to deprive you of your just rights, though unconsciously.",
        "Now that I know the wicked conspiracy in which I assisted, I will help undo the work.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you,\" said Frank.",
        "\"The first thing is to get out of this place.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I cannot open the door of your room.",
        "They do not trust me with the key.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"The windows are not very high from the ground.",
        "I can get down from the outside.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will bring you a clothesline and a hatchet.\""
      ],
      [
        "Frank received them with exultation."
      ],
      [
        "\"Before I attempt to escape,\" he said, \"tell me where I can meet you in New York.",
        "I want you to go with me to Mr. Wharton\"s.",
        "I shall need you to confirm my story.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will meet you to-morrow at No. 15 B--Street.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then we shall meet to-morrow.",
        "What shall I call your name?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Mrs.",
        "Parker.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you.",
        "I will get away as quickly as possible, and when we are in the city we will talk over our future plans.\""
      ],
      [
        "With the help of the hatchet, Frank soon demolished the lower part of the window.",
        "Fastening the rope to the bedstead, he got out of the window and safely descended to the ground."
      ],
      [
        "A long and fatiguing walk lay before him.",
        "But at last he reached the cars, and half an hour later the ferry at Jersey City."
      ],
      [
        "Frank thought himself out of danger for the time being, but he was mistaken."
      ],
      [
        "Standing on the deck of the ferryboat, and looking back to the pier from which he had just started, he met the glance of a man who had intended to take the same boat, but had reached the pier just too late."
      ],
      [
        "His heart beat quicker when he recognized in the belated passenger his late jailer, Nathan Graves."
      ],
      [
        "Carried away by his rage and disappointment, Nathan Graves clenched his fist and shook it at his receding victim."
      ],
      [
        "Our hero walked into the cabin.",
        "He wanted a chance to deliberate.",
        "He knew that Nathan Graves would follow him by the next boat, and it was important that he should not find him.",
        "Where was he to go?"
      ],
      [
        "Fifteen minutes after Frank set foot on the pier, his enemy also landed.",
        "But now the difficult part of the pursuit began.",
        "He had absolutely no clew as to the direction which Frank had taken."
      ],
      [
        "For an hour and a half he walked the streets in the immediate neighborhood of the square, but his labor was without reward.",
        "Not a glimpse could he catch of his late prisoner."
      ],
      [
        "\"I suppose I must go to see Mr. Wade,\" he at last reluctantly decided.",
        "\"He may be angry, but he can\"t blame me.",
        "I did my best.",
        "I couldn\"t stand guard over the young rascal all day.\""
      ],
      [
        "The address which the housekeeper had given Frank was that of a policeman\"s family in which she was at one time a boarder."
      ],
      [
        "On giving his reference, he was hospitably received, and succeeded in making arrangements for a temporary residence."
      ],
      [
        "About seven o\"clock Mrs. Parker made her appearance.",
        "She was fatigued by her journey and glad to rest."
      ],
      [
        "\"I was afraid you might be prevented from coming,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"I feared it also.",
        "I was about to start at twelve o\"clock, when, to my dismay, one of the men came home.",
        "He said he had the headache.",
        "I was obliged to make him some tea and toast."
      ],
      [
        "He remained about till four o\"clock, when, to my relief, he went upstairs to lie down."
      ],
      [
        "I was afraid some inquiry might be made about you, and your absence discovered, especially as the rope was still hanging out of the window, and I was unable to do anything more than cut off the lower end of it."
      ],
      [
        "When the sick man retired to his bed I instantly left the house, fearing that the return of some other of the band might prevent my escaping altogether.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Suppose you had met one of them, Mrs. Parker?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I did.",
        "It was about half a mile from the house.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Did he recognize you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes.",
        "He asked in some surprise where I was going.",
        "I was obliged to make up a story about our being out of sugar.",
        "He accepted it without suspicion, and I kept on.",
        "I hope I shall be forgiven for the lie."
      ],
      [
        "I was forced to it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You met no further trouble?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I must tell you of my adventure,\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"I came across the very man whom I most dreaded--the man who made me a prisoner.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Since he knows that you have escaped, he is probably on your track,\"  said Mrs. Parker.",
        "\"It will be hardly safe for you to go to Mr. Wharton\"s.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He will probably think you likely to go there, and be lying in wait somewhere about.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But I must go to Mr. Wharton,\" said Frank.",
        "\"I must tell him this story.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It will be safer to write.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"The housekeeper, Mrs. Bradley, or John Wade, will get hold of the letter and suppress it.",
        "I don\"t want to put them on their guard.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You are right.",
        "It is necessary to be cautious.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You see I am obliged to call on my grandfather, that is, on Mr. Wharton.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can think of a better plan.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What is it?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Go to a respectable lawyer.",
        "Tell him your story, and place your case in his hands."
      ],
      [
        "He will write to your grandfather, inviting him to call at his office on business of importance, without letting him know what is the nature of it.",
        "You and I can be there to meet him, and tell our story."
      ],
      [
        "In this way John Wade will know nothing, and learn nothing, of your movements.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That is good advice, Mrs. Parker, but there is one thing you have not thought of,\" said our hero."
      ],
      [
        "\"What is that?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Lawyers charge a great deal for their services, and I have no money.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You have what is as good a recommendation--a good case.",
        "The lawyer will see at once that if not at present rich, you stand a good chance of obtaining a position which will make you so."
      ],
      [
        "Besides, your grandfather will be willing, if he admits your claim, to recompense the lawyer handsomely.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I did not think of that.",
        "I will do as you advise to-morrow.\""
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER TWENTY ONE\rJOHN WADE\"S DISAPPOINTMENT"
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Wharton sat at dinner with his nephew and the housekeeper.",
        "He had been at home for some time, and of course on his arrival had been greeted with the news of our hero\"s perfidy."
      ],
      [
        "But, to the indignation of Mrs. Bradley and John, he was obstinately incredulous."
      ],
      [
        "\"There is some mistake, I am sure,\" he said.",
        "\"Such a boy as Frank is incapable of stealing.",
        "You may be mistaken after all, John.",
        "Why did you not let him stay till I got back?"
      ],
      [
        "I should like to have examined him myself.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I was so angry with him for repaying your kindness in such a way that I instantly ordered him out of the house.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I blame you, John, for your haste,\" said his uncle.",
        "\"It was not just to the boy.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I acted for the best, sir,\" he forced himself to say in a subdued tone."
      ],
      [
        "\"Young people are apt to be impetuous, and I excuse you; but you should have waited for my return.",
        "I will call at Gilbert & Mack\"s, and inquire of Frank himself what explanation he has to give.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Of course, sir, you will do what you think proper,\" said his nephew."
      ],
      [
        "This ended the conversation, and Mr. Wharton, according to his declared intention, went to Gilbert & Mack\"s.",
        "He returned disappointed with the information that our hero was no longer in the store."
      ],
      [
        "I now return to Mr. Wharton at dinner."
      ],
      [
        "\"Here is a letter for you, sir,\" said the housekeeper.",
        "\"It was brought by the postman this afternoon.\""
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Wharton adjusted his spectacles and read as follows:"
      ],
      [
        "\"No.-- Wall Street."
      ],
      [
        "\"Dear Sir: Will you have the kindness to call at my office to-morrow morning at eleven o\"clock, if it suits your convenience?"
      ],
      [
        "I have an important communication to make to you, which will, I think be of an agreeable character.",
        "Should the time named not suit you, will you have the kindness to name your own time?"
      ],
      [
        "\"Yours respectfully,"
      ],
      [
        "\"MORRIS HALL.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Read that, John,\" said his uncle, passing him the letter."
      ],
      [
        "\"Morris Hall is a lawyer, I believe, sir,\" said John."
      ],
      [
        "\"Have you any idea of the nature of the communication he desires to make?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No idea at all.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"If it would relieve you, sir, I will go in your place,\" said John, whose curiosity was aroused."
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, John, but this is evidently a personal matter.",
        "I shall go down there to-morrow at the appointed time.\""
      ],
      [
        "John was far from suspecting that the communication related to Frank, though he had heard the day previous from Nathan Graves of the boy\"s escape."
      ],
      [
        "He had been very much annoyed, and had given his agent a severe scolding, with imperative orders to recapture the boy, if possible."
      ],
      [
        "It was not without a feeling of curiosity that Mr. Wharton entered the law office of Mr. Hall.",
        "He announced himself and was cordially welcomed."
      ],
      [
        "\"You have a communication to make to me,\" said Mr. Wharton."
      ],
      [
        "\"I have.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Tell me all without delay.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will, sir.",
        "This is the communication I desire to make.\""
      ],
      [
        "The story of John Wade\"s treachery was told, and the means by which he had imposed upon his uncle, but the lawyer carefully abstained from identifying the lost grandson with Frank Fowler."
      ],
      [
        "When the story was concluded, Mr. Wharton said:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Where is my grandson--my poor George\"s boy? Find him for me, and name your own reward.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will show him to you at once, sir.",
        "Frank!\""
      ],
      [
        "At the word, Frank, who was in an inner office, entered.",
        "Mr. Wharton started in amazement."
      ],
      [
        "\"Frank!\" he exclaimed.",
        "\"My dear boy, is it you who are my grandson?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Grandfather!\""
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Wharton held out his arms, and our hero, already attached to him for his kindness, was folded in close embrace."
      ],
      [
        "\"Then you believe I am your grandson?\" said Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"I believe it without further proof.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Still, Mr. Wharton,\" said the lawyer, \"I want to submit my whole proof.",
        "Mrs. Parker!\""
      ],
      [
        "Mrs. Parker entered and detailed her part in the plot, which for fourteen years had separated Frank from his family."
      ],
      [
        "\"Enough!\" said Mr. Wharton.",
        "\"I am convinced--I did not believe my nephew capable of such baseness.",
        "Mrs. Parker, you shall not regret your confession."
      ],
      [
        "I will give you a pension which will relieve you from all fear of want.",
        "Call next week on Mr. Hall, and you shall learn what provision I have made for you.",
        "You, Frank, will return with me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What will Mr. John say?\" asked Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"He shall no longer sleep under my roof,\" said Mr. Wharton, sternly."
      ],
      [
        "Frank was taken to a tailor and fitted out with a handsome new suit, ready-made for immediate use, while three more were ordered."
      ],
      [
        "When Mr. Wharton reached home, he entered the library and rang the bell."
      ],
      [
        "To the servant who answered he said:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Is Mr. John at home?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, sir; he came in ten minutes ago.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Tell him I wish to see him at once in the library.",
        "Summon the housekeeper, also.\""
      ],
      [
        "Surprised at the summons, John Wade answered it directly.",
        "He and Mrs. Bradley met at the door and entered together."
      ],
      [
        "Their surprise and dismay may be conjectured when they saw our hero seated beside Mr. Wharton, dressed like a young gentleman."
      ],
      [
        "\"John Wade,\" said his uncle, sternly, \"the boy whom you malign, the boy you have so deeply wronged, has found a permanent home in this house.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What, sir! you take him back?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I do.",
        "There is no more fitting place for him than the house of his grandfather.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"His grandfather!\"",
        "exclaimed his nephew and the housekeeper, in chorus."
      ],
      [
        "\"I have abundant proof of the relationship.",
        "This morning I have listened to the story of your treachery.",
        "I have seen the woman whose son, represented to me as my grandson, lies in Greenwood Cemetery."
      ],
      [
        "I have learned your wicked plans to defraud him of his inheritance, and I tell you that you have failed.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I shall make my will to-morrow, bequeathing all my property to my grandson, excepting only an annual income of two thousand dollars to yourself.",
        "And now I must trouble you to find a boarding place."
      ],
      [
        "After what has passed I do not desire to have you in the family.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I do not believe he is your grandson,\" said John Wade, too angry to heed prudential considerations."
      ],
      [
        "\"Your opinion is of little consequence.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then, sir, I have only to wish you good-morning.",
        "I will send for my trunks during the day.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-morning,\" said Mr. Wharton, gravely, and John Wade left the room, baffled and humiliated."
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope, sir,\" said the housekeeper, alarmed for her position; \"I hope you don\"t think I knew Mr. Frank was your grandson.",
        "I never was so astonished and flustrated in my life."
      ],
      [
        "I hope you won\"t discharge me, sir--me that have served you so faithfully for many years.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You shall remain on probation.",
        "But if Frank ever has any fault to find with you, you must go.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope you will forgive me, Mr. Frank.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I forgive you freely,\" said our hero, who was at a generous disposition."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER TWENTY TWO\rCONCLUSION"
      ],
      [
        "Meanwhile poor Grace had fared badly at the poorhouse in Crawford.",
        "It was a sad contrast to the gentle and kindly circle at Mr. Pomeroy\"s."
      ],
      [
        "What made it worse for Grace was, that she could hear nothing of Frank.",
        "She feared he was sick, or had met with some great misfortune, which prevented his writing."
      ],
      [
        "One day a handsome carriage drove up to the door.",
        "From it descended our hero, elegantly attired.",
        "He knocked at the door."
      ],
      [
        "Mrs. Chase, who was impressed by wealth, came to the door in a flutter of respect, induced by the handsome carriage."
      ],
      [
        "\"What do you wish, sir?\" she asked, not recognizing Frank."
      ],
      [
        "\"Miss Grace Fowler!\" repeated Mrs. Chase, almost paralyzed at Grace being called for by such stylish acquaintances."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, my sister Grace.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What! are you Frank Fowler?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes.",
        "I have come to take Grace away.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don\"t know as I have the right to let her go,\" said Mrs. Chase, cautiously, regretting that Grace was likely to escape her clutches."
      ],
      [
        "\"Here is an order from Deacon Pinkerton, chairman of the overseers of the poor.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That is sufficient.",
        "She can go.",
        "You look as if you had prospered in the city,\" she added, with curiosity."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes.",
        "I have found my grandfather, who is very wealthy.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You don\"t say!\" ejaculated Mrs. Chase.",
        "\"I\"ll tell Grace at once.\""
      ],
      [
        "Grace at work in the kitchen had not heard of the arrival.",
        "What was her surprise when Mrs. Chase, entering the room, said, graciously:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Go up at once, Grace, and change your clothes.",
        "Your brother has come for you.",
        "He is going to take you away.\""
      ],
      [
        "Grace almost gasped for breath."
      ],
      [
        "\"Is it true?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It is indeed.",
        "Your brother looks remarkably well.",
        "He is rich.",
        "He has found a rich grandfather, and has come for you in a carriage.\""
      ],
      [
        "In amazed bewilderment Grace went upstairs and put on her best dress, poor enough in comparison with her brother\"s clothes, and was soon happy in his embrace."
      ],
      [
        "\"I am glad to see you, my dear child,\" said Mr. Wharton, who had accompanied Frank.",
        "\"Will you come to the city and live with me and your brother?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, sir, I shall be glad to be wherever Frank is.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-bye, my dear child,\" sand Mrs. Chase, whose feelings were very much changed, now that Grace was a rich young lady.",
        "\"Come and see me some time.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you, Mrs. Chase.",
        "Good-bye!\""
      ],
      [
        "The carriage rolled on."
      ],
      [
        "A few words only remain.",
        "Our hero was placed at a classical school, and in due time entered college, where he acquitted himself with distinction.",
        "He is now making a tour of Europe."
      ],
      [
        "Grace was also placed at an excellent school, and has developed into a handsome and accomplished young lady."
      ],
      [
        "It is thought she will marry Sam Pomeroy, who obtained a place in a counting-room through Mr. Wharton\"s influence, and is now head clerk, with a prospect of partnership."
      ],
      [
        "His father received a gift of five thousand dollars from Mr. Wharton as an acknowledgment of his kindness to Frank."
      ],
      [
        "Tom Pinkerton holds a subordinate clerkship in the same house, and is obliged to look up to Sam as his superior."
      ],
      [
        "It chafes his pride, but his father has become a poor man, and Tom is too prudent to run the risk of losing his situation.",
        "John Wade draws his income regularly, but he is never seen at his uncle\"s house."
      ],
      [
        "Mr. Wharton is very happy in his grandson, and made happier by the intelligence just received from Europe of Frank\"s engagement to a brilliant young New York lady whom he met in his travels."
      ],
      [
        "He bids fair, though advanced in age, to live some years yet, to witness the happiness of his dear grandson, once a humble cash-boy."
      ]
    ]
  },
  "Aladdin And The Magic Lamp" : {
    "ID": 57,
    "Image": "https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/2940012449436_p0_v1_s550x406.jpg",
    "Text": [
      [
        "Aladdin And The Magic Lamp"
      ],
      [
        "There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin, a careless, idle boy who would do nothing but play all day long in the streets with little idle boys like himself."
      ],
      [
        "This so grieved the father that he died; yet, in spite of his mother's tears and prayers, Aladdin did not mend his ways."
      ],
      [
        "One day, when he was playing in the streets as usual, a stranger asked him his age, and if he was not the son of Mustapha the tailor.",
        "\"I am, sir,\" replied Aladdin; \"but he died a long while ago.\""
      ],
      [
        "On this the stranger, who was a famous African magician, fell on his neck and kissed him saying: \"I am your uncle, and knew you from your likeness to my brother.",
        "Go to your mother and tell her I am coming.\""
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin ran home and told his mother of his newly found uncle.",
        "\"Indeed, child,\" she said, \"your father had a brother, but I always thought he was dead.\""
      ],
      [
        "However, she prepared supper, and bade Aladdin seek his uncle, who came laden with wine and fruit."
      ],
      [
        "He fell down and kissed the place where Mustapha used to sit, bidding Aladdin's mother not to be surprised at not having seen him before, as he had been forty years out of the country."
      ],
      [
        "He then turned to Aladdin, and asked him his trade, at which the boy hung his head, while his mother burst into tears."
      ],
      [
        "On learning that Aladdin was idle and would learn no trade, he offered to take a shop for him and stock it with merchandise."
      ],
      [
        "Next day he bought Aladdin a fine suit of clothes and took him all over the city, showing him the sights, and brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed to see her son so fine."
      ],
      [
        "Next day the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long way outside the city gates."
      ],
      [
        "They sat down by a fountain and the magician pulled a cake from his girdle, which he divided between them.",
        "Then they journeyed onwards till they almost reached the mountains."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin was so tired that he begged to go back, but the magician beguiled him with pleasant stories and lead him on in spite of himself.",
        "At last they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley."
      ],
      [
        "\"We will go no farther,\" said his uncle.",
        "\"I will show you something wonderful; only do you gather up sticks while I kindle a fire.\""
      ],
      [
        "When it was lit the magician threw on it a powder he had about him, at the same time saying some magical words."
      ],
      [
        "The earth trembled a little in front of them, disclosing a square flat stone with a brass ring in the middle to raise it by."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin tried to run away, but the magician caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down."
      ],
      [
        "\"What have I done, uncle?\" he said piteously; whereupon the magician said more kindly:  \"Fear nothing, but obey me."
      ],
      [
        "Beneath this stone lies a treasure which is to be yours, and no one else may touch it, so you must do exactly as I tell you.\""
      ],
      [
        "At the word treasure Aladdin forgot his fears, and grasped the ring as he was told, saying the names of his father and grandfather.",
        "The stone came up quite easily, and some steps appeared."
      ],
      [
        "\"Go down,\" said the magician; \"at the foot of those steps you will find an open door leading into three large halls."
      ],
      [
        "Tuck up your gown and go through them without touching anything, or you will die instantly.",
        "These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees."
      ],
      [
        "Walk on till you come to niche in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp.",
        "Pour out the oil it contains, and bring it me.\"",
        "He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, bidding him prosper."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin found everything as the magician had said, gathered some fruit off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the cave."
      ],
      [
        "The magician cried out in a great hurry: \"Make haste and give me the lamp.\"",
        "This Aladdin refused to do until he was out of the cave."
      ],
      [
        "The magician flew into a terrible passion, and throwing some more powder on to the fire, he said something, and the stone rolled back into its place."
      ],
      [
        "The man left the country, which plainly showed that he was no uncle of Aladdin's but a cunning magician, who had read in his magic books of a wonderful lamp, which would make him the most powerful man in the world."
      ],
      [
        "Though he alone knew where to find it, he could only receive it from the hand of another.",
        "He had picked out the foolish Aladdin for this purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him afterwards."
      ],
      [
        "For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting.",
        "At last he clasped his hands in prayer, and in so doing rubbed the ring, which the magician had forgotten to take from him."
      ],
      [
        "Immediately an enormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying:  \"What wouldst thou with me?",
        "I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey thee in all things.\""
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin fearlessly replied, \"Deliver me from this place!\"",
        "whereupon the earth opened, and he found himself outside.",
        "As soon as his eyes could bear the light he went home, but fainted on the threshold."
      ],
      [
        "When he came to himself he told his mother what had passed, and showed her the lamp and the fruits he had gathered in the garden, which were in reality precious stones.",
        "He then asked for some food.",
        "\"Alas!"
      ],
      [
        "child,\" she said, \"I have nothing in the house, but I have spun a little cotton and will go sell it.\"",
        "Aladdin bade her keep her cotton, for he would sell the lamp instead."
      ],
      [
        "As it was very dirty, she began to rub it, that it might fetch a higher price.",
        "Instantly a hideous genie appeared, and asked what she would have."
      ],
      [
        "She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly: \"Fetch me something to eat!\"  The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin's mother, when she came to herself, said:  \"Whence comes this splendid feast?\"  \"Ask not, but eat,\" replied Aladdin."
      ],
      [
        "So they sat at breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his mother about the lamp.",
        "She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to do with devils."
      ],
      [
        "\"No,\" said Aladdin, \"since chance hath made us aware of its virtues, we will use it, and the ring likewise, which I shall always wear on my finger.\""
      ],
      [
        "When they had eaten all the genie had brought, Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and so on until none were left."
      ],
      [
        "He then had recourse to the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and thus they lived many years."
      ],
      [
        "One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaimed that everyone was to stay at home and close his shutters while the Princess his daughter went to and from the bath."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin was seized by a desire to see her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled.",
        "He hid himself behind the door of the bath, and peeped through a chink."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess lifted her veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful that Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight.",
        "He went home so changed that his mother was frightened."
      ],
      [
        "He told her he loved the Princess so deeply he could not live without her, and meant to ask her in marriage of her father."
      ],
      [
        "His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing, but Aladdin at last prevailed upon her to go before the Sultan and carry his request."
      ],
      [
        "She fetched a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the most beautiful jewels."
      ],
      [
        "She took these with her to please the Sultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp."
      ],
      [
        "The Grand Vizier and the lords of council had just gone in as she entered the hall and placed herself in front of the Sultan.",
        "He, however, took no notice of her."
      ],
      [
        "She went every day for a week, and stood in the same place."
      ],
      [
        "When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his Vizier:  \"I see a certain woman in the audience-chamber every day carrying something in a napkin."
      ],
      [
        "Call her next time, that I may find out what she wants.\""
      ],
      [
        "Next day, at a sign from the vizier, she went up to the foot of the throne and remained kneeling until the Sultan said to her: \"Rise, good woman, and tell me what you want.\""
      ],
      [
        "She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the Vizier, and bade her speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand for anything she might say."
      ],
      [
        "She then told him of her son's violent love for the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "\"I prayed him to forget her,\" she said, \"but in vain; he threatened to do some desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for the hand of the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "Now I pray you to forgive not me alone, but my son Aladdin.\"",
        "The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin, whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented them."
      ],
      [
        "He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizier, said:  \"What sayest thou?",
        "Ought I not to bestow the Princess on one who values her at such a price?\""
      ],
      [
        "The Vizier, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultan to withhold her for three months, in the course of which he hoped his son could contrive to make him a richer present."
      ],
      [
        "The Sultan granted this, and told Aladdin's mother that, though he consented to the marriage, she must not appear before him again for three months."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two had elapsed, his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyone rejoicing, and asked what was going on."
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you not know,\" was the answer, \"that the son of the Grand Vizier is to marry the Sultan's daughter tonight?\"  Breathless she ran and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, but presently bethought him of the lamp."
      ],
      [
        "He rubbed it and the genie appeared, saying: \"What is thy will?\"",
        "Aladdin replied:  \"The Sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise to me, and the vizier's son is to have the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "My command is that to-night you bring hither the bride and bridegroom.\"",
        "\"Master, I obey,\" said the genie."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough, at midnight the genie transported the bed containing the vizier's son and the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "\"Take this new-married man,\" he said, \"and put him outside in the cold, and return at daybreak.\"",
        "Whereupon the genie took the vizier's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin with the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "\"Fear nothing,\" Aladdin said to her; \"you are my wife, promised to me by your unjust father, and no harm will come to you.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the most miserable night of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside her and slept soundly."
      ],
      [
        "At the appointed hour the genie fetched in the shivering bridegroom, laid him in his place, and transported the bed back to the palace."
      ],
      [
        "Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning.",
        "The unhappy Vizier's son jumped up and hid himself, while the Princess would not say a word and was very sorrowful."
      ],
      [
        "The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said:  \"How comes it, child, that you will not speak to your father?",
        "What has happened?\""
      ],
      [
        "The Princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the night, the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what had passed there."
      ],
      [
        "Her mother did not believe her in the least, but bade her rise and consider it an idle dream."
      ],
      [
        "The following night exactly the same thing happened, and next morning, on the Princess's refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off her head."
      ],
      [
        "She then confessed all, bidding him ask the Vizier's son if it were not so."
      ],
      [
        "The Sultan told the Vizier to ask his son, who owned the truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the Princess, he had rather die than go through another such fearful night, and wished to be separated from her."
      ],
      [
        "His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting and rejoicing."
      ],
      [
        "When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the Sultan of his promise."
      ],
      [
        "She stood in the same place as before, and the Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him, and sent for her."
      ],
      [
        "On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever to keep his word, and asked his Vizier's advice, who counselled him to set so high a value on the Princess that no man living would come up to it."
      ],
      [
        "The Sultan than turned to Aladdin's mother, saying:  \"Good woman, a sultan must remember his promises, and I will remember mine, but your son must first send me forty basins of gold brimful of jewels, carried by forty black slaves, led by as many white ones, splendidly dressed."
      ],
      [
        "Tell him that I await his answer.\"",
        "The mother of Aladdin bowed low and went home, thinking all was lost."
      ],
      [
        "She gave Aladdin the message adding, \"He may wait long enough for your answer!\"  \"Not so long, mother, as you think,\" her son replied.",
        "\"I would do a great deal more than that for the Princess.\""
      ],
      [
        "He summoned the genie, and in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived, and filled up the small house and garden.",
        "Aladdin made them to set out to the palace, two by two, followed by his mother."
      ],
      [
        "They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of gold they carried on their heads."
      ],
      [
        "They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood in a half-circle round the throne with their arms crossed, while Aladdin's mother presented them to the Sultan."
      ],
      [
        "He hesitated no longer, but said:  \"Good woman, return and tell your son that I wait for him with open arms.\"",
        "She lost no time in telling Aladdin, bidding him make haste.",
        "But Aladdin first called the genie."
      ],
      [
        "\"I want a scented bath,\" he said, \"a richly embroidered habit, a horse surpassing the Sultan's, and twenty slaves to attend me."
      ],
      [
        "Besides this, six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses.\"",
        "No sooner said then done."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went.",
        "Those who had played with him in his childhood knew him not, he had grown so handsome."
      ],
      [
        "When the sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him, and led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to the Princess that very day."
      ],
      [
        "But Aladdin refused, saying, \"I must build a palace fit for her,\" and took his leave.",
        "Once home, he said to the genie:  \"Build me a palace of the finest marble, set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones."
      ],
      [
        "In the middle you shall build me a large hall with a dome, its four walls of massy gold and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices, all except one which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamonds and rubies."
      ],
      [
        "There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves; go and see about it!\""
      ],
      [
        "The palace was finished the next day, and the genie carried him there and showed him all his orders faithfully carried out, even to the laying of a velvet carpet from Aladdin's palace to the Sultan's."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin's mother then dressed herself carefully, and walked to the palace with her slaves, while he followed her on horseback."
      ],
      [
        "The Sultan sent musicians with trumpets and cymbals to meet them, so that the air resounded with music and cheers.",
        "She was taken to the Princess, who saluted her and treated her with great honour."
      ],
      [
        "At night the princess said good-bye to her father, and set out on the carpet for Aladdin's palace, with his mother at her side, and followed by the hundred slaves."
      ],
      [
        "She was charmed at the sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her.  \"Princess,\" he said, \"blame your beauty for my boldness if I have displeased you.\""
      ],
      [
        "She told him that, having seen him, she willingly obeyed her father in this matter."
      ],
      [
        "After the wedding had taken place, Aladdin led her into the hall, where a feast was spread, and she supped with him, after which they danced till midnight."
      ],
      [
        "Next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace.",
        "On entering the hall with the four-and-twenty windows with their rubies, diamonds and emeralds, he cried, \"It is a world's wonder!"
      ],
      [
        "There is only one thing that surprises me.",
        "Was it by accident that one window was left unfinished?\"  \"No, sir, by design,\" returned Aladdin.",
        "\"I wished your Majesty to have the glory of finishing this palace.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Sultan was pleased, and sent for the best jewelers in the city.",
        "He showed them the unfinished window, and bade them fit it up like the others."
      ],
      [
        "\"Sir,\" replied their spokesman, \"we cannot find jewels enough.\"",
        "The Sultan had his own fetched, which they soon used, but to no purpose, for in a month's time the work was not half done."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin knowing that their task was vain, bade them undo their work and carry the jewels back, and the genie finished the window at his command."
      ],
      [
        "The Sultan was surprised to receive his jewels again, and visited Aladdin, who showed him the window finished."
      ],
      [
        "The Sultan embraced him, the envious vizier meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle bearing."
      ],
      [
        "He was made captain of the Sultan's armies, and won several battles for him, but remained as courteous as before, and lived thus in peace and content for several years."
      ],
      [
        "But far away in Africa the magician remembered Aladdin, and by his magic arts discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in the cave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was living in great honour and wealth."
      ],
      [
        "He knew that the poor tailor's son could only have accomplished this by means of the lamp, and travelled night and day till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin's ruin."
      ],
      [
        "As he passed through the town he heard people talking everywhere about a marvelous palace."
      ],
      [
        "\"Forgive my ignorance,\" he asked, \"what is the palace you speak of?\"  \"Have you not heard of Prince Aladdin's palace,\" was the reply, \"the greatest wonder in the world?",
        "I will direct you if you have a mind to see it.\""
      ],
      [
        "The magician thanked him who spoke, and having seen the palace knew that it had been raised by the Genie of the Lamp, and became half mad with rage."
      ],
      [
        "He determined to get hold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin into the deepest poverty."
      ],
      [
        "Unluckily, Aladdin had gone a-hunting for eight days, which gave the magician plenty of time."
      ],
      [
        "He bought a dozen lamps, put them into a basket, and went to the palace, crying:  \"New lamps for old!\" followed by a jeering crowd."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess, sitting in the hall of four-and-twenty windows, sent a slave to find out what the noise was about, who came back laughing, so that the Princess scolded her."
      ],
      [
        "\"Madam,\" replied the slave, \"who can help laughing to see an old fool offering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones?\""
      ],
      [
        "Another slave, hearing this, said, \"There is an old one on the cornice there which he can have.\"",
        "Now this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he could not take it out hunting with him."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess, not knowing its value, laughingly bade the slave take it and make the exchange.",
        "She went and said to the magician:  \"Give me a new lamp for this.\""
      ],
      [
        "He snatched it and bade the slave take her choice, amid the jeers of the crowd."
      ],
      [
        "Little he cared, but left off crying his lamps, and went out of the city gates to a lonely place, where he remained till nightfall, when he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it."
      ],
      [
        "The genie appeared, and at the magician's command carried him, together with the palace and the Princess in it, to a lonely place in Africa."
      ],
      [
        "Next morning the Sultan looked out of the window towards Aladdin's palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone.",
        "He sent for the Vizier and asked what had become of the palace."
      ],
      [
        "The Vizier looked out too, and was lost in astonishment.",
        "He again put it down to enchantment, and this time the Sultan believed him, and sent thirty men on horseback to fetch Aladdin back in chains."
      ],
      [
        "They met him riding home, bound him, and forced him to go with them on foot.",
        "The people, however, who loved him, followed, armed, to see that he came to no harm."
      ],
      [
        "He was carried before the Sultan, who ordered the executioner to cut off his head.",
        "The executioner made Aladdin kneel down, bandaged his eyes, and raised his scimitar to strike."
      ],
      [
        "At that instant the Vizier, who saw that the crowd had forced their way into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescue Aladdin, called to the executioner to stay his hand."
      ],
      [
        "The people, indeed, looked so threatening that the Sultan gave way and ordered Aladdin to be unbound, and pardoned him in the sight of the crowd.",
        "Aladdin now begged to know what he had done."
      ],
      [
        "\"False wretch!\" said the Sultan, \"come hither,\" and showed him from the window the place where his palace had stood.",
        "Aladdin was so amazed he could not say a word.",
        "\"Where is your palace and my daughter?\""
      ],
      [
        "demanded the Sultan.",
        "\"For the first I am not so deeply concerned, but my daughter I must have, and you must find her or lose your head.\""
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin begged for forty days in which to find her, promising if he failed to return to suffer death at the Sultan's pleasure."
      ],
      [
        "His prayer was granted, and he went forth sadly from the Sultan's presence."
      ],
      [
        "For three days he wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what had become of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him."
      ],
      [
        "He came to the banks of a river, and knelt down to say his prayers before throwing himself in.",
        "In doing so he rubbed the ring he still wore.",
        "The genie he had seen in the cave appeared, and asked his will."
      ],
      [
        "\"Save my life, genie,\" said Aladdin, \"and bring my palace back.\"",
        "\"That is not in my power,\" said the genie; \"I am only the Slave of the Ring; you must ask him of the lamp.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Even so,\" said Aladdin, \"but thou canst take me to the palace, and set me down under my dear wife's window.\""
      ],
      [
        "He at once found himself in Africa, under the window of the Princess, and fell asleep out of sheer weariness."
      ],
      [
        "He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart was lighter.",
        "He saw plainly that all his misfortunes were owning to the loss of the lamp, and vainly wondered who had robbed him of it."
      ],
      [
        "That morning the Princess rose earlier than she had done since she had been carried into Africa by the magician, whose company she was forced to endure once a day."
      ],
      [
        "She, however, treated him so harshly that he dared not live there altogether.",
        "As she was dressing, one of her women looked out and saw Aladdin."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess ran and opened the window, and at the noise she made, Aladdin looked up.",
        "She called to him to come to her, and great was the joy of these lovers at seeing each other again."
      ],
      [
        "After he had kissed her Aladdin said:  \"I beg of you, Princess, in God's name, before we speak of anything else, for your own sake and mine, tell me what has become of an old lamp I left on the cornice in the hall of four-and-twenty windows when I went a-hunting.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Alas,\" she said, \"I am the innocent cause of our sorrows,\" and told him of the exchange of the lamp.",
        "\"Now I know,\" cried Aladdin, \"that we have to thank the African magician for this!"
      ],
      [
        "Where is the lamp?\"  \"He carries it about with him,\" said the Princess.",
        "\"I know, for he pulled it out of his breast to show me."
      ],
      [
        "He wishes me to break my faith with you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by my father's command.",
        "He is forever speaking ill of you, but I only reply by my tears."
      ],
      [
        "If I persist, I doubt not but he will use violence.\"",
        "Aladdin comforted her, and left her for a while."
      ],
      [
        "He changed clothes with the first person he met in the town, and having bought a certain powder returned to the Princess, who let him in by a little side door."
      ],
      [
        "\"Put on your most beautiful dress,\" he said to her, \"and receive the magician with smiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten me."
      ],
      [
        "Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his country.",
        "He will go for some, and while he is gone I will tell you what to do.\""
      ],
      [
        "She listened carefully to Aladdin and when he left her, arrayed herself gaily for the first time since she left China."
      ],
      [
        "She put on a girdle and head-dress of diamonds and seeing in a glass that she was more beautiful than ever, received the magician, saying, to his great amazement:  \"I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my tears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to mourn no more, and have therefore invited you to sup with me; but I am tired of the wines of China, and would fain taste those of Africa.\""
      ],
      [
        "The magician flew to his cellar, and the Princess put the powder Aladdin had given her in her cup."
      ],
      [
        "When he returned she asked him to drink her health in the wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange for his, as a sign she was reconciled to him."
      ],
      [
        "Before drinking the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty, but the Princess cut him short, saying:  \"Let us drink first, and you shall say what you will afterwards.\""
      ],
      [
        "She set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained his to the dregs and fell back lifeless."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess then opened the door to Aladdin, and flung her arms around his neck; but Aladdin went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of his vest, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to China."
      ],
      [
        "This was done, and the Princess in her chamber felt only two little shocks, and little thought she was home again."
      ],
      [
        "The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his lost daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood the palace as before!"
      ],
      [
        "He hastened thither, and Aladdin received him in the hall of the four-and-twenty windows, with the Princess at his side."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of the magician, that he might believe."
      ],
      [
        "A ten days' feast was proclaimed, and it seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace; but it was not meant to be."
      ],
      [
        "The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, more wicked and more cunning than himself."
      ],
      [
        "He travelled to China to avenge his brother's death, and went to visit a pious woman called Fatima, thinking she might be of use to him."
      ],
      [
        "He entered her cell and clapped a dagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of death."
      ],
      [
        "He changed clothes with her, coloured his face like hers, put on her veil, and murdered her, that she might tell no tales."
      ],
      [
        "Then he went towards the palace of Aladdin, and all the people, thinking he was the holy woman, gathered round him, kissing his hands and begging his blessing."
      ],
      [
        "When he got to the palace there was such a noise going on round him that the Princess bade her slave look out the window and ask what was the matter."
      ],
      [
        "The slave said it was the holy woman, curing people by her touch of their ailments, whereupon the Princess, who had long desired to see Fatima, sent for her."
      ],
      [
        "On coming to the Princess the magician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity.",
        "When he had done the Princess made him sit by her, and begged him to stay with her always."
      ],
      [
        "The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better, consented, but kept his veil down for fear of discovery.",
        "The princess showed him the hall, and asked him what he thought of it."
      ],
      [
        "\"It is truly beautiful,\" said the false Fatima.",
        "\"In my mind it wants but one thing.\"",
        "\"And what is that?\" said the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "\"If only a roc's egg,\" replied he, \"were hung up from the middle of this dome, it would be the wonder of the world.\""
      ],
      [
        "After this the Princess could think of nothing but the roc's egg, and when Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very ill humour."
      ],
      [
        "He begged to know what was amiss, and she told him that all her pleasure in the hall was spoilt for want of a roc's egg hanging from the dome.",
        "\"If that is all,\" replied Aladdin, \"you shall soon be happy.\""
      ],
      [
        "He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded him to bring a roc's egg.",
        "The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek that the hall shook."
      ],
      [
        "\"Wretch!\" he cried, \"is it not enough that I have done everything for you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in the midst of this dome?"
      ],
      [
        "You and your wife and your palace deserve to be burnt to ashes, but that this request does not come from you, but from the brother of the African magician, whom you destroyed."
      ],
      [
        "He is now in your palace disguised as the holy woman, whom he murdered.",
        "He it was who put that wish into your wife's head.",
        "Take care of yourself, for he means to kill you.\"",
        "So saying, the genie disappeared."
      ],
      [
        "Aladdin went back to the Princess, saying his head ached, and requesting that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it."
      ],
      [
        "But when the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him to the heart.",
        "\"What have you done?\" cried the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "\"You have killed the holy woman!\"  \"Not so,\" replied Aladdin, \"but a wicked magician,\" and told her of how she had been deceived."
      ],
      [
        "After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace.",
        "He succeeded the Sultan when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long line of kings."
      ]
    ]
  },
  "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" :{
    "ID": 19033,
    "Image": "https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/11/pg11.cover.medium.jpg",
    "Text": [
      [
        "CHAPTER ONE\r\nDOWN THE RABBIT-HOLE"
      ],
      [
        "Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do."
      ],
      [
        "Once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, \"and what is the use of a book,\" thought Alice, \"without pictures or conversations?\""
      ],
      [
        "So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her."
      ],
      [
        "There was nothing so very remarkable in that, nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, \"Oh dear!",
        "Oh dear!",
        "I shall be too late!\""
      ],
      [
        "But when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket and looked at it and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and, burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole, under the hedge."
      ],
      [
        "In another moment, down went Alice after it!"
      ],
      [
        "The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down what seemed to be a very deep well."
      ],
      [
        "Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time, as she went down, to look about her."
      ],
      [
        "First, she tried to make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything; then she looked at the sides of the well and noticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves; here and there she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs."
      ],
      [
        "She took down a jar from one of the shelves as she passed."
      ],
      [
        "It was labeled \"ORANGE MARMALADE,\" but, to her great disappointment, it was empty; she did not like to drop the jar, so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as she fell past it."
      ],
      [
        "Down, down, down!",
        "Would the fall never come to an end?",
        "There was nothing else to do, so Alice soon began talking to herself.",
        "\"Dinah'll miss me very much to-night, I should think!\""
      ],
      [
        "(Dinah was the cat.) \"I hope they'll remember her saucer of milk at tea-time.",
        "Dinah, my dear, I wish you were down here with me!\" Alice felt that she was dozing off, when suddenly, thump!"
      ],
      [
        "thump! down she came upon a heap of sticks and dry leaves, and the fall was over."
      ],
      [
        "Alice was not a bit hurt, and she jumped up in a moment.",
        "She looked up, but it was all dark overhead; before her was another long passage and the White Rabbit was still in sight, hurrying down it."
      ],
      [
        "There was not a moment to be lost.",
        "Away went Alice like the wind and was just in time to hear it say, as it turned a corner, \"Oh, my ears and whiskers, how late it's getting!\""
      ],
      [
        "She was close behind it when she turned the corner, but the Rabbit was no longer to be seen."
      ],
      [
        "She found herself in a long, low hall, which was lit up by a row of lamps hanging from the roof."
      ],
      [
        "There were doors all 'round the hall, but they were all locked; and when Alice had been all the way down one side and up the other, trying every door, she walked sadly down the middle, wondering how she was ever to get out again."
      ],
      [
        "Suddenly she came upon a little table, all made of solid glass."
      ],
      [
        "There was nothing on it but a tiny golden key, and Alice's first idea was that this might belong to one of the doors of the hall; but, alas! either the locks were too large, or the key was too small, but, at any rate, it would not open any of them."
      ],
      [
        "However, on the second time 'round, she came upon a low curtain she had not noticed before, and behind it was a little door about fifteen inches high."
      ],
      [
        "She tried the little golden key in the lock, and to her great delight, it fitted!"
      ],
      [
        "Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small passage, not much larger than a rat-hole; she knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw."
      ],
      [
        "How she longed to get out of that dark hall and wander about among those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains, but she could not even get her head through the doorway."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh,\" said Alice, \"how I wish I could shut up like a telescope!",
        "I think I could, if I only knew how to begin.\""
      ],
      [
        "Alice went back to the table, half hoping she might find another key on it, or at any rate, a book of rules for shutting people up like telescopes."
      ],
      [
        "This time she found a little bottle on it (\"which certainly was not here before,\" said Alice), and tied 'round the neck of the bottle was a paper label, with the words \"DRINK ME\" beautifully printed on it in large letters."
      ],
      [
        "\"No, I'll look first,\" she said, \"and see whether it's marked 'poison' or not,\" for she had never forgotten that, if you drink from a bottle marked \"poison,\" it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later."
      ],
      [
        "However, this bottle was not marked \"poison,\" so Alice ventured to taste it, and, finding it very nice (it had a sort of mixed flavor of cherry-tart, custard, pineapple, roast turkey, toffy and hot buttered toast), she very soon finished it off."
      ],
      [
        "\"What a curious feeling!\" said Alice.",
        "\"I must be shutting up like a telescope!\""
      ],
      [
        "And so it was indeed!",
        "She was now only ten inches high, and her face brightened up at the thought that she was now the right size for going through the little door into that lovely garden."
      ],
      [
        "After awhile, finding that nothing more happened, she decided on going into the garden at once; but, alas for poor Alice!"
      ],
      [
        "When she got to the door, she found she had forgotten the little golden key, and when she went back to the table for it, she found she could not possibly reach it: she could see it quite plainly through the glass and she tried her best to climb up one of the legs of the table, but it was too slippery, and when she had tired herself out with trying, the poor little thing sat down and cried."
      ],
      [
        "\"Come, there's no use in crying like that!\" said Alice to herself rather sharply.",
        "\"I advise you to leave off this minute!\""
      ],
      [
        "She generally gave herself very good advice (though she very seldom followed it), and sometimes she scolded herself so severely as to bring tears into her eyes."
      ],
      [
        "Soon her eye fell on a little glass box that was lying under the table: she opened it and found in it a very small cake, on which the words \"EAT ME\" were beautifully marked in currants."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, I'll eat it,\" said Alice, \"and if it makes me grow larger, I can reach the key; and if it makes me grow smaller, I can creep under the door: so either way I'll get into the garden, and I don't care which happens!\""
      ],
      [
        "She ate a little bit and said anxiously to herself, \"Which way?"
      ],
      [
        "Which way?\" holding her hand on the top of her head to feel which way she was growing; and she was quite surprised to find that she remained the same size."
      ],
      [
        "So she set to work and very soon finished off the cake."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER TWO\r\nTHE POOL OF TEARS"
      ],
      [
        "\"Curiouser and curiouser!\"",
        "cried Alice (she was so much surprised that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English)."
      ],
      [
        "\"Now I'm opening out like the largest telescope that ever was! Good-by, feet!",
        "Oh, my poor little feet, I wonder who will put on your shoes and stockings for you now, dears?"
      ],
      [
        "I shall be a great deal too far off to trouble myself about you.\""
      ],
      [
        "Just at this moment her head struck against the roof of the hall; in fact, she was now rather more than nine feet high, and she at once took up the little golden key and hurried off to the garden door."
      ],
      [
        "Poor Alice!",
        "It was as much as she could do, lying down on one side, to look through into the garden with one eye; but to get through was more hopeless than ever.",
        "She sat down and began to cry again."
      ],
      [
        "She went on shedding gallons of tears, until there was a large pool all 'round her and reaching half down the hall."
      ],
      [
        "After a time, she heard a little pattering of feet in the distance and she hastily dried her eyes to see what was coming."
      ],
      [
        "It was the White Rabbit returning, splendidly dressed, with a pair of white kid-gloves in one hand and a large fan in the other."
      ],
      [
        "He came trotting along in a great hurry, muttering to himself, \"Oh! the Duchess, the Duchess!",
        "Oh! won't she be savage if I've kept her waiting!\""
      ],
      [
        "When the Rabbit came near her, Alice began, in a low, timid voice, \"If you please, sir--\" The Rabbit started violently, dropped the white kid-gloves and the fan and skurried away into the darkness as hard as he could go."
      ],
      [
        "Alice took up the fan and gloves and she kept fanning herself all the time she went on talking.",
        "\"Dear, dear!",
        "How queer everything is to-day!",
        "And yesterday things went on just as usual."
      ],
      [
        "Was I the same when I got up this morning?",
        "But if I'm not the same, the next question is, 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!\""
      ],
      [
        "As she said this, she looked down at her hands and was surprised to see that she had put on one of the Rabbit's little white kid-gloves while she was talking.",
        "\"How can I have done that?\" she thought."
      ],
      [
        "\"I must be growing small again.\"",
        "She got up and went to the table to measure herself by it and found that she was now about two feet high and was going on shrinking rapidly."
      ],
      [
        "She soon found out that the cause of this was the fan she was holding and she dropped it hastily, just in time to save herself from shrinking away altogether."
      ],
      [
        "\"That was a narrow escape!\" said Alice, a good deal frightened at the sudden change, but very glad to find herself still in existence.",
        "\"And now for the garden!\""
      ],
      [
        "And she ran with all speed back to the little door; but, alas! the little door was shut again and the little golden key was lying on the glass table as before."
      ],
      [
        "\"Things are worse than ever,\" thought the poor child, \"for I never was so small as this before, never!\""
      ],
      [
        "As she said these words, her foot slipped, and in another moment, splash!",
        "she was up to her chin in salt-water.",
        "Her first idea was that she had somehow fallen into the sea."
      ],
      [
        "However, she soon made out that she was in the pool of tears which she had wept when she was nine feet high."
      ],
      [
        "Just then she heard something splashing about in the pool a little way off, and she swam nearer to see what it was: she soon made out that it was only a mouse that had slipped in like herself."
      ],
      [
        "\"Would it be of any use, now,\" thought Alice, \"to speak to this mouse?",
        "Everything is so out-of-the-way down here that I should think very likely it can talk; at any rate, there's no harm in trying.\""
      ],
      [
        "So she began, \"O Mouse, do you know the way out of this pool?",
        "I am very tired of swimming about here, O Mouse!\""
      ],
      [
        "The Mouse looked at her rather inquisitively and seemed to her to wink with one of its little eyes, but it said nothing."
      ],
      [
        "\"Perhaps it doesn't understand English,\" thought Alice.",
        "\"I dare say it's a French mouse, come over with William the Conqueror.\""
      ],
      [
        "So she began again: \"O\" est ma chatte?\" which was the first sentence in her French lesson-book.",
        "The Mouse gave a sudden leap out of the water and seemed to quiver all over with fright."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, I beg your pardon!\" cried Alice hastily, afraid that she had hurt the poor animal's feelings.",
        "\"I quite forgot you didn't like cats.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Not like cats!\" cried the Mouse in a shrill, passionate voice.",
        "\"Would you like cats, if you were me?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, perhaps not,\" said Alice in a soothing tone; \"don't be angry about it.",
        "And yet I wish I could show you our cat Dinah.",
        "I think you'd take a fancy to cats, if you could only see her."
      ],
      [
        "She is such a dear, quiet thing.\"",
        "The Mouse was bristling all over and she felt certain it must be really offended.",
        "\"We won't talk about her any more, if you'd rather not.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"We, indeed!\" cried the Mouse, who was trembling down to the end of its tail.",
        "\"As if I would talk on such a subject!",
        "Our family always hated cats--nasty, low, vulgar things!",
        "Don't let me hear the name again!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I won't indeed!\" said Alice, in a great hurry to change the subject of conversation.",
        "\"Are you--are you fond--of--of dogs?",
        "There is such a nice little dog near our house, I should like to show you!"
      ],
      [
        "It kills all the rats and--oh, dear!\" cried Alice in a sorrowful tone.",
        "\"I'm afraid I've offended it again!\""
      ],
      [
        "For the Mouse was swimming away from her as hard as it could go, and making quite a commotion in the pool as it went."
      ],
      [
        "So she called softly after it, \"Mouse dear!",
        "Do come back again, and we won't talk about cats, or dogs either, if you don't like them!\""
      ],
      [
        "When the Mouse heard this, it turned 'round and swam slowly back to her; its face was quite pale, and it said, in a low, trembling voice, \"Let us get to the shore and then I'll tell you my history and you'll understand why it is I hate cats and dogs.\""
      ],
      [
        "It was high time to go, for the pool was getting quite crowded with the birds and animals that had fallen into it; there were a Duck and a Dodo, a Lory and an Eaglet, and several other curious creatures."
      ],
      [
        "Alice led the way and the whole party swam to the shore."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER THREE\r\nA CAUCUS-RACE AND A LONG TALE"
      ],
      [
        "They were indeed a queer-looking party that assembled on the bank--the birds with draggled feathers, the animals with their fur clinging close to them, and all dripping wet, cross and uncomfortable."
      ],
      [
        "The first question, of course, was how to get dry again."
      ],
      [
        "They had a consultation about this and after a few minutes, it seemed quite natural to Alice to find herself talking familiarly with them, as if she had known them all her life."
      ],
      [
        "At last the Mouse, who seemed to be a person of some authority among them, called out, \"Sit down, all of you, and listen to me! I'll soon make you dry enough!\""
      ],
      [
        "They all sat down at once, in a large ring, with the Mouse in the middle."
      ],
      [
        "\"Ahem!\" said the Mouse with an important air.",
        "\"Are you all ready?",
        "This is the driest thing I know.",
        "Silence all 'round, if you please!"
      ],
      [
        "'William the Conqueror, whose cause was favored by the pope, was soon submitted to by the English, who wanted leaders, and had been of late much accustomed to usurpation and conquest."
      ],
      [
        "Edwin and Morcar, the Earls of Mercia and Northumbria'--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Ugh!\" said the Lory, with a shiver."
      ],
      [
        "\"--'And even Stigand, the patriotic archbishop of Canterbury, found it advisable'--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Found what?\" said the Duck."
      ],
      [
        "\"Found it,\" the Mouse replied rather crossly; \"of course, you know what 'it' means.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I know what 'it' means well enough, when I find a thing,\" said the Duck; \"it's generally a frog or a worm.",
        "The question is, what did the archbishop find?\""
      ],
      [
        "The Mouse did not notice this question, but hurriedly went on, \"'--found it advisable to go with Edgar Atheling to meet William and offer him the crown.'--How"
      ],
      [
        "are you getting on now, my dear?\" it continued, turning to Alice as it spoke."
      ],
      [
        "\"As wet as ever,\" said Alice in a melancholy tone; \"it doesn't seem to dry me at all.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"In that case,\" said the Dodo solemnly, rising to its feet, \"I move that the meeting adjourn, for the immediate adoption of more energetic remedies--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Speak English!\" said the Eaglet.",
        "\"I don't know the meaning of half those long words, and, what's more, I don't believe you do either!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What I was going to say,\" said the Dodo in an offended tone, \"is that the best thing to get us dry would be a Caucus-race.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What is a Caucus-race?\" said Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Why,\" said the Dodo, \"the best way to explain it is to do it.\"",
        "First it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle, and then all the party were placed along the course, here and there."
      ],
      [
        "There was no \"One, two, three and away!\" but they began running when they liked and left off when they liked, so that it was not easy to know when the race was over."
      ],
      [
        "However, when they had been running half an hour or so and were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called out, \"The race is over!\" and they all crowded 'round it, panting and asking, \"But who has won?\""
      ],
      [
        "This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal of thought.",
        "At last it said, \"Everybody has won, and all must have prizes.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But who is to give the prizes?\"",
        "quite a chorus of voices asked."
      ],
      [
        "\"Why, she, of course,\" said the Dodo, pointing to Alice with one finger; and the whole party at once crowded 'round her, calling out, in a confused way, \"Prizes!",
        "Prizes!\""
      ],
      [
        "Alice had no idea what to do, and in despair she put her hand into her pocket and pulled out a box of comfits (luckily the salt-water had not got into it) and handed them 'round as prizes."
      ],
      [
        "There was exactly one a-piece, all 'round."
      ],
      [
        "The next thing was to eat the comfits; this caused some noise and confusion, as the large birds complained that they could not taste theirs, and the small ones choked and had to be patted on the back."
      ],
      [
        "However, it was over at last and they sat down again in a ring and begged the Mouse to tell them something more."
      ],
      [
        "\"You promised to tell me your history, you know,\" said Alice, \"and why it is you hate--C and D,\" she added in a whisper, half afraid that it would be offended again."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mine is a long and a sad tale!\" said the Mouse, turning to Alice and sighing."
      ],
      [
        "\"It is a long tail, certainly,\" said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse's tail, \"but why do you call it sad?\""
      ],
      [
        "And she kept on puzzling about it while the Mouse was speaking, so that her idea of the tale was something like this:--"
      ],
      [
        "\"Fury said to       a mouse, That          he met in the             house, 'Let               us both go                 to law: I                  will prosecute                you."
      ],
      [
        "Come, I'll               take no denial;              We            must have         the trial;      For really     this morning     I've     nothing     to do.'     Said the      mouse to       the cur,        'Such a         trial, dear            sir, With                no jury                 or judge,                    would                   be wasting                 our              breath.'"
      ],
      [
        "'I'll be         judge,        I'll be       jury,'      said     cunning     old      Fury;       'I'll        try         the          whole           cause,           and          condemn        you to     death.'\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You are not attending!\" said the Mouse to Alice, severely.",
        "\"What are you thinking of?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I beg your pardon,\" said Alice very humbly, \"you had got to the fifth bend, I think?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You insult me by talking such nonsense!\" said the Mouse, getting up and walking away."
      ],
      [
        "\"Please come back and finish your story!\" Alice called after it.",
        "And the others all joined in chorus, \"Yes, please do!\"",
        "But the Mouse only shook its head impatiently and walked a little quicker."
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish I had Dinah, our cat, here!\" said Alice.",
        "This caused a remarkable sensation among the party."
      ],
      [
        "Some of the birds hurried off at once, and a Canary called out in a trembling voice, to its children, \"Come away, my dears!"
      ],
      [
        "It's high time you were all in bed!\" On various pretexts they all moved off and Alice was soon left alone."
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish I hadn't mentioned Dinah!",
        "Nobody seems to like her down here and I'm sure she's the best cat in the world!\"",
        "Poor Alice began to cry again, for she felt very lonely and low-spirited."
      ],
      [
        "In a little while, however, she again heard a little pattering of footsteps in the distance and she looked up eagerly."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER FOUR\r\nTHE RABBIT SENDS IN A LITTLE BILL"
      ],
      [
        "It was the White Rabbit, trotting slowly back again and looking anxiously about as it went, as if it had lost something; Alice heard it muttering to itself, \"The Duchess!",
        "The Duchess! Oh, my dear paws!"
      ],
      [
        "Oh, my fur and whiskers!",
        "She'll get me executed, as sure as ferrets are ferrets!",
        "Where can I have dropped them, I wonder?\""
      ],
      [
        "Alice guessed in a moment that it was looking for the fan and the pair of white kid-gloves and she very good-naturedly began hunting about for them, but they were nowhere to be seen--everything seemed to have changed since her swim in the pool, and the great hall, with the glass table and the little door, had vanished completely."
      ],
      [
        "Very soon the Rabbit noticed Alice, and called to her, in an angry tone, \"Why, Mary Ann, what are you doing out here?",
        "Run home this moment and fetch me a pair of gloves and a fan! Quick, now!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He took me for his housemaid!\" said Alice, as she ran off.",
        "\"How surprised he'll be when he finds out who I am!\""
      ],
      [
        "As she said this, she came upon a neat little house, on the door of which was a bright brass plate with the name \"W.",
        "RABBIT\" engraved upon it."
      ],
      [
        "She went in without knocking and hurried upstairs, in great fear lest she should meet the real Mary Ann and be turned out of the house before she had found the fan and gloves."
      ],
      [
        "By this time, Alice had found her way into a tidy little room with a table in the window, and on it a fan and two or three pairs of tiny white kid-gloves; she took up the fan and a pair of the gloves and was just going to leave the room, when her eyes fell upon a little bottle that stood near the looking-glass."
      ],
      [
        "She uncorked it and put it to her lips, saying to herself, \"I do hope it'll make me grow large again, for, really, I'm quite tired of being such a tiny little thing!\""
      ],
      [
        "Before she had drunk half the bottle, she found her head pressing against the ceiling, and had to stoop to save her neck from being broken."
      ],
      [
        "She hastily put down the bottle, remarking, \"That's quite enough--I hope I sha'n't grow any more.\""
      ],
      [
        "Alas!",
        "It was too late to wish that!",
        "She went on growing and growing and very soon she had to kneel down on the floor."
      ],
      [
        "Still she went on growing, and, as a last resource, she put one arm out of the window and one foot up the chimney, and said to herself, \"Now I can do no more, whatever happens.",
        "What will become of me?\""
      ],
      [
        "Luckily for Alice, the little magic bottle had now had its full effect and she grew no larger.",
        "After a few minutes she heard a voice outside and stopped to listen."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mary Ann! Mary Ann!\" said the voice.",
        "\"Fetch me my gloves this moment!\"",
        "Then came a little pattering of feet on the stairs."
      ],
      [
        "Alice knew it was the Rabbit coming to look for her and she trembled till she shook the house, quite forgetting that she was now about a thousand times as large as the Rabbit and had no reason to be afraid of it."
      ],
      [
        "Presently the Rabbit came up to the door and tried to open it; but as the door opened inwards and Alice's elbow was pressed hard against it, that attempt proved a failure."
      ],
      [
        "Alice heard it say to itself, \"Then I'll go 'round and get in at the window.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That you won't!\" thought Alice; and after waiting till she fancied she heard the Rabbit just under the window, she suddenly spread out her hand and made a snatch in the air."
      ],
      [
        "She did not get hold of anything, but she heard a little shriek and a fall and a crash of broken glass, from which she concluded that it was just possible it had fallen into a cucumber-frame or something of that sort."
      ],
      [
        "Next came an angry voice--the Rabbit's--\"Pat!",
        "Pat!",
        "Where are you?\"",
        "And then a voice she had never heard before, \"Sure then, I'm here!",
        "Digging for apples, yer honor!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Here! Come and help me out of this!",
        "Now tell me, Pat, what's that in the window?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Sure, it's an arm, yer honor!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, it's got no business there, at any rate; go and take it away!\""
      ],
      [
        "There was a long silence after this and Alice could only hear whispers now and then, and at last she spread out her hand again and made another snatch in the air."
      ],
      [
        "This time there were two little shrieks and more sounds of broken glass.",
        "\"I wonder what they'll do next!\"",
        "thought Alice.",
        "\"As for pulling me out of the window, I only wish they could!\""
      ],
      [
        "She waited for some time without hearing anything more.",
        "At last came a rumbling of little cart-wheels and the sound of a good many voices all talking together."
      ],
      [
        "She made out the words: \"Where's the other ladder?",
        "Bill's got the other--Bill!",
        "Here, Bill!",
        "Will the roof bear?--Who's to go down the chimney?--Nay,",
        "I sha'n't!",
        "You do it!",
        "Here, Bill!"
      ],
      [
        "The master says you've got to go down the chimney!\""
      ],
      [
        "Alice drew her foot as far down the chimney as she could and waited till she heard a little animal scratching and scrambling about in the chimney close above her; then she gave one sharp kick and waited to see what would happen next."
      ],
      [
        "The first thing she heard was a general chorus of \"There goes Bill!\" then the Rabbit's voice alone--\"Catch him, you by the hedge!\""
      ],
      [
        "Then silence and then another confusion of voices--\"Hold up his head--Brandy now--Don't choke him--What happened to you?\""
      ],
      [
        "Last came a little feeble, squeaking voice, \"Well, I hardly know--No more, thank ye.",
        "I'm better now--all I know is, something comes at me like a Jack-in-the-box and up I goes like a sky-rocket!\""
      ],
      [
        "After a minute or two of silence, they began moving about again, and Alice heard the Rabbit say, \"A barrowful will do, to begin with.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"A barrowful of what?\" thought Alice.",
        "But she had not long to doubt, for the next moment a shower of little pebbles came rattling in at the window and some of them hit her in the face."
      ],
      [
        "Alice noticed, with some surprise, that the pebbles were all turning into little cakes as they lay on the floor and a bright idea came into her head."
      ],
      [
        "\"If I eat one of these cakes,\" she thought, \"it's sure to make some change in my size.\""
      ],
      [
        "So she swallowed one of the cakes and was delighted to find that she began shrinking directly."
      ],
      [
        "As soon as she was small enough to get through the door, she ran out of the house and found quite a crowd of little animals and birds waiting outside."
      ],
      [
        "They all made a rush at Alice the moment she appeared, but she ran off as hard as she could and soon found herself safe in a thick wood."
      ],
      [
        "\"The first thing I've got to do,\" said Alice to herself, as she wandered about in the wood, \"is to grow to my right size again; and the second thing is to find my way into that lovely garden."
      ],
      [
        "I suppose I ought to eat or drink something or other, but the great question is 'What?'\""
      ],
      [
        "Alice looked all around her at the flowers and the blades of grass, but she could not see anything that looked like the right thing to eat or drink under the circumstances."
      ],
      [
        "There was a large mushroom growing near her, about the same height as herself."
      ],
      [
        "She stretched herself up on tiptoe and peeped over the edge and her eyes immediately met those of a large blue caterpillar, that was sitting on the top, with its arms folded, quietly smoking a long hookah and taking not the smallest notice of her or of anything else."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER FIVE\r\nADVICE FROM A CATERPILLAR"
      ],
      [
        "At last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth and addressed Alice in a languid, sleepy voice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Who are you?\" said the Caterpillar."
      ],
      [
        "Alice replied, rather shyly, \"I--I hardly know, sir, just at present--at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have changed several times since then.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What do you mean by that?\" said the Caterpillar, sternly.",
        "\"Explain yourself!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, sir,\" said Alice, \"because I'm not myself, you see--being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.\""
      ],
      [
        "She drew herself up and said very gravely, \"I think you ought to tell me who you are, first.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why?\" said the Caterpillar."
      ],
      [
        "As Alice could not think of any good reason and the Caterpillar seemed to be in a very unpleasant state of mind, she turned away."
      ],
      [
        "\"Come back!\" the Caterpillar called after her.",
        "\"I've something important to say!\" Alice turned and came back again."
      ],
      [
        "\"Keep your temper,\" said the Caterpillar."
      ],
      [
        "\"Is that all?\" said Alice, swallowing down her anger as well as she could."
      ],
      [
        "\"No,\" said the Caterpillar."
      ],
      [
        "It unfolded its arms, took the hookah out of its mouth again, and said, \"So you think you're changed, do you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I'm afraid, I am, sir,\" said Alice.",
        "\"I can't remember things as I used--and I don't keep the same size for ten minutes together!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What size do you want to be?\" asked the Caterpillar."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, I'm not particular as to size,\" Alice hastily replied, \"only one doesn't like changing so often, you know.",
        "I should like to be a little larger, sir, if you wouldn't mind,\" said Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Three inches is such a wretched height to be.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It is a very good height indeed!\" said the Caterpillar angrily, rearing itself upright as it spoke (it was exactly three inches high)."
      ],
      [
        "In a minute or two, the Caterpillar got down off the mushroom and crawled away into the grass, merely remarking, as it went, \"One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"One side of what?",
        "The other side of what?\" thought Alice to herself."
      ],
      [
        "\"Of the mushroom,\" said the Caterpillar, just as if she had asked it aloud; and in another moment, it was out of sight."
      ],
      [
        "Alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom for a minute, trying to make out which were the two sides of it."
      ],
      [
        "At last she stretched her arms 'round it as far as they would go, and broke off a bit of the edge with each hand."
      ],
      [
        "\"And now which is which?\"",
        "she said to herself, and nibbled a little of the right-hand bit to try the effect.",
        "The next moment she felt a violent blow underneath her chin--it had struck her foot!"
      ],
      [
        "She was a good deal frightened by this very sudden change, as she was shrinking rapidly; so she set to work at once to eat some of the other bit."
      ],
      [
        "Her chin was pressed so closely against her foot that there was hardly room to open her mouth; but she did it at last and managed to swallow a morsel of the left-hand bit...."
      ],
      [
        "\"Come, my head's free at last!\" said Alice; but all she could see, when she looked down, was an immense length of neck, which seemed to rise like a stalk out of a sea of green leaves that lay far below her."
      ],
      [
        "\"Where have my shoulders got to?",
        "And oh, my poor hands, how is it I can't see you?\"",
        "She was delighted to find that her neck would bend about easily in any direction, like a serpent."
      ],
      [
        "She had just succeeded in curving it down into a graceful zigzag and was going to dive in among the leaves, when a sharp hiss made her draw back in a hurry--a large pigeon had flown into her face and was beating her violently with its wings."
      ],
      [
        "\"Serpent!\" cried the Pigeon."
      ],
      [
        "\"I'm not a serpent!\" said Alice indignantly.",
        "\"Let me alone!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I've tried the roots of trees, and I've tried banks, and I've tried hedges,\" the Pigeon went on, \"but those serpents!",
        "There's no pleasing them!\""
      ],
      [
        "Alice was more and more puzzled."
      ],
      [
        "\"As if it wasn't trouble enough hatching the eggs,\" said the Pigeon, \"but I must be on the look-out for serpents, night and day!"
      ],
      [
        "And just as I'd taken the highest tree in the wood,\" continued the Pigeon, raising its voice to a shriek, \"and just as I was thinking I should be free of them at last, they must needs come wriggling down from the sky!"
      ],
      [
        "Ugh, Serpent!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But I'm not a serpent, I tell you!\" said Alice.",
        "\"I'm a--I'm a--I'm a little girl,\" she added rather doubtfully, as she remembered the number of changes she had gone through that day."
      ],
      [
        "\"You're looking for eggs, I know that well enough,\" said the Pigeon; \"and what does it matter to me whether you're a little girl or a serpent?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It matters a good deal to me,\" said Alice hastily; \"but I'm not looking for eggs, as it happens, and if I was, I shouldn't want yours--I don't like them raw.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, be off, then!\" said the Pigeon in a sulky tone, as it settled down again into its nest."
      ],
      [
        "Alice crouched down among the trees as well as she could, for her neck kept getting entangled among the branches, and every now and then she had to stop and untwist it."
      ],
      [
        "After awhile she remembered that she still held the pieces of mushroom in her hands, and she set to work very carefully, nibbling first at one and then at the other, and growing sometimes taller and sometimes shorter, until she had succeeded in bringing herself down to her usual height."
      ],
      [
        "It was so long since she had been anything near the right size that it felt quite strange at first.",
        "\"The next thing is to get into that beautiful garden--how is that to be done, I wonder?\""
      ],
      [
        "As she said this, she came suddenly upon an open place, with a little house in it about four feet high."
      ],
      [
        "\"Whoever lives there,\" thought Alice, \"it'll never do to come upon them this size; why, I should frighten them out of their wits!\""
      ],
      [
        "She did not venture to go near the house till she had brought herself down to nine inches high."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER SIX\r\nPIG AND PEPPER"
      ],
      [
        "For a minute or two she stood looking at the house, when suddenly a footman in livery came running out of the wood (judging by his face only, she would have called him a fish)--and rapped loudly at the door with his knuckles."
      ],
      [
        "It was opened by another footman in livery, with a round face and large eyes like a frog."
      ],
      [
        "The Fish-Footman began by producing from under his arm a great letter, and this he handed over to the other, saying, in a solemn tone, \"For the Duchess.",
        "An invitation from the Queen to play croquet.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Frog-Footman repeated, in the same solemn tone, \"From the Queen.",
        "An invitation for the Duchess to play croquet.\"",
        "Then they both bowed low and their curls got entangled together."
      ],
      [
        "When Alice next peeped out, the Fish-Footman was gone, and the other was sitting on the ground near the door, staring stupidly up into the sky.",
        "Alice went timidly up to the door and knocked."
      ],
      [
        "\"There's no sort of use in knocking,\" said the Footman, \"and that for two reasons."
      ],
      [
        "First, because I'm on the same side of the door as you are; secondly, because they're making such a noise inside, no one could possibly hear you.\""
      ],
      [
        "And certainly there was a most extraordinary noise going on within--a constant howling and sneezing, and every now and then a great crash, as if a dish or kettle had been broken to pieces."
      ],
      [
        "\"How am I to get in?\" asked Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Are you to get in at all?\" said the Footman.",
        "\"That's the first question, you know.\""
      ],
      [
        "Alice opened the door and went in."
      ],
      [
        "The door led right into a large kitchen, which was full of smoke from one end to the other; the Duchess was sitting on a three-legged stool in the middle, nursing a baby; the cook was leaning over the fire, stirring a large caldron which seemed to be full of soup."
      ],
      [
        "\"There's certainly too much pepper in that soup!\" Alice said to herself, as well as she could for sneezing."
      ],
      [
        "Even the Duchess sneezed occasionally; and as for the baby, it was sneezing and howling alternately without a moment's pause."
      ],
      [
        "The only two creatures in the kitchen that did not sneeze were the cook and a large cat, which was grinning from ear to ear."
      ],
      [
        "\"Please would you tell me,\" said Alice, a little timidly, \"why your cat grins like that?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It's a Cheshire-Cat,\" said the Duchess, \"and that's why.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I didn't know that Cheshire-Cats always grinned; in fact, I didn't know that cats could grin,\" said Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"You don't know much,\" said the Duchess, \"and that's a fact.\""
      ],
      [
        "Just then the cook took the caldron of soup off the fire, and at once set to work throwing everything within her reach at the Duchess and the baby--the fire-irons came first; then followed a shower of saucepans, plates and dishes."
      ],
      [
        "The Duchess took no notice of them, even when they hit her, and the baby was howling so much already that it was quite impossible to say whether the blows hurt it or not."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, please mind what you're doing!\" cried Alice, jumping up and down in an agony of terror."
      ],
      [
        "\"Here!",
        "You may nurse it a bit, if you like!\" the Duchess said to Alice, flinging the baby at her as she spoke.",
        "\"I must go and get ready to play croquet with the Queen,\" and she hurried out of the room."
      ],
      [
        "Alice caught the baby with some difficulty, as it was a queer-shaped little creature and held out its arms and legs in all directions."
      ],
      [
        "\"If I don't take this child away with me,\" thought Alice, \"they're sure to kill it in a day or two.",
        "Wouldn't it be murder to leave it behind?\"",
        "She said the last words out loud and the little thing grunted in reply."
      ],
      [
        "\"If you're going to turn into a pig, my dear,\" said Alice, \"I'll have nothing more to do with you.",
        "Mind now!\""
      ],
      [
        "Alice was just beginning to think to herself, \"Now, what am I to do with this creature, when I get it home?\"",
        "when it grunted again so violently that Alice looked down into its face in some alarm."
      ],
      [
        "This time there could be no mistake about it--it was neither more nor less than a pig; so she set the little creature down and felt quite relieved to see it trot away quietly into the wood."
      ],
      [
        "Alice was a little startled by seeing the Cheshire-Cat sitting on a bough of a tree a few yards off.",
        "The Cat only grinned when it saw her."
      ],
      [
        "\"Cheshire-Puss,\" began Alice, rather timidly, \"would you please tell me which way I ought to go from here?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"In that direction,\" the Cat said, waving the right paw 'round, \"lives a Hatter; and in that direction,\" waving the other paw, \"lives a March Hare.",
        "Visit either you like; they're both mad.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But I don't want to go among mad people,\" Alice remarked."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, you can't help that,\" said the Cat; \"we're all mad here.",
        "Do you play croquet with the Queen to-day?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I should like it very much,\" said Alice, \"but I haven't been invited yet.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You'll see me there,\" said the Cat, and vanished."
      ],
      [
        "Alice had not gone much farther before she came in sight of the house of the March Hare; it was so large a house that she did not like to go near till she had nibbled some more of the left-hand bit of mushroom."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER SEVEN\r\nA MAD TEA-PARTY"
      ],
      [
        "There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it; a Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep."
      ],
      [
        "The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it.",
        "\"No room!",
        "No room!\" they cried out when they saw Alice coming."
      ],
      [
        "\"There's plenty of room!\" said Alice indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table."
      ],
      [
        "The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this, but all he said was \"Why is a raven like a writing-desk?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I'm glad they've begun asking riddles--I believe I can guess that,\" she added aloud."
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it?\" said the March Hare."
      ],
      [
        "\"Exactly so,\" said Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Then you should say what you mean,\" the March Hare went on."
      ],
      [
        "\"I do,\" Alice hastily replied; \"at least--at least I mean what I say--that's the same thing, you know.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You might just as well say,\" added the Dormouse, which seemed to be talking in its sleep, \"that 'I breathe when I sleep' is the same thing as 'I sleep when I breathe!'\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It is the same thing with you,\" said the Hatter, and he poured a little hot tea upon its nose."
      ],
      [
        "The Dormouse shook its head impatiently and said, without opening its eyes, \"Of course, of course; just what I was going to remark myself.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Have you guessed the riddle yet?\" the Hatter said, turning to Alice again."
      ],
      [
        "\"No, I give it up,\" Alice replied.",
        "\"What's the answer?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I haven't the slightest idea,\" said the Hatter."
      ],
      [
        "\"Nor I,\" said the March Hare."
      ],
      [
        "Alice gave a weary sigh.",
        "\"I think you might do something better with the time,\" she said, \"than wasting it in asking riddles that have no answers.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Take some more tea,\" the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly."
      ],
      [
        "\"I've had nothing yet,\" Alice replied in an offended tone, \"so I can't take more.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You mean you can't take less,\" said the Hatter; \"it's very easy to take more than nothing.\""
      ],
      [
        "At this, Alice got up and walked off."
      ],
      [
        "The Dormouse fell asleep instantly and neither of the others took the least notice of her going, though she looked back once or twice; the last time she saw them, they were trying to put the Dormouse into the tea-pot."
      ],
      [
        "\"At any rate, I'll never go there again!\" said Alice, as she picked her way through the wood.",
        "\"It's the stupidest tea-party I ever was at in all my life!\""
      ],
      [
        "Just as she said this, she noticed that one of the trees had a door leading right into it.",
        "\"That's very curious!\" she thought.",
        "\"I think I may as well go in at once.\"",
        "And in she went."
      ],
      [
        "Once more she found herself in the long hall and close to the little glass table.",
        "Taking the little golden key, she unlocked the door that led into the garden."
      ],
      [
        "Then she set to work nibbling at the mushroom (she had kept a piece of it in her pocket) till she was about a foot high; then she walked down the little passage; and then--she found herself at last in the beautiful garden, among the bright flower-beds and the cool fountains."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER EIGHT\r\nTHE QUEEN'S CROQUET GROUND"
      ],
      [
        "A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden; the roses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at it, busily painting them red."
      ],
      [
        "Suddenly their eyes chanced to fall upon Alice, as she stood watching them.",
        "\"Would you tell me, please,\" said Alice, a little timidly, \"why you are painting those roses?\""
      ],
      [
        "Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two."
      ],
      [
        "Two began, in a low voice, \"Why, the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to have been a red rose-tree, and we put a white one in by mistake; and, if the Queen was to find it out, we should all have our heads cut off, you know."
      ],
      [
        "So you see, Miss, we're doing our best, afore she comes, to--\" At this moment, Five, who had been anxiously looking across the garden, called out, \"The Queen!"
      ],
      [
        "The Queen!\" and the three gardeners instantly threw themselves flat upon their faces.",
        "There was a sound of many footsteps and Alice looked 'round, eager to see the Queen."
      ],
      [
        "First came ten soldiers carrying clubs, with their hands and feet at the corners: next the ten courtiers; these were ornamented all over with diamonds."
      ],
      [
        "After these came the royal children; there were ten of them, all ornamented with hearts.",
        "Next came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens, and among them Alice recognized the White Rabbit."
      ],
      [
        "Then followed the Knave of Hearts, carrying the King's crown on a crimson velvet cushion; and last of all this grand procession came THE KING AND THE QUEEN OF HEARTS."
      ],
      [
        "When the procession came opposite to Alice, they all stopped and looked at her, and the Queen said severely, \"Who is this?\"",
        "She said it to the Knave of Hearts, who only bowed and smiled in reply."
      ],
      [
        "\"My name is Alice, so please Your Majesty,\" said Alice very politely; but she added to herself, \"Why, they're only a pack of cards, after all!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Can you play croquet?\" shouted the Queen.",
        "The question was evidently meant for Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes!\" said Alice loudly."
      ],
      [
        "\"Come on, then!\" roared the Queen."
      ],
      [
        "\"It's--it's a very fine day!\" said a timid voice to Alice.",
        "She was walking by the White Rabbit, who was peeping anxiously into her face."
      ],
      [
        "\"Very,\" said Alice.",
        "\"Where's the Duchess?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Hush! Hush!\" said the Rabbit.",
        "\"She's under sentence of execution.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What for?\" said Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"She boxed the Queen's ears--\" the Rabbit began."
      ],
      [
        "\"Get to your places!\" shouted the Queen in a voice of thunder, and people began running about in all directions, tumbling up against each other."
      ],
      [
        "However, they got settled down in a minute or two, and the game began."
      ],
      [
        "Alice thought she had never seen such a curious croquet-ground in her life; it was all ridges and furrows."
      ],
      [
        "The croquet balls were live hedgehogs, and the mallets live flamingos and the soldiers had to double themselves up and stand on their hands and feet, to make the arches."
      ],
      [
        "The players all played at once, without waiting for turns, quarrelling all the while and fighting for the hedgehogs; and in a very short time, the Queen was in a furious passion and went stamping about and shouting, \"Off with his head!\" or \"Off with her head!\" about once in a minute."
      ],
      [
        "\"They're dreadfully fond of beheading people here,\" thought Alice; \"the great wonder is that there's anyone left alive!\""
      ],
      [
        "She was looking about for some way of escape, when she noticed a curious appearance in the air.",
        "\"It's the Cheshire-Cat,\" she said to herself; \"now I shall have somebody to talk to.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How are you getting on?\" said the Cat."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't think they play at all fairly,\" Alice said, in a rather complaining tone; \"and they all quarrel so dreadfully one can't hear oneself speak--and they don't seem to have any rules in particular.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"How do you like the Queen?\" said the Cat in a low voice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Not at all,\" said Alice."
      ],
      [
        "Alice thought she might as well go back and see how the game was going on.",
        "So she went off in search of her hedgehog."
      ],
      [
        "The hedgehog was engaged in a fight with another hedgehog, which seemed to Alice an excellent opportunity for croqueting one of them with the other; the only difficulty was that her flamingo was gone across to the other side of the garden, where Alice could see it trying, in a helpless sort of way, to fly up into a tree."
      ],
      [
        "She caught the flamingo and tucked it away under her arm, that it might not escape again."
      ],
      [
        "Just then Alice ran across the Duchess (who was now out of prison).",
        "She tucked her arm affectionately into Alice's and they walked off together."
      ],
      [
        "Alice was very glad to find her in such a pleasant temper.",
        "She was a little startled, however, when she heard the voice of the Duchess close to her ear."
      ],
      [
        "\"You're thinking about something, my dear, and that makes you forget to talk.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"The game's going on rather better now,\" Alice said, by way of keeping up the conversation a little."
      ],
      [
        "\"'Tis so,\" said the Duchess; \"and the moral of that is--'Oh, 'tis love, 'tis love that makes the world go 'round!'\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Somebody said,\" Alice whispered, \"that it's done by everybody minding his own business!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Ah, well!"
      ],
      [
        "It means much the same thing,\" said the Duchess, digging her sharp little chin into Alice's shoulder, as she added \"and the moral of that is--'Take care of the sense and the sounds will take care of themselves.'\""
      ],
      [
        "To Alice's great surprise, the Duchess's arm that was linked into hers began to tremble.",
        "Alice looked up and there stood the Queen in front of them, with her arms folded, frowning like a thunderstorm!"
      ],
      [
        "\"Now, I give you fair warning,\" shouted the Queen, stamping on the ground as she spoke, \"either you or your head must be off, and that in about half no time.",
        "Take your choice!\""
      ],
      [
        "The Duchess took her choice, and was gone in a moment."
      ],
      [
        "\"Let's go on with the game,\" the Queen said to Alice; and Alice was too much frightened to say a word, but slowly followed her back to the croquet-ground."
      ],
      [
        "All the time they were playing, the Queen never left off quarreling with the other players and shouting, \"Off with his head!\" or \"Off with her head!\""
      ],
      [
        "By the end of half an hour or so, all the players, except the King, the Queen and Alice, were in custody of the soldiers and under sentence of execution."
      ],
      [
        "Then the Queen left off, quite out of breath, and walked away with Alice."
      ],
      [
        "Alice heard the King say in a low voice to the company generally, \"You are all pardoned.\""
      ],
      [
        "Suddenly the cry \"The Trial's beginning!\" was heard in the distance, and Alice ran along with the others."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER NINE\r\nWHO STOLE THE TARTS?"
      ],
      [
        "The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them--all sorts of little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards: the Knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on each side to guard him; and near the King was the White Rabbit, with a trumpet in one hand and a scroll of parchment in the other."
      ],
      [
        "In the very middle of the court was a table, with a large dish of tarts upon it.",
        "\"I wish they'd get the trial done,\" Alice thought, \"and hand 'round the refreshments!\""
      ],
      [
        "The judge, by the way, was the King and he wore his crown over his great wig."
      ],
      [
        "\"That's the jury-box,\" thought Alice; \"and those twelve creatures (some were animals and some were birds) I suppose they are the jurors.\""
      ],
      [
        "Just then the White Rabbit cried out \"Silence in the court!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Herald, read the accusation!\" said the King."
      ],
      [
        "On this, the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, then unrolled the parchment-scroll and read as follows:"
      ],
      [
        "\"The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,       All on a summer day;     The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts       And took them quite away!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Call the first witness,\" said the King; and the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet and called out, \"First witness!\""
      ],
      [
        "The first witness was the Hatter.",
        "He came in with a teacup in one hand and a piece of bread and butter in the other."
      ],
      [
        "\"You ought to have finished,\" said the King.",
        "\"When did you begin?\""
      ],
      [
        "The Hatter looked at the March Hare, who had followed him into the court, arm in arm with the Dormouse.",
        "\"Fourteenth of March, I think it was,\" he said."
      ],
      [
        "\"Give your evidence,\" said the King, \"and don't be nervous, or I'll have you executed on the spot.\""
      ],
      [
        "This did not seem to encourage the witness at all; he kept shifting from one foot to the other, looking uneasily at the Queen, and, in his confusion, he bit a large piece out of his teacup instead of the bread and butter."
      ],
      [
        "Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation--she was beginning to grow larger again."
      ],
      [
        "The miserable Hatter dropped his teacup and bread and butter and went down on one knee.",
        "\"I'm a poor man, Your Majesty,\" he began."
      ],
      [
        "\"You're a very poor speaker,\" said the King."
      ],
      [
        "\"You may go,\" said the King, and the Hatter hurriedly left the court."
      ],
      [
        "\"Call the next witness!\" said the King."
      ],
      [
        "The next witness was the Duchess's cook.",
        "She carried the pepper-box in her hand and the people near the door began sneezing all at once."
      ],
      [
        "\"Give your evidence,\" said the King."
      ],
      [
        "\"Sha'n't,\" said the cook."
      ],
      [
        "The King looked anxiously at the White Rabbit, who said, in a low voice, \"Your Majesty must cross-examine this witness.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, if I must, I must,\" the King said.",
        "\"What are tarts made of?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Pepper, mostly,\" said the cook."
      ],
      [
        "For some minutes the whole court was in confusion and by the time they had settled down again, the cook had disappeared."
      ],
      [
        "\"Never mind!\" said the King, \"call the next witness.\""
      ],
      [
        "Alice watched the White Rabbit as he fumbled over the list.",
        "Imagine her surprise when he read out, at the top of his shrill little voice, the name \"Alice!\""
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER ELEVEN\r\nALICE'S EVIDENCE"
      ],
      [
        "\"Here!\" cried Alice.",
        "She jumped up in such a hurry that she tipped over the jury-box, upsetting all the jurymen on to the heads of the crowd below."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, I beg your pardon!\" she exclaimed in a tone of great dismay."
      ],
      [
        "\"The trial cannot proceed,\" said the King, \"until all the jurymen are back in their proper places--all,\" he repeated with great emphasis, looking hard at Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"What do you know about this business?\"",
        "the King said to Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Nothing whatever,\" said Alice."
      ],
      [
        "The King then read from his book: \"Rule forty-two.",
        "All persons more than a mile high to leave the court.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I'm not a mile high,\" said Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Nearly two miles high,\" said the Queen."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, I sha'n't go, at any rate,\" said Alice."
      ],
      [
        "The King turned pale and shut his note-book hastily.",
        "\"Consider your verdict,\" he said to the jury, in a low, trembling voice."
      ],
      [
        "\"There's more evidence to come yet, please Your Majesty,\" said the White Rabbit, jumping up in a great hurry.",
        "\"This paper has just been picked up."
      ],
      [
        "It seems to be a letter written by the prisoner to--to somebody.\"",
        "He unfolded the paper as he spoke and added, \"It isn't a letter, after all; it's a set of verses.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Please, Your Majesty,\" said the Knave, \"I didn't write it and they can't prove that I did; there's no name signed at the end.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You must have meant some mischief, or else you'd have signed your name like an honest man,\" said the King.",
        "There was a general clapping of hands at this."
      ],
      [
        "\"Read them,\" he added, turning to the White Rabbit."
      ],
      [
        "There was dead silence in the court whilst the White Rabbit read out the verses."
      ],
      [
        "\"That's the most important piece of evidence we've heard yet,\" said the King."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't believe there's an atom of meaning in it,\" ventured Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"If there's no meaning in it,\" said the King, \"that saves a world of trouble, you know, as we needn't try to find any.",
        "Let the jury consider their verdict.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, no!\" said the Queen.",
        "\"Sentence first--verdict afterwards.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Stuff and nonsense!\" said Alice loudly.",
        "\"The idea of having the sentence first!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Hold your tongue!\" said the Queen, turning purple."
      ],
      [
        "\"I won't!\" said Alice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Off with her head!\" the Queen shouted at the top of her voice.",
        "Nobody moved."
      ],
      [
        "\"Who cares for you?\" said Alice (she had grown to her full size by this time).",
        "\"You're nothing but a pack of cards!\""
      ],
      [
        "At this, the whole pack rose up in the air and came flying down upon her; she gave a little scream, half of fright and half of anger, and tried to beat them off, and found herself lying on the bank, with her head in the lap of her sister, who was gently brushing away some dead leaves that had fluttered down from the trees upon her face."
      ],
      [
        "\"Wake up, Alice dear!\" said her sister.",
        "\"Why, what a long sleep you've had!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, I've had such a curious dream!\" said Alice.",
        "And she told her sister, as well as she could remember them, all these strange adventures of hers that you have just been reading about."
      ],
      [
        "Alice got up and ran off, thinking while she ran, as well she might, what a wonderful dream it had been."
      ]
    ]
  },
  "The Book Of Dragons" : {
    "ID": 23661,
    "Image": "https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0285/2821/4050/products/9780062877161.jpg?v=1597075765",
    "Text": [
      [
        "CHAPTER ONE\r\nThe Book of Beasts"
      ],
      [
        "He happened to be building a Palace when the news came, and he left all the bricks kicking about the floor for Nurse to clear up--but then the news was rather remarkable news."
      ],
      [
        "You see, there was a knock at the front door and voices talking downstairs, and Lionel thought it was the man come to see about the gas, which had not been allowed to be lighted since the day when Lionel made a swing by tying his skipping rope to the gas bracket."
      ],
      [
        "And then, quite suddenly, Nurse came in and said, \"Master Lionel, dear, they've come to fetch you to go and be King.\""
      ],
      [
        "Then she made haste to change his smock and to wash his face and hands and brush his hair, and all the time she was doing it Lionel kept wriggling and fidgeting and saying, \"Oh, don't, Nurse,\" and, \"I'm sure my ears are quite clean,\" or, \"Never mind my hair, it's all right,\" and, \"That'll do.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You're going on as if you was going to be an eel instead of a King,\" said Nurse."
      ],
      [
        "The minute Nurse let go for a moment Lionel bolted off without waiting for his clean handkerchief, and in the drawing room there were two very grave-looking gentlemen in red robes with fur, and gold coronets with velvet sticking up out of the middle like the cream in the very expensive jam tarts."
      ],
      [
        "They bowed low to Lionel, and the gravest one said: \"Sire, your great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, the King of this country, is dead, and now you have got to come and be King.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, please, sir,\" said Lionel, \"when does it begin?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You will be crowned this afternoon,\" said the grave gentleman who was not quite so grave-looking as the other."
      ],
      [
        "\"Would you like me to bring Nurse, or what time would you like me to be fetched, and hadn't I better put on my velvet suit with the lace collar?\" said Lionel, who had often been out to tea."
      ],
      [
        "\"Your Nurse will be removed to the Palace later.",
        "No, never mind about changing your suit; the Royal robes will cover all that up.\""
      ],
      [
        "The grave gentlemen led the way to a coach with eight white horses, which was drawn up in front of the house where Lionel lived.",
        "It was No. 7, on the left-hand side of the street as you go up."
      ],
      [
        "Lionel ran upstairs at the last minute, and he kissed Nurse and said: \"Thank you for washing me.",
        "I wish I'd let you do the other ear.",
        "No--there's no time now.",
        "Give me the hanky.",
        "Good-bye, Nurse.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-bye, ducky,\" said Nurse.",
        "\"Be a good little King now, and say 'please' and 'thank you,' and remember to pass the cake to the little girls, and don't have more than two helps of anything.\""
      ],
      [
        "So off went Lionel to be made a King.",
        "He had never expected to be a King any more than you have, so it was all quite new to him--so new that he had never even thought of it."
      ],
      [
        "And as the coach went through the town he had to bite his tongue to be quite sure it was real, because if his tongue was real it showed he wasn't dreaming."
      ],
      [
        "Half an hour before he had been building with bricks in the nursery; and now--the streets were all fluttering with flags; every window was crowded with people waving handkerchiefs and scattering flowers; there were scarlet soldiers everywhere along the pavements, and all the bells of all the churches were ringing like mad, and like a great song to the music of their ringing he heard thousands of people shouting, \"Long live Lionel!"
      ],
      [
        "Long live our little King!\""
      ],
      [
        "He was a little sorry at first that he had not put on his best clothes, but he soon forgot to think about that.",
        "If he had been a girl he would very likely have bothered about it the whole time."
      ],
      [
        "As they went along, the grave gentlemen, who were the Chancellor and the Prime Minister, explained the things which Lionel did not understand."
      ],
      [
        "\"I thought we were a Republic,\" said Lionel.",
        "\"I'm sure there hasn't been a King for some time.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Sire, your great-great-great-great-great-grandfather's death happened when my grandfather was a little boy,\" said the Prime Minister, \"and since then your loyal people have been saving up to buy you a crown--so much a week, you know, according to people's means--sixpence a week from those who have first-rate pocket money, down to a halfpenny a week from those who haven't so much."
      ],
      [
        "You know it's the rule that the crown must be paid for by the people.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But hadn't my great-great-however-much-it-is-grandfather a crown?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, but he sent it to be tinned over, for fear of vanity, and he had had all the jewels taken out, and sold them to buy books."
      ],
      [
        "He was a strange man; a very good King he was, but he had his faults--he was fond of books.",
        "Almost with his last breath he sent the crown to be tinned--and he never lived to pay the tinsmith's bill.\""
      ],
      [
        "Here the Prime Minister wiped away a tear, and just then the carriage stopped and Lionel was taken out of the carriage to be crowned."
      ],
      [
        "Being crowned is much more tiring work than you would suppose, and by the time it was over, and Lionel had worn the Royal robes for an hour or two and had had his hand kissed by everybody whose business it was to do it, he was quite worn out, and was very glad to get into the Palace nursery."
      ],
      [
        "Nurse was there, and tea was ready: seedy cake and plummy cake, and jam and hot buttered toast, and the prettiest china with red and gold and blue flowers on it, and real tea, and as many cups of it as you liked."
      ],
      [
        "After tea Lionel said: \"I think I should like a book.",
        "Will you get me one, Nurse?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Bless the child,\" said Nurse.",
        "\"You don't suppose you've lost the use of your legs with just being a King?",
        "Run along, do, and get your books yourself.\""
      ],
      [
        "So Lionel went down into the library."
      ],
      [
        "The Prime Minister and the Chancellor were there, and when Lionel came in they bowed very low, and were beginning to ask Lionel most politely what on earth he was coming bothering for now--when Lionel cried out: \"Oh, what a worldful of books!"
      ],
      [
        "Are they yours?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"They are yours, Your Majesty,\" answered the Chancellor.",
        "\"They were the property of the late King, your great-great--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, I know,\" Lionel interrupted.",
        "\"Well, I shall read them all.",
        "I love to read.",
        "I am so glad I learned to read.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"If I might venture to advise Your Majesty,\" said the Prime Minister, \"I should not read these books.",
        "Your great--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes?\" said Lionel, quickly."
      ],
      [
        "\"He was a very good King--oh, yes, really a very superior King in his way, but he was a little--well, strange.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Mad?\" asked Lionel, cheerfully."
      ],
      [
        "\"No, no\"--both the gentlemen were sincerely shocked.",
        "\"Not mad; but if I may express it so, he was--er--too clever by half.",
        "And I should not like a little King of mine to have anything to do with his books.\""
      ],
      [
        "Lionel looked puzzled."
      ],
      [
        "\"The fact is,\" the Chancellor went on, twisting his red beard in an agitated way, \"your great--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Go on,\" said Lionel."
      ],
      [
        "\"--was called a wizard.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But he wasn't?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Of course not--a most worthy King was your great--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I see.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But I wouldn't touch his books.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Just this one,\" cried Lionel, laying his hands on the cover of a great brown book that lay on the study table."
      ],
      [
        "It had gold patterns on the brown leather, and gold clasps with turquoises and rubies in the twists of them, and gold corners, so that the leather should not wear out too quickly."
      ],
      [
        "\"I must look at this one,\" Lionel said, for on the back in big letters he read: The Book of Beasts."
      ],
      [
        "The Chancellor said, \"Don't be a silly little King.\""
      ],
      [
        "But Lionel had got the gold clasps undone, and he opened the first page, and there was a beautiful Butterfly all red, and brown, and yellow, and blue, so beautifully painted that it looked as if it were alive."
      ],
      [
        "\"There,\" said Lionel, \"Isn't that lovely?",
        "Why--\""
      ],
      [
        "But as he spoke the beautiful Butterfly fluttered its many-colored wings on the yellow old page of the book, and flew up and out of the window."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well!\" said the Prime Minister, as soon as he could speak for the lump of wonder that had got into his throat and tried to choke him, \"that's magic, that is.\""
      ],
      [
        "But before he had spoken, the King had turned the next page, and there was a shining bird complete and beautiful in every blue feather of him."
      ],
      [
        "Under him was written, \"Blue Bird of Paradise,\" and while the King gazed enchanted at the charming picture the Blue Bird fluttered his wings on the yellow page and spread them and flew out of the book."
      ],
      [
        "Then the Prime Minister snatched the book away from the King and shut it up on the blank page where the bird had been, and put it on a very high shelf."
      ],
      [
        "And the Chancellor gave the King a good shaking, and said: \"You're a naughty, disobedient little King!\" and was very angry indeed."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't see that I've done any harm,\" said Lionel.",
        "He hated being shaken, as all boys do; he would much rather have been slapped."
      ],
      [
        "\"No harm?\" said the Chancellor.",
        "\"Ah--but what do you know about it?",
        "That's the question."
      ],
      [
        "How do you know what might have been on the next page--a snake or a worm, or a centipede or a revolutionist, or something like that.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, I'm sorry if I've vexed you,\" said Lionel.",
        "\"Come, let's kiss and be friends.\""
      ],
      [
        "So he kissed the Prime Minister, and they settled down for a nice quiet game of noughts and crosses while the Chancellor went to add up his accounts."
      ],
      [
        "But when Lionel was in bed he could not sleep for thinking of the book, and when the full moon was shining with all her might and light he got up and crept down to the library and climbed up and got The Book of Beasts."
      ],
      [
        "He took it outside to the terrace, where the moonlight was as bright as day, and he opened the book, and saw the empty pages with \"Butterfly\" and \"Blue Bird of Paradise\" underneath, and then he turned the next page."
      ],
      [
        "There was some sort of red thing sitting under a palm tree, and under it was written \"Dragon.\"",
        "The Dragon did not move, and the King shut up the book rather quickly and went back to bed."
      ],
      [
        "But the next day he wanted another look, so he took the book out into the garden, and when he undid the clasps with the rubies and turquoises, the book opened all by itself at the picture with \"Dragon\" underneath, and the sun shone full on the page."
      ],
      [
        "And then, quite suddenly, a great Red Dragon came out of the book and spread vast scarlet wings and flew away across the garden to the far hills, and Lionel was left with the empty page before him, for the page was quite empty except for the green palm tree and the yellow desert, and the little streaks of red where the paintbrush had gone outside the pencil outline of the Red Dragon."
      ],
      [
        "And then Lionel felt that he had indeed done it.",
        "He had not been King twenty-four hours, and already he had let loose a Red Dragon to worry his faithful subjects' lives out."
      ],
      [
        "And they had been saving up so long to buy him a crown, and everything!"
      ],
      [
        "Lionel began to cry."
      ],
      [
        "The Chancellor and the Prime Minister and the Nurse all came running to see what was the matter.",
        "And when they saw the book they understood, and the Chancellor said: \"You naughty little King!"
      ],
      [
        "Put him to bed, Nurse, and let him think over what he's done.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Perhaps, my Lord,\" said the Prime Minister, \"we'd better first find out just exactly what he has done.\""
      ],
      [
        "Then Lionel, in floods of tears, said: \"It's a Red Dragon, and it's gone flying away to the hills, and I am so sorry, and, oh, do forgive me!\""
      ],
      [
        "But the Prime Minister and the Chancellor had other things to think of than forgiving Lionel.",
        "They hurried off to consult the police and see what could be done.",
        "Everyone did what they could."
      ],
      [
        "They sat on committees and stood on guard, and lay in wait for the Dragon, but he stayed up in the hills, and there was nothing more to be done.",
        "The faithful Nurse, meanwhile, did not neglect her duty."
      ],
      [
        "Perhaps she did more than anyone else, for she slapped the King and put him to bed without his tea, and when it got dark she would not give him a candle to read by."
      ],
      [
        "\"You are a naughty little King,\" she said, \"and nobody will love you.\""
      ],
      [
        "Next day the Dragon was still quiet, though the more poetic of Lionel's subjects could see the redness of the Dragon shining through the green trees quite plainly."
      ],
      [
        "So Lionel put on his crown and sat on his throne and said he wanted to make some laws."
      ],
      [
        "And I need hardly say that though the Prime Minister and the Chancellor and the Nurse might have the very poorest opinion of Lionel's private judgement, and might even slap him and send him to bed, the minute he got on his throne and set his crown on his head, he became infallible--which means that everything he said was right, and that he couldn't possibly make a mistake."
      ],
      [
        "So when he said: \"There is to be a law forbidding people to open books in schools or elsewhere\"--he had the support of at least half of his subjects, and the other half--the grown-up half--pretended to think he was quite right."
      ],
      [
        "Then he made a law that everyone should always have enough to eat.",
        "And this pleased everyone except the ones who had always had too much."
      ],
      [
        "And when several other nice new laws were made and written down he went home and made mud-houses and was very happy."
      ],
      [
        "And he said to his Nurse: \"People will love me now I've made such a lot of pretty new laws for them.\""
      ],
      [
        "But Nurse said: \"Don't count your chickens, my dear.",
        "You haven't seen the last of that Dragon yet.\""
      ],
      [
        "Now, the next day was Saturday.",
        "And in the afternoon the Dragon suddenly swooped down upon the common in all his hideous redness, and carried off the Soccer Players, umpires, goal-posts, ball, and all."
      ],
      [
        "Then the people were very angry indeed, and they said: \"We might as well be a Republic.",
        "After saving up all these years to get his crown, and everything!\""
      ],
      [
        "And wise people shook their heads and foretold a decline in the National Love of Sport.",
        "And, indeed, soccer was not at all popular for some time afterward."
      ],
      [
        "Lionel did his best to be a good King during the week, and the people were beginning to forgive him for letting the Dragon out of the book."
      ],
      [
        "\"After all,\" they said, \"soccer is a dangerous game, and perhaps it is wise to discourage it.\""
      ],
      [
        "Popular opinion held that the Soccer Players, being tough and hard, had disagreed with the Dragon so much that he had gone away to some place where they only play cats' cradle and games that do not make you hard and tough."
      ],
      [
        "All the same, Parliament met on the Saturday afternoon, a convenient time, for most of the Members would be free to attend, to consider the Dragon."
      ],
      [
        "But unfortunately the Dragon, who had only been asleep, woke up because it was Saturday, and he considered the Parliament, and afterwards there were not any Members left, so they tried to make a new Parliament, but being a member of Parliament had somehow grown as unpopular as soccer playing, and no one would consent to be elected, so they had to do without a Parliament."
      ],
      [
        "When the next Saturday came around everyone was a little nervous, but the Red Dragon was pretty quiet that day and only ate an Orphanage."
      ],
      [
        "Lionel was very, very unhappy."
      ],
      [
        "He felt that it was his disobedience that had brought this trouble on the Parliament and the Orphanage and the Soccer Players, and he felt that it was his duty to try and do something."
      ],
      [
        "The question was, what?"
      ],
      [
        "The Blue Bird that had come out of the book used to sing very nicely in the Palace rose garden, and the Butterfly was very tame, and would perch on his shoulder when he walked among the tall lilies: so Lionel saw that all the creatures in The Book of Beasts could not be wicked, like the Dragon, and he thought: \"Suppose I could get another beast out who would fight the Dragon?\""
      ],
      [
        "So he took The Book of Beasts out into the rose garden and opened the page next to the one where the Dragon had been just a tiny bit to see what the name was."
      ],
      [
        "He could only see \"cora,\" but he felt the middle of the page swelling up thick with the creature that was trying to come out, and it was only by putting the book down and sitting on it suddenly, very hard, that he managed to get it shut."
      ],
      [
        "Then he fastened the clasps with the rubies and turquoises in them and sent for the Chancellor, who had been ill since Saturday, and so had not been eaten with the rest of the Parliament, and he said: \"What animal ends in 'cora'?\""
      ],
      [
        "The Chancellor answered: \"The Manticora, of course.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What is he like?\"",
        "asked the King."
      ],
      [
        "\"He is the sworn foe of Dragons,\" said the Chancellor.",
        "\"He drinks their blood.",
        "He is yellow, with the body of a lion and the face of a man.",
        "I wish we had a few Manticoras here now."
      ],
      [
        "But the last died hundreds of years ago--worse luck!\""
      ],
      [
        "Then the King ran and opened the book at the page that had \"cora\" on it, and there was the picture--Manticora, all yellow, with a lion's body and a man's face, just as the Chancellor had said."
      ],
      [
        "And under the picture was written, \"Manticora.\""
      ],
      [
        "In a few minutes the Manticora came sleepily out of the book, rubbing its eyes with its hands and mewing piteously."
      ],
      [
        "It seemed very stupid, and when Lionel gave it a push and said, \"Go along and fight the Dragon, do,\" it put its tail between its legs and fairly ran away."
      ],
      [
        "It went and hid behind the Town Hall, and at night when the people were asleep it went around and ate all the pussy-cats in the town.",
        "And then it mewed more than ever."
      ],
      [
        "And on the Saturday morning, when people were a little timid about going out, because the Dragon had no regular hour for calling, the Manticora went up and down the streets and drank all the milk that was left in the cans at the doors for people's teas, and it ate the cans as well."
      ],
      [
        "And just when it had finished the very last little halfpenny worth, which was short measure, because the milkman's nerves were quite upset, the Red Dragon came down the street looking for the Manticora."
      ],
      [
        "It edged off when it saw him coming, for it was not at all the Dragon-fighting kind; and, seeing no other door open, the poor, hunted creature took refuge in the General Post Office, and there the Dragon found it, trying to conceal itself among the ten o'clock mail."
      ],
      [
        "The Dragon fell on the Manticora at once, and the mail was no defense.",
        "The mewings were heard all over the town."
      ],
      [
        "All the kitties and the milk the Manticora had had seemed to have strengthened its mew wonderfully."
      ],
      [
        "Then there was a sad silence, and presently the people whose windows looked that way saw the Dragon come walking down the steps of the General Post Office spitting fire and smoke, together with tufts of Manticora fur, and the fragments of the registered letters."
      ],
      [
        "Things were growing very serious.",
        "However popular the King might become during the week, the Dragon was sure to do something on Saturday to upset the people's loyalty."
      ],
      [
        "The Dragon was a perfect nuisance for the whole of Saturday, except during the hour of noon, and then he had to rest under a tree or he would have caught fire from the heat of the sun."
      ],
      [
        "You see, he was very hot to begin with."
      ],
      [
        "At last came a Saturday when the Dragon actually walked into the Royal nursery and carried off the King's own pet Rocking Horse."
      ],
      [
        "Then the King cried for six days, and on the seventh he was so tired that he had to stop."
      ],
      [
        "He heard the Blue Bird singing among the roses and saw the Butterfly fluttering among the lilies, and he said: \"Nurse, wipe my face, please.",
        "I am not going to cry any more.\""
      ],
      [
        "Nurse washed his face, and told him not to be a silly little King.",
        "\"Crying,\" said she, \"never did anyone any good yet.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't know,\" said the little King, \"I seem to see better, and to hear better now that I've cried for a week.",
        "Now, Nurse, dear, I know I'm right, so kiss me in case I never come back."
      ],
      [
        "I must try to see if I can't save the people.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, if you must, you must,\" said Nurse, \"but don't tear your clothes or get your feet wet.\""
      ],
      [
        "So off he went."
      ],
      [
        "The Blue Bird sang more sweetly than ever, and the Butterfly shone more brightly, as Lionel once more carried The Book of Beasts out into the rose garden, and opened it--very quickly, so that he might not be afraid and change his mind."
      ],
      [
        "The book fell open wide, almost in the middle, and there was written at the bottom of the page, \"Hippogriff,\" and before Lionel had time to see what the picture was, there was a fluttering of great wings and a stamping of hoofs, and a sweet, soft, friendly neighing; and there came out of the book a beautiful white horse with a long, long, white mane and a long, long, white tail, and he had great wings like swan's wings, and the softest, kindest eyes in the world, and he stood there among the roses."
      ],
      [
        "The Hippogriff rubbed its silky-soft, milky white nose against the little King's shoulder, and the little King thought: \"But for the wings you are very like my poor, dear lost Rocking Horse.\""
      ],
      [
        "And the Blue Bird's song was very loud and sweet."
      ],
      [
        "Then suddenly the King saw coming through the sky the great straggling, sprawling, wicked shape of the Red Dragon.",
        "And he knew at once what he must do."
      ],
      [
        "He caught up The Book of Beasts and jumped on the back of the gentle, beautiful Hippogriff, and leaning down he whispered in the sharp, white ear: \"Fly, dear Hippogriff, fly your very fastest to the Pebbly Waste.\""
      ],
      [
        "And when the Dragon saw them start, he turned and flew after them, with his great wings flapping like clouds at sunset, and the Hippogriff's wide wings were snowy as clouds at moonrise."
      ],
      [
        "When the people in the town saw the Dragon fly off after the Hippogriff and the King they all came out of their houses to look, and when they saw the two disappear they made up their minds to the worst, and began to think what they would wear for Court mourning."
      ],
      [
        "But the Dragon could not catch the Hippogriff."
      ],
      [
        "The red wings were bigger than the white ones, but they were not so strong, and so the white-winged horse flew away and away and away, with the Dragon pursuing, till he reached the very middle of the Pebbly Waste."
      ],
      [
        "Now, the Pebbly Waste is just like the parts of the seaside where there is no sand--all round, loose, shifting stones, and there is no grass there and no tree within a hundred miles of it."
      ],
      [
        "Lionel jumped off the white horse's back in the very middle of the Pebbly Waste, and he hurriedly unclasped The Book of Beasts and laid it open on the pebbles."
      ],
      [
        "Then he clattered among the pebbles in his haste to get back on to his white horse, and had just jumped on when up came the Dragon."
      ],
      [
        "He was flying very feebly, and looking around everywhere for a tree, for it was just on the stroke of twelve, the sun was shining like a gold guinea in the blue sky, and there was not a tree for a hundred miles."
      ],
      [
        "The white-winged horse flew around and around the Dragon as he writhed on the dry pebbles.",
        "He was getting very hot: indeed, parts of him even had begun to smoke."
      ],
      [
        "He knew that he must certainly catch fire in another minute unless he could get under a tree."
      ],
      [
        "He made a snatch with his red claws at the King and Hippogriff, but he was too feeble to reach them, and besides, he did not dare to overexert himself for fear he should get any hotter."
      ],
      [
        "It was then that he saw The Book of Beasts lying on the pebbles, open at the page with \"Dragon\" written at the bottom."
      ],
      [
        "He looked and he hesitated, and he looked again, and then, with one last squirm of rage, the Dragon wriggled himself back into the picture and sat down under the palm tree, and the page was a little singed as he went in."
      ],
      [
        "As soon as Lionel saw that the Dragon had really been obliged to go and sit under his own palm tree because it was the only tree there, he jumped off his horse and shut the book with a bang."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, hurrah!\" he cried.",
        "\"Now we really have done it.\""
      ],
      [
        "And he clasped the book very tightly with the turquoise and ruby clasps."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, my precious Hippogriff,\" he cried.",
        "\"You are the bravest, dearest, most beautiful--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Hush,\" whispered the Hippogriff modestly.",
        "\"Don't you see that we are not alone?\""
      ],
      [
        "And indeed there was quite a crowd round them on the Pebbly Waste: the Prime Minister and the Parliament and the Soccer Players and the Orphanage and the Manticora and the Rocking Horse, and indeed everyone who had been eaten by the Dragon."
      ],
      [
        "You see, it was impossible for the Dragon to take them into the book with him--it was a tight fit even for one Dragon--so, of course, he had to leave them outside."
      ],
      [
        "They all got home somehow, and all lived happy ever after."
      ],
      [
        "When the King asked the Manticora where he would like to live he begged to be allowed to go back into the book.",
        "\"I do not care for public life,\" he said."
      ],
      [
        "Of course he knew his way onto his own page, so there was no danger of his opening the book at the wrong page and letting out a Dragon or anything."
      ],
      [
        "So he got back into his picture and has never come out since: That is why you will never see a Manticora as long as you live, except in a picture-book."
      ],
      [
        "And of course he left the kitties outside, because there was no room for them in the book--and the milk cans too."
      ],
      [
        "Then the Rocking Horse begged to be allowed to go and live on the Hippogriff's page of the book.",
        "\"I should like,\" he said, \"to live somewhere where Dragons can't get at me.\""
      ],
      [
        "So the beautiful, white-winged Hippogriff showed him the way in, and there he stayed till the King had him taken out for his great-great-great-great-grandchildren to play with."
      ],
      [
        "As for the Hippogriff, he accepted the position of the King's Own Rocking Horse--a situation left vacant by the retirement of the wooden one."
      ],
      [
        "And the Blue Bird and the Butterfly sing and flutter among the lilies and roses of the Palace garden to this very day."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER TWO\r\nUncle James, or The Purple Stranger"
      ],
      [
        "The Princess and the gardener's boy were playing in the backyard."
      ],
      [
        "\"What will you do when you grow up, Princess?\"",
        "asked the gardener's boy."
      ],
      [
        "\"I should like to marry you, Tom,\" said the Princess.",
        "\"Would you mind?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No,\" said the gardener's boy.",
        "\"I shouldn't mind much.",
        "I'll marry you if you like--if I have time.\""
      ],
      [
        "For the gardener's boy meant, as soon as he was grown up, to be a general and a poet and a Prime Minister and an admiral and a civil engineer."
      ],
      [
        "Meanwhile, he was top of all his classes at school, and tip-top of the geography class."
      ],
      [
        "As for the Princess Mary Ann, she was a very good little girl, and everyone loved her."
      ],
      [
        "She was always kind and polite, even to her Uncle James and to other people whom she did not like very much; and though she was not very clever, for a Princess, she always tried to do her lessons."
      ],
      [
        "Even if you know perfectly well that you can't do your lessons, you may as well try, and sometimes you find that by some fortunate accident they really are done."
      ],
      [
        "Then the Princess had a truly good heart: She was always kind to her pets."
      ],
      [
        "She never slapped her hippopotamus when it broke her dolls in its playful gambols, and she never forgot to feed her rhinoceroses in their little hutch in the backyard."
      ],
      [
        "Her elephant was devoted to her, and sometimes Mary Ann made her nurse quite cross by smuggling the dear little thing up to bed with her and letting it go to sleep with its long trunk laid lovingly across her throat, and its pretty head cuddled under the Royal right ear."
      ],
      [
        "When the Princess had been good all through the week--for, like all real, live, nice children, she was sometimes naughty, but never bad--Nurse would allow her to ask her little friends to come on Wednesday morning early and spend the day, because Wednesday is the end of the week in that country."
      ],
      [
        "Then, in the afternoon, when all the little dukes and duchesses and marquises and countesses had finished their rice pudding and had had their hands and faces washed after it, Nurse would say: \"Now, my dears, what would you like to do this afternoon?\""
      ],
      [
        "just as if she didn't know.",
        "And the answer would be always the same:"
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, do let's go to the Zoological Gardens and ride on the big guinea pig and feed the rabbits and hear the dormouse asleep.\""
      ],
      [
        "So their pinafores were taken off and they all went to the Zoological Gardens, where twenty of them could ride at a time on the guinea pig, and where even the little ones could feed the great rabbits if some grown-up person were kind enough to lift them up for the purpose."
      ],
      [
        "There always was some such person, because in Rotundia everybody was kind--except one."
      ],
      [
        "Now that you have read as far as this you know, of course, that the Kingdom of Rotundia was a very remarkable place; and if you are a thoughtful child--as of course you are--you will not need me to tell you what was the most remarkable thing about it."
      ],
      [
        "But in case you are not a thoughtful child--and it is just possible of course that you are not--I will tell you at once what that most remarkable thing was.",
        "All the animals were the wrong sizes!_"
      ],
      [
        "And this was how it happened."
      ],
      [
        "In old, old, olden times, when all our world was just loose earth and air and fire and water mixed up anyhow like a pudding, and spinning around like mad trying to get the different things to settle into their proper places, a round piece of earth got loose and went spinning away by itself across the water, which was just beginning to try to get spread out smooth into a real sea."
      ],
      [
        "And as the great round piece of earth flew away, going around and around as hard as it could, it met a long piece of hard rock that had got loose from another part of the puddingy mixture, and the rock was so hard, and was going so fast, that it ran its point through the round piece of earth and stuck out on the other side of it, so that the two together were like a very-very-much-too-big spinning top."
      ],
      [
        "I am afraid all this is very dull, but you know geography is never quite lively, and after all, I must give you a little information even in a fairy tale--like the powder in jam."
      ],
      [
        "Well, when the pointed rock smashed into the round bit of earth the shock was so great that it set them spinning together through the air--which was just getting into its proper place, like all the rest of the things--only, as luck would have it, they forgot which way around they had been going, and began to spin around the wrong way."
      ],
      [
        "Presently Center of Gravity--a great giant who was managing the whole business--woke up in the middle of the earth and began to grumble."
      ],
      [
        "\"Hurry up,\" he said.",
        "\"Come down and lie still, can't you?\""
      ],
      [
        "So the rock with the round piece of earth fell into the sea, and the point of the rock went into a hole that just fitted it in the stony sea bottom, and there it spun around the wrong way seven times and then lay still."
      ],
      [
        "And that round piece of land became, after millions of years, the Kingdom of Rotundia."
      ],
      [
        "This is the end of the geography lesson.",
        "And now for just a little natural history, so that we may not feel that we are quite wasting our time."
      ],
      [
        "Of course, the consequence of the island having spun around the wrong way was that when the animals began to grow on the island they all grew the wrong sizes."
      ],
      [
        "The guinea pig, as you know, was as big as our elephants, and the elephant--dear little pet--was the size of the silly, tiny, black-and-tan dogs that ladies carry sometimes in their muffs."
      ],
      [
        "The rabbits were about the size of our rhinoceroses, and all about the wild parts of the island they had made their burrows as big as railway tunnels."
      ],
      [
        "The dormouse, of course, was the biggest of all the creatures.",
        "I can't tell you how big he was.",
        "Even if you think of elephants it will not help you at all."
      ],
      [
        "Luckily there was only one of him, and he was always asleep.",
        "Otherwise I don't think the Rotundians could have borne with him."
      ],
      [
        "As it was, they made him a house, and it saved the expense of a brass band, because no band could possibly have been heard when the dormouse was talking in his sleep."
      ],
      [
        "The men and women and children in this wonderful island were quite the right size, because their ancestors had come over with the Conqueror long after the island had settled down and the animals grown on it."
      ],
      [
        "Now the natural history lesson is over, and if you have been attending, you know more about Rotundia than anyone there did, except three people: the Lord Chief Schoolmaster, the Princess's uncle--who was a magician, and knew everything without learning it--and Tom, the gardener's son."
      ],
      [
        "Tom had learned more at school than anyone else, because he wished to take a prize."
      ],
      [
        "The prize offered by the Lord Chief Schoolmaster was a History of Rotundia, beautifully bound, with the Royal arms on the back."
      ],
      [
        "But after that day when the Princess said she meant to marry Tom, the gardener's boy thought it over, and he decided that the best prize in the world would be the Princess, and this was the prize Tom meant to take; and when you are a gardener's son and have decided to marry a Princess, you will find that the more you learn at school the better."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess always played with Tom on the days when the little dukes and marquises did not come to tea--and when he told her he was almost sure of the first prize, she clapped her hands and said: \"Dear Tom, dear good, clever Tom, you deserve all the prizes."
      ],
      [
        "And I will give you my pet elephant--and you can keep him till we're married.\""
      ],
      [
        "The pet elephant was called Fido, and the gardener's son took him away in his coat pocket.",
        "He was the dearest little elephant you ever saw--about six inches long."
      ],
      [
        "But he was very, very wise--he could not have been wiser if he had been a mile high."
      ],
      [
        "He lay down comfortably in Tom's pocket, and when Tom put in his hand, Fido curled his little trunk around Tom's fingers with an affectionate confidence that made the boy's heart warm to his new little pet."
      ],
      [
        "What with the elephant, and the Princess's affection, and the knowledge that the very next day he would receive the History of Rotundia, beautifully bound, with the Royal arms on the cover, Tom could hardly sleep a wink."
      ],
      [
        "And, besides, the dog did bark so terribly."
      ],
      [
        "There was only one dog in Rotundia--the kingdom could not afford to keep more than one: He was a Mexican lapdog of the kind that in most parts of the world only measures seven inches from the end of his dear nose to the tip of his darling tail--but in Rotundia he was bigger than I can possibly expect you to believe."
      ],
      [
        "And when he barked, his bark was so large that it filled up all the night and left no room for sleep or dreams or polite conversation, or anything else at all."
      ],
      [
        "He never barked at things that went on in the island--he was too large-minded for that; but when ships went blundering by in the dark, tumbling over the rocks at the end of the island, he would bark once or twice, just to let the ships know that they couldn't come playing about there just as they liked."
      ],
      [
        "But on this particular night he barked and barked and barked--and the Princess said, \"Oh dear, oh dear, I wish he wouldn't, I am so sleepy.\"",
        "And Tom said to himself, \"I wonder whatever is the matter."
      ],
      [
        "As soon as it's light I'll go and see.\""
      ],
      [
        "So when it began to be pretty pink-and-yellow daylight, Tom got up and went out."
      ],
      [
        "And all the time the Mexican lapdog barked so that the houses shook, and the tiles on the roof of the palace rattled like milk cans in a cart whose horse is frisky."
      ],
      [
        "\"I'll go to the pillar,\" thought Tom, as he went through the town."
      ],
      [
        "The pillar, of course, was the top of the piece of rock that had stuck itself through Rotundia millions of years before, and made it spin around the wrong way."
      ],
      [
        "It was quite in the middle of the island, and stuck up ever so far, and when you were at the top you could see a great deal farther than when you were not."
      ],
      [
        "As Tom went out from the town and across the downs, he thought what a pretty sight it was to see the rabbits in the bright, dewy morning, frisking with their young ones by the mouths of their burrows."
      ],
      [
        "He did not go very near the rabbits, of course, because when a rabbit of that size is at play it does not always look where it is going, and it might easily have crushed Tom with its foot, and then it would have been very sorry afterward."
      ],
      [
        "And Tom was a kind boy, and would not have liked to make even a rabbit unhappy.",
        "Earwigs in our country often get out of the way when they think you are going to walk on them."
      ],
      [
        "They too have kind hearts, and they would not like you to be sorry afterward."
      ],
      [
        "So Tom went on, looking at the rabbits and watching the morning grow more and more red and golden."
      ],
      [
        "And the Mexican lapdog barked all the time, till the church bells tinkled, and the chimney of the apple factory rocked again."
      ],
      [
        "But when Tom got to the pillar, he saw that he would not need to climb to the top to find out what the dog was barking at."
      ],
      [
        "For there, by the pillar, lay a very large purple dragon."
      ],
      [
        "His wings were like old purple umbrellas that have been very much rained on, and his head was large and bald, like the top of a purple toadstool, and his tail, which was purple too, was very, very, very long and thin and tight, like the lash of a carriage whip."
      ],
      [
        "It was licking one of its purple umbrella-y wings, and every now and then it moaned and leaned its head back against the rocky pillar as though it felt faint.",
        "Tom saw at once what had happened."
      ],
      [
        "A flight of purple dragons must have crossed the island in the night, and this poor one must have knocked its wing and broken it against the pillar."
      ],
      [
        "Everyone is kind to everyone in Rotundia, and Tom was not afraid of the dragon, although he had never spoken to one before."
      ],
      [
        "He had often watched them flying across the sea, but he had never expected to get to know one personally."
      ],
      [
        "So now he said: \"I am afraid you don't feel quite well.\""
      ],
      [
        "The dragon shook his large purple head.",
        "He could not speak, but like all other animals, he could understand well enough when he liked."
      ],
      [
        "\"Can I get you anything?\"",
        "asked Tom, politely."
      ],
      [
        "The dragon opened his purple eyes with an inquiring smile."
      ],
      [
        "\"A bun or two, now,\" said Tom, coaxingly.",
        "\"There's a beautiful bun tree quite close.\""
      ],
      [
        "The dragon opened a great purple mouth and licked his purple lips, so Tom ran and shook the bun tree, and soon came back with an armful of fresh currant buns, and as he came he picked a few of the Bath kind, which grow on the low bushes near the pillar."
      ],
      [
        "Because, of course, another consequence of the island's having spun the wrong way is that all the things we have to make--buns and cakes and shortbread--grow on trees and bushes, but in Rotundia they have to make their cauliflowers and cabbages and carrots and apples and onions, just as our cooks make puddings and turnovers."
      ],
      [
        "Tom gave all the buns to the dragon, saying: \"Here, try to eat a little.",
        "You'll soon feel better then.\""
      ],
      [
        "The dragon ate up the buns, nodded rather ungraciously, and began to lick his wing again."
      ],
      [
        "So Tom left him and went back to the town with the news, and everyone was so excited at a real live dragon's being on the island--a thing that had never happened before--that they all went out to look at it, instead of going to the prize-giving, and the Lord Chief Schoolmaster went with the rest."
      ],
      [
        "Now, he had Tom's prize, the History of Rotundia, in his pocket--the one bound in calf, with the Royal arms on the cover--and it happened to drop out, and the dragon ate it, so Tom never got the prize after all."
      ],
      [
        "But the dragon, when he had gotten it, did not like it."
      ],
      [
        "\"Perhaps it's all for the best,\" said Tom. \"I might not have liked that prize either, if I had gotten it.\""
      ],
      [
        "It happened to be a Wednesday, so when the Princess's friends were asked what they would like to do, all the little dukes and marquises and earls said, \"Let's go and see the dragon.\""
      ],
      [
        "But the little duchesses and marchionesses and countesses said they were afraid."
      ],
      [
        "Then Princess Mary Ann spoke up royally, and said, \"Don't be silly, because it's only in fairy stories and histories of England and things like that, that people are unkind and want to hurt each other."
      ],
      [
        "In Rotundia everyone is kind, and no one has anything to be afraid of, unless they're naughty; and then we know it's for our own good.",
        "Let's all go and see the dragon.",
        "We might take him some acid drops.\""
      ],
      [
        "So they went."
      ],
      [
        "And all the titled children took it in turns to feed the dragon with acid drops, and he seemed pleased and flattered, and wagged as much of his purple tail as he could get at conveniently; for it was a very, very long tail indeed."
      ],
      [
        "But when it came to the Princess's turn to give an acid drop to the dragon, he smiled a very wide smile, and wagged his tail to the very last long inch of it, as much as to say, \"Oh, you nice, kind, pretty little Princess.\""
      ],
      [
        "But deep down in his wicked purple heart he was saying, \"Oh, you nice, fat, pretty little Princess, I should like to eat you instead of these silly acid drops.\""
      ],
      [
        "But of course nobody heard him except the Princess's uncle, and he was a magician, and accustomed to listening at doors.",
        "It was part of his trade."
      ],
      [
        "Now, you will remember that I told you there was one wicked person in Rotundia, and I cannot conceal from you any longer that this Complete Bad was the Princess's Uncle James."
      ],
      [
        "Magicians are always bad, as you know from your fairy books, and some uncles are bad, as you see by the Babes in the Wood, or the Norfolk Tragedy, and one James at least was bad, as you have learned from your English history."
      ],
      [
        "And when anyone is a magician, and is also an uncle, and is named James as well, you need not expect anything nice from him.",
        "He is a Threefold Complete Bad--and he will come to no good."
      ],
      [
        "Uncle James had long wanted to get rid of the Princess and have the kingdom to himself."
      ],
      [
        "He did not like many things--a nice kingdom was almost the only thing he cared for--but he had never seen his way quite clearly, because everyone is so kind in Rotundia that wicked spells will not work there, but run off those blameless islanders like water off a duck's back."
      ],
      [
        "Now, however, Uncle James thought there might be a chance for him--because he knew that now there were two wicked people on the island who could stand by each other--himself and the dragon."
      ],
      [
        "He said nothing, but he exchanged a meaningful glance with the dragon, and everyone went home to tea.",
        "And no one had seen the meaningful glance except Tom."
      ],
      [
        "Tom went home, and told his elephant all about it."
      ],
      [
        "The intelligent little creature listened carefully, and then climbed from Tom's knee to the table, on which stood an ornamental calendar that the Princess had given Tom for a Christmas present."
      ],
      [
        "With its tiny trunk the elephant pointed out a date--the fifteenth of August, the Princess's birthday, and looked anxiously at its master."
      ],
      [
        "\"What is it, Fido--good little elephant--then?\" said Tom, and the sagacious animal repeated its former gesture.",
        "Then Tom understood."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, something is to happen on her birthday?",
        "All right.",
        "I'll be on the lookout.\"",
        "And he was."
      ],
      [
        "At first the people of Rotundia were quite pleased with the dragon, who lived by the pillar and fed himself from the bun trees, but by-and-by he began to wander."
      ],
      [
        "He would creep into the burrows made by the great rabbits; and excursionists, sporting on the downs, would see his long, tight, whiplike tail wriggling down a burrow and out of sight, and before they had time to say, \"There he goes,\" his ugly purple head would come poking out from another rabbit-hole--perhaps just behind them--or laugh softly to itself just in their ears."
      ],
      [
        "And the dragon's laugh was not a merry one."
      ],
      [
        "This sort of hide-and-seek amused people at first, but by-and-by it began to get on their nerves: and if you don't know what that means, ask Mother to tell you next time you are playing blind man's buff when she has a headache."
      ],
      [
        "Then the dragon got into the habit of cracking his tail, as people crack whips, and this also got on people's nerves.",
        "Then, too, little things began to be missed."
      ],
      [
        "And you know how unpleasant that is, even in a private school, and in a public kingdom it is, of course, much worse."
      ],
      [
        "The things that were missed were nothing much at first--a few little elephants, a hippopotamus or two, and some giraffes, and things like that."
      ],
      [
        "It was nothing much, as I say, but it made people feel uncomfortable."
      ],
      [
        "Then one day a favorite rabbit of the Princess's, called Frederick, mysteriously disappeared, and then came a terrible morning when the Mexican lapdog was missing."
      ],
      [
        "He had barked ever since the dragon came to the island, and people had grown quite used to the noise."
      ],
      [
        "So when his barking suddenly ceased it woke everybody up--and they all went out to see what was the matter.",
        "And the lapdog was gone!"
      ],
      [
        "A boy was sent to wake the army, so that it might look for him.",
        "But the army was gone too!",
        "And now the people began to be frightened."
      ],
      [
        "Then Uncle James came out onto the terrace of the palace, and he made the people a speech."
      ],
      [
        "He said: \"Friends--fellow citizens--I cannot disguise from myself or from you that this purple dragon is a poor penniless exile, a helpless alien in our midst, and, besides, he is a--is no end of a dragon.\""
      ],
      [
        "The people thought of the dragon's tail and said, \"Hear, hear.\""
      ],
      [
        "Uncle James went on: \"Something has happened to a gentle and defenseless member of our community.",
        "We don't know what has happened.\""
      ],
      [
        "Everyone thought of the rabbit named Frederick, and groaned."
      ],
      [
        "\"The defenses of our country have been swallowed up,\" said Uncle James."
      ],
      [
        "Everyone thought of the poor army."
      ],
      [
        "\"There is only one thing to be done.\"",
        "Uncle James was warming to his subject."
      ],
      [
        "\"Could we ever forgive ourselves if by neglecting a simple precaution we lost more rabbits--or even, perhaps, our navy, our police, and our fire brigade?"
      ],
      [
        "For I warn you that the purple dragon will respect nothing, however sacred.\""
      ],
      [
        "Everyone thought of themselves--and they said, \"What is the simple precaution?\""
      ],
      [
        "Then Uncle James said: \"Tomorrow is the dragon's birthday.",
        "He is accustomed to have a present on his birthday."
      ],
      [
        "If he gets a nice present he will be in a hurry to take it away and show it to his friends, and he will fly off and never come back.\""
      ],
      [
        "The crowd cheered wildly--and the Princess from her balcony clapped her hands."
      ],
      [
        "\"The present the dragon expects,\" said Uncle James, cheerfully, \"is rather an expensive one.",
        "But, when we give, it should not be in a grudging spirit, especially to visitors."
      ],
      [
        "What the dragon wants is a Princess.",
        "We have only one Princess, it is true; but far be it from us to display a miserly temper at such a moment.",
        "And the gift is worthless that costs the giver nothing."
      ],
      [
        "Your readiness to give up your Princess will only show how generous you are.\""
      ],
      [
        "The crowd began to cry, for they loved their Princess, though they quite saw that their first duty was to be generous and give the poor dragon what it wanted."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess began to cry, for she did not want to be anybody's birthday present--especially a purple dragon's.",
        "And Tom began to cry because he was so angry."
      ],
      [
        "He went straight home and told his little elephant; and the elephant cheered him up so much that presently the two grew quite absorbed in a top that the elephant was spinning with his little trunk."
      ],
      [
        "Early in the morning Tom went to the palace."
      ],
      [
        "He looked out across the downs--there were hardly any rabbits playing there now--and then he gathered white roses and threw them at the Princess's window till she woke up and looked out."
      ],
      [
        "\"Come up and kiss me,\" she said."
      ],
      [
        "So Tom climbed up the white rosebush and kissed the Princess through the window, and said: \"Many happy returns of the day.\""
      ],
      [
        "Then Mary Ann began to cry, and said: \"Oh, Tom--how can you?",
        "When you know quite well--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, don't,\" said Tom. \"Why, Mary Ann, my precious, my Princess--what do you think I should be doing while the dragon was getting his birthday present?"
      ],
      [
        "Don't cry, my own little Mary Ann! Fido and I have arranged everything.",
        "You've only got to do as you are told.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Is that all?\" said the Princess.",
        "\"Oh--that's easy--I've often done that!\""
      ],
      [
        "Then Tom told her what she was to do.",
        "And she kissed him again and again.",
        "\"Oh, you dear, good, clever Tom,\" she said.",
        "\"How glad I am that I gave you Fido.",
        "You two have saved me.",
        "You dears!\""
      ],
      [
        "The next morning Uncle James put on his best coat and hat and the vest with the gold snakes on it--he was a magician, and he had a bright taste in vests--and he called with a cab to take the Princess out."
      ],
      [
        "\"Come, little birthday present,\" he said tenderly.",
        "\"The dragon will be so pleased.",
        "And I'm glad to see you're not crying."
      ],
      [
        "You know, my child, we cannot begin too young to learn to think of the happiness of others rather than our own."
      ],
      [
        "I should not like my dear little niece to be selfish, or to wish to deny a trivial pleasure to a poor, sick dragon, far from his home and friends.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Princess said she would try not to be selfish."
      ],
      [
        "Presently the cab drew up near the pillar, and there was the dragon, his ugly purple head shining in the sun, and his ugly purple mouth half open."
      ],
      [
        "Uncle James said: \"Good morning, sir.",
        "We have brought you a small present for your birthday."
      ],
      [
        "We do not like to let such an anniversary go by without some suitable testimonial, especially to one who is a stranger in our midst.",
        "Our means are small, but our hearts are large."
      ],
      [
        "We have but one Princess, but we give her freely--do we not, my child?\""
      ],
      [
        "The Princess said she supposed so, and the dragon came a little nearer."
      ],
      [
        "Suddenly a voice cried: \"Run!\" and there was Tom, and he had brought the Zoological guinea pig and a pair of Belgian hares with him.",
        "\"Just to see fair,\" said Tom."
      ],
      [
        "Uncle James was furious.",
        "\"What do you mean, sir,\" he cried, \"by intruding on a State function with your common rabbits and things?",
        "Go away, naughty little boy, and play with them somewhere else.\""
      ],
      [
        "But while he was speaking the rabbits had come up one on each side of him, their great sides towering ever so high, and now they pressed him between them so that he was buried in their thick fur and almost choked."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess, meantime, had run to the other side of the pillar and was peeping around it to see what was going on."
      ],
      [
        "A crowd had followed the cab out of the town; now they reached the scene of the \"State Function\"--and they all cried out: \"Fair play--play fair!",
        "We can't go back on our word like this."
      ],
      [
        "Give a thing and take a thing?",
        "Why, it's never done.",
        "Let the poor exiled stranger dragon have his birthday present.\"",
        "And they tried to get at Tom--but the guinea pig stood in the way."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes,\" Tom cried.",
        "\"Fair play is a jewel.",
        "And your helpless exile shall have the Princess--if he can catch her.",
        "Now then, Mary Ann.\""
      ],
      [
        "Mary Ann looked around the big pillar and called to the dragon: \"Bo! you can't catch me,\" and began to run as fast as ever she could, and the dragon ran after her."
      ],
      [
        "When the Princess had run a half mile she stopped, dodged around a tree, and ran back to the pillar and around it, and the dragon after her.",
        "You see, he was so long he could not turn as quickly as she could."
      ],
      [
        "Around and around the pillar ran the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "The first time she ran around a long way from the pillar, and then nearer and nearer--with the dragon after her all the time; and he was so busy trying to catch her that he never noticed that Tom had tied the very end of his long, tight, whipcordy tail to the rock, so that the more the dragon ran around, the more times he twisted his tail around the pillar."
      ],
      [
        "It was exactly like winding a top--only the peg was the pillar, and the dragon's tail was the string."
      ],
      [
        "And the magician was safe between the Belgian hares, and couldn't see anything but darkness, or do anything but choke."
      ],
      [
        "When the dragon was wound onto the pillar as much as he possibly could be, and as tight--like cotton on a reel--the Princess stopped running, and though she had very little breath left, she managed to say, \"Yah--who's won now?\""
      ],
      [
        "This annoyed the dragon so much that he put out all his strength--spread his great purple wings, and tried to fly at her."
      ],
      [
        "Of course this pulled his tail, and pulled it very hard, so hard that as he pulled the tail had to come, and the pillar had to come around with the tail, and the island had to come around with the pillar, and in another minute the tail was loose, and the island was spinning around exactly like a top."
      ],
      [
        "It spun so fast that everyone fell flat on their faces and held on tight to themselves, because they felt something was going to happen."
      ],
      [
        "All but the magician, who was choking between the Belgian hares, and felt nothing but fur and fury."
      ],
      [
        "And something did happen.",
        "The dragon had sent the kingdom of Rotundia spinning the way it ought to have gone at the beginning of the world, and as it spun around, all the animals began to change sizes."
      ],
      [
        "The guinea pigs got small, and the elephants got big, and the men and women and children would have changed sizes too, if they had not had the sense to hold on to themselves, very tight indeed, with both hands; which, of course, the animals could not be expected to know how to do."
      ],
      [
        "And the best of it was that when the small beasts got big and the big beasts got small the dragon got small too, and fell at the Princess's feet--a little, crawling, purple newt with wings."
      ],
      [
        "\"Funny little thing,\" said the Princess, when she saw it.",
        "\"I will take it for a birthday present.\""
      ],
      [
        "But while all the people were still on their faces, holding on tight to themselves, Uncle James, the magician, never thought of holding tight--he only thought of how to punish Belgian hares and the sons of gardeners; so when the big beasts grew small, he grew small with the other beasts, and the little purple dragon, when he fell at the Princess's feet, saw there a very small magician named Uncle James."
      ],
      [
        "And the dragon took him because it wanted a birthday present."
      ],
      [
        "So now all the animals were new sizes--and at first it seemed very strange to everyone to have great lumbering elephants and a tiny little dormouse, but they have gotten used to it now, and think no more of it than we do."
      ],
      [
        "All this happened several years ago, and the other day I saw in the Rotundia Times an account of the wedding of the Princess with Lord Thomas Gardener, K.C.D., and I knew she could not have married anyone but Tom, so I suppose they made him a Lord on purpose for the wedding--and K.C.D._, of course, means Clever Conqueror of the Dragon."
      ],
      [
        "If you think that is wrong it is only because you don't know how they spell in Rotundia."
      ],
      [
        "The paper said that among the beautiful presents of the bridegroom to the bride was an enormous elephant, on which the bridal pair made their wedding tour.",
        "This must have been Fido."
      ],
      [
        "You remember Tom promised to give him back to the Princess when they were married.",
        "The Rotundia Times called the married couple \"the happy pair.\""
      ],
      [
        "It was clever of the paper to think of calling them that--it is such a pretty and novel expression, and I think it is truer than many of the things you see in papers."
      ],
      [
        "Because, you see, the Princess and the gardener's son were so fond of each other they could not help being happy--and besides, they had an elephant of their very own to ride on."
      ],
      [
        "If that is not enough to make people happy, I should like to know what is.",
        "Though, of course, I know there are some people who could not be happy unless they had a whale to sail on, and perhaps not even then."
      ],
      [
        "But they are greedy, grasping people, the kind who would take four helps of pudding, as likely as not, which neither Tom nor Mary Ann ever did."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER THREE\r\nThe Deliverers of Their Country"
      ],
      [
        "It all began with Effie's getting something in her eye.",
        "It hurt very much indeed, and it felt something like a red-hot spark--only it seemed to have legs as well, and wings like a fly."
      ],
      [
        "Effie rubbed and cried--not real crying, but the kind your eye does all by itself without your being miserable inside your mind--and then she went to her father to have the thing in her eye taken out."
      ],
      [
        "Effie's father was a doctor, so of course he knew how to take things out of eyes--he did it very cleverly with a soft paintbrush dipped in castor oil."
      ],
      [
        "When he had gotten the thing out, he said: \"This is very curious.\""
      ],
      [
        "Effie had often got things in her eye before, and her father had always seemed to think it was natural--rather tiresome and naughty perhaps, but still natural.",
        "He had never before thought it curious."
      ],
      [
        "Effie stood holding her handkerchief to her eye, and said: \"I don't believe it's out.\"",
        "People always say this when they have had something in their eyes."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, yes--it's out,\" said the doctor.",
        "\"Here it is, on the brush.",
        "This is very interesting.\""
      ],
      [
        "Effie had never heard her father say that about anything that she had any share in.",
        "She said: \"What?\""
      ],
      [
        "The doctor carried the brush very carefully across the room, and held the point of it under his microscope--then he twisted the brass screws of the microscope, and looked through the top with one eye."
      ],
      [
        "\"Dear me,\" he said.",
        "\"Dear, dear me!",
        "Four well-developed limbs; a long caudal appendage; five toes, unequal in lengths, almost like one of the Lacertidae, yet there are traces of wings.\""
      ],
      [
        "The creature under his eye wriggled a little in the castor oil, and he went on: \"Yes; a batlike wing.",
        "A new specimen, undoubtedly."
      ],
      [
        "Effie, run round to the professor and ask him to be kind enough to step in for a few minutes.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You might give me sixpence, Daddy,\" said Effie, \"because I did bring you the new specimen.",
        "I took great care of it inside my eye, and my eye does hurt.\""
      ],
      [
        "The doctor was so pleased with the new specimen that he gave Effie a shilling, and presently the professor stepped round."
      ],
      [
        "He stayed to lunch, and he and the doctor quarreled very happily all the afternoon about the name and the family of the thing that had come out of Effie's eye."
      ],
      [
        "But at teatime another thing happened.",
        "Effie's brother Harry fished something out of his tea, which he thought at first was an earwig."
      ],
      [
        "He was just getting ready to drop it on the floor, and end its life in the usual way, when it shook itself in the spoon--spread two wet wings, and flopped onto the tablecloth."
      ],
      [
        "There it sat, stroking itself with its feet and stretching its wings, and Harry said: \"Why, it's a tiny newt!\""
      ],
      [
        "The professor leaned forward before the doctor could say a word.",
        "\"I'll give you half a crown for it, Harry, my lad,\" he said, speaking very fast; and then he picked it up carefully on his handkerchief."
      ],
      [
        "\"It is a new specimen,\" he said, \"and finer than yours, Doctor.\""
      ],
      [
        "It was a tiny lizard, about half an inch long--with scales and wings."
      ],
      [
        "So now the doctor and the professor each had a specimen, and they were both very pleased.",
        "But before long these specimens began to seem less valuable."
      ],
      [
        "For the next morning, when the knife-boy was cleaning the doctor's boots, he suddenly dropped the brushes and the boot and the blacking, and screamed out that he was burnt."
      ],
      [
        "And from inside the boot came crawling a lizard as big as a kitten, with large, shiny wings."
      ],
      [
        "\"Why,\" said Effie, \"I know what it is.",
        "It is a dragon like the one St. George killed.\""
      ],
      [
        "And Effie was right."
      ],
      [
        "That afternoon Towser was bitten in the garden by a dragon about the size of a rabbit, which he had tried to chase, and the next morning all the papers were full of the wonderful \"winged lizards\" that were appearing all over the country."
      ],
      [
        "The papers would not call them dragons, because, of course, no one believes in dragons nowadays--and at any rate the papers were not going to be so silly as to believe in fairy stories."
      ],
      [
        "At first there were only a few, but in a week or two the country was simply running alive with dragons of all sizes, and in the air you could sometimes see them as thick as a swarm of bees."
      ],
      [
        "They all looked alike except as to size."
      ],
      [
        "They were green with scales, and they had four legs and a long tail and great wings like bats' wings, only the wings were a pale, half-transparent yellow, like the gear-boxes on bicycles."
      ],
      [
        "They breathed fire and smoke, as all proper dragons must, but still the newspapers went on pretending they were lizards, until the editor of the Standard was picked up and carried away by a very large one, and then the other newspaper people had not anyone left to tell them what they ought not to believe."
      ],
      [
        "So when the largest elephant in the Zoo was carried off by a dragon, the papers gave up pretending--and put ALARMING PLAGUE OF DRAGONS at the top of the paper."
      ],
      [
        "You have no idea how alarming it was, and at the same time how aggravating."
      ],
      [
        "The large-size dragons were terrible certainly, but when once you had found out that the dragons always went to bed early because they were afraid of the chill night air, you had only to stay indoors all day, and you were pretty safe from the big ones."
      ],
      [
        "But the smaller sizes were a perfect nuisance.",
        "The ones as big as earwigs got in the soap, and they got in the butter."
      ],
      [
        "The ones as big as dogs got in the bath, and the fire and smoke inside them made them steam like anything when the cold water tap was turned on, so that careless people were often scalded quite severely."
      ],
      [
        "The ones that were as large as pigeons would get into workbaskets or corner drawers and bite you when you were in a hurry to get a needle or a handkerchief."
      ],
      [
        "The ones as big as sheep were easier to avoid, because you could see them coming; but when they flew in at the windows and curled up under your eiderdown, and you did not find them till you went to bed, it was always a shock."
      ],
      [
        "The ones this size did not eat people, only lettuce, but they always scorched the sheets and pillowcases dreadfully."
      ],
      [
        "Of course, the County Council and the police did everything that could be done: It was no use offering the hand of the Princess to anyone who killed a dragon."
      ],
      [
        "This way was all very well in olden times--when there was only one dragon and one Princess; but now there were far more dragons than Princesses--although the Royal Family was a large one."
      ],
      [
        "And besides, it would have been a mere waste of Princesses to offer rewards for killing dragons, because everybody killed as many dragons as they could quite out of their own heads and without rewards at all, just to get the nasty things out of the way."
      ],
      [
        "The County Council undertook to cremate all dragons delivered at their offices between the hours of ten and two, and whole wagonloads and cartloads and truckloads of dead dragons could be seen any day of the week standing in a long line in the street where the County Council had their offices."
      ],
      [
        "Boys brought barrowloads of dead dragons, and children on their way home from morning school would call in to leave the handful or two of little dragons they had brought in their satchels, or carried in their knotted pocket handkerchiefs."
      ],
      [
        "And yet there seemed to be as many dragons as ever.",
        "Then the police stuck up great wood and canvas towers covered with patent glue."
      ],
      [
        "When the dragons flew against these towers, they stuck fast, as flies and wasps do on the sticky papers in the kitchen; and when the towers were covered all over with dragons, the police inspector used to set fire to the towers, and burnt them and dragons and all."
      ],
      [
        "And yet there seemed to be more dragons than ever."
      ],
      [
        "The shops were full of patent dragon poison and anti-dragon soap, and dragonproof curtains for the windows; and indeed, everything that could be done was done."
      ],
      [
        "And yet there seemed to be more dragons than ever."
      ],
      [
        "It was not very easy to know what would poison a dragon, because, you see, they ate such different things.",
        "The largest kind ate elephants as long as there were any, and then went on with horses and cows."
      ],
      [
        "Another size ate nothing but lilies of the valley, and a third size ate only Prime Ministers if they were to be had, and, if not, would feed freely on servants in livery."
      ],
      [
        "Another size lived on bricks, and three of them ate two thirds of the South Lambeth Infirmary in one afternoon."
      ],
      [
        "But the size Effie was most afraid of was about as big as your dining room, and that size ate little girls and boys."
      ],
      [
        "At first Effie and her brother were quite pleased with the change in their lives.",
        "It was so amusing to sit up all night instead of going to sleep, and to play in the garden lighted by electric lamps."
      ],
      [
        "And it sounded so funny to hear Mother say, when they were going to bed: \"Good night, my darlings, sleep sound all day, and don't get up too soon.",
        "You must not get up before it's quite dark."
      ],
      [
        "You wouldn't like the nasty dragons to catch you.\""
      ],
      [
        "But after a time they got very tired of it all: They wanted to see the flowers and trees growing in the fields, and to see the pretty sunshine out of doors, and not just through glass windows and patent dragonproof curtains."
      ],
      [
        "And they wanted to play on the grass, which they were not allowed to do in the electric lamp-lighted garden because of the night-dew."
      ],
      [
        "And they wanted so much to get out, just for once, in the beautiful, bright, dangerous daylight, that they began to try and think of some reason why they ought to go out."
      ],
      [
        "Only they did not like to disobey their mother."
      ],
      [
        "But one morning their mother was busy preparing some new dragon poison to lay down in the cellars, and their father was bandaging the hand of the boot boy, which had been scratched by one of the dragons who liked to eat Prime Ministers when they were to be had, so nobody remembered to say to the children: \"Don't get up till it is quite dark!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Go now,\" said Harry.",
        "\"It would not be disobedient to go.",
        "And I know exactly what we ought to do, but I don't know how we ought to do it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What ought we to do?\" said Effie."
      ],
      [
        "\"We ought to wake St. George, of course,\" said Harry.",
        "\"He was the only person in his town who knew how to manage dragons; the people in the fairy tales don't count."
      ],
      [
        "But St. George is a real person, and he is only asleep, and he is waiting to be waked up.",
        "Only nobody believes in St. George now.",
        "I heard father say so.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"We do,\" said Effie."
      ],
      [
        "\"Of course we do.",
        "And don't you see, Ef, that's the very reason why we could wake him?",
        "You can't wake people if you don't believe in them, can you?\""
      ],
      [
        "Effie said no, but where could they find St.",
        "George?"
      ],
      [
        "\"We must go and look,\" said Harry boldly.",
        "\"You shall wear a dragonproof frock, made of stuff like the curtains.",
        "And I will smear myself all over with the best dragon poison, and--\""
      ],
      [
        "Effie clasped her hands and skipped with joy and cried: \"Oh, Harry!",
        "I know where we can find St.",
        "George!",
        "In St. George's Church, of course.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Um,\" said Harry, wishing he had thought of it for himself, \"you have a little sense sometimes, for a girl.\""
      ],
      [
        "So the next afternoon, quite early, long before the beams of sunset announced the coming night, when everybody would be up and working, the two children got out of bed."
      ],
      [
        "Effie wrapped herself in a shawl of dragonproof muslin--there was no time to make the frock--and Harry made a horrid mess of himself with the patent dragon poison."
      ],
      [
        "It was warranted harmless to infants and invalids, so he felt quite safe."
      ],
      [
        "Then they joined hands and set out to walk to St. George's Church."
      ],
      [
        "As you know, there are many St. George's churches, but fortunately they took the turning that leads to the right one, and went along in the bright sunlight, feeling very brave and adventurous."
      ],
      [
        "There was no one about in the streets except dragons, and the place was simply swarming with them."
      ],
      [
        "Fortunately none of the dragons were just the right size for eating little boys and girls, or perhaps this story might have had to end here."
      ],
      [
        "There were dragons on the pavement, and dragons on the roadway, dragons basking on the front doorsteps of public buildings, and dragons preening their wings on the roofs in the hot afternoon sun."
      ],
      [
        "The town was quite green with them."
      ],
      [
        "Even when the children had gotten out of the town and were walking in the lanes, they noticed that the fields on each side were greener than usual with the scaly legs and tails; and some of the smaller sizes had made themselves asbestos nests in the flowering hawthorn hedges."
      ],
      [
        "Effie held her brother's hand very tight, and once when a fat dragon flopped against her ear she screamed out, and a whole flight of green dragons rose from the field at the sound, and sprawled away across the sky."
      ],
      [
        "The children could hear the rattle of their wings as they flew."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, I want to go home,\" said Effie."
      ],
      [
        "\"Don't be silly,\" said Harry.",
        "\"Surely you haven't forgotten about the Seven Champions and all the princes.",
        "People who are going to be their country's deliverers never scream and say they want to go home.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And are we,\" asked Effie--\"deliverers, I mean?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You'll see,\" said her brother, and on they went."
      ],
      [
        "When they came to St. George's Church they found the door open, and they walked right in--but St. George was not there, so they walked around the churchyard outside, and presently they found the great stone tomb of St. George, with the figure of him carved in marble outside, in his armor and helmet, and with his hands folded on his breast."
      ],
      [
        "\"How ever can we wake him?\"",
        "they said."
      ],
      [
        "Then Harry spoke to St. George--but he would not answer; and he called, but St. George did not seem to hear; and then he actually tried to waken the great dragon-slayer by shaking his marble shoulders."
      ],
      [
        "But St. George took no notice."
      ],
      [
        "Then Effie began to cry, and she put her arms around St. George's neck as well as she could for the marble, which was very much in the way at the back, and she kissed the marble face, and she said: \"Oh, dear, good, kind St. George, please wake up and help us.\""
      ],
      [
        "And at that St. George opened his eyes sleepily, and stretched himself and said: \"What's the matter, little girl?\""
      ],
      [
        "So the children told him all about it; he turned over in his marble and leaned on one elbow to listen.",
        "But when he heard that there were so many dragons he shook his head."
      ],
      [
        "\"It's no good,\" he said, \"they would be one too many for poor old George.",
        "You should have waked me before.",
        "I was always for a fair fight--one man one dragon, was my motto.\""
      ],
      [
        "Just then a flight of dragons passed overhead, and St. George half drew his sword."
      ],
      [
        "But he shook his head again and pushed the sword back as the flight of dragons grew small in the distance."
      ],
      [
        "\"I can't do anything,\" he said.",
        "\"Things have changed since my time.",
        "St. Andrew told me about it.",
        "They woke him up over the engineers' strike, and he came to talk to me."
      ],
      [
        "He says everything is done by machinery now; there must be some way of settling these dragons.",
        "By the way, what sort of weather have you been having lately?\""
      ],
      [
        "This seemed so careless and unkind that Harry would not answer, but Effie said patiently, \"It has been very fine.",
        "Father says it is the hottest weather there has ever been in this country.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Ah, I guessed as much,\" said the Champion, thoughtfully.",
        "\"Well, the only thing would be ... dragons can't stand wet and cold, that's the only thing.",
        "If you could find the taps.\""
      ],
      [
        "St. George was beginning to settle down again on his stone slab."
      ],
      [
        "\"Good night, very sorry I can't help you,\" he said, yawning behind his marble hand."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, but you can,\" cried Effie.",
        "\"Tell us--what taps?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, like in the bathroom,\" said St. George, still more sleepily.",
        "\"And there's a looking glass, too; shows you all the world and what's going on.",
        "St. Denis told me about it; said it was a very pretty thing."
      ],
      [
        "I'm sorry I can't--good night.\""
      ],
      [
        "And he fell back into his marble and was fast asleep again in a moment."
      ],
      [
        "\"We shall never find the taps,\" said Harry.",
        "\"I say, wouldn't it be awful if St. George woke up when there was a dragon near, the size that eats champions?\""
      ],
      [
        "Effie pulled off her dragonproof veil.",
        "\"We didn't meet any the size of the dining room as we came along,\" she said.",
        "\"I daresay we shall be quite safe.\""
      ],
      [
        "So she covered St. George with the veil, and Harry rubbed off as much as he could of the dragon poison onto St. George's armor, so as to make everything quite safe for him."
      ],
      [
        "\"We might hide in the church till it is dark,\" he said, \"and then--\""
      ],
      [
        "But at that moment a dark shadow fell on them, and they saw that it was a dragon exactly the size of the dining room at home."
      ],
      [
        "So then they knew that all was lost."
      ],
      [
        "The dragon swooped down and caught the two children in his claws; he caught Effie by her green silk sash, and Harry by the little point at the back of his Eton jacket--and then, spreading his great yellow wings, he rose into the air, rattling like a third-class carriage when the brake is hard on."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, Harry,\" said Effie, \"I wonder when he will eat us!\"",
        "The dragon was flying across woods and fields with great flaps of his wings that carried him a quarter of a mile at each flap."
      ],
      [
        "Harry and Effie could see the country below, hedges and rivers and churches and farmhouses flowing away from under them, much faster than you see them running away from the sides of the fastest express train."
      ],
      [
        "And still the dragon flew on."
      ],
      [
        "The children saw other dragons in the air as they went, but the dragon who was as big as the dining room never stopped to speak to any of them, but just flew on quite steadily."
      ],
      [
        "\"He knows where he wants to go,\" said Harry.",
        "\"Oh, if he would only drop us before he gets there!\""
      ],
      [
        "But the dragon held on tight, and he flew and flew and flew until at last, when the children were quite giddy, he settled down, with a rattling of all his scales, on the top of a mountain."
      ],
      [
        "And he lay there on his great green scaly side, panting, and very much out of breath, because he had come such a long way."
      ],
      [
        "But his claws were fast in Effie's sash and the little point at the back of Harry's Eton jacket."
      ],
      [
        "Then Effie took out the knife Harry had given her on her birthday."
      ],
      [
        "It had cost only sixpence to begin with, and she had had it a month, and it never could sharpen anything but slate-pencils; but somehow she managed to make that knife cut her sash in front, and crept out of it, leaving the dragon with only a green silk bow in one of his claws."
      ],
      [
        "That knife would never have cut Harry's jacket-tail off, though, and when Effie had tried for some time she saw that this was so and gave it up."
      ],
      [
        "But with her help Harry managed to wriggle quietly out of his sleeves, so that the dragon had only an Eton jacket in his other claw.",
        "Then the children crept on tiptoe to a crack in the rocks and got in."
      ],
      [
        "It was much too narrow for the dragon to get in also, so they stayed in there and waited to make faces at the dragon when he felt rested enough to sit up and begin to think about eating them."
      ],
      [
        "He was very angry, indeed, when they made faces at him, and blew out fire and smoke at them, but they ran farther into the cave so that he could not reach them, and when he was tired of blowing he went away."
      ],
      [
        "But they were afraid to come out of the cave, so they went farther in, and presently the cave opened out and grew bigger, and the floor was soft sand, and when they had come to the very end of the cave there was a door, and on it was written: UNIVERSAL TAPROOM."
      ],
      [
        "PRIVATE.",
        "NO ONE ALLOWED INSIDE."
      ],
      [
        "So they opened the door at once just to peep in, and then they remembered what St. George had said."
      ],
      [
        "\"We can't be worse off than we are,\" said Harry, \"with a dragon waiting for us outside.",
        "Let's go in.\""
      ],
      [
        "They went boldly into the taproom, and shut the door behind them."
      ],
      [
        "And now they were in a sort of room cut out of the solid rock, and all along one side of the room were taps, and all the taps were labeled with china labels like you see in baths."
      ],
      [
        "And as they could both read words of two syllables or even three sometimes, they understood at once that they had gotten to the place where the weather is turned on from."
      ],
      [
        "There were six big taps labeled \"Sunshine,\" \"Wind,\" \"Rain,\" \"Snow,\" \"Hail,\" \"Ice,\" and a lot of little ones, labeled \"Fair to moderate,\" \"Showery,\" \"South breeze,\" \"Nice growing weather for the crops,\" \"Skating,\" \"Good open weather,\" \"South wind,\" \"East wind,\" and so on."
      ],
      [
        "And the big tap labeled \"Sunshine\" was turned full on."
      ],
      [
        "They could not see any sunshine--the cave was lighted by a skylight of blue glass--so they supposed the sunlight was pouring out by some other way, as it does with the tap that washes out the underneath parts of patent sinks in kitchens."
      ],
      [
        "Then they saw that one side of the room was just a big looking glass, and when you looked in it you could see everything that was going on in the world--and all at once, too, which is not like most looking glasses."
      ],
      [
        "They saw the carts delivering the dead dragons at the County Council offices, and they saw St. George asleep under the dragonproof veil."
      ],
      [
        "And they saw their mother at home crying because her children had gone out in the dreadful, dangerous daylight, and she was afraid a dragon had eaten them."
      ],
      [
        "And they saw the whole of England, like a great puzzle map--green in the field parts and brown in the towns, and black in the places where they make coal and crockery and cutlery and chemicals."
      ],
      [
        "All over it, on the black parts, and on the brown, and on the green, there was a network of green dragons.",
        "And they could see that it was still broad daylight, and no dragons had gone to bed yet."
      ],
      [
        "Effie said, \"Dragons do not like cold.\""
      ],
      [
        "And she tried to turn off the sunshine, but the tap was out of order, and that was why there had been so much hot weather, and why the dragons had been able to be hatched."
      ],
      [
        "So they left the sunshine tap alone, and they turned on the snow and left the tap full on while they went to look in the glass."
      ],
      [
        "There they saw the dragons running all sorts of ways like ants if you are cruel enough to pour water into an ant-heap, which, of course, you never are.",
        "And the snow fell more and more."
      ],
      [
        "Then Effie turned the rain tap quite full on, and presently the dragons began to wriggle less, and by-and-by some of them lay quite still, so the children knew the water had put out the fires inside them, and they were dead."
      ],
      [
        "So then they turned on the hail--only half on, for fear of breaking people's windows--and after a while there were no more dragons to be seen moving."
      ],
      [
        "Then the children knew that they were indeed the deliverers of their country."
      ],
      [
        "\"They will put up a monument to us,\" said Harry, \"as high as Nelson's!",
        "All the dragons are dead.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I hope the one that was waiting outside for us is dead!\" said Effie.",
        "\"And about the monument, Harry, I'm not so sure.",
        "What can they do with such a lot of dead dragons?"
      ],
      [
        "It would take years and years to bury them, and they could never be burnt now they are so soaking wet.",
        "I wish the rain would wash them off into the sea.\""
      ],
      [
        "But this did not happen, and the children began to feel that they had not been so frightfully clever after all."
      ],
      [
        "\"I wonder what this old thing's for,\" said Harry.",
        "He had found a rusty old tap, which seemed as though it had not been used for ages.",
        "Its china label was quite coated over with dirt and cobwebs."
      ],
      [
        "When Effie had cleaned it with a bit of her skirt--for curiously enough both the children had come out without pocket handkerchiefs--she found that the label said \"Waste.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Let's turn it on,\" she said.",
        "\"It might carry off the dragons.\""
      ],
      [
        "The tap was very stiff from not having been used for such a long time, but together they managed to turn it on, and then ran to the mirror to see what happened."
      ],
      [
        "Already a great, round black hole had opened in the very middle of the map of England, and the sides of the map were tilting themselves up, so that the rain ran down toward the hole."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!\" cried Effie, and she hurried back to the taps and turned on everything that seemed wet."
      ],
      [
        "\"Showery,\" \"Good open weather,\" \"Nice growing weather for the crops,\" and even \"South\" and \"South-West,\" because she had heard her father say that those winds brought rain."
      ],
      [
        "And now the floods of rain were pouring down on the country, and great sheets of water flowed toward the center of the map, and cataracts of water poured into the great round hole in the middle of the map, and the dragons were being washed away and disappearing down the waste pipe in great green masses and scattered green shoals--single dragons and dragons by the dozen; of all sizes, from the ones that carry off elephants down to the ones that get in your tea."
      ],
      [
        "Presently there was not a dragon left."
      ],
      [
        "So then they turned off the tap named \"Waste,\" and they half-turned off the one labeled \"Sunshine\"--it was broken, so that they could not turn it off altogether--and they turned on \"Fair to moderate\" and \"Showery\" and both taps stuck, so that they could not be turned off, which accounts for our climate."
      ],
      [
        "How did they get home again?",
        "By the Snowdon railway of course."
      ],
      [
        "And was the nation grateful?",
        "Well--the nation was very wet."
      ],
      [
        "And by the time the nation had gotten dry again it was interested in the new invention for toasting muffins by electricity, and all the dragons were almost forgotten."
      ],
      [
        "Dragons do not seem so important when they are dead and gone, and, you know, there never was a reward offered."
      ],
      [
        "And what did Father and Mother say when Effie and Harry got home?"
      ],
      [
        "My dear, that is the sort of silly question you children always will ask.",
        "However, just for this once I don't mind telling you."
      ],
      [
        "Mother said: \"Oh, my darlings, my darlings, you're safe--you're safe!",
        "You naughty children--how could you be so disobedient?",
        "Go to bed at once!\""
      ],
      [
        "And their father the doctor said: \"I wish I had known what you were going to do!",
        "I should have liked to preserve a specimen.",
        "I threw away the one I got out of Effie's eye."
      ],
      [
        "I intended to get a more perfect specimen.",
        "I did not anticipate this immediate extinction of the species.\""
      ],
      [
        "The professor said nothing, but he rubbed his hands.",
        "He had kept his specimen--the one the size of an earwig that he gave Harry half a crown for--and he has it to this day."
      ],
      [
        "You must get him to show it to you!"
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER FOUR\r\nThe Ice Dragon, or Do as You Are Told"
      ],
      [
        "This is the tale of the wonders that befell on the evening of the eleventh of December, when they did what they were told not to do."
      ],
      [
        "You may think that you know all the unpleasant things that could possibly happen to you if you are disobedient, but there are some things which even you do not know, and they did not know them either."
      ],
      [
        "Their names were George and Jane."
      ],
      [
        "There were no fireworks that year on Guy Fawkes' Day, because the heir to the throne was not well.",
        "He was cutting his first tooth, and that is a very anxious time for any person--even for a Royal one."
      ],
      [
        "He was really very poorly, so that fireworks would have been in the worst possible taste, even at Land's End or in the Isle of Man, whilst in Forest Hill, which was the home of Jane and George, anything of the kind was quite out of the question."
      ],
      [
        "Even the Crystal Palace, empty-headed as it is, felt that this was no time for Catherine-wheels."
      ],
      [
        "But when the Prince had cut his tooth, rejoicings were not only admissible but correct, and the eleventh of December was proclaimed firework day."
      ],
      [
        "All the people were most anxious to show their loyalty, and to enjoy themselves at the same time."
      ],
      [
        "So there were fireworks and torchlight processions, and set pieces at the Crystal Palace, with \"Blessings on our Prince\" and \"Long Live our Royal Darling\" in different-colored fires; and the most private of boarding schools had a half holiday; and even the children of plumbers and authors had tuppence each given them to spend as they liked."
      ],
      [
        "George and Jane had sixpence each--and they spent the whole amount on a golden rain, which would not light for ever so long, and when it did light went out almost at once, so they had to look at the fireworks in the gardens next door, and at the ones at the Crystal Palace, which were very glorious indeed."
      ],
      [
        "All their relations had colds in their heads, so Jane and George were allowed to go out into the garden alone to let off their firework."
      ],
      [
        "Jane had put on her fur cape and her thick gloves, and her hood with the silver fox fur on it that was made out of Mother's old muff; and George had his overcoat with the three capes, and his comforter, and Father's sealskin traveling cap with the pieces that come down over your ears."
      ],
      [
        "It was dark in the garden, but the fireworks all about made it seem very gay, and though the children were cold they were quite sure that they were enjoying themselves."
      ],
      [
        "They got up on the fence at the end of the garden to see better; and then they saw, very far away, where the edge of the dark world is, a shining line of straight, beautiful lights arranged in a row, as if they were the spears carried by a fairy army."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, how pretty,\" said Jane. \"I wonder what they are.",
        "It looks as if the fairies were planting little shining baby poplar trees and watering them with liquid light.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Liquid fiddlestick!\" said George.",
        "He had been to school, so he knew that these were only the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights.",
        "And he said so."
      ],
      [
        "\"But what is the Rory Bory what's-its-name?\" asked Jane.",
        "\"Who lights it, and what's it there for?\""
      ],
      [
        "George had to own that he had not learned that."
      ],
      [
        "\"But I know,\" said he, \"that it has something to do with the Great Bear, and the Dipper, and the Plough, and Charles's Wain.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And what are they?\"",
        "asked Jane."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, they're the surnames of some of the star families.",
        "There goes a jolly rocket,\" answered George, and Jane felt as if she almost understood about the star families."
      ],
      [
        "The fairy spears of light twinkled and gleamed: They were much prettier than the big, blaring, blazing bonfire that was smoking and flaming and spluttering in the next-door-but-one garden--prettier even than the colored fires at the Crystal Palace."
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish we could see them nearer,\" Jane said.",
        "\"I wonder if the star families are nice families--the kind that Mother would like us to go to tea with, if we were little stars?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"They aren't that sort of families at all, Silly,\" said her brother, kindly trying to explain."
      ],
      [
        "\"I only said 'families' because a kid like you wouldn't have understood if I'd said constel ... and, besides, I've forgotten the end of the word."
      ],
      [
        "Anyway, the stars are all up in the sky, so you can't go to tea with them.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No,\" said Jane. \"I said if we were little stars.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But we aren't,\" said George."
      ],
      [
        "\"No,\" said Jane, with a sigh.",
        "\"I know that.",
        "I'm not so stupid as you think, George.",
        "But the Tory Bories are somewhere at the edge.",
        "Couldn't we go and see them?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Considering you're eight, you haven't much sense.\"",
        "George kicked his boots against the fencing to warm his toes.",
        "\"It's half the world away.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It looks very near,\" said Jane, hunching up her shoulders to keep her neck warm."
      ],
      [
        "\"They're close to the North Pole,\" said George."
      ],
      [
        "\"Look here--I don't care a straw about the Aurora Borealis, but I shouldn't mind discovering the North Pole: It's awfully difficult and dangerous, and then you come home and write a book about it with a lot of pictures, and everybody says how brave you are.\""
      ],
      [
        "Jane got off the fence."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, George, let's,\" she said.",
        "\"We shall never have such a chance again--all alone by ourselves--and quite late, too.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I'd go right enough if it wasn't for you,\" George answered gloomily, \"but you know they always say I lead you into mischief--and if we went to the North Pole we should get our boots wet, as likely as not, and you remember what they said about not going on the grass.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"They said the lawn,\" said Jane. \"We're not going on the lawn.",
        "Oh, George, do, do let's.",
        "It doesn't look so very far--we could be back before they had time to get dreadfully angry.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"All right,\" said George, \"but mind, I don't want to go.\""
      ],
      [
        "So off they went."
      ],
      [
        "They got over the fence, which was very cold and white and shiny because it was beginning to freeze, and on the other side of the fence was somebody else's garden, so they got out of that as quickly as they could, and beyond that was a field where there was another big bonfire, with people standing around it who looked quite dark-skinned."
      ],
      [
        "\"It's like Indians,\" said George, and wanted to stop and look, but Jane pulled him on, and they passed by the bonfire and got through a gap in the hedge into another field--a dark one; and far away, beyond quite a number of other dark fields, the Northern Lights shone and sparkled and twinkled."
      ],
      [
        "Now, during the winter the Arctic regions come much farther south than they are marked on the map."
      ],
      [
        "Very few people know this, though you would think they could tell it by the ice in the jugs of a morning."
      ],
      [
        "And just when George and Jane were starting for the North Pole, the Arctic regions had come down very nearly as far as Forest Hill, so that, as the children walked on, it grew colder and colder, and presently they saw that the fields were covered with snow, and there were great icicles hanging from all the hedges and gates."
      ],
      [
        "And the Northern Lights still seemed some way off."
      ],
      [
        "They were crossing a very rough, snowy field when Jane first noticed the animals."
      ],
      [
        "There were white rabbits and white hares and all sorts and sizes of white birds, and some larger creatures in the shadows of the hedges that Jane was sure were wolves and bears."
      ],
      [
        "\"Polar bears and Arctic wolves, of course I mean,\" she said, for she did not want George to think her stupid again."
      ],
      [
        "There was a great hedge at the end of this field, all covered with snow and icicles; but the children found a place where there was a hole, and as no bears or wolves seemed to be just in that part of the hedge, they crept through and scrambled out of the frozen ditch on the other side."
      ],
      [
        "And then they stood still and held their breath with wonder."
      ],
      [
        "For in front of them, running straight and smooth right away to the Northern Lights, lay a great wide road of pure dark ice, and on each side were tall trees all sparkling with white frost, and from the boughs of the trees hung strings of stars threaded on fine moonbeams, and shining so brightly that it was like a beautiful fairy daylight."
      ],
      [
        "Jane said so; but George said it was like the electric lights at the Earl's Court Exhibition."
      ],
      [
        "The rows of trees went as straight as ruled lines away--away and away--and at the other end of them shone the Aurora Borealis."
      ],
      [
        "There was a signpost of silvery snow, and on it in letters of pure ice the children read: THIS WAY TO THE NORTH POLE."
      ],
      [
        "Then George said: \"Way or no way, I know a slide when I see one--so here goes.\""
      ],
      [
        "And he took a run on the frozen snow, and Jane took a run when she saw him do it, and the next moment they were sliding away, each with feet half a yard apart, along the great slide that leads to the North Pole."
      ],
      [
        "This great slide is made for the convenience of the Polar bears, who, during the winter months, get their food from the Army and Navy Stores--and it is the most perfect slide in the world."
      ],
      [
        "If you have never come across it, it is because you have never let off fireworks on the eleventh of December, and have never been thoroughly naughty and disobedient."
      ],
      [
        "But do not be these things in the hope of finding the great slide--because you might find something quite different, and then you will be sorry."
      ],
      [
        "The great slide is like common slides in that when once you have started you have to go on to the end--unless you fall down--and then it hurts just as much as the smaller kind on ponds."
      ],
      [
        "The great slide runs downhill all the way, so that you keep on going faster and faster and faster.",
        "George and Jane went so fast that they had not time to notice the scenery."
      ],
      [
        "They only saw the long lines of frosted trees and the starry lamps, and on each side, rushing back as they slid on, a very broad, white world and a very large, black night; and overhead as well as in the trees the stars were bright like silver lamps, and far ahead shone and trembled and sparkled the line of fairy spears."
      ],
      [
        "Jane said that, and George said: \"I can see the Northern Lights quite plain.\""
      ],
      [
        "It is very pleasant to slide and slide and slide on clear, dark ice--especially if you feel you are really going somewhere, and more especially if that somewhere is the North Pole."
      ],
      [
        "The children's feet made no noise on the ice, and they went on and on in a beautiful white silence.",
        "But suddenly the silence was shattered and a cry rang out over the snow."
      ],
      [
        "\"Hey!",
        "You there!",
        "Stop!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Tumble for your life!\" cried George, and he fell down at once, because it is the only way to stop."
      ],
      [
        "Jane fell on top of him--and then they crawled on hands and knees to the snow at the edge of the slide--and there was a sportsman, dressed in a peaked cap and a frozen moustache, like the one you see in the pictures about Ice-Peter, and he had a gun in his hand."
      ],
      [
        "\"You don't happen to have any bullets about you?\" said he."
      ],
      [
        "\"No,\" George said, truthfully.",
        "\"I had five of father's revolver cartridges, but they were taken away the day Nurse turned out my pockets to see if I had taken the knob of the bathroom door by mistake.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Quite so,\" said the sportsman, \"these accidents will occur.",
        "You don't carry firearms, then, I presume?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I haven't any firearms,\" said George, \"but I have a firework.",
        "It's only a squib one of the boys gave me, if that's any good.\""
      ],
      [
        "And he began to feel among the string and peppermints, and buttons and tops and nibs and chalk and foreign postage stamps in his knickerbocker pockets."
      ],
      [
        "\"One could but try,\" the sportsman replied, and he held out his hand."
      ],
      [
        "But Jane pulled at her brother's jacket-tail and whispered, \"Ask him what he wants it for.\""
      ],
      [
        "So then the sportsman had to confess that he wanted the firework to kill the white grouse with; and, when they came to look, there was the white grouse himself, sitting in the snow, looking quite pale and careworn, and waiting anxiously for the matter to be decided one way or the other."
      ],
      [
        "George put all the things back in his pockets, and said, \"No, I shan't.",
        "The reason for shooting him stopped yesterday--I heard Father say so--so it wouldn't be fair, anyhow.",
        "I'm very sorry; but I can't--so there!\""
      ],
      [
        "The sportsman said nothing, only he shook his fist at Jane, and then he got on the slide and tried to go toward the Crystal Palace--which was not easy, because that way is uphill."
      ],
      [
        "So they left him trying, and went on."
      ],
      [
        "Before they started, the white grouse thanked them in a few pleasant, well-chosen words, and then they took a sideways slanting run and started off again on the great slide, and so away toward the North Pole and the twinkling, beautiful lights."
      ],
      [
        "The great slide went on and on, and the lights did not seem to come much nearer, and the white silence wrapped around them as they slid along the wide, icy path."
      ],
      [
        "Then once again the silence was broken to bits by someone calling: \"Hey!",
        "You there!",
        "Stop!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Tumble for your life!\" cried George, and tumbled as before, stopping in the only possible way, and Jane stopped on top of him, and they crawled to the edge and came suddenly on a butterfly collector, who was looking for specimens with a pair of blue glasses and a blue net and a blue book with colored plates."
      ],
      [
        "\"Excuse me,\" said the collector, \"but have you such a thing as a needle about you--a very long needle?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I have a needle book,\" replied Jane, politely, \"but there aren't any needles in it now."
      ],
      [
        "George took them all to do the things with pieces of cork--in the 'Boy's Own Scientific Experimenter' and 'The Young Mechanic.'",
        "He did not do the things, but he did for the needles.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Curiously enough,\" said the collector, \"I too wish to use the needle in connection with cork.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I have a hatpin in my hood,\" said Jane. \"I fastened the fur with it when it caught in the nail on the greenhouse door.",
        "It is very long and sharp--would that do?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"One could but try,\" said the collector, and Jane began to feel for the pin.",
        "But George pinched her arm and whispered, \"Ask what he wants it for.\""
      ],
      [
        "Then the collector had to own that he wanted the pin to stick through the great Arctic moth, \"a magnificent specimen,\" he added, \"which I am most anxious to preserve.\""
      ],
      [
        "And there, sure enough, in the collector's butterfly net sat the great Arctic moth, listening attentively to the conversation."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, I couldn't!\"",
        "cried Jane."
      ],
      [
        "And while George was explaining to the collector that they would really rather not, Jane opened the blue folds of the butterfly net, and asked the moth quietly if it would please step outside for a moment."
      ],
      [
        "And it did."
      ],
      [
        "When the collector saw that the moth was free, he seemed less angry than grieved."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, well,\" said he, \"here's a whole Arctic expedition thrown away!",
        "I shall have to go home and fit out another.",
        "And that means a lot of writing to the papers and things."
      ],
      [
        "You seem to be a singularly thoughtless little girl.\""
      ],
      [
        "So they went on, leaving him too, trying to go uphill towards the Crystal Palace."
      ],
      [
        "When the great white Arctic moth had returned thanks in a suitable speech, George and Jane took a sideways slanting run and started sliding again, between the star-lamps along the great slide toward the North Pole."
      ],
      [
        "They went faster and faster, and the lights ahead grew brighter and brighter--so that they could not keep their eyes open, but had to blink and wink as they went--and then suddenly the great slide ended in an immense heap of snow, and George and Jane shot right into it because they could not stop themselves, and the snow was soft, so that they went in up to their very ears."
      ],
      [
        "When they had picked themselves out and thumped each other on the back to get rid of the snow, they shaded their eyes and looked, and there, right in front of them, was the wonder of wonders--the North Pole--towering high and white and glistening, like an ice-lighthouse, and it was quite, quite close, so that you had to put your head as far back as it would go, and farther, before you could see the high top of it."
      ],
      [
        "It was made entirely of ice."
      ],
      [
        "You will hear grown-up people talk a great deal of nonsense about the North Pole, and when you are grown up, it is even possible that you may talk nonsense about it yourself (the most unlikely things do happen) but deep down in your heart you must always remember that the North Pole is made of clear ice, and could not possibly, if you come to think of it, be made of anything else."
      ],
      [
        "All around the Pole, making a bright ring about it, were hundreds of little fires, and the flames of them did not flicker and twist, but went up blue and green and rosy and straight like the stalks of dream lilies."
      ],
      [
        "Jane said so, but George said they were as straight as ramrods."
      ],
      [
        "And these flames were the Aurora Borealis, which the children had seen as far away as Forest Hill."
      ],
      [
        "The ground was quite flat, and covered with smooth, hard snow, which shone and sparkled like the top of a birthday cake that has been iced at home."
      ],
      [
        "The ones done at the shops do not shine and sparkle, because they mix flour with the icing sugar."
      ],
      [
        "\"It is like a dream,\" said Jane."
      ],
      [
        "And George said, \"It is the North Pole.",
        "Just think of the fuss people always make about getting here--and it was no trouble at all, really.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I daresay lots of people have gotten here,\" said Jane, dismally.",
        "\"It's not the getting here--I see that--it's the getting back again."
      ],
      [
        "Perhaps no one will ever know that we have been here, and the robins will cover us with leaves and--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Nonsense,\" said George.",
        "\"There aren't any robins, and there aren't any leaves."
      ],
      [
        "It's just the North Pole, that's all, and I've found it; and now I shall try to climb up and plant the British flag on the top--my handkerchief will do; and if it really is the North Pole, my pocket compass Uncle James gave me will spin around and around, and then I shall know."
      ],
      [
        "Come on.\""
      ],
      [
        "So Jane came on; and when they got close to the clear, tall, beautiful flames they saw that there was a great, queer-shaped lump of ice all around the bottom of the Pole--clear, smooth, shining ice, that was deep, beautiful Prussian blue, like icebergs, in the thick parts, and all sorts of wonderful, glimmery, shimmery, changing colors in the thin parts, like the cut-glass chandelier in Grandmamma's house in London."
      ],
      [
        "\"It is a very curious shape,\" said Jane. \"It's almost like\"--she moved back a step to get a better view of it--\"it's almost like a dragon.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It's much more like the lampposts on the Thames Embankment,\" said George, who had noticed a curly thing like a tail that went twisting up the North Pole."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, George,\" cried Jane, \"it is a dragon; I can see its wings.",
        "Whatever shall we do?\""
      ],
      [
        "And, sure enough, it was a dragon--a great, shining, winged, scaly, clawy, big-mouthed dragon--made of pure ice."
      ],
      [
        "It must have gone to sleep curled around the hole where the warm steam used to come up from the middle of the earth, and then when the earth got colder, and the column of steam froze and was turned into the North Pole, the dragon must have got frozen in his sleep--frozen too hard to move--and there he stayed."
      ],
      [
        "And though he was very terrible he was very beautiful too."
      ],
      [
        "Jane said so, but George said, \"Oh, don't bother; I'm thinking how to get onto the Pole and try the compass without waking the brute.\""
      ],
      [
        "The dragon certainly was beautiful, with his deep, clear Prussian blueness, and his rainbow-colored glitter."
      ],
      [
        "And rising from within the cold coil of the frozen dragon the North Pole shot up like a pillar made of one great diamond, and every now and then it cracked a little, from sheer cold."
      ],
      [
        "The sound of the cracking was the only thing that broke the great white silence in the midst of which the dragon lay like an enormous jewel, and the straight flames went up all around him like the stalks of tall lilies."
      ],
      [
        "And as the children stood there looking at the most wonderful sight their eyes had ever seen, there was a soft padding of feet and a hurry-scurry behind them, and from the outside darkness beyond the flame-stalks came a crowd of little brown creatures running, jumping, scrambling, tumbling head over heels and on all fours, and some even walking on their heads."
      ],
      [
        "They joined hands as they came near the fires and danced around in a ring."
      ],
      [
        "\"It's bears,\" said Jane. \"I know it is.",
        "Oh, how I wish we hadn't come; and my boots are so wet.\""
      ],
      [
        "The dancing-ring broke up suddenly, and the next moment hundreds of furry arms clutched at George and Jane, and they found themselves in the middle of a great, soft, heaving crowd of little fat people in brown fur dresses, and the white silence was quite gone."
      ],
      [
        "\"Bears, indeed,\" cried a shrill voice.",
        "\"You'll wish we were bears before you've done with us.\""
      ],
      [
        "This sounded so dreadful that Jane began to cry."
      ],
      [
        "Up to now the children had only seen the most beautiful and wondrous things, but now they began to be sorry they had done what they were told not to, and the difference between \"lawn\" and \"grass\" did not seem so great as it had at Forest Hill."
      ],
      [
        "Directly Jane began to cry, all the brown people started back.",
        "No one cries in the Arctic regions for fear of being struck by the frost.",
        "So that these people had never seen anyone cry before."
      ],
      [
        "\"Don't cry for real,\" whispered George, \"or you'll get chilblains in your eyes.",
        "But pretend to howl--it frightens them.\""
      ],
      [
        "So Jane went on pretending to howl, and the real crying stopped: It always does when you begin to pretend.",
        "You try it."
      ],
      [
        "Then, speaking very loud so as to be heard over the howls of Jane, George said: \"Yah--who's afraid?",
        "We are George and Jane--who are you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"We are the sealskin dwarfs,\" said the brown people, twisting their furry bodies in and out of the crowd like the changing glass in kaleidoscopes."
      ],
      [
        "\"We are very precious and expensive, for we are made, throughout, of the very best sealskin.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And what are those fires for?\" bellowed George--for Jane was crying louder and louder."
      ],
      [
        "\"Those,\" shouted the dwarfs, coming a step nearer, \"are the fires we make to thaw the dragon."
      ],
      [
        "He is frozen now--so he sleeps curled up around the Pole--but when we have thawed him with our fires he will wake up and go and eat everybody in the world except us.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"WHATEVER--DO--YOU--WANT--HIM--TO--DO--THAT--FOR?\" yelled George."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh--just for spite,\" bawled the dwarfs carelessly--as if they were saying, \"Just for fun.\""
      ],
      [
        "Jane stopped crying to say: \"You are heartless.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, we aren't,\" they said.",
        "\"Our hearts are made of the finest sealskin, just like little fat sealskin purses--\""
      ],
      [
        "And they all came a step nearer.",
        "They were very fat and round."
      ],
      [
        "Their bodies were like sealskin jackets on a very stout person; their heads were like sealskin muffs; their legs were like sealskin boas; and their hands and feet were like sealskin tobacco pouches."
      ],
      [
        "And their faces were like seals' faces, inasmuch as they, too, were covered with sealskin."
      ],
      [
        "\"Thank you so much for telling us,\" said George.",
        "\"Good evening.",
        "(Keep on howling, Jane!)\""
      ],
      [
        "But the dwarfs came a step nearer, muttering and whispering.",
        "Then the muttering stopped--and there was a silence so deep that Jane was afraid to howl in it."
      ],
      [
        "But it was a brown silence, and she had liked the white silence better."
      ],
      [
        "Then the chief dwarf came quite close and said: \"What's that on your head?\""
      ],
      [
        "And George felt it was all up--for he knew it was his father's sealskin cap."
      ],
      [
        "The dwarf did not wait for an answer.",
        "\"It's made of one of us,\" he screamed, \"or else one of the seals, our poor relations.",
        "Boy, now your fate is sealed!\""
      ],
      [
        "Looking at the wicked seal-faces all around them, George and Jane felt that their fate was sealed indeed."
      ],
      [
        "The dwarfs seized the children in their furry arms.",
        "George kicked, but it is no use kicking sealskin, and Jane howled, but the dwarfs were getting used to that."
      ],
      [
        "They climbed up the dragon's side and dumped the children down on his icy spine, with their backs against the North Pole."
      ],
      [
        "You have no idea how cold it was--the kind of cold that makes you feel small and prickly inside your clothes, and makes you wish you had twenty times as many clothes to feel small and prickly inside of."
      ],
      [
        "The sealskin dwarfs tied George and Jane to the North Pole, and, as they had no ropes, they bound them with snow-wreaths, which are very strong when they are made in the proper way, and they heaped up the fires very close and said: \"Now the dragon will get warm, and when he gets warm he will wake, and when he wakes he will be hungry, and when he is hungry he will begin to eat, and the first thing he will eat will be you.\""
      ],
      [
        "The little, sharp, many-colored flames sprang up like the stalks of dream lilies, but no heat came to the children, and they grew colder and colder."
      ],
      [
        "\"We shan't be very nice when the dragon does eat us, that's one comfort,\" said George.",
        "\"We shall be turned into ice long before that.\""
      ],
      [
        "Suddenly there was a flapping of wings, and the white grouse perched on the dragon's head and said: \"Can I be of any assistance?\""
      ],
      [
        "Now, by this time the children were so cold, so cold, so very, very cold, that they had forgotten everything but that, and they could say nothing else.",
        "So the white grouse said: \"One moment."
      ],
      [
        "I am only too grateful for this opportunity of showing my sense of your manly conduct about the firework!\""
      ],
      [
        "And the next moment there was a soft whispering rustle of wings overhead, and then, fluttering slowly, softly down, came hundreds and thousands of little white fluffy feathers."
      ],
      [
        "They fell on George and Jane like snowflakes, and, like flakes of fallen snow lying one above another, they grew into a thicker and thicker covering, so that presently the children were buried under a heap of white feathers, and only their faces peeped out."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, you dear, good, kind white grouse,\" said Jane, \"but you'll be cold yourself, won't you, now you have given us all your pretty dear feathers?\""
      ],
      [
        "The white grouse laughed, and his laugh was echoed by thousands of kind, soft bird voices."
      ],
      [
        "\"Did you think all those feathers came out of one breast?"
      ],
      [
        "There are hundreds and hundreds of us here, and every one of us can spare a little tuft of soft breast feathers to help to keep two kind little hearts warm!\""
      ],
      [
        "Thus spoke the grouse, who certainly had very pretty manners."
      ],
      [
        "So now the children snuggled under the feathers and were warm, and when the sealskin dwarfs tried to take the feathers away, the grouse and his friends flew in their faces with flappings and screams, and drove the dwarfs back."
      ],
      [
        "They are a cowardly folk."
      ],
      [
        "The dragon had not moved yet--but then he might at any moment get warm enough to move, and though George and Jane were now warm they were not comfortable nor easy in their minds."
      ],
      [
        "They tried to explain to the grouse; but though he is polite, he is not clever, and he only said: \"You've got a warm nest, and we'll see that no one takes it from you.",
        "What more can you possibly want?\""
      ],
      [
        "Just then came a new, strange, jerky fluttering of wings far softer than the grouse's, and George and Jane cried out together: \"Oh, do mind your wings in the fires!\""
      ],
      [
        "For they saw at once that it was the great white Arctic moth."
      ],
      [
        "\"What's the matter?\" he asked, settling on the dragon's tail."
      ],
      [
        "So they told him."
      ],
      [
        "\"Sealskin, are they?\" said the moth.",
        "\"Just you wait a minute!\""
      ],
      [
        "He flew off very crookedly, dodging the flames, and presently he came back, and there were so many moths with him that it was as if a live sheet of white wingedness were suddenly drawn between the children and the stars."
      ],
      [
        "And then the doom of the bad sealskin dwarfs fell suddenly on them."
      ],
      [
        "For the great sheet of winged whiteness broke up and fell as snow falls, and it fell upon the sealskin dwarfs; and every snowflake of it was a live, fluttering, hungry moth that buried its greedy nose deep in the sealskin fur."
      ],
      [
        "Grown-up people will tell you that it is not moths but moths' children who eat fur--but this is only when they are trying to deceive you."
      ],
      [
        "When they are not thinking about you they say, \"I fear the moths have got at my ermine tippet,\" or, \"Your poor Aunt Emma had a lovely sable cloak, but it was eaten by moths.\""
      ],
      [
        "And now there were more moths than have ever been together in this world before, all settling on the sealskin dwarfs."
      ],
      [
        "The dwarfs did not see their danger till it was too late."
      ],
      [
        "Then they called for camphor and bitter apple and oil of lavender and yellow soap and borax; and some of the dwarfs even started to get these things, but long before any of them could get to the chemist's, all was over."
      ],
      [
        "The moths ate and ate and ate till the sealskin dwarfs, being sealskin throughout, even to the empty hearts of them, were eaten down to the very life--and they fell one by one on the snow and so came to their end."
      ],
      [
        "And all around the North Pole the snow was brown with their flat bare pelts."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, thank you--thank you, darling Arctic moth,\" cried Jane.",
        "\"You are good--I do hope you haven't eaten enough to disagree with you afterward!\""
      ],
      [
        "Millions of moth voices answered, with laughter as soft as moth wings, \"We should be a poor set of fellows if we couldn't over eat ourselves once in a while--to oblige a friend.\""
      ],
      [
        "And off they all fluttered, and the white grouse flew off, and the sealskin dwarfs were all dead, and the fires went out, and George and Jane were left alone in the dark with the dragon!"
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, dear,\" said Jane, \"this is the worst of all!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"We've no friends left to help us,\" said George.",
        "He never thought that the dragon himself might help them--but then that was an idea that would never have occurred to any boy."
      ],
      [
        "It grew colder and colder and colder, and even under the grouse feathers the children shivered."
      ],
      [
        "Then, when it was so cold that it could not manage to be any colder without breaking the thermometer, it stopped."
      ],
      [
        "And then the dragon uncurled himself from around the North Pole, and stretched his long, icy length over the snow, and said: \"This is something like!",
        "How faint those fires did make me feel!\""
      ],
      [
        "The fact was, the sealskin dwarfs had gone the wrong way to work: The dragon had been frozen so long that now he was nothing but solid ice all through, and the fires only made him feel as if he were going to die."
      ],
      [
        "But when the fires were out he felt quite well, and very hungry.",
        "He looked around for something to eat.",
        "But he never noticed George and Jane, because they were frozen to his back."
      ],
      [
        "He moved slowly off, and the snow-wreaths that bound the children to the Pole gave way with a snap, and there was the dragon, crawling south--with Jane and George on his great, scaly, icy shining back."
      ],
      [
        "Of course the dragon had to go south if he went anywhere, because when you get to the North Pole there is no other way to go."
      ],
      [
        "The dragon rattled and tinkled as he went, exactly like the cut-glass chandelier when you touch it, as you are strictly forbidden to do."
      ],
      [
        "Of course there are a million ways of going south from the North Pole--so you will own that it was lucky for George and Jane when the dragon took the right way and suddenly got his heavy feet on the great slide."
      ],
      [
        "Off he went, full speed, between the starry lamps, toward Forest Hill and the Crystal Palace."
      ],
      [
        "\"He's going to take us home,\" said Jane. \"Oh, he is a good dragon.",
        "I am glad!\""
      ],
      [
        "George was rather glad too, though neither of the children felt at all sure of their welcome, especially as their feet were wet, and they were bringing a strange dragon home with them."
      ],
      [
        "They went very fast, because dragons can go uphill as easily as down."
      ],
      [
        "You would not understand why if I told you--because you are only in long division at present; yet if you want me to tell you, so that you can show off to other children, I will."
      ],
      [
        "It is because dragons can get their tails into the fourth dimension and hold on there, and when you can do that everything else is easy."
      ],
      [
        "The dragon went very fast, only stopping to eat the collector and the sportsman, who were still struggling to go up the slide--vainly, because they had no tails, and had never even heard of the fourth dimension."
      ],
      [
        "When the dragon got to the end of the slide he crawled very slowly across the dark field beyond the field where there was a bonfire, next to the next-door garden at Forest Hill."
      ],
      [
        "He went slower and slower, and in the bonfire field he stopped altogether, and because the Arctic regions had not got down so far as that, and because the bonfire was very hot, the dragon began to melt and melt and melt--and before the children knew what he was doing they found themselves sitting in a large pool of water, and their boots were as wet as wet, and there was not a bit of dragon left!"
      ],
      [
        "So they went indoors."
      ],
      [
        "Of course some grown-up or other noticed at once that the boots of George and Jane were wet and muddy, and that they had both been sitting down in a very damp place, so they were sent to bed immediately."
      ],
      [
        "It was long past their time, anyhow."
      ],
      [
        "Now, if you are of an inquiring mind--not at all a nice thing in a little child who reads fairy tales--you will want to know how it is that since the sealskin dwarfs have all been killed, and the fires all been let out, the Aurora Borealis shines, on cold nights, as brightly as ever."
      ],
      [
        "My dear, I do not know!",
        "I am not too proud to own that there are some things I know nothing about--and this is one of them."
      ],
      [
        "But I do know that whoever has lighted those fires again, it is certainly not the sealskin dwarfs.",
        "They were all eaten by moths--and motheaten things are of no use, even to light fires!"
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER FIVE\r\nThe Island of the Nine Whirlpools"
      ],
      [
        "The dark arch that led to the witch's cave was hung with a black-and-yellow fringe of live snakes."
      ],
      [
        "As the Queen went in, keeping carefully in the middle of the arch, all the snakes lifted their wicked, flat heads and stared at her with their wicked, yellow eyes."
      ],
      [
        "You know it is not good manners to stare, even at Royalty, except of course for cats.",
        "And the snakes had been so badly brought up that they even put their tongues out at the poor lady."
      ],
      [
        "Nasty, thin, sharp tongues they were too."
      ],
      [
        "Now, the Queen's husband was, of course, the King."
      ],
      [
        "And besides being a King he was an enchanter, and considered to be quite at the top of his profession, so he was very wise, and he knew that when Kings and Queens want children, the Queen always goes to see a witch."
      ],
      [
        "So he gave the Queen the witch's address, and the Queen called on her, though she was very frightened and did not like it at all."
      ],
      [
        "The witch was sitting by a fire of sticks, stirring something bubbly in a shiny copper cauldron."
      ],
      [
        "\"What do you want, my dear?\" she said to the Queen."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, if you please,\" said the Queen, \"I want a baby--a very nice one.",
        "We don't want any expense spared.",
        "My husband said--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, yes,\" said the witch.",
        "\"I know all about him.",
        "And so you want a child?",
        "Do you know it will bring you sorrow?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It will bring me joy first,\" said the Queen."
      ],
      [
        "\"Great sorrow,\" said the witch."
      ],
      [
        "\"Greater joy,\" said the Queen."
      ],
      [
        "Then the witch said, \"Well, have your own way.",
        "I suppose it's as much as your place is worth to go back without it?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"The King would be very much annoyed,\" said the poor Queen."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, well,\" said the witch.",
        "\"What will you give me for the child?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Anything you ask for, and all I have,\" said the Queen."
      ],
      [
        "\"Then give me your gold crown.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Queen took it off quickly."
      ],
      [
        "\"And your necklace of blue sapphires.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Queen unfastened it."
      ],
      [
        "\"And your pearl bracelets.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Queen unclasped them."
      ],
      [
        "\"And your ruby clasps.\""
      ],
      [
        "And the Queen undid the clasps."
      ],
      [
        "\"Now the lilies from your breast.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Queen gathered together the lilies."
      ],
      [
        "\"And the diamonds of your little bright shoe buckles.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Queen pulled off her shoes."
      ],
      [
        "Then the witch stirred the stuff that was in the cauldron, and, one by one, she threw in the gold crown and the sapphire necklace and the pearl bracelets and the ruby clasps and the diamonds of the little bright shoe buckles, and last of all she threw in the lilies."
      ],
      [
        "The stuff in the cauldron boiled up in foaming flashes of yellow and blue and red and white and silver, and sent out a sweet scent, and presently the witch poured it out into a pot and set it to cool in the doorway among the snakes."
      ],
      [
        "Then she said to the Queen: \"Your child will have hair as golden as your crown, eyes as blue as your sapphires.",
        "The red of your rubies will lie on its lips, and its skin will be clear and pale as your pearls."
      ],
      [
        "Its soul will be white and sweet as your lilies, and your diamonds will be no clearer than its wits.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, thank you, thank you,\" said the Queen, \"and when will it come?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You will find it when you get home.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And won't you have something for yourself?\"",
        "asked the Queen.",
        "\"Any little thing you fancy--would you like a country, or a sack of jewels?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Nothing, thank you,\" said the witch.",
        "\"I could make more diamonds in a day than I should wear in a year.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, but do let me do some little thing for you,\" the Queen went on.",
        "\"Aren't you tired of being a witch?",
        "Wouldn't you like to be a Duchess or a Princess, or something like that?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"There is one thing I should rather like,\" said the witch, \"but it's hard to get in my trade.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, tell me what,\" said the Queen."
      ],
      [
        "\"I should like some one to love me,\" said the witch."
      ],
      [
        "Then the Queen threw her arms around the witch's neck and kissed her half a hundred times.",
        "\"Why,\" she said, \"I love you better than my life!",
        "You've given me the baby--and the baby shall love you too.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Perhaps it will,\" said the witch, \"and when the sorrow comes, send for me.",
        "Each of your fifty kisses will be a spell to bring me to you.",
        "Now, drink up your medicine, there's a dear, and run along home.\""
      ],
      [
        "So the Queen drank the stuff in the pot, which was quite cool by this time, and she went out under the fringe of snakes, and they all behaved like good Sunday-school children."
      ],
      [
        "Some of them even tried to drop a curtsy to her as she went by, though that is not easy when you are hanging wrong way up by your tail."
      ],
      [
        "But the snakes knew the Queen was friends with their mistress; so, of course, they had to do their best to be civil."
      ],
      [
        "When the Queen got home, sure enough there was the baby lying in the cradle with the Royal arms blazoned on it, crying as naturally as possible."
      ],
      [
        "It had pink ribbons to tie up its sleeves, so the Queen saw at once it was a girl.",
        "When the King knew this he tore his black hair with fury."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, you silly, silly Queen!\" he said.",
        "\"Why didn't I marry a clever lady?",
        "Did you think I went to all the trouble and expense of sending you to a witch to get a girl?"
      ],
      [
        "You knew well enough it was a boy I wanted--a boy, an heir, a Prince--to learn all my magic and my enchantments, and to rule the kingdom after me."
      ],
      [
        "I'll bet a crown--my crown,\" he said, \"you never even thought to tell the witch what kind you wanted!",
        "Did you now?\""
      ],
      [
        "And the Queen hung her head and had to confess that she had only asked for a child."
      ],
      [
        "\"Very well, madam,\" said the King, \"very well--have your own way.",
        "And make the most of your daughter, while she is a child.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Queen did.",
        "All the years of her life had never held half so much happiness as now lived in each of the moments when she held her little baby in her arms."
      ],
      [
        "And the years went on, and the King grew more and more clever at magic, and more and more disagreeable at home, and the Princess grew more beautiful and more dear every day she lived."
      ],
      [
        "The Queen and the Princess were feeding the goldfish in the courtyard fountains with crumbs of the Princess's eighteenth birthday cake, when the King came into the courtyard, looking as black as thunder, with his black raven hopping after him."
      ],
      [
        "He shook his fist at his family, as indeed he generally did whenever he met them, for he was not a King with pretty home manners."
      ],
      [
        "The raven sat down on the edge of the marble basin and tried to peck the goldfish.",
        "It was all he could do to show that he was in the same temper as his master."
      ],
      [
        "\"A girl indeed!\" said the King angrily.",
        "\"I wonder you can dare to look me in the face, when you remember how your silliness has spoiled everything.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You oughtn't to speak to my mother like that,\" said the Princess.",
        "She was eighteen, and it came to her suddenly and all in a moment that she was a grown-up, so she spoke out."
      ],
      [
        "The King could not utter a word for several minutes.",
        "He was too angry.",
        "But the Queen said, \"My dear child, don't interfere,\" quite crossly, for she was frightened."
      ],
      [
        "And to her husband she said, \"My dear, why do you go on worrying about it?"
      ],
      [
        "Our daughter is not a boy, it is true--but she may marry a clever man who could rule your kingdom after you, and learn as much magic as ever you cared to teach him.\""
      ],
      [
        "Then the King found his tongue."
      ],
      [
        "\"If she does marry,\" he said, slowly, \"her husband will have to be a very clever man--oh, yes, very clever indeed!",
        "And he will have to know a very great deal more magic than I shall ever care to teach him.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Queen knew at once by the King's tone that he was going to be disagreeable."
      ],
      [
        "\"Ah,\" she said, \"don't punish the child because she loves her mother.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I'm not going to punish her for that,\" said he. \"I'm only going to teach her to respect her father.\""
      ],
      [
        "And without another word he went off to his laboratory and worked all night, boiling different-colored things in crucibles, and copying charms in curious twisted letters from old brown books with mold stains on their yellowy pages."
      ],
      [
        "The next day his plan was all arranged.",
        "He took the poor Princess to the Lone Tower, which stands on an island in the sea, a thousand miles from everywhere."
      ],
      [
        "He gave her a dowry, and settled a handsome income on her.",
        "He engaged a competent dragon to look after her, and also a respectable griffin whose birth and upbringing he knew all about."
      ],
      [
        "And he said: \"Here you shall stay, my dear, respectful daughter, till the clever man comes to marry you."
      ],
      [
        "He'll have to be clever enough to sail a ship through the Nine Whirlpools that spin around the island, and to kill the dragon and the griffin.",
        "Till he comes you'll never get any older or any wiser."
      ],
      [
        "No doubt he will soon come.",
        "You can employ yourself in embroidering your wedding gown.",
        "I wish you joy, my dutiful child.\""
      ],
      [
        "And his carriage, drawn by live thunderbolts (thunder travels very fast), rose in the air and disappeared, and the poor Princess was left, with the dragon and the griffin, on the Island of the Nine Whirlpools."
      ],
      [
        "The Queen, left at home, cried for a day and a night, and then she remembered the witch and called to her.",
        "And the witch came, and the Queen told her all."
      ],
      [
        "\"For the sake of the twice twenty-five kisses you gave me,\" said the witch, \"I will help you.",
        "But it is the last thing I can do, and it is not much.",
        "Your daughter is under a spell, and I can take you to her."
      ],
      [
        "But, if I do, you will have to be turned to stone, and to stay so till the spell is taken off the child.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I would be a stone for a thousand years,\" said the poor Queen, \"if at the end of them I could see my dear again.\""
      ],
      [
        "So the witch took the Queen in a carriage drawn by live sunbeams (which travel more quickly than anything else in the world, and much quicker than thunder), and so away and away to the Lone Tower on the Island of the Nine Whirlpools."
      ],
      [
        "And there was the Princess sitting on the floor in the best room of the Lone Tower, crying as if her heart would break, and the dragon and the griffin were sitting primly on each side of her."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, Mother, Mother, Mother,\" she cried, and hung around the Queen's neck as if she would never let go."
      ],
      [
        "\"Now,\" said the witch, when they had all cried as much as was good for them, \"I can do one or two other little things for you.",
        "Time shall not make the Princess sad."
      ],
      [
        "All days will be like one day till her deliverer comes.",
        "And you and I, dear Queen, will sit in stone at the gate of the tower."
      ],
      [
        "In doing this for you I lose all my witch's powers, and when I say the spell that changes you to stone, I shall change with you, and if ever we come out of the stone, I shall be a witch no more, but only a happy old woman.\""
      ],
      [
        "Then the three kissed one another again and again, and the witch said the spell, and on each side of the door there was now a stone lady."
      ],
      [
        "One of them had a stone crown on its head and a stone scepter in its hand; but the other held a stone tablet with words on it, which the griffin and the dragon could not read, though they had both had a very good education."
      ],
      [
        "And now all days seemed like one day to the Princess, and the next day always seemed the day when her mother would come out of the stone and kiss her again.",
        "And the years went slowly by."
      ],
      [
        "The wicked King died, and some one else took his kingdom, and many things were changed in the world; but the island did not change, nor the Nine Whirlpools, nor the griffin, nor the dragon, nor the two stone ladies."
      ],
      [
        "And all the time, from the very first, the day of the Princess's deliverance was coming, creeping nearer, and nearer, and nearer.",
        "But no one saw it coming except the Princess, and she only in dreams."
      ],
      [
        "And the years went by in tens and in hundreds, and still the Nine Whirlpools spun around, roaring in triumph the story of many a good ship that had gone down in their swirl, bearing with it some Prince who had tried to win the Princess and her dowry."
      ],
      [
        "And the great sea knew all the other stories of the Princes who had come from very far, and had seen the whirlpools, and had shaken their wise young heads and said: \"'Bout ship!\" and gone discreetly home to their nice, safe, comfortable kingdoms."
      ],
      [
        "But no one told the story of the deliverer who was to come.",
        "And the years went by."
      ],
      [
        "Now, after more scores of years than you would like to add up on your slate, a certain sailor-boy sailed on the high seas with his uncle, who was a skilled skipper."
      ],
      [
        "And the boy could reef a sail and coil a rope and keep the ship's nose steady before the wind.",
        "And he was as good a boy as you would find in a month of Sundays, and worthy to be a Prince."
      ],
      [
        "Now there is Something which is wiser than all the world--and it knows when people are worthy to be Princes."
      ],
      [
        "And this Something came from the farther side of the seventh world, and whispered in the boy's ear."
      ],
      [
        "And the boy heard, though he did not know he heard, and he looked out over the black sea with the white foam-horses galloping over it, and far away he saw a light."
      ],
      [
        "And he said to the skipper, his uncle: \"What light is that?\""
      ],
      [
        "Then the skipper said: \"All good things defend you, Nigel, from sailing near that light."
      ],
      [
        "It is not mentioned in all charts; but it is marked in the old chart I steer by, which was my father's father's before me, and his father's father's before him."
      ],
      [
        "It is the light that shines from the Lone Tower that stands above the Nine Whirlpools."
      ],
      [
        "And when my father's father was young he heard from the very old man, his great-great-grandfather, that in that tower an enchanted Princess, fairer than the day, waits to be delivered."
      ],
      [
        "But there is no deliverance, so never steer that way; and think no more of the Princess, for that is only an idle tale.",
        "But the whirlpools are quite real.\""
      ],
      [
        "So, of course, from that day Nigel thought of nothing else."
      ],
      [
        "And as he sailed hither and thither upon the high seas he saw from time to time the light that shone out to sea across the wild swirl of the Nine Whirlpools."
      ],
      [
        "And one night, when the ship was at anchor and the skipper asleep in his bunk, Nigel launched the ship's boat and steered alone over the dark sea towards the light."
      ],
      [
        "He dared not go very near till daylight should show him what, indeed, were the whirlpools he had to dread."
      ],
      [
        "But when the dawn came he saw the Lone Tower standing dark against the pink and primrose of the East, and about its base the sullen swirl of black water, and he heard the wonderful roar of it."
      ],
      [
        "So he hung off and on, all that day and for six days besides.",
        "And when he had watched seven days he knew something."
      ],
      [
        "For you are certain to know something if you give for seven days your whole thought to it, even though it be only the first declension, or the nine-times table, or the dates of the Norman Kings."
      ],
      [
        "What he knew was this: that for five minutes out of the 1,440 minutes that make up a day the whirlpools slipped into silence, while the tide went down and left the yellow sand bare."
      ],
      [
        "And every day this happened, but every day it was five minutes earlier than it had been the day before.",
        "He made sure of this by the ship's chronometer, which he had thoughtfully brought with him."
      ],
      [
        "So on the eighth day, at five minutes before noon, Nigel got ready."
      ],
      [
        "And when the whirlpools suddenly stopped whirling and the tide sank, like water in a basin that has a hole in it, he stuck to his oars and put his back into his stroke, and presently beached the boat on the yellow sand."
      ],
      [
        "Then he dragged it into a cave, and sat down to wait."
      ],
      [
        "By five minutes and one second past noon, the whirlpools were black and busy again, and Nigel peeped out of his cave."
      ],
      [
        "And on the rocky ledge overhanging the sea he saw a Princess as beautiful as the day, with golden hair and a green gown--and he went out to meet her."
      ],
      [
        "\"I've come to save you,\" he said.",
        "\"How darling and beautiful you are!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You are very good, and very clever, and very dear,\" said the Princess, smiling and giving him both her hands."
      ],
      [
        "He shut a little kiss in each hand before he let them go."
      ],
      [
        "\"So now, when the tide is low again, I will take you away in my boat,\" he said."
      ],
      [
        "\"But what about the dragon and the griffin?\" asked the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "\"Dear me,\" said Nigel.",
        "\"I didn't know about them.",
        "I suppose I can kill them?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Don't be a silly boy,\" said the Princess, pretending to be very grown up, for, though she had been on the island time only knows how many years, she was just eighteen, and she still liked pretending."
      ],
      [
        "\"You haven't a sword, or a shield, or anything!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, don't the beasts ever go to sleep?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why, yes,\" said the Princess, \"but only once in twenty-four hours, and then the dragon is turned to stone.",
        "But the griffin has dreams."
      ],
      [
        "The griffin sleeps at teatime every day, but the dragon sleeps every day for five minutes, and every day it is three minutes later than it was the day before.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What time does he sleep today?\" asked Nigel."
      ],
      [
        "\"At eleven,\" said the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "\"Ah,\" said Nigel, \"can you do sums?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No,\" said the Princess sadly.",
        "\"I was never good at them.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Then I must,\" said Nigel.",
        "\"I can, but it's slow work, and it makes me very unhappy.",
        "It'll take me days and days.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Don't begin yet,\" said the Princess.",
        "\"You'll have plenty of time to be unhappy when I'm not with you.",
        "Tell me all about yourself.\""
      ],
      [
        "So he did.",
        "And then she told him all about herself."
      ],
      [
        "\"I know I've been here a long time,\" she said, \"but I don't know what Time is.",
        "And I am very busy sewing silk flowers on a golden gown for my wedding day."
      ],
      [
        "And the griffin does the housework--his wings are so convenient and feathery for sweeping and dusting."
      ],
      [
        "And the dragon does the cooking--he's hot inside, so, of course, it's no trouble to him; and though I don't know what Time is I'm sure it's time for my wedding day, because my golden gown only wants one more white daisy on the sleeve, and a lily on the bosom of it, and then it will be ready.\""
      ],
      [
        "Just then they heard a dry, rustling clatter on the rocks above them and a snorting sound.",
        "\"It's the dragon,\" said the Princess hurriedly.",
        "\"Good-bye.",
        "Be a good boy, and get your sum done.\""
      ],
      [
        "And she ran away and left him to his arithmetic."
      ],
      [
        "Now, the sum was this: \"If the whirlpools stop and the tide goes down once in every twenty-four hours, and they do it five minutes earlier every twenty-four hours, and if the dragon sleeps every day, and he does it three minutes later every day, in how many days and at what time in the day will the tide go down three minutes before the dragon falls asleep?\""
      ],
      [
        "It is quite a simple sum, as you see: You could do it in a minute because you have been to a good school and have taken pains with your lessons; but it was quite otherwise with poor Nigel."
      ],
      [
        "He sat down to work out his sum with a piece of chalk on a smooth stone.",
        "He tried it by practice and the unitary method, by multiplication, and by rule-of-three-and-three-quarters."
      ],
      [
        "He tried it by decimals and by compound interest.",
        "He tried it by square root and by cube root.",
        "He tried it by addition, simple and otherwise, and he tried it by mixed examples in vulgar fractions."
      ],
      [
        "But it was all of no use.",
        "Then he tried to do the sum by algebra, by simple and by quadratic equations, by trigonometry, by logarithms, and by conic sections.",
        "But it would not do."
      ],
      [
        "He got an answer every time, it is true, but it was always a different one, and he could not feel sure which answer was right."
      ],
      [
        "And just as he was feeling how much more important than anything else it is to be able to do your sums, the Princess came back.",
        "And now it was getting dark."
      ],
      [
        "\"Why, you've been seven hours over that sum,\" she said, \"and you haven't done it yet.",
        "Look here, this is what is written on the tablet of the statue by the lower gate.",
        "It has figures in it."
      ],
      [
        "Perhaps it is the answer to the sum.\""
      ],
      [
        "She held out to him a big white magnolia leaf.",
        "And she had scratched on it with the pin of her pearl brooch, and it had turned brown where she had scratched it, as magnolia leaves will do."
      ],
      [
        "He clapped his hands softly."
      ],
      [
        "\"Dear Princess,\" he said, \"I know that's the right answer.",
        "It says R too, you see.",
        "But I'll just prove it.\""
      ],
      [
        "So he hastily worked the sum backward in decimals and equations and conic sections, and all the rules he could think of.",
        "And it came right every time."
      ],
      [
        "\"So now we must wait,\" said he.",
        "And they waited."
      ],
      [
        "And every day the Princess came to see Nigel and brought him food cooked by the dragon, and he lived in his cave, and talked to her when she was there, and thought about her when she was not, and they were both as happy as the longest day in summer."
      ],
      [
        "Then at last came The Day. Nigel and the Princess laid their plans."
      ],
      [
        "\"You're sure he won't hurt you, my only treasure?\" said Nigel."
      ],
      [
        "\"Quite,\" said the Princess.",
        "\"I only wish I were half as sure that he wouldn't hurt you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"My Princess,\" he said tenderly, \"two great powers are on our side: the power of Love and the power of Arithmetic.",
        "Those two are stronger than anything else in the world.\""
      ],
      [
        "So when the tide began to go down, Nigel and the Princess ran out on to the sands, and there, in full sight of the terrace where the dragon kept watch, Nigel took his Princess in his arms and kissed her."
      ],
      [
        "The griffin was busy sweeping the stairs of the Lone Tower, but the dragon saw, and he gave a cry of rage--and it was like twenty engines all letting off steam at the top of their voices inside Cannon Street Station."
      ],
      [
        "And the two lovers stood looking up at the dragon.",
        "He was dreadful to look at.",
        "His head was white with age--and his beard had grown so long that he caught his claws in it as he walked."
      ],
      [
        "His wings were white with the salt that had settled on them from the spray of the sea."
      ],
      [
        "His tail was long and thick and jointed and white, and had little legs to it, any number of them--far too many--so that it looked like a very large fat silkworm; and his claws were as long as lessons and as sharp as bayonets."
      ],
      [
        "\"Good-bye, love!\" cried Nigel, and ran out across the yellow sand toward the sea.",
        "He had one end of a cord tied to his arm."
      ],
      [
        "The dragon was clambering down the face of the cliff, and next moment he was crawling and writhing and sprawling and wriggling across the beach after Nigel, making great holes in the sand with his heavy feet--and the very end of his tail, where there were no legs, made, as it dragged, a mark in the sand such as you make when you launch a boat; and he breathed fire till the wet sand hissed again, and the water of the little rock pools got quite frightened, and all went off in steam."
      ],
      [
        "Still Nigel held on and the dragon after him."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess could see nothing for the steam, and she stood crying bitterly, but still holding on tight with her right hand to the other end of the cord that Nigel had told her to hold; while with her left she held the ship's chronometer, and looked at it through her tears as he had bidden her look, so as to know when to pull the rope."
      ],
      [
        "On went Nigel over the sand, and on went the dragon after him.",
        "And the tide was low, and sleepy little waves lapped the sand's edge."
      ],
      [
        "Now at the lip of the water, Nigel paused and looked back, and the dragon made a bound, beginning a scream of rage that was like all the engines of all the railways in England."
      ],
      [
        "But it never uttered the second half of that scream, for now it knew suddenly that it was sleepy--it turned to hurry back to dry land, because sleeping near whirlpools is so unsafe."
      ],
      [
        "But before it reached the shore sleep caught it and turned it to stone."
      ],
      [
        "Nigel, seeing this, ran shoreward for his life--and the tide began to flow in, and the time of the whirlpools' sleep was nearly over, and he stumbled and he waded and he swam, and the Princess pulled for dear life at the cord in her hand, and pulled him up on to the dry shelf of rock just as the great sea dashed in and made itself once more into the girdle of Nine Whirlpools all around the island."
      ],
      [
        "But the dragon was asleep under the whirlpools, and when he woke up from being asleep he found he was drowned, so there was an end of him."
      ],
      [
        "\"Now, there's only the griffin,\" said Nigel.",
        "And the Princess said: \"Yes--only--\" And she kissed Nigel and went back to sew the last leaf of the last lily on the bosom of her wedding gown."
      ],
      [
        "She thought and thought of what was written on the stone about the griffin being artificial--and next day she said to Nigel: \"You know a griffin is half a lion and half an eagle, and the other two halves when they've joined make the leo-griff."
      ],
      [
        "But I've never seen him.",
        "Yet I have an idea.\""
      ],
      [
        "So they talked it over and arranged everything."
      ],
      [
        "When the griffin fell asleep that afternoon at teatime, Nigel went softly behind him and trod on his tail, and at the same time the Princess cried: \"Look out!",
        "There's a lion behind you.\""
      ],
      [
        "And the griffin, waking suddenly from his dreams, twisted his large neck around to look for the lion, saw a lion's flank, and fastened its eagle beak in it."
      ],
      [
        "For the griffin had been artificially made by the King-enchanter, and the two halves had never really got used to each other."
      ],
      [
        "So now the eagle half of the griffin, who was still rather sleepy, believed that it was fighting a lion, and the lion part, being half asleep, thought it was fighting an eagle, and the whole griffin in its deep drowsiness hadn't the sense to pull itself together and remember what it was made of."
      ],
      [
        "So the griffin rolled over and over, one end of it fighting with the other, till the eagle end pecked the lion end to death, and the lion end tore the eagle end with its claws till it died."
      ],
      [
        "And so the griffin that was made of a lion and an eagle perished, exactly as if it had been made of Kilkenny cats."
      ],
      [
        "\"Poor griffin,\" said the Princess, \"it was very good at the housework.",
        "I always liked it better than the dragon: It wasn't so hot-tempered.\""
      ],
      [
        "At that moment there was a soft, silky rush behind the Princess, and there was her mother, the Queen, who had slipped out of the stone statue at the moment the griffin was dead, and now came hurrying to take her dear daughter in her arms."
      ],
      [
        "The witch was clambering slowly off her pedestal.",
        "She was a little stiff from standing still so long."
      ],
      [
        "When they had all explained everything over and over to each other as many times as was good for them, the witch said: \"Well, but what about the whirlpools?\""
      ],
      [
        "And Nigel said he didn't know.",
        "Then the witch said: \"I'm not a witch anymore.",
        "I'm only a happy old woman, but I know some things still."
      ],
      [
        "Those whirlpools were made by the enchanter-King's dropping nine drops of his blood into the sea."
      ],
      [
        "And his blood was so wicked that the sea has been trying ever since to get rid of it, and that made the whirlpools.",
        "Now you've only got to go out at low tide.\""
      ],
      [
        "So Nigel understood and went out at low tide, and found in the sandy hollow left by the first whirlpool a great red ruby.",
        "That was the first drop of the wicked King's blood."
      ],
      [
        "The next day Nigel found another, and next day another, and so on till the ninth day, and then the sea was as smooth as glass."
      ],
      [
        "The nine rubies were used afterwards in agriculture.",
        "You had only to throw them out into a field if you wanted it plowed."
      ],
      [
        "Then the whole surface of the land turned itself over in its anxiety to get rid of something so wicked, and in the morning the field was found to be plowed as thoroughly as any young man at Oxford."
      ],
      [
        "So the wicked King did some good after all."
      ],
      [
        "When the sea was smooth, ships came from far and wide, bringing people to hear the wonderful story."
      ],
      [
        "And a beautiful palace was built, and the Princess was married to Nigel in her gold dress, and they all lived happily as long as was good for them."
      ],
      [
        "The dragon still lies, a stone dragon on the sand, and at low tide the little children play around him and over him."
      ],
      [
        "But the pieces that were left of the griffin were buried under the herb-bed in the palace garden, because it had been so good at housework, and it wasn't its fault that it had been made so badly and put to such poor work as guarding a lady from her lover."
      ],
      [
        "I have no doubt that you will wish to know what the Princess lived on during the long years when the dragon did the cooking."
      ],
      [
        "My dear, she lived on her income--and that is a thing that a great many people would like to be able to do."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER SIX\r\nThe Dragon Tamers"
      ],
      [
        "There was once an old, old castle--it was so old that its walls and towers and turrets and gateways and arches had crumbled to ruins, and of all its old splendor there were only two little rooms left; and it was here that John the blacksmith had set up his forge."
      ],
      [
        "He was too poor to live in a proper house, and no one asked any rent for the rooms in the ruin, because all the lords of the castle were dead and gone this many a year."
      ],
      [
        "So there John blew his bellows and hammered his iron and did all the work which came his way."
      ],
      [
        "This was not much, because most of the trade went to the mayor of the town, who was also a blacksmith in quite a large way of business, and had his huge forge facing the square of the town, and had twelve apprentices, all hammering like a nest of woodpeckers, and twelve journeymen to order the apprentices about, and a patent forge and a self-acting hammer and electric bellows, and all things handsome about him."
      ],
      [
        "So of course the townspeople, whenever they wanted a horse shod or a shaft mended, went to the mayor."
      ],
      [
        "John the blacksmith struggled on as best he could, with a few odd jobs from travelers and strangers who did not know what a superior forge the mayor's was."
      ],
      [
        "The two rooms were warm and weather-tight, but not very large; so the blacksmith got into the way of keeping his old iron, his odds and ends, his fagots, and his twopence worth of coal in the great dungeon down under the castle."
      ],
      [
        "It was a very fine dungeon indeed, with a handsome vaulted roof and big iron rings whose staples were built into the wall, very strong and convenient for tying captives to, and at one end was a broken flight of wide steps leading down no one knew where."
      ],
      [
        "Even the lords of the castle in the good old times had never known where those steps led to, but every now and then they would kick a prisoner down the steps in their lighthearted, hopeful way, and sure enough, the prisoners never came back."
      ],
      [
        "The blacksmith had never dared to go beyond the seventh step, and no more have I--so I know no more than he did what was at the bottom of those stairs."
      ],
      [
        "John the blacksmith had a wife and a little baby."
      ],
      [
        "When his wife was not doing the housework she used to nurse the baby and cry, remembering the happy days when she lived with her father, who kept seventeen cows and lived quite in the country, and when John used to come courting her in the summer evenings, as smart as smart, with a posy in his buttonhole."
      ],
      [
        "And now John's hair was getting gray, and there was hardly ever enough to eat."
      ],
      [
        "As for the baby, it cried a good deal at odd times; but at night, when its mother had settled down to sleep, it would always begin to cry, quite as a matter of course, so that she hardly got any rest at all."
      ],
      [
        "This made her very tired."
      ],
      [
        "The baby could make up for its bad nights during the day if it liked, but the poor mother couldn't.",
        "So whenever she had nothing to do she used to sit and cry, because she was tired out with work and worry."
      ],
      [
        "One evening the blacksmith was busy with his forge."
      ],
      [
        "He was making a goat-shoe for the goat of a very rich lady, who wished to see how the goat liked being shod, and also whether the shoe would come to fivepence or sevenpence before she ordered the whole set."
      ],
      [
        "This was the only order John had had that week.",
        "And as he worked his wife sat and nursed the baby, who, for a wonder, was not crying."
      ],
      [
        "Presently, over the noise of the bellows and over the clank of the iron, there came another sound.",
        "The blacksmith and his wife looked at each other."
      ],
      [
        "\"I heard nothing,\" said he."
      ],
      [
        "\"Neither did I,\" said she."
      ],
      [
        "But the noise grew louder--and the two were so anxious not to hear it that he hammered away at the goat-shoe harder than he had ever hammered in his life, and she began to sing to the baby--a thing she had not had the heart to do for weeks."
      ],
      [
        "But through the blowing and hammering and singing the noise came louder and louder, and the more they tried not to hear it, the more they had to."
      ],
      [
        "It was like the noise of some great creature purring, purring, purring--and the reason they did not want to believe they really heard it was that it came from the great dungeon down below, where the old iron was, and the firewood and the twopence worth of coal, and the broken steps that went down into the dark and ended no one knew where."
      ],
      [
        "\"It can't be anything in the dungeon,\" said the blacksmith, wiping his face.",
        "\"Why, I shall have to go down there after more coals in a minute.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"There isn't anything there, of course.",
        "How could there be?\" said his wife.",
        "And they tried so hard to believe that there could be nothing there that presently they very nearly did believe it."
      ],
      [
        "Then the blacksmith took his shovel in one hand and his riveting hammer in the other, and hung the old stable lantern on his little finger, and went down to get the coals."
      ],
      [
        "\"I am not taking the hammer because I think there is something there,\" said he, \"but it is handy for breaking the large lumps of coal.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I quite understand,\" said his wife, who had brought the coal home in her apron that very afternoon, and knew that it was all coal dust."
      ],
      [
        "So he went down the winding stairs to the dungeon and stood at the bottom of the steps, holding the lantern above his head just to see that the dungeon really was empty, as usual."
      ],
      [
        "Half of it was empty as usual, except for the old iron and odds and ends, and the firewood and the coals.",
        "But the other side was not empty.",
        "It was quite full, and what it was full of was Dragon."
      ],
      [
        "\"It must have come up those nasty broken steps from goodness knows where,\" said the blacksmith to himself, trembling all over, as he tried to creep back up the winding stairs."
      ],
      [
        "But the dragon was too quick for him--it put out a great claw and caught him by the leg, and as it moved it rattled like a great bunch of keys, or like the sheet iron they make thunder out of in pantomimes."
      ],
      [
        "\"No you don't,\" said the dragon in a spluttering voice, like a damp squib."
      ],
      [
        "\"Deary, deary me,\" said poor John, trembling more than ever in the claw of the dragon.",
        "\"Here's a nice end for a respectable blacksmith!\""
      ],
      [
        "The dragon seemed very much struck by this remark."
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you mind saying that again?\" said he, quite politely."
      ],
      [
        "So John said again, very distinctly: \"Here--is--a--nice--end--for--a--respectable--blacksmith._\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I didn't know,\" said the dragon.",
        "\"Fancy now!",
        "You're the very man I wanted.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"So I understood you to say before,\" said John, his teeth chattering."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, I don't mean what you mean,\" said the dragon, \"but I should like you to do a job for me.",
        "One of my wings has got some of the rivets out of it just above the joint.",
        "Could you put that to rights?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I might, sir,\" said John, politely, for you must always be polite to a possible customer, even if he be a dragon."
      ],
      [
        "\"A master craftsman--you are a master, of course?--can see in a minute what's wrong,\" the dragon went on.",
        "\"Just come around here and feel my plates, will you?\""
      ],
      [
        "John timidly went around when the dragon took his claw away; and sure enough, the dragon's wing was hanging loose, and several of the plates near the joint certainly wanted riveting."
      ],
      [
        "The dragon seemed to be made almost entirely of iron armor--a sort of tawny, red-rust color it was; from damp, no doubt--and under it he seemed to be covered with something furry."
      ],
      [
        "All the blacksmith welled up in John's heart, and he felt more at ease."
      ],
      [
        "\"You could certainly do with a rivet or two, sir,\" said he. \"In fact, you want a good many.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, get to work, then,\" said the dragon.",
        "\"You mend my wing, and then I'll go out and eat up all the town, and if you make a really smart job of it I'll eat you last.",
        "There!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't want to be eaten last, sir,\" said John."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well then, I'll eat you first,\" said the dragon."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't want that, sir, either,\" said John."
      ],
      [
        "\"Go on with you, you silly man,\" said the dragon, \"you don't know your own silly mind.",
        "Come, set to work.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't like the job, sir,\" said John, \"and that's the truth.",
        "I know how easily accidents happen."
      ],
      [
        "It's all fair and smooth, and 'Please rivet me, and I'll eat you last'--and then you get to work and you give a gentleman a bit of a nip or a dig under his rivets--and then it's fire and smoke, and no apologies will meet the case.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Upon my word of honor as a dragon,\" said the other."
      ],
      [
        "\"I know you wouldn't do it on purpose, sir,\" said John, \"but any gentleman will give a jump and a sniff if he's nipped, and one of your sniffs would be enough for me.",
        "Now, if you'd just let me fasten you up?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It would be so undignified,\" objected the dragon."
      ],
      [
        "\"We always fasten a horse up,\" said John, \"and he's the 'noble animal.'\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It's all very well,\" said the dragon, \"but how do I know you'd untie me again when you'd riveted me?",
        "Give me something in pledge.",
        "What do you value most?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"My hammer,\" said John. \"A blacksmith is nothing without a hammer.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But you'd want that for riveting me.",
        "You must think of something else, and at once, or I'll eat you first.\""
      ],
      [
        "At this moment the baby in the room above began to scream.",
        "Its mother had been so quiet that it thought she had settled down for the night, and that it was time to begin."
      ],
      [
        "\"Whatever's that?\" said the dragon, starting so that every plate on his body rattled."
      ],
      [
        "\"It's only the baby,\" said John."
      ],
      [
        "\"What's that?\" asked the dragon.",
        "\"Something you value?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, yes, sir, rather,\" said the blacksmith."
      ],
      [
        "\"Then bring it here,\" said the dragon, \"and I'll take care of it till you've done riveting me, and you shall tie me up.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"All right, sir,\" said John, \"but I ought to warn you.",
        "Babies are poison to dragons, so I don't deceive you.",
        "It's all right to touch--but don't you go putting it into your mouth."
      ],
      [
        "I shouldn't like to see any harm come to a nice-looking gentleman like you.\""
      ],
      [
        "The dragon purred at this compliment and said: \"All right, I'll be careful.",
        "Now go and fetch the thing, whatever it is.\""
      ],
      [
        "So John ran up the steps as quickly as he could, for he knew that if the dragon got impatient before it was fastened, it could heave up the roof of the dungeon with one heave of its back, and kill them all in the ruins."
      ],
      [
        "His wife was asleep, in spite of the baby's cries; and John picked up the baby and took it down and put it between the dragon's front paws."
      ],
      [
        "\"You just purr to it, sir,\" he said, \"and it'll be as good as gold.\""
      ],
      [
        "So the dragon purred, and his purring pleased the baby so much that it stopped crying."
      ],
      [
        "Then John rummaged among the heap of old iron and found there some heavy chains and a great collar that had been made in the days when men sang over their work and put their hearts into it, so that the things they made were strong enough to bear the weight of a thousand years, let alone a dragon."
      ],
      [
        "John fastened the dragon up with the collar and the chains, and when he had padlocked them all on safely he set to work to find out how many rivets would be needed."
      ],
      [
        "\"Six, eight, ten--twenty, forty,\" said he. \"I haven't half enough rivets in the shop.",
        "If you'll excuse me, sir, I'll step around to another forge and get a few dozen.",
        "I won't be a minute.\""
      ],
      [
        "And off he went, leaving the baby between the dragon's fore-paws, laughing and crowing with pleasure at the very large purr of it."
      ],
      [
        "John ran as hard as he could into the town, and found the mayor and corporation."
      ],
      [
        "\"There's a dragon in my dungeon,\" he said; \"I've chained him up.",
        "Now come and help to get my baby away.\""
      ],
      [
        "And he told them all about it."
      ],
      [
        "But they all happened to have engagements for that evening; so they praised John's cleverness, and said they were quite content to leave the matter in his hands."
      ],
      [
        "\"But what about my baby?\" said John."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, well,\" said the mayor, \"if anything should happen, you will always be able to remember that your baby perished in a good cause.\""
      ],
      [
        "So John went home again, and told his wife some of the tale."
      ],
      [
        "\"You've given the baby to the dragon!\" she cried.",
        "\"Oh, you unnatural parent!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Hush,\" said John, and he told her some more.",
        "\"Now,\" he said, \"I'm going down.",
        "After I've been down you can go, and if you keep your head the boy will be all right.\""
      ],
      [
        "So down went the blacksmith, and there was the dragon purring away with all his might to keep the baby quiet."
      ],
      [
        "\"Hurry up, can't you?\" he said.",
        "\"I can't keep up this noise all night.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I'm very sorry, sir,\" said the blacksmith, \"but all the shops are shut.",
        "The job must wait till the morning.",
        "And don't forget you've promised to take care of that baby.",
        "You'll find it a little wearing, I'm afraid."
      ],
      [
        "Good night, sir.\""
      ],
      [
        "The dragon had purred till he was quite out of breath--so now he stopped, and as soon as everything was quiet the baby thought everyone must have settled for the night, and that it was time to begin to scream."
      ],
      [
        "So it began."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, dear,\" said the dragon, \"this is awful.\"",
        "He patted the baby with his claw, but it screamed more than ever."
      ],
      [
        "\"And I am so tired too,\" said the dragon.",
        "\"I did so hope I should have a good night.\""
      ],
      [
        "The baby went on screaming."
      ],
      [
        "\"There'll be no peace for me after this,\" said the dragon.",
        "\"It's enough to ruin one's nerves.",
        "Hush, then--did 'ums, then.\"",
        "And he tried to quiet the baby as if it had been a young dragon."
      ],
      [
        "But when he began to sing \"Hush-a-by, Dragon,\" the baby screamed more and more and more.",
        "\"I can't keep it quiet,\" said the dragon; and then suddenly he saw a woman sitting on the steps."
      ],
      [
        "\"Here, I say,\" said he, \"do you know anything about babies?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I do, a little,\" said the mother."
      ],
      [
        "\"Then I wish you'd take this one, and let me get some sleep,\" said the dragon, yawning.",
        "\"You can bring it back in the morning before the blacksmith comes.\""
      ],
      [
        "So the mother picked up the baby and took it upstairs and told her husband, and they went to bed happy, for they had caught the dragon and saved the baby."
      ],
      [
        "And next day John went down and explained carefully to the dragon exactly how matters stood, and he got an iron gate with a grating to it and set it up at the foot of the steps, and the dragon mewed furiously for days and days, but when he found it was no good he was quiet."
      ],
      [
        "So now John went to the mayor, and said: \"I've got the dragon and I've saved the town.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Noble preserver,\" cried the mayor, \"we will get up a subscription for you, and crown you in public with a laurel wreath.\""
      ],
      [
        "So the mayor put his name down for five pounds, and the corporation each gave three, and other people gave their guineas and half guineas and half crowns and crowns, and while the subscription was being made the mayor ordered three poems at his own expense from the town poet to celebrate the occasion."
      ],
      [
        "The poems were very much more admired, especially by the mayor and corporation."
      ],
      [
        "The first poem dealt with the noble conduct of the mayor in arranging to have the dragon tied up.",
        "The second described the splendid assistance rendered by the corporation."
      ],
      [
        "And the third expressed the pride and joy of the poet in being permitted to sing such deeds, beside which the actions of St. George must appear quite commonplace to all with a feeling heart or a well-balanced brain."
      ],
      [
        "When the subscription was finished there was a thousand pounds, and a committee was formed to settle what should be done with it."
      ],
      [
        "A third of it went to pay for a banquet to the mayor and corporation; another third was spent in buying a gold collar with a dragon on it for the mayor and gold medals with dragons on them for the corporation; and what was left went in committee expenses."
      ],
      [
        "So there was nothing for the blacksmith except the laurel wreath and the knowledge that it really was he who had saved the town.",
        "But after this things went a little better with the blacksmith."
      ],
      [
        "To begin with, the baby did not cry so much as it had before."
      ],
      [
        "Then the rich lady who owned the goat was so touched by John's noble action that she ordered a complete set of shoes at 2 shillings, 4 pence, and even made it up to 2 shillings, 6 pence, in grateful recognition of his public-spirited conduct."
      ],
      [
        "Then tourists used to come in breaks from quite a long way off, and pay twopence each to go down the steps and peep through the iron grating at the rusty dragon in the dungeon--and it was threepence extra for each party if the blacksmith let off colored fire to see it by, which, as the fire was extremely short, was twopence-halfpenny clear profit every time."
      ],
      [
        "And the blacksmith's wife used to provide teas at ninepence a head, and altogether things grew brighter week by week."
      ],
      [
        "The baby--named John, after his father, and called Johnnie for short--began presently to grow up.",
        "He was great friends with Tina, the daughter of the whitesmith, who lived nearly opposite."
      ],
      [
        "She was a dear little girl with yellow pigtails and blue eyes, and she was tired of hearing the story of how Johnnie, when he was a baby, had been minded by a real dragon."
      ],
      [
        "The two children used to go together to peep through the iron grating at the dragon, and sometimes they would hear him mew piteously."
      ],
      [
        "And they would light a halfpenny's worth of colored fire to look at him by.",
        "And they grew older and wiser."
      ],
      [
        "At last one day the mayor and corporation, hunting the hare in their gold gowns, came screaming back to the town gates with the news that a lame, humpy giant, as big as a tin church, was coming over the marshes toward the town."
      ],
      [
        "\"We're lost,\" said the mayor.",
        "\"I'd give a thousand pounds to anyone who could keep that giant out of the town.",
        "I know what he eats--by his teeth.\""
      ],
      [
        "No one seemed to know what to do.",
        "But Johnnie and Tina were listening, and they looked at each other, and ran off as fast as their boots would carry them."
      ],
      [
        "They ran through the forge, and down the dungeon steps, and knocked at the iron door.",
        "\"Who's there?\" said the dragon.",
        "\"It's only us,\" said the children."
      ],
      [
        "And the dragon was so dull from having been alone for ten years that he said: \"Come in, dears.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You won't hurt us, or breathe fire at us or anything?\"",
        "asked Tina."
      ],
      [
        "And the dragon said, \"Not for worlds.\""
      ],
      [
        "So they went in and talked to him, and told him what the weather was like outside, and what there was in the papers, and at last Johnnie said: \"There's a lame giant in the town.",
        "He wants you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Does he?\" said the dragon, showing his teeth.",
        "\"If only I were out of this!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"If we let you loose you might manage to run away before he could catch you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, I might,\" answered the dragon, \"but then again I mightn't.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why--you'd never fight him?\" said Tina."
      ],
      [
        "\"No,\" said the dragon; \"I'm all for peace, I am.",
        "You let me out, and you'll see.\""
      ],
      [
        "So the children loosed the dragon from the chains and the collar, and he broke down one end of the dungeon and went out--only pausing at the forge door to get the blacksmith to rivet his wing."
      ],
      [
        "He met the lame giant at the gate of the town, and the giant banged on the dragon with his club as if he were banging an iron foundry, and the dragon behaved like a smelting works--all fire and smoke."
      ],
      [
        "It was a fearful sight, and people watched it from a distance, falling off their legs with the shock of every bang, but always getting up to look again."
      ],
      [
        "At last the dragon won, and the giant sneaked away across the marshes, and the dragon, who was very tired, went home to sleep, announcing his intention of eating the town in the morning."
      ],
      [
        "He went back into his old dungeon because he was a stranger in the town, and he did not know of any other respectable lodging."
      ],
      [
        "Then Tina and Johnnie went to the mayor and corporation and said, \"The giant is settled.",
        "Please give us the thousand pounds reward.\""
      ],
      [
        "But the mayor said: \"No, no, my boy.",
        "It is not you who have settled the giant, it is the dragon.",
        "I suppose you have chained him up again?",
        "When he comes to claim the reward he shall have it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He isn't chained up yet,\" said Johnnie.",
        "\"Shall I send him to claim the reward?\""
      ],
      [
        "But the mayor said he need not trouble; and now he offered a thousand pounds to anyone who would get the dragon chained up again."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't trust you,\" said Johnnie.",
        "\"Look how you treated my father when he chained up the dragon.\""
      ],
      [
        "But the people who were listening at the door interrupted, and said that if Johnnie could fasten up the dragon again they would turn out the mayor and let Johnnie be mayor in his place."
      ],
      [
        "For they had been dissatisfied with the mayor for some time, and thought they would like a change."
      ],
      [
        "So Johnnie said, \"Done,\" and off he went, hand in hand with Tina, and they called on all their little friends and said: \"Will you help us to save the town?\""
      ],
      [
        "And all the children said: \"Yes, of course we will.",
        "What fun!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, then,\" said Tina, \"you must all bring your basins of bread and milk to the forge tomorrow at breakfast time.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And if ever I am mayor,\" said Johnnie, \"I will give a banquet, and you shall be invited.",
        "And we'll have nothing but sweet things from beginning to end.\""
      ],
      [
        "All the children promised, and next morning Tina and Johnnie rolled their big washing tub down the winding stair."
      ],
      [
        "\"What's that noise?\" asked the dragon."
      ],
      [
        "\"It's only a big giant breathing,\" said Tina, \"He's gone by now.\""
      ],
      [
        "Then, when all the town children brought their bread and milk, Tina emptied it into the wash tub, and when the tub was full Tina knocked at the iron door with the grating in it and said: \"May we come in?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, yes,\" said the dragon, \"it's very dull here.\""
      ],
      [
        "So they went in, and with the help of nine other children they lifted the washing tub in and set it down by the dragon.",
        "Then all the other children went away, and Tina and Johnnie sat down and cried."
      ],
      [
        "\"What's this?\" asked the dragon.",
        "\"And what's the matter?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"This is bread and milk,\" said Johnnie; \"it's our breakfast--all of it.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Well,\" said the dragon, \"I don't see what you want with breakfast.",
        "I'm going to eat everyone in the town as soon as I've rested a little.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Dear Mr. Dragon,\" said Tina, \"I wish you wouldn't eat us.",
        "How would you like to be eaten yourself?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Not at all,\" the dragon confessed, \"but nobody will eat me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't know,\" said Johnnie, \"there's a giant--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I know.",
        "I fought with him, and licked him.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, but there's another come now--the one you fought was only this one's little boy.",
        "This one is half as big again.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He's seven times as big,\" said Tina."
      ],
      [
        "\"No, nine times,\" said Johnnie.",
        "\"He's bigger than the steeple.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, dear,\" said the dragon.",
        "\"I never expected this.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"And the mayor has told him where you are,\" Tina went on, \"and he is coming to eat you as soon as he has sharpened his big knife.",
        "The mayor told him you were a wild dragon--but he didn't mind."
      ],
      [
        "He said he only ate wild dragons--with bread sauce.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"That's tiresome,\" said the dragon.",
        "\"And I suppose this sloppy stuff in the tub is the bread sauce?\""
      ],
      [
        "The children said it was.",
        "\"Of course,\" they added, \"bread sauce is only served with wild dragons.",
        "Tame ones are served with apple sauce and onion stuffing."
      ],
      [
        "What a pity you're not a tame one: He'd never look at you then,\" they said.",
        "\"Good-bye, poor dragon, we shall never see you again, and now you'll know what it's like to be eaten.\"",
        "And they began to cry again."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, but look here,\" said the dragon, \"couldn't you pretend I was a tame dragon?",
        "Tell the giant that I'm just a poor little timid tame dragon that you kept for a pet.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"He'd never believe it,\" said Johnnie.",
        "\"If you were our tame dragon we should keep you tied up, you know.",
        "We shouldn't like to risk losing such a dear, pretty pet.\""
      ],
      [
        "Then the dragon begged them to fasten him up at once, and they did so: with the collar and chains that were made years ago--in the days when men sang over their work and made it strong enough to bear any strain."
      ],
      [
        "And then they went away and told the people what they had done, and Johnnie was made mayor, and had a glorious feast exactly as he had said he would--with nothing in it but sweet things."
      ],
      [
        "It began with Turkish delight and halfpenny buns, and went on with oranges, toffee, coconut ice, peppermints, jam puffs, raspberry-noyeau, ice creams, and meringues, and ended with bull's-eyes and gingerbread and acid drops."
      ],
      [
        "This was all very well for Johnnie and Tina; but if you are kind children with feeling hearts you will perhaps feel sorry for the poor deceived, deluded dragon--chained up in the dull dungeon, with nothing to do but to think over the shocking untruths that Johnnie had told him."
      ],
      [
        "When he thought how he had been tricked, the poor captive dragon began to weep--and the large tears fell down over his rusty plates."
      ],
      [
        "And presently he began to feel faint, as people sometimes do when they have been crying, especially if they have not had anything to eat for ten years or so."
      ],
      [
        "And then the poor creature dried his eyes and looked about him, and there he saw the tub of bread and milk."
      ],
      [
        "So he thought, \"If giants like this damp, white stuff, perhaps I should like it too,\" and he tasted a little, and liked it so much that he ate it all up."
      ],
      [
        "And the next time the tourists came, and Johnnie let off the colored fire, the dragon said shyly: \"Excuse my troubling you, but could you bring me a little more bread and milk?\""
      ],
      [
        "So Johnnie arranged that people should go around with carts every day to collect the children's bread and milk for the dragon."
      ],
      [
        "The children were fed at the town's expense--on whatever they liked; and they ate nothing but cake and buns and sweet things, and they said the poor dragon was very welcome to their bread and milk."
      ],
      [
        "Now, when Johnnie had been mayor ten years or so he married Tina, and on their wedding morning they went to see the dragon."
      ],
      [
        "He had grown quite tame, and his rusty plates had fallen off in places, and underneath he was soft and furry to stroke.",
        "So now they stroked him."
      ],
      [
        "And he said, \"I don't know how I could ever have liked eating anything but bread and milk.",
        "I am a tame dragon now, aren't I?\" And when they said that yes, he was, the dragon said: \"I am so tame, won't you undo me?\""
      ],
      [
        "And some people would have been afraid to trust him, but Johnnie and Tina were so happy on their wedding day that they could not believe any harm of anyone in the world."
      ],
      [
        "So they loosened the chains, and the dragon said: \"Excuse me a moment, there are one or two little things I should like to fetch,\" and he moved off to those mysterious steps and went down them, out of sight into the darkness."
      ],
      [
        "And as he moved, more and more of his rusty plates fell off."
      ],
      [
        "In a few minutes they heard him clanking up the steps.",
        "He brought something in his mouth--it was a bag of gold."
      ],
      [
        "\"It's no good to me,\" he said.",
        "\"Perhaps you might find it useful.\"",
        "So they thanked him very kindly."
      ],
      [
        "\"More where that came from,\" said he, and fetched more and more and more, till they told him to stop.",
        "So now they were rich, and so were their fathers and mothers."
      ],
      [
        "Indeed, everyone was rich, and there were no more poor people in the town."
      ],
      [
        "And they all got rich without working, which is very wrong; but the dragon had never been to school, as you have, so he knew no better."
      ],
      [
        "And as the dragon came out of the dungeon, following Johnnie and Tina into the bright gold and blue of their wedding day, he blinked his eyes as a cat does in the sunshine, and he shook himself, and the last of his plates dropped off, and his wings with them, and he was just like a very, very extra-sized cat."
      ],
      [
        "And from that day he grew furrier and furrier, and he was the beginning of all cats.",
        "Nothing of the dragon remained except the claws, which all cats have still, as you can easily ascertain."
      ],
      [
        "And I hope you see now how important it is to feed your cat with bread and milk."
      ],
      [
        "If you were to let it have nothing to eat but mice and birds it might grow larger and fiercer, and scalier and tailier, and get wings and turn into the beginning of dragons."
      ],
      [
        "And then there would be all the bother over again."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER SEVEN\r\nThe Fiery Dragon, or The Heart of Stone and the Heart of Gold"
      ],
      [
        "The little white Princess always woke in her little white bed when the starlings began to chatter in the pearl gray morning."
      ],
      [
        "As soon as the woods were awake, she used to run up the twisting turret-stairs with her little bare feet, and stand on the top of the tower in her white bed-gown, and kiss her hands to the sun and to the woods and to the sleeping town, and say: \"Good morning, pretty world!\""
      ],
      [
        "Then she would run down the cold stone steps and dress herself in her short skirt and her cap and apron, and begin the day's work."
      ],
      [
        "She swept the rooms and made the breakfast, she washed the dishes and she scoured the pans, and all this she did because she was a real Princess."
      ],
      [
        "For of all who should have served her, only one remained faithful--her old nurse, who had lived with her in the tower all the Princess's life."
      ],
      [
        "And, now the nurse was old and feeble, the Princess would not let her work any more, but did all the housework herself, while Nurse sat still and did the sewing, because this was a real Princess with skin like milk and hair like flax and a heart like gold."
      ],
      [
        "Her name was Sabrinetta, and her grandmother was Sabra, who married St. George after he had killed the dragon, and by real rights all the country belonged to her: the woods that stretched away to the mountains, the downs that sloped down to the sea, the pretty fields of corn and maize and rye, the olive orchards and the vineyards, and the little town itself--with its towers and its turrets, its steep roofs and strange windows--that nestled in the hollow between the sea, where the whirlpool was, and the mountains, white with snow and rosy with sunrise."
      ],
      [
        "But when her father and mother had died, leaving her cousin to take care of the kingdom till she grew up, he, being a very evil Prince, took everything away from her, and all the people followed him, and now nothing was left her of all her possessions except the great dragon proof tower that her grandfather, St. George, had built, and of all who should have been her servants only the good nurse."
      ],
      [
        "This was why Sabrinetta was the first person in all the land to get a glimpse of the wonder."
      ],
      [
        "Early, early, early, while all the townspeople were fast asleep, she ran up the turret-steps and looked out over the field, and at the other side of the field there was a green, ferny ditch and a rose-thorny hedge, and then came the wood."
      ],
      [
        "And as Sabrinetta stood on her tower she saw a shaking and a twisting of the rose-thorny hedge, and then something very bright and shining wriggled out through it into the ferny ditch and back again."
      ],
      [
        "It only came out for a minute, but she saw it quite plainly, and she said to herself: \"Dear me, what a curious, shiny, bright-looking creature!"
      ],
      [
        "If it were bigger, and if I didn't know that there have been no fabulous monsters for quite a long time now, I should almost think it was a dragon.\""
      ],
      [
        "The thing, whatever it was, did look rather like a dragon--but then it was too small; and it looked rather like a lizard--only then it was too big.",
        "It was about as long as a hearthrug."
      ],
      [
        "\"I wish it had not been in such a hurry to get back into the wood,\" said Sabrinetta. \"Of course, it's quite safe for me, in my dragonproof tower; but if it is a dragon, it's quite big enough to eat people, and today's the first of May, and the children go out to get flowers in the wood.\""
      ],
      [
        "When Sabrinetta had done the housework (she did not leave so much as a speck of dust anywhere, even in the corneriest corner of the winding stair) she put on her milk white, silky gown with the moon-daisies worked on it, and went up to the top of her tower again."
      ],
      [
        "Across the fields troops of children were going out to gather the may, and the sound of their laughter and singing came up to the top of the tower."
      ],
      [
        "\"I do hope it wasn't a dragon,\" said Sabrinetta."
      ],
      [
        "The children went by twos and by threes and by tens and by twenties, and the red and blue and yellow and white of their frocks were scattered on the green of the field."
      ],
      [
        "\"It's like a green silk mantle worked with flowers,\" said the Princess, smiling."
      ],
      [
        "Then by twos and by threes, by tens and by twenties, the children vanished into the wood, till the mantle of the field was left plain green once more."
      ],
      [
        "\"All the embroidery is unpicked,\" said the Princess, sighing."
      ],
      [
        "The sun shone, and the sky was blue, and the fields were quite green, and all the flowers were very bright indeed, because it was May Day."
      ],
      [
        "Then quite suddenly a cloud passed over the sun, and the silence was broken by shrieks from far off; and, like a many-colored torrent, all the children burst from the wood and rushed, a red and blue and yellow and white wave, across the field, screaming as they ran."
      ],
      [
        "Their voices came up to the Princess on her tower, and she heard the words threaded on their screams like beads on sharp needles: \"The dragon, the dragon, the dragon!",
        "Open the gates!",
        "The dragon is coming!"
      ],
      [
        "The fiery dragon!\""
      ],
      [
        "And they swept across the field and into the gate of the town, and the Princess heard the gate bang, and the children were out of sight--but on the other side of the field the rose-thorns crackled and smashed in the hedge, and something very large and glaring and horrible trampled the ferns in the ditch for one moment before it hid itself again in the covert of the wood."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess went down and told her nurse, and the nurse at once locked the great door of the tower and put the key in her pocket."
      ],
      [
        "\"Let them take care of themselves,\" she said, when the Princess begged to be allowed to go out and help to take care of the children.",
        "\"My business is to take care of you, my precious, and I'm going to do it."
      ],
      [
        "Old as I am, I can turn a key still.\""
      ],
      [
        "So Sabrinetta went up again to the top of her tower, and cried whenever she thought of the children and the fiery dragon."
      ],
      [
        "For she knew, of course, that the gates of the town were not dragonproof, and that the dragon could just walk in whenever he liked."
      ],
      [
        "The children ran straight to the palace, where the Prince was cracking his hunting whip down at the kennels, and told him what had happened."
      ],
      [
        "\"Good sport,\" said the Prince, and he ordered out his pack of hippopotamuses at once."
      ],
      [
        "It was his custom to hunt big game with hippopotamuses, and people would not have minded that so much--but he would swagger about in the streets of the town with his pack yelping and gamboling at his heels, and when he did that, the green-grocer, who had his stall in the marketplace, always regretted it; and the crockery merchant, who spread his wares on the pavement, was ruined for life every time the Prince chose to show off his pack."
      ],
      [
        "The Prince rode out of the town with his hippopotamuses trotting and frisking behind him, and people got inside their houses as quickly as they could when they heard the voices of his pack and the blowing of his horn."
      ],
      [
        "The pack squeezed through the town gates and off across country to hunt the dragon."
      ],
      [
        "Few of you who had not seen a pack of hippopotamuses in full cry will be able to imagine at all what the hunt was like."
      ],
      [
        "To begin with, hippopotamuses do not bay like hounds: They grunt like pigs, and their grunt is very big and fierce.",
        "Then, of course, no one expects hippopotamuses to jump."
      ],
      [
        "They just crash through the hedges and lumber through the standing corn, doing serious injury to the crops, and annoying the farmers very much."
      ],
      [
        "All the hippopotamuses had collars with their name and address on, but when the farmers called at the palace to complain of the injury to their standing crops, the Prince always said it served them right for leaving their crops standing about in people's way, and he never paid anything at all."
      ],
      [
        "So now, when he and his pack went out, several people in the town whispered, \"I wish the dragon would eat him\"--which was very wrong of them, no doubt, but then he was such a very nasty Prince."
      ],
      [
        "They hunted by field, and they hunted by wold; they drew the woods blank, and the scent didn't lie on the downs at all.",
        "The dragon was shy, and would not show himself."
      ],
      [
        "But just as the Prince was beginning to think there was no dragon at all, but only a cock and bull, his favourite old hippopotamus gave tongue."
      ],
      [
        "The Prince blew his horn and shouted: \"Tally ho! Hark forward!",
        "Tantivy!\" and the whole pack charged downhill toward the hollow by the wood."
      ],
      [
        "For there, plain to be seen, was the dragon, as big as a barge, glowing like a furnace, and spitting fire and showing his shining teeth."
      ],
      [
        "\"The hunt is up!\" cried the Prince.",
        "And indeed it was."
      ],
      [
        "For the dragon--instead of behaving as a quarry should, and running away--ran straight at the pack, and the Prince, on his elephant, had the mortification of seeing his prize pack swallowed up one by one in the twinkling of an eye, by the dragon they had come out to hunt."
      ],
      [
        "The dragon swallowed all the hippopotamuses just as a dog swallows bits of meat.",
        "It was a shocking sight."
      ],
      [
        "Of the whole of the pack that had come out sporting so merrily to the music of the horn, now not even a puppy-hippopotamus was left, and the dragon was looking anxiously around to see if he had forgotten anything."
      ],
      [
        "The Prince slipped off his elephant on the other side and ran into the thickest part of the wood.",
        "He hoped the dragon could not break through the bushes there, since they were very strong and close."
      ],
      [
        "He went crawling on hands and knees in a most un-Prince-like way, and at last, finding a hollow tree, he crept into it."
      ],
      [
        "The wood was very still--no crashing of branches and no smell of burning came to alarm the Prince."
      ],
      [
        "He drained the silver hunting bottle slung from his shoulder, and stretched his legs in the hollow tree."
      ],
      [
        "He never shed a single tear for his poor tame hippopotamuses who had eaten from his hand and followed him faithfully in all the pleasures of the chase for so many years."
      ],
      [
        "For he was a false Prince, with a skin like leather and hair like hearth brushes and a heart like a stone.",
        "He never shed a tear, but he just went to sleep."
      ],
      [
        "When he awoke it was dark.",
        "He crept out of the tree and rubbed his eyes.",
        "The wood was black about him, but there was a red glow in a dell close by."
      ],
      [
        "It was a fire of sticks, and beside it sat a ragged youth with long, yellow hair; all around lay sleeping forms which breathed heavily."
      ],
      [
        "\"Who are you?\" said the Prince."
      ],
      [
        "\"I'm Elfin, the pig keeper,\" said the ragged youth.",
        "\"And who are you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I'm Tiresome, the Prince,\" said the other."
      ],
      [
        "\"And what are you doing out of your palace at this time of night?\" asked the pig keeper, severely."
      ],
      [
        "\"I've been hunting,\" said the Prince."
      ],
      [
        "The pig keeper laughed.",
        "\"Oh, it was you I saw, then?",
        "A good hunt, wasn't it?",
        "My pigs and I were looking on.\""
      ],
      [
        "All the sleeping forms grunted and snored, and the Prince saw that they were pigs: He knew it by their manners."
      ],
      [
        "\"If you had known as much as I do,\" Elfin went on, \"you might have saved your pack.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What do you mean?\" said Tiresome."
      ],
      [
        "\"Why, the dragon,\" said Elfin.",
        "\"You went out at the wrong time of day.",
        "The dragon should be hunted at night.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, thank you,\" said the Prince, with a shudder.",
        "\"A daylight hunt is quite good enough for me, you silly pig keeper.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, well,\" said Elfin, \"do as you like about it--the dragon will come and hunt you tomorrow, as likely as not.",
        "I don't care if he does, you silly Prince.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You're very rude,\" said Tiresome."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, no, only truthful,\" said Elfin."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, tell me the truth, then.",
        "What is it that, if I had known as much as you do about, I shouldn't have lost my hippopotamuses?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"You don't speak very good English,\" said Elfin.",
        "\"But come, what will you give me if I tell you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"If you tell me what?\" said the tiresome Prince."
      ],
      [
        "\"What you want to know.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't want to know anything,\" said Prince Tiresome."
      ],
      [
        "\"Then you're more of a silly even than I thought,\" said Elfin.",
        "\"Don't you want to know how to settle the dragon before he settles you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It might be as well,\" the Prince admitted."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, I haven't much patience at any time,\" said Elfin, \"and now I can assure you that there's very little left.",
        "What will you give me if I tell you?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Half my kingdom,\" said the Prince, \"and my cousin's hand in marriage.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Done,\" said the pig keeper.",
        "\"Here goes!",
        "The dragon grows small at night!",
        "He sleeps under the root of this tree.",
        "I use him to light my fire with.\""
      ],
      [
        "And, sure enough, there under the tree was the dragon on a nest of scorched moss, and he was about as long as your finger."
      ],
      [
        "\"How can I kill him?\"",
        "asked the Prince."
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't know that you can kill him,\" said Elfin, \"but you can take him away if you've brought anything to put him in.",
        "That bottle of yours would do.\""
      ],
      [
        "So between them they managed, with bits of stick and by singeing their fingers a little, to poke and shove the dragon till they made it creep into the silver hunting bottle, and then the Prince screwed on the top tight."
      ],
      [
        "\"Now we've got him,\" said Elfin.",
        "\"Let's take him home and put Solomon's seal on the mouth of the bottle, and then he'll be safe enough."
      ],
      [
        "Come along--we'll divide up the kingdom tomorrow, and then I shall have some money to buy fine clothes to go courting in.\""
      ],
      [
        "But when the wicked Prince made promises he did not make them to keep."
      ],
      [
        "\"Go on with you!",
        "What do you mean?\" he said.",
        "\"I found the dragon and I've imprisoned him.",
        "I never said a word about courtings or kingdoms.",
        "If you say I did, I shall cut your head off at once.\"",
        "And he drew his sword."
      ],
      [
        "\"All right,\" said Elfin, shrugging his shoulders.",
        "\"I'm better off than you are, anyhow.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What do you mean?\" spluttered the Prince."
      ],
      [
        "\"Why, you've only got a kingdom (and a dragon), but I've got clean hands (and five and seventy fine black pigs).\""
      ],
      [
        "So Elfin sat down again by his fire, and the Prince went home and told his Parliament how clever and brave he had been, and though he woke them up on purpose to tell them, they were not angry, but said: \"You are indeed brave and clever.\""
      ],
      [
        "For they knew what happened to people with whom the Prince was not pleased."
      ],
      [
        "Then the Prime Minister solemnly put Solomon's seal on the mouth of the bottle, and the bottle was put in the Treasury, which was the strongest building in the town, and was made of solid copper, with walls as thick as Waterloo Bridge."
      ],
      [
        "The bottle was set down among the sacks of gold, and the junior secretary to the junior clerk of the last Lord of the Treasury was appointed to sit up all night with it and see if anything happened."
      ],
      [
        "The junior secretary had never seen a dragon, and, what was more, he did not believe the Prince had ever seen a dragon either."
      ],
      [
        "The Prince had never been a really truthful boy, and it would have been just like him to bring home a bottle with nothing in it and then to pretend that there was a dragon inside."
      ],
      [
        "So the junior secretary did not at all mind being left."
      ],
      [
        "They gave him the key, and when everyone in the town had gone back to bed he let in some of the junior secretaries from other Government departments, and they had a jolly game of hide-and-seek among the sacks of gold, and played marbles with the diamonds and rubies and pearls in the big ivory chests."
      ],
      [
        "They enjoyed themselves very much, but by-and-by the copper treasury began to get warmer and warmer, and suddenly the junior secretary cried out, \"Look at the bottle!\""
      ],
      [
        "The bottle sealed with Solomon's seal had swollen to three times its proper size and seemed to be nearly red hot, and the air got warmer and warmer and the bottle bigger and bigger, till all the junior secretaries agreed that the place was too hot to hold them, and out they went, tumbling over each other in their haste, and just as the last got out and locked the door the bottle burst, and out came the dragon, very fiery, and swelling more and more every minute, and he began to eat the sacks of gold and crunch up the pearls and diamonds and rubies as if they were sugar."
      ],
      [
        "By breakfasttime he had devoured the whole of the Prince's treasures, and when the Prince came along the street at about eleven, he met the dragon coming out of the broken door of the Treasury, with molten gold still dripping from his jaws."
      ],
      [
        "Then the Prince turned and ran for his life, and as he ran toward the dragonproof tower the little white Princess saw him coming, and she ran down and unlocked the door and let him in, and slammed the dragonproof door in the fiery face of the dragon, who sat down and whined outside, because he wanted the Prince very much indeed."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess took Prince Tiresome into the best room, and laid the cloth, and gave him cream and eggs and white grapes and honey and bread, with many other things, yellow and white and good to eat, and she served him just as kindly as she would have done if he had been anyone else instead of the bad Prince who had taken away her kingdom and kept it for himself--because she was a true Princess and had a heart of gold."
      ],
      [
        "When he had eaten and drunk, he begged the Princess to show him how to lock and unlock the door.",
        "The nurse was asleep, so there was no one to tell the Princess not to, and she did."
      ],
      [
        "\"You turn the key like this,\" she said, \"and the door keeps shut.",
        "But turn it nine times around the wrong way, and the door flies open.\""
      ],
      [
        "And so it did.",
        "And the moment it opened, the Prince pushed the white Princess out of her tower, just as he had pushed her out of her kingdom, and shut the door."
      ],
      [
        "For he wanted to have the tower all for himself."
      ],
      [
        "And there she was, in the street, and on the other side of the way the dragon was sitting whining, but he did not try to eat her, because--though the old nurse did not know it--dragons cannot eat white Princesses with hearts of gold."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess could not walk through the streets of the town in her milky-silky gown with the daisies on it, and with no hat and no gloves, so she turned the other way, and ran out across the meadows, toward the wood."
      ],
      [
        "She had never been out of her tower before, and the soft grass under her feet felt like grass of Paradise."
      ],
      [
        "She ran right into the thickest part of the wood, because she did not know what her heart was made of, and she was afraid of the dragon, and there in a dell she came on Elfin and his five and seventy fine pigs."
      ],
      [
        "He was playing his flute, and around him the pigs were dancing cheerfully on their hind legs."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, dear,\" said the Princess, \"do take care of me.",
        "I am so frightened.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I will,\" said Elfin, putting his arms around her. \"Now you are quite safe.",
        "What were you frightened of?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"The dragon,\" she said."
      ],
      [
        "\"So it's gotten out of the silver bottle,\" said Elfin.",
        "\"I hope it's eaten the Prince.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No,\" said Sabrinetta. \"But why?\""
      ],
      [
        "He told her of the mean trick that the Prince had played on him."
      ],
      [
        "\"And he promised me half his kingdom and the hand of his cousin the Princess,\" said Elfin."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, dear, what a shame!\" said Sabrinetta, trying to get out of his arms.",
        "\"How dare he?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What's the matter?\" he asked, holding her tighter.",
        "\"It was a shame, or at least I thought so.",
        "But now he may keep his kingdom, half and whole, if I may keep what I have.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What's that?\" asked the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "\"Why, you--my pretty, my dear,\" said Elfin, \"and as for the Princess, his cousin--forgive me, dearest heart, but when I asked for her I hadn't seen the real Princess, the only Princess, my Princess.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Do you mean me?\" said Sabrinetta."
      ],
      [
        "\"Who else?\" he asked."
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes, but five minutes ago you hadn't seen me!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Five minutes ago I was a pig keeper--now I've held you in my arms I'm a Prince, though I should have to keep pigs to the end of my days.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But you haven't asked me,\" said the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "\"You asked me to take care of you,\" said Elfin, \"and I will--all my life long.\""
      ],
      [
        "So that was settled, and they began to talk of really important things, such as the dragon and the Prince, and all the time Elfin did not know that this was the Princess, but he knew that she had a heart of gold, and he told her so, many times."
      ],
      [
        "\"The mistake,\" said Elfin, \"was in not having a dragonproof bottle.",
        "I see that now.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, is that all?\" said the Princess.",
        "\"I can easily get you one of those--because everything in my tower is dragonproof.",
        "We ought to do something to settle the dragon and save the little children.\""
      ],
      [
        "So she started off to get the bottle, but she would not let Elfin come with her."
      ],
      [
        "\"If what you say is true,\" she said, \"if you are sure that I have a heart of gold, the dragon won't hurt me, and somebody must stay with the pigs.\""
      ],
      [
        "Elfin was quite sure, so he let her go."
      ],
      [
        "She found the door of her tower open."
      ],
      [
        "The dragon had waited patiently for the Prince, and the moment he opened the door and came out--though he was only out for an instant to post a letter to his Prime Minister saying where he was and asking them to send the fire brigade to deal with the fiery dragon--the dragon ate him."
      ],
      [
        "Then the dragon went back to the wood, because it was getting near his time to grow small for the night."
      ],
      [
        "So Sabrinetta went in and kissed her nurse and made her a cup of tea and explained what was going to happen, and that she had a heart of gold, so the dragon couldn't eat her; and the nurse saw that of course the Princess was quite safe, and kissed her and let her go."
      ],
      [
        "She took the dragonproof bottle, made of burnished brass, and ran back to the wood, and to the dell, where Elfin was sitting among his sleek black pigs, waiting for her."
      ],
      [
        "\"I thought you were never coming back,\" he said.",
        "\"You have been away a year, at least.\""
      ],
      [
        "The Princess sat down beside him among the pigs, and they held each other's hands till it was dark, and then the dragon came crawling over the moss, scorching it as he came, and getting smaller as he crawled, and curled up under the root of the tree."
      ],
      [
        "\"Now then,\" said Elfin, \"you hold the bottle.\"",
        "Then he poked and prodded the dragon with bits of stick till it crawled into the dragonproof bottle.",
        "But there was no stopper."
      ],
      [
        "\"Never mind,\" said Elfin.",
        "\"I'll put my finger in for a stopper.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"No, let me,\" said the Princess.",
        "But of course Elfin would not let her.",
        "He stuffed his finger into the top of the bottle, and the Princess cried out: \"The sea--the sea--run for the cliffs!\""
      ],
      [
        "And off they went, with the five and seventy pigs trotting steadily after them in a long black procession."
      ],
      [
        "The bottle got hotter and hotter in Elfin's hands, because the dragon inside was puffing fire and smoke with all his might--hotter and hotter and hotter--but Elfin held on till they came to the cliff edge, and there was the dark blue sea, and the whirlpool going around and around."
      ],
      [
        "Elfin lifted the bottle high above his head and hurled it out between the stars and the sea, and it fell in the middle of the whirlpool."
      ],
      [
        "\"We've saved the country,\" said the Princess.",
        "\"You've saved the little children.",
        "Give me your hands.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I can't,\" said Elfin.",
        "\"I shall never be able to take your dear hands again.",
        "My hands are burnt off.\""
      ],
      [
        "And so they were: There were only black cinders where his hands ought to have been."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess kissed them, and cried over them, and tore pieces of her silky-milky gown to tie them up with, and the two went back to the tower and told the nurse all about everything."
      ],
      [
        "And the pigs sat outside and waited."
      ],
      [
        "\"He is the bravest man in the world,\" said Sabrinetta. \"He has saved the country and the little children; but, oh, his hands--his poor, dear, darling hands!\""
      ],
      [
        "Here the door of the room opened, and the oldest of the five and seventy pigs came in.",
        "It went up to Elfin and rubbed itself against him with little loving grunts."
      ],
      [
        "\"See the dear creature,\" said the nurse, wiping away a tear.",
        "\"It knows, it knows!\""
      ],
      [
        "Sabrinetta stroked the pig, because Elfin had no hands for stroking or for anything else."
      ],
      [
        "\"The only cure for a dragon burn,\" said the old nurse, \"is pig's fat, and well that faithful creature knows it----\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I wouldn't for a kingdom,\" cried Elfin, stroking the pig as best he could with his elbow."
      ],
      [
        "\"Is there no other cure?\" asked the Princess."
      ],
      [
        "Here another pig put its black nose in at the door, and then another and another, till the room was full of pigs, a surging mass of rounded blackness, pushing and struggling to get at Elfin, and grunting softly in the language of true affection."
      ],
      [
        "\"There is one other,\" said the nurse.",
        "\"The dear, affectionate beasts--they all want to die for you.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"What is the other cure?\" said Sabrinetta anxiously."
      ],
      [
        "\"If a man is burnt by a dragon,\" said the nurse, \"and a certain number of people are willing to die for him, it is enough if each should kiss the burn and wish it well in the depths of his loving heart.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"The number!",
        "The number!\" cried Sabrinetta."
      ],
      [
        "\"Seventy-seven,\" said the nurse."
      ],
      [
        "\"We have only seventy-five pigs,\" said the Princess, \"and with me that's seventy-six!\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It must be seventy-seven--and I really can't die for him, so nothing can be done,\" said the nurse, sadly.",
        "\"He must have cork hands.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I knew about the seventy-seven loving people,\" said Elfin.",
        "\"But I never thought my dear pigs loved me so much as all this, and my dear too--and, of course, that only makes it more impossible."
      ],
      [
        "There's one other charm that cures dragon burns, though; but I'd rather be burnt black all over than marry anyone but you, my dear, my pretty.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Why, who must you marry to cure your dragon burns?\" asked Sabrinetta."
      ],
      [
        "\"A Princess.",
        "That's how St. George cured his burns.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"There now!",
        "Think of that!\" said the nurse.",
        "\"And I never heard tell of that cure, old as I am.\""
      ],
      [
        "But Sabrinetta threw her arms round Elfin's neck, and held him as though she would never let him go."
      ],
      [
        "\"Then it's all right, my dear, brave, precious Elfin,\" she cried, \"for I am a Princess, and you shall be my Prince.",
        "Come along, Nurse--don't wait to put on your bonnet.",
        "We'll go and be married this very moment.\""
      ],
      [
        "So they went, and the pigs came after, moving in stately blackness, two by two.",
        "And, the minute he was married to the Princess, Elfin's hands got quite well."
      ],
      [
        "And the people, who were weary of Prince Tiresome and his hippopotamuses, hailed Sabrinetta and her husband as rightful Sovereigns of the land."
      ],
      [
        "Next morning the Prince and Princess went out to see if the dragon had been washed ashore."
      ],
      [
        "They could see nothing of him; but when they looked out toward the whirlpool they saw a cloud of steam; and the fishermen reported that the water for miles around was hot enough to shave with!"
      ],
      [
        "And as the water is hot there to this day, we may feel pretty sure that the fierceness of that dragon was such that all the waters of all the sea were not enough to cool him."
      ],
      [
        "The whirlpool is too strong for him to be able to get out of it, so there he spins around and around forever and ever, doing some useful work at last, and warming the water for poor fisher-folk to shave with."
      ],
      [
        "The Prince and Princess rule the land well and wisely.",
        "The nurse lives with them, and does nothing but fine sewing, and only that when she wants to very much."
      ],
      [
        "The Prince keeps no hippopotamuses, and is consequently very popular."
      ],
      [
        "The five and seventy devoted pigs live in white marble sties with brass knockers and Pig on the doorplate, and are washed twice a day with Turkish sponges and soap scented with violets, and no one objects to their following the Prince when he walks abroad, for they behave beautifully, and always keep to the footpath, and obey the notices about not walking on the grass."
      ],
      [
        "The Princess feeds them every day with her own hands, and her first edict on coming to the throne was that the word pork should never be uttered on pain of death, and should, besides, be scratched out of all the dictionaries."
      ],
      [
        "CHAPTER EIGHT\r\nKind Little Edmund, or The Caves and the Cockatrice"
      ],
      [
        "Edmund was a boy.",
        "The people who did not like him said that he was the most tiresome boy that ever lived, but his grandmother and his other friends said that he had an inquiring mind."
      ],
      [
        "And his granny often added that he was the best of boys.",
        "But she was very kind and very old."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund loved to find out about things.",
        "Perhaps you will think that in that case he was constant in his attendance at school, since there, if anywhere, we may learn whatever there is to be learned."
      ],
      [
        "But Edmund did not want to learn things: He wanted to find things out, which is quite different."
      ],
      [
        "His inquiring mind led him to take clocks to pieces to see what made them go, to take locks off doors to see what made them stick."
      ],
      [
        "It was Edmund who cut open the India rubber ball to see what made it bounce, and he never did see, any more than you did when you tried the same experiment."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund lived with his grandmother."
      ],
      [
        "She loved him very much, in spite of his inquiring mind, and hardly scolded him at all when he frizzled up her tortoiseshell comb in his anxiety to find out whether it was made of real tortoiseshell or of something that would burn."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund went to school, of course, now and then, and sometimes he could not prevent himself from learning something, but he never did it on purpose."
      ],
      [
        "\"It is such waste of time,\" said he. \"They only know what everybody knows.",
        "I want to find out new things that nobody has thought of but me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't think you're likely to find out anything that none of the wise men in the whole world have thought of all these thousands of years,\" said Granny."
      ],
      [
        "But Edmund did not agree with her."
      ],
      [
        "He played truant whenever he could, for he was a kindhearted boy, and could not bear to think of a master's time and labor being thrown away on a boy like himself--who did not wish to learn, only to find out--when there were so many worthy lads thirsting for instruction in geography and history and reading and ciphering, and Mr. Smiles's \"Self-Help.\""
      ],
      [
        "Other boys played truant too, of course--and these went nutting or blackberrying or wild plum gathering, but Edmund never went on the side of the town where the green woods and hedges grew."
      ],
      [
        "He always went up the mountain where the great rocks were, and the tall, dark pine trees, and where other people were afraid to go because of the strange noises that came out of the caves."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund was not afraid of these noises--though they were very strange and terrible.",
        "He wanted to find out what made them."
      ],
      [
        "One day he did."
      ],
      [
        "He had invented, all by himself, a very ingenious and new kind of lantern, made with a turnip and a tumbler, and when he took the candle out of Granny's bedroom candlestick to put in it, it gave quite a splendid light."
      ],
      [
        "He had to go to school next day, and he was caned for being absent without leave--although he very straightforwardly explained that he had been too busy making the lantern to have time to come to school."
      ],
      [
        "But the day after he got up very early and took the lunch Granny had ready for him to take to school--two boiled eggs and an apple turnover--and he took his lantern and went off as straight as a dart to the mountains to explore the caves."
      ],
      [
        "The caves were very dark, but his lantern lighted them up beautifully; and they were most interesting caves, with stalactites and stalagmites and fossils, and all the things you read about in the instructive books for the young."
      ],
      [
        "But Edmund did not care for any of these things just then.",
        "He wanted to find out what made the noises that people were afraid of, and there was nothing in the caves to tell him."
      ],
      [
        "Presently he sat down in the biggest cave and listened very carefully, and it seemed to him that he could distinguish three different sorts of noises."
      ],
      [
        "There was a heavy rumbling sound, like a very large old gentleman asleep after dinner; and there was a smaller sort of rumble going on at the same time; and there was a sort of crowing, clucking sound, such as a chicken might make if it happened to be as big as a haystack."
      ],
      [
        "\"It seems to me,\" said Edmund to himself, \"that the clucking is nearer than the others.\"",
        "So he started up again and explored the caves once more."
      ],
      [
        "He found out nothing, but about halfway up the wall of the cave, he saw a hole.",
        "And, being a boy, he climbed up to it and crept in; and it was the entrance to a rocky passage."
      ],
      [
        "And now the clucking sounded more plainly than before, and he could hardly hear the rumbling at all."
      ],
      [
        "\"I am going to find out something at last,\" said Edmund, and on he went.",
        "The passage wound and twisted, and twisted and turned, and turned and wound, but Edmund kept on."
      ],
      [
        "\"My lantern's burning better and better,\" said he presently, but the next minute he saw that all the light did not come from his lantern."
      ],
      [
        "It was a pale yellow light, and it shone down the passage far ahead of him through what looked like the chink of a door."
      ],
      [
        "\"I expect it's the fire in the middle of the earth,\" said Edmund, who had not been able to help learning about that at school."
      ],
      [
        "But quite suddenly the fire ahead gave a pale flicker and went down; and the clucking ceased."
      ],
      [
        "The next moment Edmund turned a corner and found himself in front of a rocky door.",
        "The door was ajar.",
        "He went in, and there was a round cave, like the dome of St. Paul's."
      ],
      [
        "In the middle of the cave was a hole like a very big hand-washing basin, and in the middle of the basin Edmund saw a large pale person sitting."
      ],
      [
        "This person had a man's face and a griffin's body, and big feathery wings, and a snake's tail, and a cock's comb and neck feathers."
      ],
      [
        "\"Whatever are you?\" said Edmund."
      ],
      [
        "\"I'm a poor starving cockatrice,\" answered the pale person in a very faint voice, \"and I shall die--oh, I know I shall!",
        "My fire's gone out!",
        "I can't think how it happened; I must have been asleep."
      ],
      [
        "I have to stir it seven times round with my tail once in a hundred years to keep it alight, and my watch must have been wrong.",
        "And now I shall die.\""
      ],
      [
        "I think I have said before what a kindhearted boy Edmund was."
      ],
      [
        "\"Cheer up,\" said he. \"I'll light your fire for you.\""
      ],
      [
        "And off he went, and in a few minutes he came back with a great armful of sticks from the pine trees outside, and with these and a lesson book or two that he had forgotten to lose before, and which, quite by an oversight, were safe in his pocket, he lit a fire all around the cockatrice."
      ],
      [
        "The wood blazed up, and presently something in the basin caught fire, and Edmund saw that it was a sort of liquid that burned like the brandy in a snapdragon."
      ],
      [
        "And now the cockatrice stirred it with his tail and flapped his wings in it so that some of it splashed out on Edmund's hand and burnt it rather badly."
      ],
      [
        "But the cockatrice grew red and strong and happy, and its comb grew scarlet, and its feathers glossy, and it lifted itself up and crowed \"Cock-a-trice-a-doodle-doo!\" very loudly and clearly."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund's kindly nature was charmed to see the cockatrice so much improved in health, and he said: \"Don't mention it; delighted, I'm sure,\" when the cockatrice began to thank him."
      ],
      [
        "\"But what can I do for you?\" said the creature."
      ],
      [
        "\"Tell me stories,\" said Edmund."
      ],
      [
        "\"What about?\" said the cockatrice."
      ],
      [
        "\"About true things that they don't know at school,\" said Edmund."
      ],
      [
        "So the cockatrice began, and he told him about mines and treasures and geological formations, and about gnomes and fairies and dragons, and about glaciers and the Stone Age and the beginning of the world, and about the unicorn and the phoenix, and about Magic, black and white."
      ],
      [
        "And Edmund ate his eggs and his turnover, and listened.",
        "And when he got hungry again he said good-bye and went home."
      ],
      [
        "But he came again the next day for more stories, and the next day, and the next, for a long time."
      ],
      [
        "He told the boys at school about the cockatrice and his wonderful true tales, and the boys liked the stories; but when he told the master he was caned for untruthfulness."
      ],
      [
        "\"But it's true,\" said Edmund.",
        "\"Just you look where the fire burnt my hand.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I see you've been playing with fire--into mischief as usual,\" said the master, and he caned Edmund harder than ever."
      ],
      [
        "The master was ignorant and unbelieving: but I am told that some schoolmasters are not like that."
      ],
      [
        "Now, one day Edmund made a new lantern out of something chemical that he sneaked from the school laboratory."
      ],
      [
        "And with it he went exploring again to see if he could find the things that made the other sorts of noises."
      ],
      [
        "And in quite another part of the mountain he found a dark passage, all lined with brass, so that it was like the inside of a huge telescope, and at the very end of it he found a bright green door."
      ],
      [
        "There was a brass plate on the door that said MRS. D. KNOCK AND RING, and a white label that said CALL ME AT THREE."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund had a watch: It had been given to him on his birthday two days before, and he had not yet had time to take it to pieces and see what made it go, so it was still going.",
        "He looked at it now."
      ],
      [
        "It said a quarter to three."
      ],
      [
        "Did I tell you before what a kindhearted boy Edmund was?",
        "He sat down on the brass doorstep and waited till three o'clock.",
        "Then he knocked and rang, and there was a rattling and puffing inside."
      ],
      [
        "The great door flew open, and Edmund had only just time to hide behind it when out came an immense yellow dragon, who wriggled off down the brass cave like a long, rattling worm--or perhaps more like a monstrous centipede."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund crept slowly out and saw the dragon stretching herself on the rocks in the sun, and he crept past the great creature and tore down the hill into the town and burst into school, crying out: \"There's a great dragon coming!"
      ],
      [
        "Somebody ought to do something, or we shall all be destroyed.\""
      ],
      [
        "He was caned for untruthfulness without any delay.",
        "His master was never one for postponing a duty."
      ],
      [
        "\"But it's true,\" said Edmund.",
        "\"You just see if it isn't.\""
      ],
      [
        "He pointed out of the window, and everyone could see a vast yellow cloud rising up into the air above the mountain."
      ],
      [
        "\"It's only a thunder shower,\" said the master, and caned Edmund more than ever."
      ],
      [
        "This master was not like some masters I know: He was very obstinate, and would not believe his own eyes if they told him anything different from what he had been saying before his eyes spoke."
      ],
      [
        "So while the master was writing Lying is very wrong, and liars must be caned."
      ],
      [
        "It is all for their own good on the black-board for Edmund to copy out seven hundred times, Edmund sneaked out of school and ran for his life across the town to warn his granny, but she was not at home."
      ],
      [
        "So then he made off through the back door of the town, and raced up the hill to tell the cockatrice and ask for his help.",
        "It never occurred to him that the cockatrice might not believe him."
      ],
      [
        "You see, he had heard so many wonderful tales from him and had believed them all--and when you believe all a person's stories they ought to believe yours.",
        "This is only fair."
      ],
      [
        "At the mouth of the cockatrice's cave Edmund stopped, very much out of breath, to look back at the town."
      ],
      [
        "As he ran he had felt his little legs tremble and shake, while the shadows of the great yellow cloud fell upon him."
      ],
      [
        "Now he stood once more between warm earth and blue sky, and looked down on the green plain dotted with fruit trees and red-roofed farms and plots of gold corn."
      ],
      [
        "In the middle of that plain the gray town lay, with its strong walls with the holes pierced for the archers, and its square towers with holes for dropping melted lead on the heads of strangers; its bridges and its steeples; the quiet river edged with willow and alder; and the pleasant green garden place in the middle of the town, where people sat on holidays to smoke their pipes and listen to the band."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund saw it all; and he saw, too, creeping across the plain, marking her way by a black line as everything withered at her touch, the great yellow dragon--and he saw that she was many times bigger than the whole town."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, my poor, dear granny,\" said Edmund, for he had a feeling heart, as I ought to have told you before."
      ],
      [
        "The yellow dragon crept nearer and nearer, licking her greedy lips with her long red tongue, and Edmund knew that in the school his master was still teaching earnestly and still not believing Edmund's tale the least little bit."
      ],
      [
        "\"He'll jolly well have to believe it soon, anyhow,\" said Edmund to himself, and though he was a very tender-hearted boy--I think it only fair to tell you that he was this--I am afraid he was not as sorry as he ought to have been to think of the way in which his master was going to learn how to believe what Edmund said."
      ],
      [
        "Then the dragon opened her jaws wider and wider and wider.",
        "Edmund shut his eyes, for though his master was in the town, the amiable Edmund shrank from beholding the awful sight."
      ],
      [
        "When he opened his eyes again there was no town--only a bare place where it had stood, and the dragon licking her lips and curling herself up to go to sleep, just as Kitty does when she has quite finished with a mouse."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund gasped once or twice, and then ran into the cave to tell the cockatrice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well,\" said the cockatrice thoughtfully, when the tale had been told.",
        "\"What then?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't think you quite understand,\" said Edmund gently.",
        "\"The dragon has swallowed up the town.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Does it matter?\" said the cockatrice."
      ],
      [
        "\"But I live there,\" said Edmund blankly."
      ],
      [
        "\"Never mind,\" said the cockatrice, turning over in the pool of fire to warm its other side, which was chilly, because Edmund had, as usual, forgotten to close the cave door.",
        "\"You can live here with me.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I'm afraid I haven't made my meaning clear,\" said Edmund patiently.",
        "\"You see, my granny is in the town, and I can't bear to lose my granny like this.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I don't know what a granny may be,\" said the cockatrice, who seemed to be growing weary of the subject, \"but if it's a possession to which you attach any importance----\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Of course it is,\" said Edmund, losing patience at last.",
        "\"Oh--do help me.",
        "What can I do?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"If I were you,\" said his friend, stretching itself out in the pool of flame so that the waves covered him up to his chin, \"I should find the drakling and bring it here.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"But why?\" said Edmund.",
        "He had gotten into the habit of asking why at school, and the master had always found it trying.",
        "As for the cockatrice, he was not going to stand that sort of thing for a moment."
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, don't talk to me!\" he said, splashing angrily in the flames.",
        "\"I give you advice; take it or leave it--I shan't bother about you anymore.",
        "If you bring the drakling here to me, I'll tell you what to do next."
      ],
      [
        "If not, not.\""
      ],
      [
        "And the cockatrice drew the fire up close around his shoulders, tucked himself up in it, and went to sleep."
      ],
      [
        "Now this was exactly the right way to manage Edmund, only no one had ever thought of trying to do it before."
      ],
      [
        "He stood for a moment looking at the cockatrice; the cockatrice looked at Edmund out of the corner of his eye and began to snore very loudly, and Edmund understood, once and for all, that the cockatrice wasn't going to put up with any nonsense."
      ],
      [
        "He respected the cockatrice very much from that moment, and set off at once to do exactly as he was told--for perhaps the first time in his life."
      ],
      [
        "Though he had played truant so often, he knew one or two things that perhaps you don't know, though you have always been so good and gone to school regularly."
      ],
      [
        "For instance, he knew that a drakling is a dragon's baby, and he felt sure that what he had to do was to find the third of the three noises that people used to hear coming from the mountains."
      ],
      [
        "Of course, the clucking had been the cockatrice, and the big noise like a large gentleman asleep after dinner had been the big dragon.",
        "So the smaller rumbling must have been the drakling."
      ],
      [
        "He plunged boldly into the caves and searched and wandered and wandered and searched, and at last he came to a third door in the mountain, and on it was written THE BABY IS ASLEEP."
      ],
      [
        "Just before the door stood fifty pairs of copper shoes, and no one could have looked at them for a moment without seeing what sort of feet they were made for, for each shoe had five holes in it for the drakling's five claws."
      ],
      [
        "And there were fifty pairs because the drakling took after his mother, and had a hundred feet--no more and no less.",
        "He was the kind called Draco centipedis in the learned books."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund was a good deal frightened, but he remembered the grim expression of the cockatrice's eye, and the fixed determination of his snore still rang in his ears, in spite of the snoring of the drakling, which was, in itself, considerable."
      ],
      [
        "He screwed up his courage, flung the door open, and called out: \"Hello, you drakling.",
        "Get out of bed this minute.\""
      ],
      [
        "The drakling stopped snoring and said sleepily: \"It ain't time yet.\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Your mother says you are to, anyhow; and look sharp about it, what's more,\" said Edmund, gaining courage from the fact that the drakling had not yet eaten him."
      ],
      [
        "The drakling sighed, and Edmund could hear it getting out of bed.",
        "The next moment it began to come out of its room and to put on its shoes."
      ],
      [
        "It was not nearly so big as its mother; only about the size of a Baptist chapel."
      ],
      [
        "\"Hurry up,\" said Edmund, as it fumbled clumsily with the seventeenth shoe."
      ],
      [
        "\"Mother said I was never to go out without my shoes,\" said the drakling; so Edmund had to help it to put them on.",
        "It took some time, and was not a comfortable occupation."
      ],
      [
        "At last the drakling said it was ready, and Edmund, who had forgotten to be frightened, said, \"Come on then,\" and they went back to the cockatrice."
      ],
      [
        "The cave was rather narrow for the drakling, but it made itself thin, as you may see a fat worm do when it wants to get through a narrow crack in a piece of hard earth."
      ],
      [
        "\"Here it is,\" said Edmund, and the cockatrice woke up at once and asked the drakling very politely to sit down and wait.",
        "\"Your mother will be here presently,\" said the cockatrice, stirring up its fire."
      ],
      [
        "The drakling sat down and waited, but it watched the fire with hungry eyes."
      ],
      [
        "\"I beg your pardon,\" it said at last, \"but I am always accustomed to having a little basin of fire as soon as I get up, and I feel rather faint.",
        "Might I?\""
      ],
      [
        "It reached out a claw toward the cockatrice's basin."
      ],
      [
        "\"Certainly not,\" said the cockatrice sharply.",
        "\"Where were you brought up?",
        "Did they never teach you that 'we must not ask for all we see'?",
        "Eh?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"I beg your pardon,\" said the drakling humbly, \"but I am really very hungry.\""
      ],
      [
        "The cockatrice beckoned Edmund to the side of the basin and whispered in his ear so long and so earnestly that one side of the dear boy's hair was quite burnt off."
      ],
      [
        "And he never once interrupted the cockatrice to ask why."
      ],
      [
        "But when the whispering was over, Edmund--whose heart, as I may have mentioned, was very tender--said to the drakling: \"If you are really hungry, poor thing, I can show you where there is plenty of fire.\""
      ],
      [
        "And off he went through the caves, and the drakling followed."
      ],
      [
        "When Edmund came to the proper place he stopped."
      ],
      [
        "There was a round iron thing in the floor, like the ones the men shoot the coals down into your cellar, only much larger."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund heaved it up by a hook that stuck out at one side, and a rush of hot air came up that nearly choked him."
      ],
      [
        "But the drakling came close and looked down with one eye and sniffed, and said: \"That smells good, eh?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Yes,\" said Edmund, \"well, that's the fire in the middle of the earth.",
        "There's plenty of it, all done to a turn.",
        "You'd better go down and begin your breakfast, hadn't you?\""
      ],
      [
        "So the drakling wriggled through the hole, and began to crawl faster and faster down the slanting shaft that leads to the fire in the middle of the earth."
      ],
      [
        "And Edmund, doing exactly as he had been told, for a wonder, caught the end of the drakling's tail and ran the iron hook through it so that the drakling was held fast."
      ],
      [
        "And it could not turn around and wriggle up again to look after its poor tail, because, as everyone knows, the way to the fires below is very easy to go down, but quite impossible to come back on."
      ],
      [
        "There is something about it in Latin, beginning: \"Facilis descensus.\""
      ],
      [
        "So there was the drakling, fast by the silly tail of it, and there was Edmund very busy and important and very pleased with himself, hurrying back to the cockatrice."
      ],
      [
        "\"Now,\" said he."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well, now,\" said the cockatrice.",
        "\"Go to the mouth of the cave and laugh at the dragon so that she hears you.\""
      ],
      [
        "Edmund very nearly said \"Why?\" but he stopped in time, and instead, said: \"She won't hear me--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Oh, very well,\" said the cockatrice.",
        "\"No doubt you know best,\" and he began to tuck himself up again in the fire, so Edmund did as he was bid."
      ],
      [
        "And when he began to laugh his laughter echoed in the mouth of the cave till it sounded like the laughter of a whole castleful of giants."
      ],
      [
        "And the dragon, lying asleep in the sun, woke up and said very crossly: \"What are you laughing at?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"At you,\" said Edmund, and went on laughing."
      ],
      [
        "The dragon bore it as long as she could, but, like everyone else, she couldn't stand being made fun of, so presently she dragged herself up the mountain very slowly, because she had just had a rather heavy meal, and stood outside and said, \"What are you laughing at?\" in a voice that made Edmund feel as if he should never laugh again."
      ],
      [
        "Then the good cockatrice called out: \"At you!",
        "You've eaten your own drakling--swallowed it with the town.",
        "Your own little drakling!",
        "He, he, he! Ha, ha, ha!\""
      ],
      [
        "And Edmund found the courage to cry \"Ha, ha!\" which sounded like tremendous laughter in the echo of the cave."
      ],
      [
        "\"Dear me,\" said the dragon.",
        "\"I thought the town stuck in my throat rather.",
        "I must take it out, and look through it more carefully.\"",
        "And with that she coughed--and choked--and there was the town, on the hillside."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund had run back to the cockatrice, and it had told him what to do."
      ],
      [
        "So before the dragon had time to look through the town again for her drakling, the voice of the drakling itself was heard howling miserably from inside the mountain, because Edmund was pinching its tail as hard as he could in the round iron door, like the one where the men pour the coals out of the sacks into the cellar."
      ],
      [
        "And the dragon heard the voice and said: \"Why, whatever's the matter with Baby?",
        "He's not here!\"",
        "and made herself thin, and crept into the mountain to find her drakling."
      ],
      [
        "The cockatrice kept on laughing as loud as it could, and Edmund kept on pinching, and presently the great dragon--very long and narrow she had made herself--found her head where the round hole was with the iron lid."
      ],
      [
        "Her tail was a mile or two off--outside the mountain."
      ],
      [
        "When Edmund heard her coming he gave one last nip to the drakling's tail, and then heaved up the lid and stood behind it, so that the dragon could not see him."
      ],
      [
        "Then he loosed the drakling's tail from the hook, and the dragon peeped down the hole just in time to see her drakling's tail disappear down the smooth, slanting shaft with one last squeak of pain."
      ],
      [
        "Whatever may have been the poor dragon's other faults, she was an excellent mother.",
        "She plunged headfirst into the hole, and slid down the shaft after her baby."
      ],
      [
        "Edmund watched her head go--and then the rest of her.",
        "She was so long, now she had stretched herself thin, that it took all night.",
        "It was like watching a goods train go by in Germany."
      ],
      [
        "When the last joint of her tail had gone Edmund slammed down the iron door."
      ],
      [
        "He was a kindhearted boy, as you have guessed, and he was glad to think that dragon and drakling would now have plenty to eat of their favorite food, forever and ever."
      ],
      [
        "He thanked the cockatrice for his kindness, and got home just in time to have breakfast and get to school by nine."
      ],
      [
        "Of course, he could not have done this if the town had been in its old place by the river in the middle of the plain, but it had taken root on the hillside just where the dragon left it."
      ],
      [
        "\"Well,\" said the master, \"where were you yesterday?\""
      ],
      [
        "Edmund explained, and the master at once caned him for not speaking the truth."
      ],
      [
        "\"But it is true,\" said Edmund.",
        "\"Why, the whole town was swallowed by the dragon.",
        "You know it was--\""
      ],
      [
        "\"Nonsense,\" said the master.",
        "\"There was a thunderstorm and an earthquake, that's all.\"",
        "And he caned Edmund more than ever."
      ],
      [
        "\"But,\" said Edmund, who always would argue, even in the least favorable circumstances, \"how do you account for the town being on the hillside now, instead of by the river as it used to be?\""
      ],
      [
        "\"It was always on the hillside,\" said the master.",
        "And all the class said the same, for they had more sense than to argue with a person who carried a cane."
      ],
      [
        "\"But look at the maps,\" said Edmund, who wasn't going to be beaten in argument, whatever he might be in the flesh.",
        "The master pointed to the map on the wall."
      ],
      [
        "There was the town, on the hillside!",
        "And nobody but Edmund could see that of course the shock of being swallowed by the dragon had upset all the maps and put them wrong."
      ],
      [
        "And then the master caned Edmund again, explaining that this time it was not for untruthfulness, but for his vexatious argumentative habits."
      ],
      [
        "This will show you what a prejudiced and ignorant man Edmund's master was--how different from the revered Head of the nice school where your good parents are kind enough to send you."
      ],
      [
        "The next day Edmund thought he would prove his tale by showing people the cockatrice, and he actually persuaded some people to go into the cave with him; but the cockatrice had bolted himself in and would not open the door--so Edmund got nothing by that except a scolding for taking people on a wild-goose chase."
      ],
      [
        "\"A wild goose,\" said they, \"is nothing like a cockatrice.\""
      ],
      [
        "And poor Edmund could not say a word, though he knew how wrong they were.",
        "The only person who believed him was his granny."
      ],
      [
        "But then she was very old and very kind, and had always said he was the best of boys."
      ],
      [
        "Only one good thing came of all this long story.",
        "Edmund has never been quite the same boy since."
      ],
      [
        "He does not argue quite so much, and he agreed to be apprenticed to a locksmith, so that he might one day be able to pick the lock of the cockatrice's front door--and learn some more of the things that other people don't know."
      ],
      [
        "But he is quite an old man now, and he hasn't gotten that door open yet!"
      ]
    ]
  }
}