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particularly sorry for the Cupids； who stood in their fools' caps
in obscure places and； every time they heard that 〃Cold； quite
cold；〃 bowed their disgraced little heads。
She was disappointed not to see Peter Pan； and I may as well tell
you now why he was so late that night。 It was because his boat
had got wedged on the Serpentine between fields of floating ice；
through which he had to break a perilous passage with his trusty
paddle。
The fairies had as yet scarcely missed him； for they could not
dance； so heavy were their hearts。 They forget all the steps
when they are sad and remember them again when they are merry。
David tells me that fairies never say 〃We feel happy〃： what they
say is； 〃We feel dancey。〃
Well； they were looking very undancey indeed； when sudden
laughter broke out among the onlookers； caused by Brownie； who
had just arrived and was insisting on her right to be presented
to the Duke。
Maimie craned forward eagerly to see how her friend fared； though
she had really no hope； no one seemed to have the least hope
except Brownie herself； who； however； was absolutely confident。
She was led before his grace； and the doctor putting a finger
carelessly on the ducal heart； which for convenience sake was
reached by a little trapdoor in his diamond shirt； had begun to
say mechanically； 〃Cold； qui；〃 when he stopped abruptly。
〃What's this？〃 he cried； and first he shook the heart like a
watch； and then put his ear to it。
〃Bless my soul！〃 cried the doctor； and by this time of course the
excitement among the spectators was tremendous； fairies fainting
right and left。
Everybody stared breathlessly at the Duke； who was very much
startled and looked as if he would like to run away。 〃Good
gracious me！〃 the doctor was heard muttering； and now the heart
was evidently on fire； for he had to jerk his fingers away from
it and put them in his mouth。
The suspense was awful！
Then in a loud voice； and bowing low； 〃My Lord Duke；〃 said the
physician elatedly； 〃I have the honour to inform your excellency
that your grace is in love。〃
You can't conceive the effect of it。 Brownie held out her arms
to the Duke and he flung himself into them； the Queen leapt into
the arms of the Lord Chamberlain； and the ladies of the court
leapt into the arms of her gentlemen； for it is etiquette to
follow her example in everything。 Thus in a single moment about
fifty marriages took place； for if you leap into each other's
arms it is a fairy wedding。 Of course a clergyman has to be
present。
How the crowd cheered and leapt！ Trumpets brayed； the moon came
out； and immediately a thousand couples seized hold of its rays
as if they were ribbons in a May dance and waltzed in wild
abandon round the fairy ring。 Most gladsome sight of all； the
Cupids plucked the hated fools' caps from their heads and cast
them high in the air。 And then Maimie went and spoiled
everything。 She couldn't help it。 She was crazy with delight
over her little friend's good fortune； so she took several steps
forward and cried in an ecstasy； 〃Oh； Brownie； how splendid！〃
Everybody stood still； the music ceased； the lights went out； and
all in the time you may take to say 〃Oh dear！〃 An awful sense of
her peril came upon Maimie； too late she remembered that she was
a lost child in a place where no human must be between the
locking and the opening of the gates； she heard the murmur of an
angry multitude； she saw a thousand swords flashing for her
blood； and she uttered a cry of terror and fled。
How she ran！ and all the time her eyes were starting out of her
head。 Many times she lay down； and then quickly jumped up and
ran on again。 Her little mind was so entangled in terrors that
she no longer knew she was in the Gardens。 The one thing she was
sure of was that she must never cease to run； and she thought she
was still running long after she had dropped in the Figs and gone
to sleep。 She thought the snowflakes falling on her face were
her mother kissing her good…night。 She thought her coverlet of
snow was a warm blanket； and tried to pull it over her head。 And
when she heard talking through her dreams she thought it was
mother bringing father to the nursery door to look at her as she
slept。 But it was the fairies。
I am very glad to be able to say that they no longer desired to
mischief her。 When she rushed away they had rent the air with
such cries as 〃Slay her！〃 〃Turn her into something extremely
unpleasant！〃 and so on； but the pursuit was delayed while they
discussed who should march in front； and this gave Duchess
Brownie time to cast herself before the Queen and demand a boon。
Every bride has a right to a boon； and what she asked for was
Maimie's life。 〃Anything except that；〃 replied Queen Mab
sternly； and all the fairies chanted 〃Anything except that。〃 But
when they learned how Maimie had befriended Brownie and so
enabled her to attend the ball to their great glory and renown；
they gave three huzzas for the little human； and set off； like an
army； to thank her； the court advancing in front and the canopy
keeping step with it。 They traced Maimie easily by her
footprints in the snow。
But though they found her deep in snow in the Figs； it seemed
impossible to thank Maimie； for they could not waken her。 They
went through the form of thanking her； that is to say； the new
King stood on her body and read her a long address of welcome；
but she heard not a word of it。 They also cleared the snow off
her； but soon she was covered again； and they saw she was in
danger of perishing of cold。
〃Turn her into something that does not mind the cold；〃 seemed a
good suggestion of the doctor's； but the only thing they could
think of that does not mind cold was a snowflake。 〃And it might
melt；〃 the Queen pointed out； so that idea had to be given up。
A magnificent attempt was made to carry her to a sheltered spot；
but though there were so many of them she was too heavy。 By this
time all the ladies were crying in their handkerchiefs； but
presently the Cupids had a lovely idea。 〃Build a house round
her；〃 they cried； and at once everybody perceived that this was
the thing to do； in a moment a hundred fairy sawyers were among
the branches； architects were running round Maimie； measuring
her； a bricklayer's yard sprang up at her feet； seventy…five
masons rushed up with the foundation stone and the Queen laid it；
overseers were appointed to keep the boys off； scaffoldings were
run up； the whole place rang with hammers and chisels and turning
lathes； and by this time the roof was on and the glaziers were
putting in the windows。
The house was exactly the size of Maimie and perfectly lovely。
One of her arms was extended and this had bothered them for a
second； but they built a verandah round it； leading to the front
door。 The windows were the size of a coloured picture…book and
the do