The Children of the Castle

odding, nid-

able anticipation of a bump at the end of the journey. And when she got to the top how wonderfully different it looked from anything she could have expected! The doors stood open, and Griselda fou

peted and everything, with rich mossy red velvet; there was a little round table in the middle and two arm-chairs, on one of which sat the cuckoo-"q

e, sitting down on t

rtable?" inqui

this when you get up inside them?" she inquired. "I can't think how there's room for this dear l

things to talk about. First, shall I lend

replied Griselda; "b

e spoke, and wondered why they weren't c

Griselda had not before noticed. For it was hanging wrong side out, and the lining was red velvet, ver

ide out she must have done so;

mehow, so as to lie quite smoothly and evenly, one colour melting away into another l

e rays of the little lamp in the roof-I think I was forgetting to tell you that the cuckoo's boudoir was lighted by a dear l

hall see. Now, Griselda," he continued, in the tone o

able. When you say 'let us talk' like that, it makes me forget all I wa

the cuckoo; "we must h

" said G

earn," said the cuckoo triumphantly

I can do that down there;" and she nodded her head in

want to talk about. What do you call 'pla

kind of play. Besides, cuckoo, you and I alone couldn't have much fun a

" said the cuckoo. "The mandar

elda. "Why, cuckoo, they're no

er gravely for a minut

," he said solemnly. "Don't you

what you mean, and I don't think I want to kno

id the cuc

ht about it now, you see-is being amused. If you will amu

amuse you?"

ories, you know: if you're a fairy you should know lots; or-oh yes, of course tha

cuckoo sho

id he, "I

elda. "Lots of child

there at all. And as to those who have been there, you may be sure of one thing-they were not taken, they found their own way. No one e

o find one's own way t

some day. And if ever you do find it, be sure you keep what you see of it well swept and clean, and

"Are there any doors into

on't waste your time looking for t

e?" inquired Griselda, in

nywhere except to fairy

nd all those places-but queer places, like the mines where the goblins make diamonds and precious stones, and the caves down under the sea where

e exclaimed suddenly. He gave a spring forward and disappeared. Then Griselda he

ir. "As I was saying," he went on, "nothing could be easier. But that palace, a

selda. "How funny! Does it go through

koo, "it leads to the count

"Cuckoo, do let us go there. How can we get down?

tretch out your feather mantle, flap it as if it was wings-so"-h

d Griselda b

f course," said the cuckoo.

cried Griselda. "Whe

ere do you wish to be? You said you wanted t

first to be in the pala

rance to Mandarin Land, and you said you would li

s to come back in time to tell the next hour? My aunts will get into such a fright if you

me? Ah, Griselda, you have a very great

eling rather snubbed. "Being slow or

fancy! If everything that's been done since the world was made till now

INS NO

like what you said about nothing being big or little, only it's worse. Where would all the days and hours b

dn't get ready," said the cuckoo

self standing with the cuckoo in front of the Chinese cabinet, the door of which stood open, while

cuckoo, patronizin

where the light came from that illuminated all the queer corners and recesses a

pening on to balconies commanding, no doubt, a splendid view of the great saloon; there were ever so m

t's all the same, and there's nothing to see. I thought my aunts

't expect you'd care for the palace, as you

lves in a vestibule, much handsomer than the entrance at the other side, and the cuckoo, crossing it, lifted one of his claws and touched a spring

ordered by stiffly growing trees, from the branches of which hung innumerable lamps

ping her hands. "It'll be like walking

've a good way to go. There'

e by four Chinese-looking figures with pigtails and bright-coloured jackets. A feeling came over Griselda that she was d

nder a glass shade on Lady Lavander's drawing-room mantelpiece. I

our bearers. Instan

" asked Griselda, t

," he r

she said; "but what do they mea

what I tell you-'Get

?" persisted Griselda, getti

great--" began the cuckoo,

n and run away home to bed. Of course I've a great deal to learn-that's why I

" said the cuckoo, "

, settling herself do

nd, too, which you could draw or not as you pleased, just by touching a spring. Griselda stroked the silk gently. It was not "fruzzley" silk, if you know what that means; it did n

e palanquin was lined so nicely," she continued, "for I suppose it is the one fro

gave a sort

you won't let me say the other thing, you know. The palanquin from Lady Lavander's! I should think not. You might as well mistake one of those horrible paper r

humbly. "Do they make such beau

e," said

inute or two, but very soon

l me where we are go

a grand reception at one of the palaces to-night. I thought you'd like to assist a

," replie

I've ordered a court dress for you. I

u," said

uin stopped. The cuckoo got o

on the contrary, when she trod upon it, felt softer than the softest moss. She could see very little besides the carpet, for at each side of the steps stood rows and rows of mandarins, all something like, but a great deal grander than, the pair outside her aunt's cabinet; and

mean?" whisp

salute," sai

lda. "I thought that m

ime they had arrived at the top of the

, and in a moment it had fitted itself on to her. They nodded to the splendid scarlet satin skirt, made very short in front and very long behind, and before Griselda knew where she was, it was adjusted quite correctly. They nodded to the head-dress, and the sashes, and the necklaces and bracelets, and forthwith they all arrange

said aloud; "yet they didn't loo

ll, where the entertainment was evidently just about to begin. And everywhere there were mandarins, rows and rows, who all set to work nodding as fast as Griselda appeared. She began to be rather tired of royal salutes

Griselda supposed it to be-and upon this was seated

the very grand and grave person got down from his seat, and coming towards her, offered her his hand, at the same time nodding-f

can't dance very well, b

uddenly she felt something poking her head. It was the cuckoo-he had lifted his claw, and was tapping her head to make her nod. So she nodded-once, twice together, then once-that appeared to be enough. The k

ot on famously. The music was lovely-"so the mandarins can't be deaf, though they are dumb," thought Griselda, "which is one good thing about them." The king seemed to enjoy it as much as she did, though he never smiled or laughed; any one co

he king seemed to understand and be quite pleased; and when they had nodde

r in all your life was the most "lovely" thing you ever eat, and you may be sure they tasted like that. Only the cuckoo would not eat any, which rather distressed Griselda. He walked about among the dancers, apparently quite at home; and the mandarins did not seem at all surprised to

seemed so remarkable, you see. "Cuckoo," she said, very, very softl

pleased Griselda was at having succeeded in making him s

ch," said Gr

, Griselda saw a number of mandarins, i

at a time, more energetically than usual. When they stopped, the cucko

u see," he whispered as he passed Gr