The Rainbow Book: Tales of Fun & Fancy

t just because it's raining a few drop

gave in to him, right or wrong. She carefully propped her doll bolt upright on a

. It would be a saving of breath if they'd just say the few things that we might do.

got to. Mother says it is for

," growled Cyril. "I'm sure the garden isn't a

e on the roses and the sweet honeysuckle; and the tall white lilies never looked fresher or smarter. Beyond, were those tempting rocks, with their surroundings of sand, which rose so strangely in that part of inland Kent, telling of former ages and of the vagarie

e years old; and there the likeness ended, for his dark hair was short and thick, and hers was fair and v

ancholy amusement of tracing down the trailing drops with his finger until they disappeare

consent, graciously suffered himself to be settled at the table with paper and pencil, and was soon excitedly t

pleaded Dulcie, burning to

eaten as that, and thoug

-Let me tell you!"

" he replied

nar

he said, as if he weren't quit

it a draw. She followed it up with a Fish, which was s, two between, an

d his interest in the game to flag, an

," he cried. "Come alo

o you think, Cyril

ould be sure to be 'don't'-ed. I'm going out.

ing him and taking his hand. He didn't quite like that,

nted air, through the garden, off to the dear old rocks which were already

hands, waiting for the familiar "Cuckoo!" when he was startled inste

e hurried to the spot from which her voice seemed to come; but it was

rough the rocks which they

at the sight of it. "Come along!

they got a sudden start, for they became aware of a silent brook flowing deep and swiftly by, at their feet: another step and they would have been in it. The Twins, rather startled, looked at one another, and then without further th

Dulcie, pressing close up to

red door it was, with a green knocker upon it in the shape of a mouth smiling a welcome. Of course they went up to it, clim

n answer i

ot,

to knock,"

any answer," said Du

y to look below. She hardly had time to think about it when Cyril raised the knocker and let it go. Instead of the usual sound a knocker makes, a loud laugh rang out, discordant and disconcerting. "You needn't be frightened," he remarked, for his littl

the Wizard," he said

e to see the W

, very red, whilst Dulcie looked up, pale and wondering. "We're not dr

ck?" retorted the strange man. "Pray w

lone with the Wizard in a very large cave, where the walls glowed with