The Rainbow Book: Tales of Fun & Fancy

l, thank him. They didn't want to a bit, but he seemed to expect it. "Let's talk matters over," he added with a smile. It was such a winning smi

vement he pushed his spectacles away on to the top of his bumpy baldne

to remark, "If you please, my brothe

d Cyril, who, though surprised, took a

glasses, through which I have only to look to see people as they really are and not what they appear to be. ["How clever!" broke in Dulcie under her breath.

, eats when he wants, leaves what he likes-or rather, what he doesn't like; so does our cat. You see," he continued, growing quite chummy, "we are never allowed to do this, that, and the other,

ching his nose with his spectacles in his thoughtful, insinuating manner. "I should advise you to go your own way, seek

it could be called furniture. There were animals of all sizes and shapes, standing around stuffed, staring, and immovable. Snakes, fish, small birds; an elephant just like life stan

n's source of interest, "all those poor creatures were childre

they relish the winning smile this time that accom

ut from a corner what looked like a cinematograph. "L

the cave passed away, and there marched along in livi

nsfixed with delight at t

or creatures

oftly to his sister. "It can't pay him. They're all goin

nxiously interrupted his

ed Cyril with a frown; "the fis

nd had shut the door, the gloo

remarked the Wizard as he put the

ildren to look through a hole in the wal

mumps from being crouped up here so long, I go there and wrap myself up in thoughts all nice a

dern up-to-date rubbish, only inventions of the future for me. None of your wir

ou been successful in that last

waves, at the far end of the ca

ck! Dash-sh-sh-" which resolved itself into the sw

p him in his little transactions, which are sometimes rather-in fact very-!" and raising his arm he smothered a laugh in his yell

and she whispered him to "Come away, co

ellous jewellery yet," replied their

ld just like to show you these bracelets I have here." He pushed his glasses across his baldness and took two jewelled golden circlets out of a satchel which hung from the cord of his gown. "Other children have taken great interest in them," said the Wiz

elled circlets

boy and girl together, now re

thing-to be actually the real animals themselves in the realms of the Birds, Beasts, and Fishes. Only in that way can children realise how

staring at hi

the ten catseye gems in each of them gleamed c

ld, which wasn't much. Of course I don't want so many of them here," he added carelessly, scratching his nose with his glasses, "though they do help with my experiments-they do that-oh yes-but I always advise getting experience first. They somehow got to know that as children under ten they could only pass into my Moonlight and never out of it; and that my faithful Brook would not see them twice. So they came for help in their last shapes as animals. Oh!" he added, pulling

at her brother's sleeve. "I'm so frightened," she w

the boy sturdily. Nevertheless, he looked terribly frightened himself, although he patted her shoulder comfortingly. "I feel

art of the cavern farther and farther away from the hateful dwelling and its awful master. He couldn't tell where he was leading her, but he ran blin

ith delight, "see how I

too," she replie

ossession, too, of the precious bracelets which were going to lead them into all sorts of delightful adventures as soon as they chose! They could talk of nothing else-and babbled on

of the troubles and adve