18 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [.

The little man shrugged his shoulders. ‘Boys
will be boys,’ said he, ‘and dwarfs will be dwarfs, to
the end of their days, and it is not of the slightest
use'to expect them to be anything else. It isnot our
habit to answer questions directly they are asked, if we
doso at all. A few wise sayings or remarks, thrown in
in an interjaculatory manner, tend to compose the
mind and clear the way for a better reply than one
might give upon the spur of the moment. Since,
however, you object to my method of proceeding, I
will annoy you no more. In fact, all I came here to
say was that I wish to be your friend. The charms
of your two daughters have quite vanquished me.
Pettina is a duck and Malvina is a darling. To
restore to them a brother and to you a son seems to
me to be something which would entitle me to the
gratitude of you all. Mow am I talking nonsense?’

‘Oh, sir!’ tearfully exclaimed the Queen: ‘If
you are not deceiving me with false hopes, you will
indeed prove yourself to be my best of friends. But
say, oh say, what I am to do to get back my lost
darling ?’

‘Bread-and-butter with fresh water-cresses makes
a wholesome and delicious meal,’ replied the Dwarf,
and then with a violent effort breaking himself off from
his accustomed mode of answering questions, thus
continued : ‘I beg your pardon, madam, for this short
digression ; I will endeavour to help you by every
means in my power, and if I don’t succeed in doing
so, call me Macklethorpe, instead of Rindelgrover.’

‘J have no intention of calling you anything so
ridiculous, returned the Queen ; ‘nor indeed do I wish