212 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [tv.

 

the first. ‘Hear the impudent jade!’ cried the second.
‘Look at the vile creature!’ shrieked the third; and
as they spoke they all rushed together upon Molly,
as if to punish her for her prompt rejection of their
proposals.

The time for action had evidently come. ‘ Wharl-
mone!’ exclaimed Molly in a loud voice, and no
sooner was the word out of her mouth than a wonder-
ful change came over the beings she addressed.
Their fine clothes turned into shabby old gowns, their
smart bonnets became hideous caps of an antiquated
fashion, from beneath which scattered grey hairs
streamed out as they started back, and in place of
three fashionable ladies, there appeared before Molly
three wrinkled old hags who turned their backs upon
her without more ado, and fled away into the wood
as fast as they were able.

Molly stared with astonishment at this strange
occurrence, but became more than ever convinced of
the dangerous character of the island as wellas of the
power of the Wise Rabbit. As it was evidently useless
to stand still, she thought she had better take the
only other alternative, and move on. She therefore
turned to the right, and walked along the shore,
calling from time to time to her husband in hopes of
an answer. ‘John Goodchild! John, I say! John!’
were the words with which she made the island shore
re-echo as she walked on by the sea.

But no John replied to her call. The waves
rippled gently against the shore, the same shades of
twilight hung over the island, and the wind softly
rustled in the leaves of the oak-trees, but no living