222 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [Iv.

 

who were sitting at table repeatedly nod and bow to
him, drink his health, and make him pretty speeches
every other minute, but several more, standing close
to his chair, showed. such a desire to supply all his
wants, that it was quite superfluous for the servants to
wait upon him at all. One lady, fashionably attired
in a blue silk dress with an expensive lace shawl
‘negligently thrown over her shoulders, held a parasol
over the beast’s head to shield him from the rays of
the sun, which, as the sun had not re-appeared, seemed
to Molly rather an unnecessary measure of precaution.
Another kept filling his glass and trying to pour the
wine down his throat even before he was ready for it.
A third stood anxiously waiting to change his plate;
whilst a fourth was busily engaged in placing a garland
of flowers upon his head.

Molly stared in the greatest astonishment at the.
sight of so extraordinary a spectacle, the meaning of
which she could in no way make out to her own
satisfaction. She had not long to stare, however, for
as soon as she had stepped forth from the path into
the open space, a cry arose from the ladies at the
table, half-a-dozen of whom shouted out all at once,
‘Here comes dear Mrs. Goodchild at last! Good
morning, Mrs. Goodchild! Pray come and join our
party ; we are so glad to see you!’

In spite of all that had already happened, Molly
was entirely confused and astonished at this reception.
It was all so different from what she had expected.
She thought she should have had to encounter dangers,

- threats, perhaps bodily suffering, before she could
attain the object of her wishes. Instead of this, how-