228. WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. {iv.

 

ears with such a shrill and awful sound that she put
up both her hands immediately to keep it out.
Nevertheless, being determined to carry out the thing
to the end, and not knowing whether the mere mention
of the magic word once would be sufficient, Molly
resolutely pronounced itagain. ‘Come!’ said she, ‘I
be come here for my John, and I'll have him in spite
of ye all. Wharlmone !’ ;

A second, but more feeble cry once more burst
forth from the dancers. In another moment the same
curious metamorphosis took place which Molly had
witnessed in the case of the three ladies who had first
accosted her upon the island: the fine clothes of all the
ladies present turned to shabby garments, they them-
selves assumed the appearance of ugly and decrepid
old women, the livery fell off from the attendant cats,
and the whole company fled groaning and moaning
and howling into the woods on either side of the open
space. But this was not all. The table, with all the
good things that had been upon it, utterly disappeared.
In its place there was only.to be seen the large stump
of an enormous tree which had long ago been: blown
down or struck by lightning so that only a portion of
the trunk remained, and instead of the Donkey who
had so recently been reposing in state at the head of
the table, Molly perceived her husband sitting at the
foot of the tree, leaning against it, and rubbing his
eyes in a confused and woebegone manner. She
went up to him at once.

‘Oh John! come home at once, my man ! what fas
come to you and what have you been doing?’ John
looked up and rubbed his eyes again. ‘What, Molly