264 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [v.

more houses, containing many curious specimens of
plants and trees of which he had never heard before.
One which rather amused him was the ‘ Letter House,
in which grew a number of specimens of the letter H,
which people in his own world had let drop, and which
had immediately been planted by the Fairies. They
had not, gowever, so many specimens of this sort as
they could wish, remarked the little brown gentleman,
owing to the fact of there being so many world-people
who, instead of dropping the letter, seized it and
clapped it on in words where it was not wanted, by
which means a great many letter-H plants were ab-
sorbed, which would otherwise have found their way
to Fairyland hot-houses.

By this time Harry had had nearly enough of the
specimens under glass, and was by no means sorry
when May suddenly exclaimed, ‘Let’s have a game
of croquet !’ to which her companion instantly assented,
and went off to get the mallets and balls, telling
Harry to look after the lady meanwhile. As soon as
he was gone, the boy turned to his sister, and said
earnestly, ‘I wish you would tell me what it all means,
May: I know you are May, you know, and it’s no
use pretending to be somebody else.’

This time the person addressed neither sat down
nor cried as she had done before, but, turning her head
towards him, made a face as if she didn’t wish to be
bothered, and replied, ‘What is “it” ? I don’t know
what you mean by “it,” and why “it” should mean
anything at all. Why can’t you be quiet and nice,
and not ask stupid questions. I’ma Fairy now, and
it’s absurd of you not to know it. And then she