224 Tom Seven Years Old.

stood still, and bent forward. They all heard
a great rustling; then it stopped.

“Ah! said Ralph; “I knew it. Look!”
The children looked, ‘The boats were gone.
They were too late. The fairies had just
sailed away.

“Oh dear, dear!” said they. ‘“ They can
only just have gone, for we heard them mov-
ing a minute ago! How far will they have
sailed down the river, Ralph ?”

Ralph shook his head.

“T really can’t say,” said he.

It was very disappointing. They turned
to the moon. No doubt she could still see
them, because she was so much higher up,
and looked a long way down the river. But
she shone quite quietly, and never told what
she saw. It was no use asking her.

There was nothing to be done but to go
home again.

“Never mind,” said Ralph. “You see
they liked the ships, or they wouldn’t have
sailed away in them so quickly.”

“Yes,” said the children, “that’s a comfort.