12 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

sun has almost set, and we must be on our road when he rises
again.”

Clover and Cowslip went into the house, and Primrose followed
them after a moment or two.

Buttercup was already m a sound and heavy sleep. He and
Clover slept in one room in the tiny cottage, and Primrose and
Cowslip in another.

It seemed to Primrose that she had only just dropped to sleep
when she felt someone shaking her, and heard voices in her ears.

“Get up, Primrose,” said Cowslip; “the sun has risen. It is a
lovely fresh morning, and Clover says we ought to be off.”

“Do leave me alone,” said Primrose, without opening her eyes.
“Tt is only barely the middle of the night. No one can expect me to
start at this hour.”

“But it isn’t the middle of the night, Primrose. It is three
o'clock on a lovely summer’s morning, and you really must wake
up—you really must.”

But though Cowslip bent over Primrose and coaxed, entreated, and
very nearly cried, she could not get the little girl to stir, and
presently she had to go out to Clover and tell him the result of
her entreaties.

“T have fared no better with Buttercup,” he said. “I can’t
get him to move. There’s nothing whatever for it, Cowslip, but for
us to start alone.”

“Oh,” said Cowslip, beginning to cry, “how dreadfully cruel
that would be!”

“The King said,” replied Clover, “that we were to start on
our journey this morning when the sun rose. Whatever happens,
I for one must obey the King.”

“Oh, Clover, and so must J,” said Cowslip, springing to his
side and slipping her hand through his arm.