16 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

and has a wonderful strengthening power about it. When you have
eaten your breakfast, you will be able to go for a long time without
any other meal. In particular, you will be able to avoid the
temptations held out to you by the old man at the Cross Corners.
Ah, but I see this dear child has fallen asleep. Help me, Clover, to
lay her on the sofa. She must not have her breakfast until she
has had her sleep out, but you can eat yours, my little man.”

“Only we ought not to delay,’ said Clover, ‘‘for the Blue
Mountains are a long way off, Mrs. Steadfast, and if we don’t
walk quickly we shall certainly be overtaken by the night before we
reach them.”

“In no case will you reach them to-night,” said Mrs. Steadfast,
“but if you walk quickly, and, in particular, try to avoid the temptations
which will reach you at the Cross Corners, you may get to the Palace
of Truth by the evening. The sisters who keep the palace will
gladly give you beds. Yes, Cowslip had better have her sleep
out, for if she does not have it, she will drop asleep by-and-by on the
road, and that would really hinder you in your journey. Hat up
your own breakfast, Clover. When you have finished, you may go
out and look at my garden, if you like.”

So Clover ate his bread and milk and thought that he had never
tasted such delicious food before. While he ate, every trace of fatigue
left him, and before he had finished he felt quite inclined to jump
and sing.

“J wish you would wake Cowslip,” he said; “it seems such a pity
to waste the day, and after she has eaten this nice bread and milk
she will be so strong that she won’t feel the least inclined to fall
asleep again.”

“No, no, I won’t wake her,” replied Mrs. Steadfast. ‘She will
soon wake of her own accord, and that will be best. Now go into my
garden and look at the flowers, but one you are mae even to
pick a single leaf.”

“ Of course not,’ replied Clover with a proud look.

He stepped out into the porch as he spoke, and then began to
wander up and down, stooping over the flowers and smelling them.