THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 33

“How soon are we likely to reach the country?” asked Clover,

looking hard at this lovely lady as he spoke.
. “That altogether depends on yourself,” she answered. “You
must walk straight on, you must have no fear, you must keep up a
brave heart, and you must keep your garments clean and without
stain.”

“That is so difficult,” he said.

“Tt was difficult,” she said, “to keep the clothes which you wore
when you started from home at all nice or fresh, but when you and
Cowslip leave here to-morrow, my sisters and I are going to give you a
white dress each. We give these dresses to all children who come to
stay with us at this palace. They are not made of any stuff you have
ever seen before. They are very strong, and yet they look very light
and pretty. They are both cool for the heat of summer and warm
for the cold of winter. One thing about them is, that you can always
take them off and wash them in any water you may happen to come to,
and they will become clean. When you get these dresses on there will
be no excuse for you to have any stains, and everyone will know that
you have been to the Palace of Truth, and that you are travellers on
the road to the Blue Mountains. Some people will laugh at you
when they see these clothes, but everyone will respect you, just
because they cannot help themselves; because it is the will of the
King that travellers to his country should be held in high esteem.
Now, my boy, come down and sleep—have a good night—for my
sisters and I mean to send you away at an early hour in the morning.”