38 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

safe to him in the end, although she was very sorry when I told her
that they would not come with us.”

“ What did she say?” asked Clover.

“She said they would have a much harder time in coming to the
Blue Mountains, and would have much greater dangers to meet. Oh,
Clover, Iam so sorry that we did not insist on their coming with us
when we started on our journey.”

“Don’t be unhappy about that,” said Clover, “for we could not
have done it. I asked Faith, and she said, ‘ You must not worry about
that, for no one can start on this journey without wishing to go him-
self. If your brother and sister wished to sleep, you could not possibly
by any words you said have made them go with you, she said, ‘for
everyone must go on that journey of his own free will.’ ”

As the children talked, they saw in front of them a funny little
cottage, which looked so brown, so plain, and so tiny, that at first they
thought it quite impossible for anyone to live there.

“That cannot be one of the King’s Inns,” said Cowshp. “ But,
oh, do look at that funny little woman standing by the door.”

She was a tiny woman, and she was dressed from head to foot
all in brown just like her cottage. She was standing in the porch,
and by her side was a small dog, while a cat sat comfortably on her
shoulder.

When the dog saw the children he looked round at his mistress
as if he were winking at her, and then without barking came up to
them wagging his tail.

“ What a dear pretty little dog,” said Cowslip; “how Buttercup
would admire him.”

“See,” said Clover, “the old woman is beckoning to us.”

He ran forward as he spoke, but Cowslip stayed. behind to pet the
dog, who began to lick her hand.

sel nor who you are, my dear,” said the little woman—“ you are
travellers to the King’s country beyond the Mountains. I am glad
you have come, for you both look tired, and my cottage is very tiny.
I can never put up more than two at a time, so you and your
sister had better order beds at once.”