58 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

Clover had scarcely said these words before the two children heard
most distinctly a voice in the air, saying gently, “Come on and fear
nothing.”

These words had a strange effect upon them both; as to Clover,
such a rush of courage filled his heart that he would have gone
through many doors as black as this one; and Cowslip too raised
her pale face, put her little weak hand into her brother’s, and said
bravely, “I won’t fear anything, only let us do it at once before our
courage fails.”

The children then went up to the door, which to their amazement
opened of its own accord to receive them, and the next instant they
were at the other side, quite shut away from the steep path, the
high cliffs, the sunshine, and the fresh mountain air. They were
quite in the dark, and they felt for a moment as if they could not
breathe.

Then a very strange thing happened: they both felt themselves
taken up in very strong arms — hands, strong and tender, clasped
them, and they were carried swiftly through the air, until all of
a sudden they were once more in light and sunshine, and were
standing on. the ground in the most lovely land they had ever seen.
There were quantities of flowers of every description at their feet, and
above them, a little way off, were mountains blue and soft, with a
wonderful radiance about them.

A man with a kind, grave face was standing near the children.

“Welcome,” he said. “ You have both passed through the black
door, and your worst dangers are over. These mountains that you see
quite close to you are the Blue Mountains, up which you have to go
to reach the happy land beyond; but first of all I must take you to
my castle and ask my daughter to be kind to you, and to refresh: you
before you start on your journey.”

“T never saw such a lovely country as this,” said Clover.

“Tt isa beautiful country,” said the man. “ But it is nothing to
the country you will reach to-morrow. Now, come with me. Do
you see that white marble castle standing at the edge of that cliff ?
That is my home, and my business is to welcome all the children