96 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTALNS.

Dragon-flower. ‘“ What with these children and those who arrived
yesterday, we shall have a goodly party to take to the Dark Men
to-night. Oh, what a splendid thing for us that we have captured
them in time!”

~ © But what about the child with the brown hat?” said Poppy.
“She could not have dipped her head under the enchanted water, for
she remembers her mother.”

“Yes,” said Dragon-flower, ‘she spoke in a very ridiculous way,
but we can easily come round her. I offered her a wreath of lihes
instead of that hideous hat, but she declined them. Her conduct
rather puzzled me. I wonder if anyone gave her a hint?”

“Who could?” said Moonlight; ‘‘she did not see a soul to speak
to since she entered the Castle except our four selves, and we should
not be so foolish as to injure ourselves, for unless we can supply the
Dark Men with a certain number of children every week, one of us
has to go to them instead; is it likely, therefore, that we should do
ourselves harm ?”

“No, no, of course not,” said Dragon-flower. ‘“ Only, I cannot
tell why, I am sometimes—sometimes—not quite sure about Silver-
wings.”

“You are too suspicious, my love,” said Poppy. ‘“‘ Silver-wings
is the most loyal of us all, and she has such an innocent, sad kind of
look, that the children cling more to her than to any of us; but now,
why should not we take that child’s old brown hat off her head while
she sleeps?”

“T doubt if that is possible,” said Dragon-flower ; “for there are
many limits to what we are able to do, and if one of these children sets
his or her will against us it is impossible to conquer it ; but go and do
your best, Poppy.”

Thus counselled, Poppy went over to the bed where poor little
Primrose lay with her eyes shut and her heart beating rapidly.

Poppy stretched out her hand and seized the brown hat.

She started back the next moment with a cry.

“ Tt burns—it hurts me!” she exclaimed. ‘1 dare not touch it

* a)
again.