THE LADY IN THE GREEN DRESS. 117

“Take what you please, eat anything that is placed before you,
ask for anything you want,” she threw herself on a long sofa in the
corner of the room, and closed her eyes as if she were tired and wanted
to sleep.

Presently one of the children asked for a little more milk. Con-
volvulus immediately sounded a silver gong, and a pretty young girl
dressed in pale green, something the pole of her mistress’s ae
answered the summons.

“Fetch another jug of milk, Honeysuckle,” said Convolvulus.
Honeysuckle dropped a curtsey and disappeared. She returned in a
moment, and placed the milk on the table. There was something
peculiar in her walk and in the expression of her eyes. Primrose
noticed that she was blind.

After the meal was over, Convolvulus rose from her sofa and
spoke in a kind, regretful sort of voice.

“Tam so sorry that I cannot give you all beds for the night,”
she said; “but you will see for yourselves that this cottage is
very small, and that there is little room in it to put up strangers.
You must go now, sy) children—I am glad I was able to on
you for your journey.”

Primrose got up with great alacrity when Convolvulus said this ; she
walked towards the door of the parlour, and turning, said in a polite
voice out of which she endeavoured to take every scrap of eagerness—

“We are all very much obliged to you, kind Convolvulus.
Come, Buttercup, take my hand and let us go.”

“One moment first,” said beautiful Convolvulus; “I expect no
money payment for the nice supper I have given you, but I just
want one little lock of hair from each of your pretty heads to
remember you by. Do you see this lovely pair of gold scissors ?
Would you not like me to cut a lock from each of your heads
with them?”

“You shall have my very prettiest front curl,” said Buttercup,
running up to her. “Here, this one, that mother used to kiss so
often. Take your gold scissors and cut it off, for I do love you,
sweet pretty lady.”