THE LADY IN THM GREEN DRESS. 119

“ But I feel just the same,’ exclaimed Agnes; “and, oh, look !
look! you said there was nothing to be seen; but look again :
what a queer—what a strange thing !—there are great locks of
hair thrown round my waist and round my legs.”

“ And round mine too!”  shrieked Buttercup.

“And mine! and mine!” said the other children; “the hairs
are pulling us back to the house!” exclaimed the whole five in
breathless alarm and terror; ‘‘and we don’t want to go—we don’t
want to go a bit. Save us, Primrose—save us, kind, kind
Primrose ! ”

“JT never felt anything like the strength of the hair,” said
Buttercup; “it looks so slight, but it is so strong. Oh, it’s as
strong as an iron chain. Save me, Primrose—save me!”

He tried to catch his sister’s hand. The other four children
threw themselves on their faces and hands, and clutched hold of
the grass, or anything that came within their reach, to keep them
from slipping back towards the cottage.

“T see nothing,” said Primrose, in a bewildered tone, “I see no
hairs. Oh, children, you are just fancying it all; come on—do come
on. Buttercup, darling, let me take your hand and pull you to your
feet; I will drag you forward in spite of yourself.”

But, alas for poor Primrose! she had no power to resist the
cruel spell which was over the children.

One by one they gradually disappeared into the cottage, and the
little girl found herself alone.