THE MAGICAL KISS. 137

for a long time. Won’t Fungus be pleased with this night’s
deeds! Won't Dragon-flower rejoice! Won't Moonlight and Poppy
shout, and sing and dance for joy! Come, brothers, one strong
pull together, and brave little Primrose is ours for evermore. Ha,
ha! ha, ha, ha!”

“No, I am not yours for evermore. I defy you—I stamp my
foot at you! Here, let me try what a kiss will do.”

The little men were pulling with all their might, their faces
were crimson with anger and passion. But as they dragged her
forward Primrose put out her rosy lips and touched one of the
sharpest of the thorns with them. Instead of a cruel prick, as
she expected, she had a sensation of only touching empty air.
She heard a faint scream of terror and disappointment, and then
a ery of joy from Martha.

“Oh! what have you done?” said the other ous nc elles
hedge of thorns has vanished. It is gone; and there is the silver
path shining before us more brightly than ever.”

“T thought my kiss had some power left in it,” said Primrose.
“Now take my hand, Martha, and let us go forward.”

“You are brave!” said Martha. “Oh, how I love you and
admire you! Do you mind telling me your namie?”

“My name is Primrose.”

« How sweet it sounds! And you are really going to the
Blue Mountains ?”

“Of course, of course.”

“ Have you been long on the joumey, Primrose ? and have you
had many difficulties in getting here?”

«“ Yes, Martha,” replied Primrose; “ the way has been full of
danger, but I have a feeling somehow as if the worst were over now.”

“So have I,” said Martha. ‘“ When you kissed those dreadful
thorns, and they disappeared, I can’t describe to you what a
strange, lovely, strong sort of feeling rushed through my heart.
don’t think we have much more to fear now.”

“Nor do I; but now let us walk fast. Take my hand; I will
help you along.”