174 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

After his hard fare with Mrs. Discipline, Buttercup thought
that no fruit could be so delicious as the peaches, all covered with
tender bloom, which Sweet-Content fetched for him.

She sat by him while he ate, and told him a good many things
about Summer Land. :

“T can’t tell you all until you are really one of us,” she said.
“Children come over from Winter Land constantly—some go
back again, some stay—some go back never to return; but I
don’t think you are one of these—I think you will soon live
altogether in Summer Land—I mean, of course, until——”

Here Sweet-Content stopped, and looked at Buttercup with a
curious, peaceful, and yet longing expression in her eyes.

“Tt’s very queer,’ she said, “that a girl who is called Sweet-
Content should want anything further, but if there is a thing that
can make me sad in Summer Land, it is when my playmates go
away.”

“But why should they go?” asked Buttercup. ‘ When they
are allowed to leave that horrid, horrid Winter Land, I should
think they would never want to go out of a country like this.”

“Tt’s very odd,” continued Sweet-Content; “but they do.
When the Prince comes they often wish to leave with him. He
comes once a year, and some of the children go back with him to
his own country—the one beyond the Blue Mountains, you know.
I mustn’t tell you anything more about it to-day, however. Have
you eaten up all your peaches? then perhaps you will come and
play with me for a little.”

“Are you the only child im this country?” asked Buttercup.

Sweet-Content laughed merrily.

“JT the only child?” she exclaimed. ‘‘There are hundreds and
thousands of other happy children here, and grown-up people too:
yes, and even old people; but I don’t think you'll see anyone
except me to-day, little boy.”

“Well, I think you are a very nice little girl. You remind
me a tiny bit of my sister Primrose (she has gone beyond the
Blue Mountains), and you also have a very little look of my