eee Koop he Oa i ; APES Re ep i? 74g Boe 5 mad Cr \ \ iv t NG): : 4 5. | Sane 22 ay Wipe Gad wrtbneg bes lity Inaug hop fy bsthidays— BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ON THE WAY TO THE CASTLE (p. 89) BEYOND THE BLUE - MOUNTAINS BY i. MAD An AUTHOR OF ‘‘FOUR ON AN ISLAND”? “A WORLD OF GIRLS” “\ SWEET GIRL GRADUATE” ETC. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS CASSELL ann COMPANY Ltimitep LONDON PARIS & MELBOURNE 1893 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I. Mrs. STEADFAST CHAPTER II. Cross CorRNERS—THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE oF TRUTH CHAPTER III. Mrs. Moprsty AND THE MaGNiryine Giass CHAPTER IV. Tue Cave aND THE Brack Door CHAPTER V. Tur CHILDREN’S GuIpE AND THE Narrow BripcE CHAPTER VI. A New Way To tHe BLuE Mountains CHAPTER VIL. Perer Prrxins anp Funcus THE FERRYMAN . CHAPTER VIII. CastLte DANGEROUS AND THE VANISHING STAIRS CHAPTER IX. Tur Country or THE Dark MEN CHAPTER X. THe Lapy IN THE GREEN Dress PAGE 13 18 34 49 62 90 100 110 vill CONTENTS. CHAPTER XI, PAGE A Wreath oF WHITE Roszs . 3 E A : ; : : : . 120 CHAPTER XII. Tue Macicat Kiss. F 3 : ; A : : : : ° . 129 CHAPTER XIII. THE WHITE PALACE—THE Kina@’s Country anp Mrs. Discrptine’s Corrage 140 CHAPTER XIV. In Winter Lanp ; 3 : : : ; : 4 : 3 : . 150 CHAPTER XY. Apour FEATHERPATE AND THE Marpie Hanis—aAnp Mr. PENALTY AND HIS Rop . i d ; 3 , i : ‘ : : ; . 159 CHAPTER XVI. SumMER Lanp . : : : : : ‘ : : : : : . 71 CHAPTER XVII. Tue Waite Dove witH THE Gotp Rine : : 3 : E : . 182 LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. On THE Way TO THE CASTLE. : : : ‘ : : . Frontispiece At THE Top OF THE CASTLE. : : s ; Y : : eae TRYING ON THE WREATHS . : : f ‘ : : : : : eae Dancer AHEAD . : ; : g 2 : : $ i ‘ : E133 Torsy-Turvy ; : : j 4 : : ‘ f : : : . 161 In Summer LAanp ; : ; : ; : d : 3 : : . 185 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. —++- INTRODUCTION. HE cottage where the children lived was in full view of the Blue Mountains. There were four children, and they lived quite alone in the cottage which directly faced the Mountains. Two were girls, and two boys. Their ages varied from eleven to four- teen. They were healthy and happy, and full of good thoughts and earnest wishes to be ready to join their father and mother when the King of the country beyond the Mountains sent them a message to come to him. The father and mother of the children had gone away a little time before to a lovely land beyond the Mountains, and the four children had reason to believe that a message would soon come for them to join their parents; and because they were so sure of this they did not take a great deal of trouble about the clothes they wore, or the cottage they lived in. They used to say to each other— “Tt isn’t worth while to be too particular, for when we get beyond the Mountains we can really settle down. We shall not be really at home until we get there.” The children had been called by thew father and mother after certain flowers. The eldest boy was Clover. He was fourteen years old, and was a dark-eyed, strong-looking, resolute fellow. Cowslip was his favourite sister; she was only twelve, and was a 10 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. pretty little slender girl, with hair as yellow as her name, and large wide-open sky-blue eyes. Primrose, the other sister, was thirteen, and her favourite brother was Buttercup, the youngest of the family, a little sturdy fellow of eleven years old, with a great deal of mischief in his face, and a considerable amount of obstinacy in his character. These were the four children who waited in the cottage until the message should come to them to go to the country beyond the Mountains. They expected it to arrive any day, but on the day when it did come they were thinking of it less than usual, and Primrose felt herself turning pale, and she owned to a feeling almost of sorrow when Clover said to her— “The King has sent us a letter by the post; and we are all four to start for the Blue Mountains earl y to-morrow morning.” “T am quite ready,” said Cowslip; “I have nothing to say good-bye to—I don’t suppose we shall be very long walking from here to the Blue Mountains.” : “But how do we know the road to take?” asked Primrose. “I don’t believe those mountains are half as near as they look. I am sure we shall take days and days going to them ; and the weather is so hot just now.” “The letter which came by the post tells us all about the way,” said Clover. He went out of the cottage as he spoke, and Cowslip ran after him and slipped her hand into his. Buttercup was lying full length on the floor munching an apple. His cheeks were a little flushed, and his eyes heavy—he had been half asleep while the others were talking, and when Primrose came up to him now he turned away from her with a sullen look on his face. “The message has come, Buttercup,” said Primrose, “and we are to start for the Blue Mountains to-morrow.” Sal samen t going!” said Buttercup, turning on his side, and continuing to munch his apple; “that is, unless a carriage has come for me to drive n—I can’t stand walking in hot weather.” INTRODUCTION. : 11 “But no carriage has come, Buttercup, dear; and what is more, no carriage will come. We have to walk every step of the way, and it is all up-hill, and it is sure to be horridly rough and dusty, and disagreeable. I can’t think why the King has sent for us to join father and mother in such hot weather.” “ And when does Clover mean to start?” asked Buttercup. “arly, very early to-morrow morning, just when the sun rises.” “Catch me waking at that hour,” said Buttercup, taking up another apple and beginning to eat it. “ Why, I should be quite ill if I got up when the sun rose. I am not very well as it is. T have no appetite for anything but apples.” “Perhaps you eat too many apples.” “No, I don’t—I know what’s good for me. I am very sleepy, and I have got a headache, so you had better go and join the others, Primrose.” Primrose did not say any more. She went and stood on the path outside the cottage, and shading her eyes with one little brown - hand, looked in the direction of the Mountains. The sun had set by this time, and the blue mist which always surrounded these strange and beautiful Mountains was pierced through and through with opal and rose-coloured and violet rays. The extreme tops of the Mountains, which were covered with eternal snow, looked now in the sunset as if they were all dressed up in jewels. Primrose could not help clasping her hands and looking at them with sudden love and longing. “Oh! T should like to be at the other side,” she murmured, “ but I’m afraid of the long tiring journey.” As she spoke these words Clover and Cowslip came up to her. Cowslip put her arm round her waist, and Clover looked into her eyes. He had a wonderful strong way with him, and when he looked at Primrose she felt new courage coming into her heart. “We needn’t be a bit afraid,” said Clover. ‘If we obey the directions in my letter we are certain to get safe to the Mountains in a few days.” “We had better go to bed now,” said Cowslip, “for the 12 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. sun has almost set, and we must be on our road when he rises again.” Clover and Cowslip went into the house, and Primrose followed them after a moment or two. Buttercup was already m a sound and heavy sleep. He and Clover slept in one room in the tiny cottage, and Primrose and Cowslip in another. It seemed to Primrose that she had only just dropped to sleep when she felt someone shaking her, and heard voices in her ears. “Get up, Primrose,” said Cowslip; “the sun has risen. It is a lovely fresh morning, and Clover says we ought to be off.” “Do leave me alone,” said Primrose, without opening her eyes. “Tt is only barely the middle of the night. No one can expect me to start at this hour.” “But it isn’t the middle of the night, Primrose. It is three o'clock on a lovely summer’s morning, and you really must wake up—you really must.” But though Cowslip bent over Primrose and coaxed, entreated, and very nearly cried, she could not get the little girl to stir, and presently she had to go out to Clover and tell him the result of her entreaties. “T have fared no better with Buttercup,” he said. “I can’t get him to move. There’s nothing whatever for it, Cowslip, but for us to start alone.” “Oh,” said Cowslip, beginning to cry, “how dreadfully cruel that would be!” “The King said,” replied Clover, “that we were to start on our journey this morning when the sun rose. Whatever happens, I for one must obey the King.” “Oh, Clover, and so must J,” said Cowslip, springing to his side and slipping her hand through his arm. CHAPTER I. MRS. STEADFAST. HE dew was on the grass, and the exquisite feeling of early morning was over everything, when the two children walked down the path which led straight to the Blue Mountains. They both felt fresh and well, and, not- withstanding their sorrow at leaving Prim- rose and Buttercup behind them, could not help singing as they went. “Fancy the joy of seeing father and mother so soon again,’ exclaimed Cowslip in a cheerful tone. “Oh, how glad I am that the summons has come for us to go to the King’s country, although I do wish that the others would come with us.” “They will follow in good time,” replied Clover. “ That is the thought that comforts me. And now let us walk as quickly as we can, Cowslip, for by-and-by the day will be very hot; the dew will have all dried up, and we shall be so tired we shall find it = impossible to make any progress at all.” The path on which the children walked was quite plainly discernible, even amidst the long wet grass, and they had little difficulty in following it. After two or three hours, the heat which Clover spoke of became intensely great, and Cowslip wanted to sit down and rest. 14 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. “We must walk on until we find a little shelter,’ said Clover. “Tf we sit under a tree we shall be all right; but it is not sate to rest here with this burning sun beating on our heads.” “There’s a cottage over yonder,” said Cowslip. ‘“ Please look in your letter, Clover, and find out if it is one of the King’s Inns where we may rest. Oh, I should be glad of a nice comfortable breakfast, for I am both tired and hungry.” “But I have something in my pocket that we can eat,’ said her brother. “We will keep that for the present. Let’s hurry on to the cottage, and try to find out if it is really one of the King’s Inns.” Clover stood still at these words, and opened his letter, to which was fastened a map of the roads. He traced the line of red which ran through it, and which carefully pointed out the path on which the children were to walk. The next moment he gave a glad exclamation. “That cottage is one of the King’s Inns,” he said. ‘“ We will go to it as quickly as we can, Cowslip. I am sure they will give us breakfast, and anyhow we can rest there for a little.” The children were not long coming to the door of the pretty cottage. It stood back in a little corner, which was full of gay lores and in the centre of which was a tiny path with a box-edge on each side. “What dear old-fashioned flowers!” exclaimed Cowslip. “There are marigolds, and heaps of daisies, and Canterbury bells, and a But Clover scarcely heard her. He walked quickly up the box- lined path and knocked at the door. The next moment it was opened by a tall woman dressed in grey. “T think,” said Clover, “that this must be one of the King’s Inns.” “Certainly, my dear,’ she said—a smile broke out over her face as the boy spoke the words. “If you two are going to the country beyond the Blue Mountains, you are right welcome,” she exclaimed. “Come in, I have breakfast waiting for you both.” The children ertered the cottage, which was extremely small and: very neat. They were taken into a tiny little parlour which MRS. STHADFAST. 15 was all decked with sea-shells, and which somehow resembled a sea cave. There were several pictures on the walls. All these pictures related to the sea. In some the sea was calm, in others there was a storm. ‘The sea pictures were all put into frames covered with seashells. There were bunches of sea-weed fastened on the walls, and little baskets made of shells, filled with dry sea-weed, stood on the mantelpiece. There was even a faint smell of the sea, which must have come from the shells and sea-weed. Cowslip uttered a pleased cry as she entered the pretty little room. Clover went straight up to one of the pictures, and examined it carefully. “T always bring children into this room,” said the lady, whose name was Mrs. Steadfast. ‘‘The children who come to me, and who rest in this inn, are at the beginning of a dangerous journey, and I like to bring them in here to show them these pictures of the sea, and to assure them that if only they have courage, and don’t go away from the right path, they will reach the haven. You see that picture there, my little boy? That represents a ship riding into haven. She is rather tattered, and her sails are torn, but she is safe. You too will have dangers to go through, but you will get safely into harbour, if only you have courage, and never leave the right way.” “Oh, I am sure we never will,” replied Cowslip, looking full into the grey eyes of the lady. “YT think you will try to be faithful,” she replied, pushing the hair from Cowslip’s earnest face ; “‘and now sit down and rest, both of you, while I get breakfast.” _ She bustled out of the room. ‘The children seated themselves in two little easy chairs which seemed to fit them exactly, and, long before breakfast had arrived, tired little Cowslip fell fast asleep. The lady presently brought in a tray which held two bowls filled with wholesome bread and milk. “This is the best breakfast of all for you both,” she said. ‘‘ The bread is no ordinary bread, and the milk comes from a cow which is sent to me every year by the King. This milk is good and sweet, > 16 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. and has a wonderful strengthening power about it. When you have eaten your breakfast, you will be able to go for a long time without any other meal. In particular, you will be able to avoid the temptations held out to you by the old man at the Cross Corners. Ah, but I see this dear child has fallen asleep. Help me, Clover, to lay her on the sofa. She must not have her breakfast until she has had her sleep out, but you can eat yours, my little man.” “Only we ought not to delay,’ said Clover, ‘‘for the Blue Mountains are a long way off, Mrs. Steadfast, and if we don’t walk quickly we shall certainly be overtaken by the night before we reach them.” “In no case will you reach them to-night,” said Mrs. Steadfast, “but if you walk quickly, and, in particular, try to avoid the temptations which will reach you at the Cross Corners, you may get to the Palace of Truth by the evening. The sisters who keep the palace will gladly give you beds. Yes, Cowslip had better have her sleep out, for if she does not have it, she will drop asleep by-and-by on the road, and that would really hinder you in your journey. Hat up your own breakfast, Clover. When you have finished, you may go out and look at my garden, if you like.” So Clover ate his bread and milk and thought that he had never tasted such delicious food before. While he ate, every trace of fatigue left him, and before he had finished he felt quite inclined to jump and sing. “J wish you would wake Cowslip,” he said; “it seems such a pity to waste the day, and after she has eaten this nice bread and milk she will be so strong that she won’t feel the least inclined to fall asleep again.” “No, no, I won’t wake her,” replied Mrs. Steadfast. ‘She will soon wake of her own accord, and that will be best. Now go into my garden and look at the flowers, but one you are mae even to pick a single leaf.” “ Of course not,’ replied Clover with a proud look. He stepped out into the porch as he spoke, and then began to wander up and down, stooping over the flowers and smelling them. MRS. STEADFAST'. el’, “He is a fine lad,’ muttered Mrs. Steadfast, as she watched him. “I hope he will persevere. Other lads, as beautiful as he, have come to this house, and I have sent them on their way with good cheer, and with all the words of encouragement I could think of. I often wonder, often, often, if they have reached the country beyond the Mountains. The sad part of my life is this, that I never know whether the children who come to this cottage have got to the end of the journey in safety or not. Some day I suppose I shall learn the truth, for I love all the children who come to me here.” She turned as she spoke to bend over Cowslip. Cowslip had a pretty pale face. She was a very slight child, and looked as if even a breath of rough wind might blow her away. “But these are the sort who often come off best in the end,” murmured Mrs. Steadfast. “The King makes the way light to such as these. I know I am fulfilling the wishes of the King when I let this dear little one have her sleep out.” SE, E UERMORCRENITO CHAPTER II. THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. CROSS CORNERS AS she said this Cowslip stirred in her + sleep, and a few moments afterwards opened her blue eyes. “You are rested, are you not?” sud Mrs. Steadfast in her firm but gentle tone. “ Yes, I feel ever so much better,” replied Cowslip cheerfully. ‘‘ Where am I though? I don’t seem quite to remember, anything.” Then she looked round the pretty little sea- like room, and memory came back to her. “ Now I know all about it,” she said, jump- / es ing to her feet as she spoke. “Clover and I are on our way to the Blue Moun- tains. We have begun our journey, and you are taking care of us. You look very kind; I should lke to stay with you in this little cottage, and to sleep in this sweet little room for several days.” “You must not do that,” said Mrs. Steadfast. “The King of the country to which you are going‘does not like children to linger on the road. Here is a little verse,’ she continued, ‘ which the King likes all children who are coming on this journey to say over to themselves. “T must not linger on the road, For I have far to go, And I should like to reach the goal, Before the sun gets low.” THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 19 Here Mrs. Steadfast paused. “The end of this verse particularly pleases the King,” she said. Then she continued softly— ‘““T may not stay, But will you not, oh, will you not come too? My home is very beautiful, And there is room for you.” “JT don’t quite understand the last part,” said Cowslip. “Am I to ask other children to join me?” “ All true children of the IGing try to get others to joim them,” said Mrs. Steadfast. ‘“ Now, I must not preach any more. Jump up and eat your bread and milk. I want you and your brother to go on as far as you can to-day.” So Cowslip ate the wonderful bread and milk, and felt as Clover had done before her: every scrap of fatigue left her. She now longed to resume her journey, and after bidding kind Mrs. Steadfast good-bye, the two children started down the narrow path which led direct from the cottage in the direction where the Mountains were showing through a soft blue mist. They walked on for some little time. The sun was partly hidden by clouds, so the heat was not so great as they had feared. Now and then they spoke of Primrose and Buttercup, and wondered if they had yet started and what time they would reach Mrs. Stead fast’s cottage ; but as the moments passed on, a certain satis- faction, which they could scarcely account for, took possession of their little hearts. They were not fearful about the brother and sister who were left behind, for something seemed to tell them that the King would take care of them, and that they would in the end reach the Blue Mountains in safety. At last, some time about noon, they came to a part of the road where two paths met. “This must be the Cross Corners,” exclaimed Cowslip. ‘“ Now, I do wonder which is the way to the Mountains. Both these roads seem to lead there, don’t they ?” B2 20 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. “Yes,” said Clover. “As far as we can see, both paths seem to wind ia and out in the direction of the mountains, but I am pretty sure that this is the one we ought to walk on, Cowslip.” “Why? That does look a stupid road,” exclaimed Cowslip. “ But if you will look again,” continued her brother, “ you will see that it is straight and slightly uphill, and the other road goes slightly down.” “ But it runs close to that lovely little house,” said Cowslip. “I am quite certain that is the right way—and oh,” she exclaimed, suddenly clapping her hands, “do you see that little girl standing in the doorway ?—that little girl all in blue, with sprigs of forget-me-not round her neck. She is beckoning us, she is pointing to the road which leads to her cottage, and beckoning to us to come to her.” * We had better look in our map,” said Clover, “and see if there is any road marked on it the least like that flowery, twisting path which leads to that pretty house.” “No, no,” said Cowslip. “I am certain that is the right path. Don’t wait to look at the map, please, dear Clover. It is so rude not to answer that dear little girl. I for one am going to speak to her at any rate.” As Cowslip spoke she ran down the flowery path, and Clover felt obliged to follow her. The little girl was certainly very pretty. She wore a pale blue frock, which almost exactly matched in colour the forget-me-nots round her head and neck. Her hair was of the palest gold and hung far below her waist. Her eyes were of the same forget-me-not blue as - her frock, her lips were like rosebuds, and when she smiled her little teeth showed like white pearls. She came out immediately to welcome the children. “T am so glad to see you,’ she exclaimed. “Not one single traveller has passed this house this morning. I had breakfast ready and no one came to eat it. Now I have dinner ready. Would you like to guess what I have got for dinner 2?” “Very much,” said Cowslip. “ But I don’t think we are on the right path,” said Clover. ‘We THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 21 ought not to waste time talking to you, for we are going to the King’s country, and the King does not wish us to loiter. If this were one of the King’s Inns, where travellers may rest, it would be a different matter.” “ But it is one of the inns,” said the little girl, raising her eyes in astonishment. ‘What do you mean? You are directly on the road. Have you not a chart or a map with you?” aide sesame “ Well, show it to me, and I will point out this very house marked upon it in pale blue ink. Now, then, look for yourself.” Clover opened his map; the little girl came close up to him, and pointed to a little star of forget-me-not blue on the map. This star certainly pointed to a house which in all particulars resembled the one at the door of which the children were standing. “Well, itis all right then,” said Clover. He sighed, however, and did not seem quite satisfied. Cowslip, on the other hand, was overjoyed. “We are quite hungry for our dinner,” she said. ‘‘I do hope you have got something nice for us. Do you live here all alone? ” “No, I live with my father. He is a market gardener; he will be home presently. He brought me these flowers this morning ; are they not pretty? He will be home to his dinner by-and-by. When he comes home he is going to bring me wreaths of lily of the valley. I shall throw away the forget-me-nots then, and put on the lilies of the valley. To-night he will bring me sweet peas to wear. Is he not good to me? Is it not pretty to be dressed up in flowers like this?” “But what do you do with all the flowers when they are withered?” asked Cowslip. “I cannot bear to throw away half- withered flowers.” “But you would if you were a market gardener’s daughter,” retorted the little girl. ‘ Flowers would be so plentiful with you that you would think nothing at all about them. Now do come in and see what I have got for your dinner.” ; The two children followed the little girl into the interior of the 22 BHYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. house. They went into a little parlour which was prettily furnished, and on the centre table of which a meal was already prepared. It consisted of dishes of fruit of every kind and description. There were great piles of fresh strawberries, and dishes full of large raspberries, other dishes contained gooseberries, peaches, pears, apples, and grapes. All the fruits, whether in season or out, seemed to be represented on the little table. Now Clover and Cowslip, like all children of their age, delighted in fruit. ‘They were both of them also a little hot and thirsty. They sat down immediately in front of the table, and when the girl who called herself Bluebell asked them to eat, Cowslip immediately held out her hand for a large peach, and Clover helped himself to a bunch of grapes. “What a wonderful market gardener your father must be,” exclaimed Cowslip, as she took a deep bite out of the juicy, delicious peach; “he seems to grow all the fruits at the same time: We have fruit in our garden at home, but we do not have straw- berries and peaches on the table together.” “ My father never pays any attention to the seasons,” replied the little girl. ‘He says that if fruit would only become accustomed to getting ripe altogether, it would be far more profitable. Besides, it is never cold or frosty in our garden, and it is quite easy to get all the fruits to ripen at once.” “ How far is your garden from here ?” asked Cowslip. “ About half a mile away.” Bluebell looked very earnestly at Cowslip as she spoke. “Perhaps,” she said, in a slightly hesitating tone, “‘ perhaps my father would let me take you to see our garden.” “Oh, no, Cowslip, there is no time for that,” said Clover, shaking his head, and speaking in a very decided manner. His dark eyes glowed with annoyance as he spoke. Bluebell looked at him, and dropped her pretty lids. “It must be as you wish, of course,” she said. “ My father would not think of taking anyone to see his wonderful garden who did not wish it more than anything else. I don’t know that he would take THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 23 your sister; I only say that if he would it would be a great, great pity for her to lose the chance of seeing so wonderful and so uncommon a garden as ours.” “ And I should like to see it extremely,” said Cowslip. Clover came up to her, and pat his arm round her neck. “ You know,” he said, in a low voice, “that we are coming very, very soon to see a much more wonderful garden than the one which Bluebell speaks about. Don’t let’s loiter on the way, Cowslip.” ‘“‘T must not linger on the road, For I have far to go,” said Cowslip suddenly. She remembered Mrs. Steadfast’s little verse, and the colour rushed into her cheeks. ‘““T have had enough fruit,” she said ; “ thank you very much, little girl. I must go now.” “That is right,” said Clover. The two children walked as far as the door of the cottage, when Bluebell ran after them. “T am sorry you are going away,” she said; “I am sorry you won't stay to see my father. You have not offered to pay me for the nice fruit I have given you.” “Oh, I am so sorry,” said Clover, turning, his face flushing as he spoke. “I never thought about paying you. How very wrong of me.” “ And I don’t want money payment,” said Bluebell, tears coming into her eyes; “but I should like you both to kiss me before you go, and here is a basket of strawberries for you, Cowslip, and a basket of peaches and apples for you, Clover.” “Thank you, thank you,” said both the children. They each stooped down, and kissed pretty little Bluebell on her forehead. Then they hastily left the cottage, carrying each their basket of fruit. When they had gone up the path, and were once more standing at Cross Corners, undecided which road to take, they looked back, and saw Bluebell standing in the doorway watching them. 24 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. With one hand she shaded her eyes from the beams of the sun, the other she waved to the children. “ What a dear little girl,” said Cowslip, with a sigh. ‘“ What is the matter with you, Clover? How cross you look.” “T cannot account for my feeling,” said Clover. “I think we did wrong to go into that cottage. I am persuaded that trouble will come of it.” “ But how can trouble come of it, dear Clover? The cottage was marked in pale blue ink on the map.” “Yes, but the marks made by the King himself were in red. Why should this cottage be marked in pale blue? ‘There, there, my mind misgives me, Cowslip; but there is nothing for us now but to make up for lost time, and go on as fast as we can. I wonder which of these roads we had better take ? ” “Oh, that one, of course,” said Cowslip; ‘“‘there cannot be the smallest doubt about that. It is the road that most people walk on, for it is wide and smooth and nicely kept, and part of it runs through that lovely green meadow, with trees at one side, and flowers growing on the banks. JI can see the colour of the flowers even from here, and there’s a little stream, too. Perhaps we shall see trout in it. Oh, Clover, there cannot be the least doubt which is the right | path to take.” “JT am not so sure of that,” said Clover. “TI have always heard that the path to the Mountains is steep and narrow. Just hold my basket of fruit for a moment, Cowslip, while I look in the map again.” “T think that map is no end ofatrouble,” said Cowslip ; “who can possibly compare these two roads? Of course, if that lovely smooth one led away from the Mountains, I would not have a word to say; but it goes to them just as directly as the steep path.” “Yes, but the steep path is undoubtedly shorter,’ said Clover. “Ah, I see Iam right. Here it is marked quite distinctly on the map. Come along, Cowslip darling. We must avoid that pleasant path by the green meadow. We must go up the hill.” “T hate going up a hill,” said Cowslip. THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. — 25 Asa rule she was a most gentle child, easily led, but for some reason she looked cross and discontented now. “ You must carry your own basket, Clover,” she said. “I never felt anything so heavy. Oh, how tired I am, and how the sun does beat on my head! I don’t think I ever felt so tired before in the whole course of my life.” “It is very odd,” said Clover, “ but I, too, feel fearfully tired. It must be that fruit. We did wrong to eat it.” “T feel quite sick,” said Cowslip; “but it could not possibly be the fruit. I never did taste such delicious fruit in all my life. I know what makes me feel bad, it is the steep hill, and the hot rays of the sun. Ah, here is a place with a tiny bit of shade. Let’s sit down, Clover—do let’s sit down, and eat a little more of our ripe fruit.” “Well, I should not object to another bite,” said Clover. ‘“ Those peaches were delicious, but somehow I felt thirsty the moment I had eaten them.” : As soon as ever Cowslip sat down in a shady seat by the roadside she fell fast asleep. Clover put his arm round her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. He could not help looking down at her anxiously as he did so. Cowslip had never been a strong child, and now she looked so frail, and there were such black lines under her eyes, and her sweet little mouth drooped in such a tired way, that Clover wondered much if she would be strong enough to go the whole length of the journey. While the child slept, the basket of strawberries and the basket of peaches and apples lay on the ground by Clover’s side. After a time he felt sleepy himself. There was no one in sight. As far as his eye could travel he could only see a dusty, narrow, thorny path leading all the way up, up—not up a steep hill, but still upwards. It is not pleasant, although it may be very good for us, to keep walking uphill all day, and Clover could not help feeling tired and wishing that the road to the Blue Mountains had really been down the broader way, where the beautiful green meadows were. 26 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. As these thoughts passed through his mind, he closed his tired eyes, and also went into the land of dreams. It was quite dark when the children awoke, and at first they had some difficulty in remembering where they were. Cowslip was the first to do so, and now she said, with a bitter ery, “Oh, Clover, we have overslept ourselves, and the whole day is gone, and we are nowhere near the Blue Mountains.” Clover had to rub his own tired eyes before he could quite take in Cowslip’s words. “ Never mind, Cowslip,’” said Clover then, “we shall have heaps of time, for the King never told us that we must reach the Blue Mountains by to-night.” “ But we cannot stay out in this dangerous, lonely place in the dark,” said Cowslip. “Iam always terrified in the dark. What shall we do, Clover? Oh, dear Clover, do let us go back to the Market Gardener’s cottage. Do let’s beg of Bluebell to give us a bed each for the night.” “No,” said Clover, in a proud sort of way. “I will go forward as much as you like, but back, never. That would be cowardly, Cowslip. Come, give me your hand and let us start forward.” “ But itis pitch dark,” said the little girl, “and I don’t see a single step of the way. I am awfully frightened. If you won’t go back to Bluebell’s cottage, we had better stay where we are for the night.” “No, we must not; there is a heavy dew falling. If you put your hand on the grass now you will find it quite wet, and, besides, there may be snakes and other dangerous creatures all round us. No, we must not stay here.” At the word snakes poor Cowslip sprang to her feet in terror. The next moment she tottered back again, faint and crying. “TJ am so tired and so thirsty,” she said. “Let us walk on a little,’ said Clover. “TI have got the map in my pocket, and we are quite sure to meet with an inn before long. The King has placed the inns so nicely along the road, that people are never very long without finding one. You see, Cowslip, we are on the THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 27 right road, so we must find one of the King’s Inns before we get a great deal further. The cottage where the Market Gardener's little git] lived was not one of the King’s Inns. But now if we walk on very quickly we must find one. Then we shall be quite safe, and you shall go to bed and have a long sleep.” For a moment Cowslip was comforted by Clover’s brave words, but then she burst out crying again. “TI cannot walk a step until I have had something to quench my thirst,’ she said. Then she suddenly gave a cry of delight. “Oh, Clover,” she exclaimed, “what a silly girl I was to ee the straw- berries and the peaches. Why, of course, that cone mee fruit will quench our thirst splendidly.” “Somehow,” said Clover, “I don’t want to eat it. I know it looks very nice, and I know it smells very good, but I suspect anything that comes out of the Market Gardener’s cottage.”’ “Then I think you are very unkind,” said Cowslip. “That was a dear little girl; what possible harm did she do us? I for one am determined to eat one of her delicious peaches.” As Cowslip spoke she put down Do hand and took one of the peaches and began to eat it. How Gloire was the juicy fruit to her parched lips; how thank- fully she devoured the peach, and then put down her hand to take another. She ate three or four peaches before her thirst was at all better. In the meantime Clover, who was also very thirsty and hungry, helped himself to two or three strawberries. He had not eaten nearly as much fruit as Cowslip, and was in consequence not so much affected by it, for scarcely had the little girl eaten the last of the peaches before, with a bitter cry, she fell on the ground, clasping her hands to her head, and moaning as if in dreadful pain. “Oh, what is the matter, Cowslip?” said poor Clover, in a voice of terror. “T don’t know,” sobbed the child. “I only know that I ache from head to foot, that I am more thirsty than ever, and that I cannot possibly walk a single step.” 28 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. Clover bent over his little sister and made every effort to raise her from the gound. ‘““Where is the pain?” he asked of her. “Tn my head,” she answered. “I am so giddy that I cannot possibly stand. Oh, what shall I do; what shall I do?” Clover’s head also ached, but slightly. “T am sure it is that dreadful fruit,” he said. “I am certain there must have been poison in it. I will not eat another morsel.” “Oh, but I long for more,’ sobbed poor Cowslip, as she rolled about on the ground and moaned in pain. “You shall not taste another morsel of that fruit,” said Clover. With these words he took up the basket which contained the peaches and apples—it was heavy as lead—with a great effort he hurled it and its contents over the hedge. The basket with the strawberries immediately followed them. When Clover had done this, it seemed to him that the air felt lighter; he was not so terribly thirsty and sleepy, and his head was less giddy. Poor little Cowslip, however, was in a very bad way, and her groans went right through Clover’s kind and brave heart. “What shall I do?” he muttered, under his breath. “ If that fruit was really poisoned, sweet little Cowslip may die. Oh, how mad I was to allow her to go into that cottage! Oh, what a wicked, wicked girl Bluebell is!) What shall I do? What ought a boy like me to do in such a case as this? I cannot leave little Cowslip alone, and yet if I do not do something for her, she may be dead before the morning.” These thoughts had scarcely passed through the little fellow’s mind before he saw coming up the path to meet him a tall, slender figure. He could not tell in the twilight whether the person, who walked swiftly, and seemed to keep just the very centre of the path, was a man or a woman. He was so glad, however, to know that anyone was near, that he called out at once in a voice full of confidence, “Who are you? ” “ Who are you?” was the instant reply. The voice which came back to Clover was sweet, and belonged, he THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 29 knew at once, to a woman. Clover felt instantly that this woman was going to be kind to Cowslip and himself. “Who speaks?” said the voice again; “‘ who are you who sit by the wayside? What do you want?” “My name is Clover,” replied the boy, “and I am on my way to the Blue Mountains. I have a little sister here, called Cowslip; she is very ill. Will no one help her?” “J will,” said the lady. “My name is Charity, and I often come out at night and walk along this road, for the purpose of helping those people, whether they are children, men, or women, who are going to the country beyond the Blue Mountains.” “Oh, how glad Iam!” said poor Clover. As he said these words the lady came up to him, and he saw that she carried in her hand _ alittle lantern. She opened the door of the lantern now, and let the full light fall on Cowslip’s face. “Ah,” she said, “the child is poisoned. Did you both stop at the Market Gardener’s cottage ?” “Yes,” said Clover. “ Have not you got a map of the road?” “ Yes,” said Clover. “The Market Gardener’s cottage was not put into the map.” Clover felt himself turning crimson. “T know now that it was not,” he said, “but the little girl who wore forget-me-nots, and who called herself Bluebell, pointed it out tome. It was marked very faintly with a blue cross.” “Yes, yes—I know her tricks. She made that cross appear. If you look in your map now, you will not see any cross near the Market Gardener's cottage. But even though the girl did make a cross appear, that ought not to have deceived you; for you know that the King’s Inns are always marked with red. She would have loved to make a red cross appear, but that was beyond her power.” “T am very sorry; I know I have behaved very badly,” said Clover. “We will talk about that presently,” said Charity. ‘Now, the thing is to get this child up to the palace, where I and my sisters live, 30 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. as soon as possible. She has eaten some of the poisoned fruit. I know the wiles of that wicked little girl. It was a great mercy that [came out to-night to see if there were any travellers in danger. Do you know what would have happened to you two if I had not come ?” “No,” said Clover. His voice trembled as he spoke. “When your sister got a little worse, the Market Gardener and that dreadful child called Bluebell, who looks so fair and speaks so sweetly, would have come out to find you. They would have brought you home; they would have put out your eyes, Clover, and made you their slave for ever. And if Cowslip were dead, as most likely she would have been by the time they found her, they would have taken off her pretty clothes, and buried her here by the wayside. You see, therefore, my boy, what a grave danger you ran when you went into that wicked house. But now we must not lose a minute in doing something to help dear little Cowslip.” As the lady spoke she went down on her knees, and desiring Clover to kneel also by her side, and to hold the lantern so that she could see Cowslip’s face, she pushed back the hair from oft’ her brow, and taking a tiny flask out of her pocket, opened it and put a few drops to the child’s nose; then mixing some of the contents with a little water, she forced some of the mixture down: her throat. The moment the child tasted the medicine which Charity gave her, she opened her eyes wide, sighed heavily, and tried to get up. “No, lie still,” said Charity. ‘“ Now, Clover,’ she continued, “I think your sister will soon be better; but we must get her home, for she has eaten a great deal of the fruit, and in consequence is very much poisoned. Still she will not die, my boy, for I have an antidote to the poison at the palace, and I shall give her that as soon as ever we get home. Set the lantern on the ground, Clover, and then help me to lift your sister up.” Clover did as he was bid, and the next moment Cowslip lay in Charity’s strong arms. “But you cannot possibly carry her alone,” said the boy; “let me help you.” THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACK OF TRUTH. 3L “No, you shall take the lantern, and go on in front. I will follow with Cowslip. We have not very far to go; the palace is only just round the next corner. Now, don’t talk any more, Clover; do exactly as I tell you.” Clover walked on, just as he was bid. Charity directed him to hold the lantern in such a way that she saw each step of the road. Cowslip lay like a dead child in her arms, and she was extremely anxious to get her to the palace as soon as possible. Presently they came to iron gates. The moment the heht of the lantern fell across the gates, they opened wide of their own accord, and Charity desired Clover to walk up the broad steep path which was cut in the solid rock. At the top of the path were several high steps, and standing on the top of the steps, each of them holding a lantern, and with smiles of welcome on their faces, stood two other sisters, who were dressed in white from their necks to their ankles. “Welcome, Charity,” they exclaimed. Then seeing that she carried a child in her arms, they both ran down to meet her, and helped her to bring Cowslip into the palace. Poor Clover never could forget the joy and delight which came - over him when he saw the three sisters bending over his little sister, and giving her the healing medicine. After some patience they suc- ceeded in getting the child into a sound and healthy sleep. When she really slept, she was carried into a sweet little room, in which was a white bed, a deep, comfortable arm-chair covered all over with white, white walls, a white marble floor, and white furniture. There was not a scrap of colour in the peaceful, pretty, soothing room—all was whiteness, all was peace. Cowslip was laid upon the bed, and Charity with the utmost care took off her travel-stained clothes, and put a little white frilled night-dress on her. “ Now she will do,” she said; “in the morning she will feel weak, but will be quite herself again.” “And you are sure she is out of danger?” asked Clover. “Yes, my boy, the antidote has saved her. But you don’t look well yourself—is anything the matter?” BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. oy 1) “T ate four or five of the strawberries, and I am in very great pain,” he replied. He leant up against the wall as he spoke. He had thought nothing of his own discomfort, as long as his sister was in danger, but now the effects of the poisoned fruit made him sick and giddy. “There is another white bedroom waiting for you,” said Charity. “You are a very brave boy to have thought nothing of yourself while your sister was ill. Now I shall ask my sister Faith to sit by Cowslip while I attend to you. It is well you ate no more of the fruit, for I know from old experience that that wicked little Bluebell put even more poison into the strawberries than she did into the peaches. Stall, you ate so very few, that you will soon be well again.” So Charity gave some of the antidote to Clover also, and after giving him a refreshing warm bath, popped him into a snug white bed, in the room which exactly faced the one in which Cowslip slept. The tired boy had scarcely laid his head on the pillow before he fell asleep. All night long the children slept, and the next morning Clover and Cowslip remembered very little of the effects of the night before. Clover felt perfectly well again, but Cowslip was so weak that Charity and her sisters would not allow her to move from the palace that day. The little girl spent most of her time in bed, sleeping off the effects of all the poison she had taken, but Clover wandered about the palace, and saw the room where the armour was kept, and the room where all the fairies of the glen used to assemble for their monthly balls. He went into the museum too, where all kinds of curious things were, and finally he went out on the battlements of the palace, and taking a telescope in his hand tried hard to see the brightness which came from the country beyond the Blue Mountains. Look as he would, however, he could not discover it. “ Never mind,” said Faith, looking at the boy with her deep and wonderful eyes, “ you have not gone far enough on your journey yet, but you will see the brightness by-and-by.” THE MARKET GARDENER AND THE PALACE OF TRUTH. 33 “How soon are we likely to reach the country?” asked Clover, looking hard at this lovely lady as he spoke. . “That altogether depends on yourself,” she answered. “You must walk straight on, you must have no fear, you must keep up a brave heart, and you must keep your garments clean and without stain.” “That is so difficult,” he said. “Tt was difficult,” she said, “to keep the clothes which you wore when you started from home at all nice or fresh, but when you and Cowslip leave here to-morrow, my sisters and I are going to give you a white dress each. We give these dresses to all children who come to stay with us at this palace. They are not made of any stuff you have ever seen before. They are very strong, and yet they look very light and pretty. They are both cool for the heat of summer and warm for the cold of winter. One thing about them is, that you can always take them off and wash them in any water you may happen to come to, and they will become clean. When you get these dresses on there will be no excuse for you to have any stains, and everyone will know that you have been to the Palace of Truth, and that you are travellers on the road to the Blue Mountains. Some people will laugh at you when they see these clothes, but everyone will respect you, just because they cannot help themselves; because it is the will of the King that travellers to his country should be held in high esteem. Now, my boy, come down and sleep—have a good night—for my sisters and I mean to send you away at an early hour in the morning.” CHAPTER III. MRS. MODESTY AND THE MAGNIFYING GLASS. \ i Bin he “HEN the children were leaving the palace the next morning, the three sisters came out to see them on their way. The sisters wore white dresses, something like those which they now held in their hands to put on the children. The dresses were long, and plain, and were girdled round the waist with a narrow silver band. Each sister also wore a silver star, fastened in front of her shining hair. There was something very beautiful about these three. Their faces seemed to shine with goodness, their smiles were both bright and brave; whenever they spoke, good words, which strengthened those who listened to them, dropped from their lips. ach sister wore a different expression, however. Charity had the sort of look about her face which seemed to say, just as plainly as if she spoke the words, “T love everybody—the tired people, the sad people, the glad people, and the bad people. They are all alike to me—I want to help them.” Faith had a different expression about her face. She had a dreamy look, and a sort of far-away gaze in her eyes, as though she were looking at a very beautiful sight, which those who were with her could not see. This look became strongest and most intense at the times when other people were sad and inclined to think the whole world against them. Faith was less loved than Charity, but she was a very noble woman, and had a very noble face. MRS. MODESTY AND THE MAGNIFYING GLASS. 35 Hope, unlike the other two sisters, had a face which could only be spoken of as bright lke the rising sun.