6 THE MAGIC OAK TREE

been in such a state of excitement, she
began bitterly to complain, and to upbraid
the fairy for her cruelty.

‘What harm had these innocent creatures
done you, madam?’ she said. ‘How can
you be so cruel as to have visited them with
such a terrible punishment? It is wicked,
it is shameful 2

‘Stop, my friend,’ interrupted the other,
with a bitter sneer. ‘I do not often con-
descend to trouble myself with servants, but
if you go on at this rate, take care lest I
change you into a snake, so that you may
have’ the satisfaction of eating your late
nurslings, and so settling the matter in a
comfortable way.’

The poor nurse was so horror-stricken at
the suggestion thus made, that she did not
venture to say another word; and the old
fairy, seeing that there was no more fun to
be got out of the unlucky children, gave
another fearful grin towards them and then
went off in search of more mischief to do.