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120 “CARROTS.”

      
 

her surprise; for she felt that this beautiful

lady must be a fairy of high degree.
“««Then J will help you,” said the lady, « but

on one condition, hereafter to be explained.

  
     
  

You are content to agree to this beforehand ?”

 
 

“«« To anything, kind fairy,” replied the young
girl, “if only my unhappy fault can be cured.”
“<The fairy smiled. “Hasty as ever,” she

    
     
 

murmured; “however, in ¢#zs instance you

 
 

shall have no reason to regret your words.
Put out your tongue, Elizabetha.”’

  
 
 

“ «Trembling slightly, the young girl obeyed.

 
 

But her fears were uncalled for — the fairy
merely touched the unruly member with her
wand, and whispered some words the meaning
of which Elizabetha could not understand.

  
      
 

“«« Meet me here one week hence,” said the

 
 

fairy ; “till then your tongue will obey my com-
mands. And if you then feel you have reason

      
 

to feel grateful to me, I will call upon you to

 
 

redeem your promise.”
“And before Elizabetha could reply the
lady had disappeared.