WASSA GOES TO FAIRYLAND. IOI

Wassa did as she was bidden, but in the
darkness she made many a false step, and
several times she fell down ; but the gnome did
not look behind him, and Wassa was on her
feet again ina twinkling. At last, after grop-
ing about in the darkness for some time, the
gnome stopped before another rocky door, and
at a signal from him the door opened, and a
blaze of light greeted Wassa. So brilliant was
it that the sudden change from the dim light
from which she had just emerged caused a sharp
pain in her eyes. Before long, however, she
became accustomed to the bright light, and
looked about her.

A little fat, jolly-looking gnome, with a gold
crown on his head, sat at a table, eating with
great enjoyment from a steaming dish that
was before him.

“Ah!” said the king, “ whom have we here?
And what may be thy wish, my dear?”

King Rondo looked so extremely good-
natured and plump and rosy that Wassa was
not at all awed by his gold crown, and she
answered readily :—

“I came to see the beautiful things that