146 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF TIITE BLUE HILL.

actually holding their little sides from laughter,
and the blue dragon-fly, asleep in the yellow
lily, awoke in time to catch these words from
Toto :—

“My friends, it is too bad, ye know,
But I fear it will have to go.”

Then with a dapper air Toto the Slim
twirled the ends of his blond mustache, that
was.as light as thistle down, and of about
the same shade, and that was the hope and
pride of his life. Was it possible he meant
that ¢ka¢ must go? The blue dragon-fly could
hardly believe it,and why must it go?

Toto knelt by the brink of the pond, and,
using its clear surface for a mirror, and a piece
of sharp-edged grass for a razor, with a few
quick, skilful strokes, off came his . beloved
mustache.

What a change was wrought in him! Could
it be Toto the Slim? He was fair and plump
and rosy, looking like a dimpled child of three.

“Think ye,” he cried, as he gayly laughed,
“that I could pass for a spoiled child ?”

And Toto, puckering up his rosy little
mouth, imitated the crying of a naughty,