182 THE FAIRY-FOLK OF THE BLUE HILL.

the long flight of marble steps that led up
from the land of the Mid-Day Moon.

Long and tedious had the way down the
marble staircase seemed to Wassa, but before
she had thought herself to be half way up, she
found herself standing in the portal of the
crystal palace, and at her feet the fairy kelp.
Quickly seating herself in the fairy craft, it
put itself in motion, and continued its course
until it reached the outlet of the brook.

Then, holding the fairy prince with great
care lest he should awake and refuse to be
taken home, Wassa stepped ashore, and the
fairy kelp glided out to sea.

Wassa had thought to walk the remainder
of the way, but there was the fairy boat with
the butterfly sails awaiting them, and entering it,
it sailed rapidly up the stream until it reached
the spot where it had first appeared. Wassa
stepped ashore once more, and the fairy boat
glided down the stream and was soon out of sight.

Then, carrying her still sleeping charge in
her arms, Wassa reached the palace, and laid
him in his bed. A minute more and Was-
sa’s hard experiences of the day were forgotten
in a sound and dreamless sleep.