A London Picnic 147

great shining drops of dew on it. The
man saw that it was beautiful, and beauti-
ful things always vexed him. He raised
his stick and did away with the cobweb.
Then he went on his way feeling a little
happier. He caught his train to London,
sold his cresses, spent the money in drink,
and found himself at the police-station at
night. The next morning the magistrate or-

dered him to be kept there for seven days.” |

Doris interrupted. ‘‘ But where are the
Bird and the City?” she asked.

“T was wondering myself,” said the
Artist, handing her the rose-leaves. ‘‘ And
it’s my own bird, too.”

“We shall come to that in time,” said
the Visitor. “In fact, we have come to
itnow. Doris knows well enough that we do
not see the fairies nowadays because they
have grown smaller and smaller ever since
Christ came. Well, a very tiny fairy indeed, ~
and a prince in his own country, had
been caught in the spider's web that Jim
Smith destroyed because it was beautiful ;