In a Garden I11

the harvest mouse and her nest, and Agrippa,
and the sun-dial, and all the sights.”

“Of course I can,” said the elf.

And with that he gave a tug and a twist
and jumped down to the ground, and really
now that he was not frowning so much he
was as pretty a creature as any there, and
just as full of pranks. He certainly was
very bold, for the first thing he did when
he saw Agrippa was to leap on his back, and
bury his face in the great cat's fur, and he
was not in the least frightened, as so many
of the others were. To tell the truth, Dick
was a little bit afraid that Agrippa might be
affronted at such freedom, and it was quite a
relief to him to hear him still purring com-
fortably, because then he knew it was all
right.

“What a very soft back you have!” said
the elf, quite at his ease. ‘I never felt
anything so soft before, except the mole’s,
and he is such a bloodthirsty fellow that
we don’t any of us care to go near him.
How he does fight! You are much nicer.”