The Dwarf Woman 137

workmen and a vast number of pine torches
stuck about. Some of the little people
were cooking or baking cakes, some were
weaving grasses into clothes, some sitting
cross-legged stitching red shoes, and others
drawing a load of wood chips. But directly
the dwarf woman appeared, the greater
number left their work and ran to her, cry-
ing out in the most excited manner, ‘“ Well,
have you found them?”

‘“Of course I have,” she said proudly.

When she said that a shrill shout went
up and rang through the galleries, and
brought hundreds of little creatures running,
and all crying, “Is it true? Has she found
a king and queen?”

“Certainly,” said the dwarf woman, more
proudly still. ‘“ Did I not tell you? Where
is the Master Tailor?” Now the Master
Tailor had talked himself black in the face
against this new freak of his people, and he
was so cross about it, and so indignant with
her, that when he heard the uproar he
would not so much as lift his head from his