“Then it is you who have made all these things happen to me,” said Kenneth angrily. “What do you mean by it?”
“Ha! ha! Don’t you know what night it is? To-morrow is the first of April! What can you expect in Fairyland except the very biggest of jokes? This is my night. But come, now, don’t be sulky. It is only a joke after all, and you are such a joker yourself that you ought to take these little matters very cheerfully. Come with me.”
“I don’t want to come with you,” said Kenneth, hanging back. “I want to go home.”
“Nonsense, you cannot go home yet,” answered the imp. “It is not nearly morning. Now that you have come you must stay here until the time is up.”
“Then I want my good Fairy guide,” said Kenneth.
“Ho!” cried the other in scorn. “She is too silly-kind, too goody-goody. She has no real sense of fun, poor thing.”
“I like her fun best,” insisted Kenneth. “Please take me to her.”
“Oh, very well,” said April Fool carelessly. “If you insist I will bring you to her. But first you must have something to eat, for it is a long journey. Are you not hungry, poor boy?”
Kenneth confessed that he was very hungry. “Then we will go to the kitchen garden,” replied the imp; “and there you can feast as much as you like.”
“Oh, yes! I have been to the kitchen garden,” cried Kenneth, brightening. “The good Fairy took me there; it is a lovely place!”