“I am sure they would give me more lessons,” replied Kitty.
“Then you would grow more jumbled, more hazy—try it,” said the creature sleepily.
Kitty gave a jerk of her head and began to walk slowly on. “It’s no use talking to such a hazy creature,” she remarked in a mortified tone. “I wonder who he is?”
“Goblin Sloth,” whispered the guardian child. “Take care, take care!”
Kitty felt a drowsiness creep over her. She glanced toward the guardian child; he was standing very erect, looking about, as if on the watch for something to be expected.
“Keep looking at the star! Don’t look round!” he murmured anxiously.
The star was swiftly gliding along above the tree-tops, keeping on straight ahead, over a narrow rising path that went through this charming nook hollowing down on either side. The naughty sprite was rocking itself and singing a lullaby in a very go-to-sleep, purring voice, “Hush a bye, baby, mother is by.”
Kitty ran along, struggling against the sleepy feeling that was stealing over her.
“Why in such a hurry?” said a voice.
It was a pleasant voice. A voice with a sort of oily gurgle in it.