“You were a bird, but you’re not one now,” said the fairy. “You touched the rose before its petals fell.”
“When did I touch it?” said Tina.
The fairy pointed to a rosebush by which Tina was sitting, and she saw that one rose leaf lay on her lap; it had just dropped from a lovely rose that rested by her shoulder.
“And you came from the fan, too?” she said to the fairy, who picked up the rose leaf and began to fan herself with it.
“Yes,” said the fairy, “I am one of the Zephyrs.”
“Well, you are very pretty,” said Tina.
“I know it,” said the fairy. “At least most people think so. Now, I will take you to see some friends of mine, if you would like to go,” said she; “but you will not see me after we leave the Rose Garden.”
“How will I know your friends, when I see them, and how can I find the way?” asked Tina.
“Oh, I will be there,” said the fairy, “to tell you; only you can’t see me. I will give you a book to look at before we go, and if anything should possibly happen, you have only to look in the book, and it will be all plain to you. Sit there under that tree, and I will come for you in a moment.”
Tina sat down and took the book in her lap, and began to look at it.