Harebell thought over this, then she leant her arms on the table and asked earnestly:
"Are there enough books in the world to tell you about everything? There are simply thousands of things I want to know!"
"Take your arms off the table and go on with your sum. After lessons are over, you can ask me questions."
Harebell obeyed instantly, but she was ready with her questions before she went home.
"Grown-up people always turn away when I ask them about things, or they laugh," said Harebell. "Now you promise not to do either, will you?"
Miss Forster promised, a glint of amusement in her eyes, which happily Harebell did not see. Nan and Peter stared at her with open mouth and eyes. She talked to their governess as if she were her equal.
"The first thing I want to know is about spells," Harebell said earnestly. "Spells for making ice people melt specially. There must be some. And spells for making poor dumb things talk; or for making us understand what they say. Chairs and tables have their lives as well as us, haven't they? They were alive and moving when they were trees. You see, I like talking, and if I'm in a room by myself, I look round to see who I'd like to talk to. But they never answer back, and I'm perfectly certain if I could find the right spell, they would. Perhaps I mean I want to break the spell and make them speak; that's what I want."
"You're a funny child," Miss Forster said gravely. "I suppose you believe in witches, and fairies, and all that sort of thing?"
Harebell's eyes glowed. She gave a little mysterious nod.
"In India I've seen—oh, I can't tell you—but I know there are fairies in England! Dad used to tell me about them. They dance in the woods. I haven't seen a wood yet. It's like a jungle without the wild beasts and snakes. Do tell me if there's a book of spells."