A half horsechestnut, with damask roseleaf cushions, mounted on four ivy-berry wheels and with four shining beetles for horses came driving up from the waterfall.
Leaning back in her carriage sat the Queen Fairy, fanning her face with a fly's wing.
The beetles came to a stand in front of the palace, and the Queen, gathering up her white satin dress, stepped out.
Instantly numerous ladies in waiting, jumped from off their butterfly steeds and escorted her through the palace door.
Ned cautiously peeped in again. The room was filled with fairies about as large as your thumb, dancing here and there and singing a low, sweet song.
On perceiving that a mortal was gazing at them they began to dance more slowly, and presently ceased altogether. Whereupon the Queen, looking about to ascertain the reason and catching sight of Ned's admiring face, exclaimed:
"No wonder you feel so faint, my little fays, and that you stop your merry dancing. The hot air is pouring in upon us from a fiery furnace outside. Look here, my giant friend," she added, coming up to Ned, "if you want to see how we live you mustn't hold your mouth open with astonishment. Your breath is very hot to us little people!"
With that the mischievous Queen jumped quite unexpectedly on Ned's nose and gave it a sharp pinch.
"Don't cry," said the fairy in a cheery voice, the laughs falling from her like waterdrops from the cascade just outside; "I only wanted to let you know what I could do; but I am ready to be as polite as you wish."
"May it please your highness," interposed the Gnome, who at this point squeezed himself through Ned's legs and entered the door, "to give my mortal friend a drop of your crystal nectar, in order that he may regain his boyish shape again?"