As Bobbie and the queen approached the table, five other fairies came tripping into the bower. “These are my faithful helpers, Bobbie,” said the queen, “my Right-hand Fairies. Thumb, how went the day?”
“Most happily, your Majesty,” answered a little fairy in a tight-fitting suit, and as he spoke he made a quick bow backwards, for all the world like a thumb straightening up stiffly.
“And yours, Pointer?” asked the queen.
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“The same, your Majesty,” answered the fairy next to Thumb, and as she spoke she made a most curious bow with her whole body bent over from the ankles, so that she looked like a finger pointing straight and stern.
“And Middleman?” asked the fairy queen, addressing the tallest of the five.
“Most excellently, your Majesty,” replied Middleman. He was so tall and dignified he scarcely bowed at all.
“Circlet next,” said the queen, and the fourth little fairy made a correct bow from the waist, like a polite gentleman at a ball.
“Delightfully, your Majesty,” he said. “And how did your day go, Little One?” said the queen, turning to the smallest of the fairies.