‘I want to, if I can,’ said the child. ‘But I don’t know the way to the Tolmên. There is no Tolmên anywhere near here that I know of.’
‘There is one, though nobody seems to know of it, away towards the sunrising, near where a great Tor rises up against the sky,’ said the little voice quite cheerfully. ‘I do not know the way to it myself, but there is a pair of Shoes which do, and they can take any person on whose feet they are over the worst bog that ever was.’
‘What wonderful shoes!’ cried Gerna. ‘Where are they?’
‘Farmer Vivian has them,’ said the little prisoner, with something in her voice Gerna did not understand. ‘They were given him by one of the Small People. The next time you go down to the beach and see him there, ask him for these shoes, and if they fit you I shall know for certain that you are the little maid who can save me.’
‘Hush!’ whispered Gerna. ‘Great-Gran is clopping up the stairs, an’ I must pop into bed afore she comes.’
‘Take me into bed with you,’ whispered back the little voice, ‘and hide me in the folds of your bed-gown.’
When Gerna was sound asleep, the ancient dame began to look into every corner of the little chamber, as if she, too, were searching for something. She turned out all the things, even the child’s pockets, took everything out of the great sea-chest, muttering to herself as she did so; and then she went to the bed where Gerna slept, and turned her over on her side, and felt under the clothes and the pillow.
‘I was wrong; she ent a-got the purse,’ she said aloud to herself, ‘an’ I thought she had. Aw, dear! I’m afraid we shall never have that bag an’ the Small People’s money.’
And then she undressed and got into bed.
But the old woman could not sleep a wink that night, and only dozed off when Gerna awoke.