HOW THE SHINING CHILD PLAYED WITH FANCHON AND FREDERIC
“What is the matter, dear children?” asked the Stranger Child. “I heard you crying and lamenting, and I was very sorry for you! What do you want?”
“Ah!” said Frederic, “we did not know what we wanted; but now I see that we wanted you—just you yourself!”
“That’s it!” chimed in Fanchon. “Now that you are with us, we are happy again! Why were you so long in coming?”
In fact both children felt as if they had known and played with the Stranger Child all their lives, and that their unhappiness had been because their beloved playmate was not with them.
“You see,” Frederic added, “we have no toys left, for I, like a stupid dolt, broke all our fine things, and shied them into the thicket.”
At this the Stranger Child laughed merrily, and cried: “Why, Fanchon and Frederic, you are lying this minute among the loveliest playthings that ever were seen!”
“Where?—Where are they?” Fanchon and Frederic both cried.
“Look around you,” said the Stranger Child.
Then Fanchon and Frederic saw how out of the thick grass and moss all sorts of glorious flowers were peeping, with bright eyes gleaming. And between them many coloured stones and crystal shells sparkled and shone. While little golden insects danced up and down humming gentle songs.