“Yes?” asked Jack, expectantly.
“I thought that plants breathed with their leaves.”
“Well, they do breathe with their leaves too, but they also breathe with their stem surface; or, in trees, with the surface of the trunk. In fact, they breathe all over.”
“I know,” said Eleanor, “that I’ve been taught to wash the leaves of house plants in order that the leaves might get air.”
“Very wise, indeed,” said Jack. “Air is very, very important to the leaves, as you will see when I have told you about their way of growing.”
Just then he took a tiny silver bugle from his shoulder and blew a long note.
Four little elves appeared. They were dressed in light brown and dark brown leaves. On their heads, each wore a cap of a different color. One was red; one was yellow; one, tan; and one, pink. They all stood “attention,” looking at Jack.
“Bring in the magic tree,” said Jack, and off ran the elves.
In a moment they returned, half carrying and half dragging a plant which looked like a tiny tree. It was growing in a glass tub, which, although small, seemed a heavy burden for the little fellows.
“Oh!” Mary Frances sprang up. “Oh, please, let me help,” she begged as she stooped down to take it.