And no wonder they did, for all the sparkle left the necklace, and it looked dull and old and scratched.
“What is the matter?” asked Coralie. “Don’t you think my parents could give it to me? They bought it, and paid an immense sum for it.”
At that falsehood, the necklace turned from the light purple amethyst color to a dull gray agate, and the diamond clasp to a mud-color shade. Then Coralie saw what had happened, and she was frightened.
“No,” she said, “they did not give it to me. We went to the magician, Merlin, and he lent it to me.”
At these truthful words, the necklace became as beautiful as ever. But the children began to laugh.
“What are you laughing at?” asked Coralie. “You needn’t make fun. Merlin was very glad to see us. When he saw us in the distance he sent his carriage to meet us. It was drawn by two fawn-colored horses, and the coachman wore livery. There was a great feast spread for us, and each of us had a servant in back of our chairs. We had golden plates to eat from, and——”
Suddenly Coralie stopped speaking, for the children were laughing at her harder than ever. She looked down at her necklace. No wonder they laughed. It was dull again in color, and had grown so long it rested upon the ground.
“Ho, ho, Coralie!” cried one. “Come, now! You are stretching the truth! Set us right!”
“Well,” confessed Coralie, “Merlin didn’t send any one to meet us. We walked, and we were in his palace only a little while.”
At these words, the necklace shrank to its right size, and resumed its own beautiful color.