“Yes,” replied Cis, hesitating a little; “but it rather took my breath away, and I was afraid we might be upset.”
“Oh! it was safe enough,” said Hal with an air of superior wisdom, “as long as you sat still; but I suppose it is difficult for girls to do that. Where now, Mr. Red Cap?” he added.
“I must leave you now, children; but here is Santa Claus waiting for you.”
And there indeed they saw their old friend sitting on a bank.
The children rushed to him, for they were delighted to see him again; then, turning, they bid Red Cap good-bye, and thanked him heartily for all his kindness to them, Hal adding, “I shall tell other children of the wonderful things you have shown us, Mr. Red Cap, that I shall, for I had often read of fairy-land, but I had never been to it before, and I think it is a jolly place.”
And with another good-bye, Red Cap vanished from their sight.
“So you have enjoyed yourselves, children? I am glad of that,” said Santa Claus. “And now, is there anything more you would like to see before you go home?”
“Yes,” cried Hal, “I should like to see some real snow, the snow mother tells us of. Can we, please?”
Cis added her entreaty to Hal’s, and Santa Claus said he would take them where they could see some.
The morning had come, but the sun only now and again shone through the gray clouds that floated low.