And now the magician’s nose grew longer, his mustache grew thin and stiff like whiskers, his sword changed to a long tail, and in a minute he was nothing at all but a great brown rat that ran into the trap.
“Click!” went the trap, and there he was fastened in with the cheese.
It was in vain that he shook the bars and squeaked.
“Quick! quick!” cried the Bird-maiden, “let us escape before he can use his spells.” She caught Teddy by the hand, and together they ran to the door that led to the stairway. “Your key! Oh, make haste!” cried the Bird-maiden, breathlessly.
In a moment Teddy had unlocked the door they had passed through, and it had swung to behind them. Up the stairs they ran, and there they were standing in the sunlight near the rain-butt.
“I am free! I am free!” cried the Bird-maiden, joyously. “Oh! thank you, little boy. And now for home.” She caught the edges of her cloak and spread it wide, and as she did so it changed to wings, her head grew round and covered with feathers, and with a glad cry she sprang from the earth and flew up and away and out of sight through the sunlight.
“Why, it’s Harriett’s canary!” cried Teddy.
“And now I must go,” said the Counterpane Fairy.
Teddy was back in the India-room. The sun was low, and a broad band of pale sunlight lay across the foot of the bed. The fairy was just starting down the counterpane hill.