As he wandered about from flower to flower he whispered to each a word of good cheer. The tulips and daisies were all fast asleep and heard not a word that he said, but the roses were as wide-awake as in broad daylight, and they bowed to the flower-elf and said: “We’re watching the Queen of Night climbing over the tall stone chimneys of Templeton Hall.”
While the roses were watching the moon, the flower-elf went on, and was just going to speak to the foxgloves when he heard two monster voices from the Giant World.
And he listened, for he couldn’t help listening, the voices were so loud and harsh; or so it seemed to him, although we would call them very sweet voices.
It was Mary and Anna Templeton, the Doctor’s daughters, who were talking.
“Mary,” said Anna, “I’ve got an idea. I want to make a mattress and pillows for Emily’s doll, and some of the bird-houses are just bursting with feathers. Let us fill the mattress and pillows with feathers from the bluebirds’ house.”
“Oh, that will be perfectly lovely!” said Mary.
“And let us have them ready for her birthday,” continued Anna, “and we’ll send a verse from the bluebirds something like this:
“Dear Emily:
Our feathers free,