They said, “We do not care what the little dwarf said, we will not hurry home.”
Then they sat down and ate the sandwiches and apples they had brought with them.
Just as the sun was setting Molly cried, “Oh, oh, oh,” and Polly cried, “Oh, oh, oh,” and all the Ink-Bottle Babies cried, “Oh, oh, oh.” What do you suppose was the matter? They all began to sink down, down, down, and it became quite dark!
They sank down until they came to the top of the magic tower, which was built under the sea!
They saw the fishes swim past them and they cried, “Oh, oh, oh, where are we going?”
The roof of the magic tower opened and down the Ink-Bottle Babies went to the very bottom of the tower. They were just beginning to get their breath when the most beautiful princess in the world came and stood before them.
She said,
“Where did you come from, Babies dear,
And how did you happen to come here?”
She saw only Molly at first; then Polly and all the rest of the Babies came tumbling down the staircase.