As if touched by a magic wand the child’s expression changed.
“No, no. That isn’t her. I don’t want to see her. This one here is a fat lady, and it was a fairy I saw dancing.”
If there is one thing in the world of which I am incapable, it is consciously to cause anyone pain, and, with my love of children, I should never have been happy again if I had caused my little visitor to be disillusioned. I endeavoured therefore to be equal to the situation, and I said to the child:
“Yes, my dear, you are right. I am not Loie Fuller. The fairy has sent me to tell you how much she loves you and how sorry she is not to be able to take you to her kingdom. She cannot come. She really cannot. She told me just to take you in my arms and give you a kiss, a good kiss for her.”
At these words the little one threw herself into my arms.
“Oh,” she said, “kiss the pretty fairy for me and ask her if I can come again to see her dance.”
There were tears in my eyes as I replied:
“Come as often as you like, my dear little girl. I hear the fairy whispering in my ear that she would like to dance for you all the time, all the time.”
Photo Langfier
THE DANCE OF THE BUTTERFLY