"Show kindness and mercy for once," was her reply.
"What? Go! You remain to mock me? Remember my little Zoological Collection. Which of us triumphed throughout?"
"Don't boast of that."
"But there is much to boast about. And my experiments have not stood still since that remote period. Science has progressed!"
"You will not be merciful?"
A scornful laugh was all the reply he vouchsafed.
"Then know," she continued solemnly, "that our Fairy Enchantments have also strengthened with time."
"Is it to be another tussle between us?" inquired the Wizard, smiling.
"It is. And I pray it may be for the last time. I have failed before. But this time I am going to succeed. With the girl my difficulty was not so great, but the boy has been hard to convince that other creatures have troubles greater than his. Others have returned to you through your craft, but this little couple you were forced to go and meet. You sought to entrap the boy as a Crab—it was I who restored the gem and saved him, as you may have guessed. And with that success the Bird-Fairy's hour now has come! You have failed to snare them as Bird, Beast, or Fish—your science can change mortals to nothing else. And now you shall fail to turn them to slaves."
Again the Wizard's discordant laughter was heard, and he said—