He tried to imagine what the baby Princess looked like. He would shut his eyes and try to picture the wonders of that fairy city.
One day he found himself pretending that he was flying over the city. He started and jumped to his feet.
Why had he been doing this? Did he, too, want to go away with the fairies? Of course not. Why should he want to leave his home, his good parents, his brother and sister?
Laughing aloud, he went back to the cottage. He did not visit the lake for several days.
Then one morning, he was walking by himself in the sunshine. The little sparkling beams of sun made him think of the lights his father had told him about in the strange city.
Suddenly he found himself on the banks of the lake. He was on the opposite shore. He sat down.
He wondered whether the leprechaun would steal him if he should wear the clothes of his big brother. The brightness of the day and the bird songs made him light of heart. They gave him courage.
"Sure, I'll try," he exclaimed to the blue waters of the lake.
What harm to try? Suppose they took him. It would be fun to visit fairyland. He could always come back. His father came back.
In his new enthusiasm, John stood on the bank and held out his arms crying, "Come, fairy Good Folk! Take me away. I do be wanting to see the wonders of your land!"