'Welcome,' she said at last, while a smile broke over her face. 'I have been expecting you.'
They drew a little nearer.
'Then you are a fairy,' Leonore burst out, 'and it was you I heard laugh on our way here—wasn't it?'
'Never mind about that,' said the dame. 'Tell me what you want.'
'Oh,' said Hildegarde softly, 'you know that better than we do. You know all about us. We want to get to Fairyland, and you can show us the way, can you not?'
To their disappointment and surprise, the dame shook her head. But her words softened the disappointment a little.
'No—not quite that,' she replied. 'Into actual Fairyland itself I cannot take or lead you. No one but yourselves can do that—and,' with a little sigh, 'there are but few who ever really penetrate there. It cannot be otherwise. But I can help you and show you a good deal, so do not look sad about it. There are many, many wonderful things to see between this and actual Fairyland.'
At this the little girls brightened up.
'Please tell us,' said Leonore timidly, 'do you always sit here, except when you come up to where we live? And are you always spinning?'
The dame shook her head and smiled again.