But they felt very curious to hear more of the ways and customs of their underground friends.
'Do you have all you eat sent down from our country, or from Fairyland?' asked Leonore in a very polite tone.
'Oh dear, no,' was the reply. 'Just occasionally. We have plenty of supplies of our own.'
'Do tell us what,' said Hildegarde.
Their hostess hesitated a little.
'You might not appreciate our national dishes,' she said. 'We are very fond of stewed frogs, and find them most nourishing, and a good fat toad makes an excellent dish.'
Even politeness could not keep back an exclamation of horror from the visitors, though they tried to smother it.
'Ugh!' said Hildegarde with a shiver.
'Ugh!' said Leonore. But Hildegarde went on speaking so quickly, that it is to be hoped the gnome ladies did not hear the 'ughs.' 'I think,' she said, getting up from the ground as she spoke, 'I think we must be going—don't you, Leonore?'