He was rejoiced to see lying beside him the bow and four arrows, and he noiselessly reached for the bow, and restored the arrows to his quiver.
Then he turned the big diamond that served as a knob for the door, and stepping cautiously over the unconscious Red Spirit, entered.
Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil were seated upon one of the divans, and they sprang up joyously when they saw him.
“Florimel!” cried Titania, and ran toward him.
“’Sh!” he warned, and closed the door softly after him. “The Red Spirit is supposed to be guarding you, but he has fallen asleep. We must be careful not to wake him.”
They embraced fondly, and Titania asked:
“When will the Brownies take us away from here?”
Florimel shook his head despondently as he answered:
“I am sorry to say that we are all prisoners like yourselves. See, Titania, I have brought you this. I thought perhaps that it might help us.”
He took the little cooing creature from the bosom of his jacket and stroked its soft sides.