“Ah, that accounts for it,” said the Irish Brownie, while the faces of all the others showed that a great mystery had suddenly been cleared away. “You must have supernatural powers.”
“Of that I am not sure,” said Florimel, “but of this much I am, that right gladly would I be one of you, to work and toil while weary households sleep, to delight in harmless pranks and helpful deeds, and never be seen by mortal eye.”
They looked at each other, evidently embarrassed by so bold a hint, and the Brownie Dude voiced the thought that was in all minds when he fervently remarked:
“I wish King Stanislaus were here!”
“But you are not a Brownie!” said the Chinaman to Florimel in a most decided tone. “How could you join the band? You don’t look like a Brownie. What have you ever done?”
“Nothing, I fear,” confessed Florimel. “It is not what I have not done, but what I hope to do, that makes me so presumptuous as to beg the honor to be one of you. And, if I were fortunate enough to be taken in by you, I would ever strive to be helpful, faithful, and true, like a Brownie.”
These words, delivered with earnest, manly spirit, created their impression.
“It may be you have supernatural powers, as the Irishman remarked,” said the Student Brownie doubtfully. “Have you ever tried to put them to a test?” Prince Florimel sighed.
What could he do to gain the confidence and esteem of these little people whom already he was beginning to love? How could he make them all his friends?
In his doubt and uncertainty his eye strayed to the bow in his hand. A sudden thought came to him. In this extremity it might be of aid.