"How old are you?" he asked.
"I'm seven," said Marian.
"That's very young," he replied. "I'm seven million."
"Good gracious!" said Marian. "And how old is Mrs Jugg?"
"She's as old as I am," he said, "but she looks younger."
When they came to the middle of this field he stood still and stamped with his foot three and a half times—three big stamps and a little stamp—and then the field suddenly opened. Marian saw a hole at her feet with a lot of steps in it going down, down, down.
"This is where I live," he said. "You needn't be frightened. It's quite safe. I'll lead the way."
He was still holding her hand, and he went down before her, a step at a time, very carefully.
"Isn't it rather dark?" said Marian.
"Wait till I've shut the door," he said, "and then you'll get a surprise."