'Who sent for you?' asked Mary.
'The person who brought you here.'
'But who was that?' cried Mary excitedly. 'Please do tell me whether it was a fairy! I'm sure it was, because it couldn't be any one else, you see.'
'Then that settles the question,' said Sister Agatha, with a smile, and Mary thought it did.
'Where is she?' she asked.
'A long, long way off! She had to go away the day after you came, so she asked me to take care of you till she saw you again. But she won't be long now.'
'Is she very beautiful like the fairies you've read to me about?' asked Mary.
'I don't suppose there ever was anybody so beautiful,' answered Sister Agatha.
'And has she got wings like this?' asked Mary, opening a book that lay on the bed and pointing to one of its coloured pictures.
'I shouldn't wonder,' said Sister Agatha; 'only she doesn't show them every day, because it isn't the fashion to wear wings, you know.'