Mary awoke, and the first sounds she heard after the calling of her bird, were the notes of a flageolet from the downs. She got up and dressed, drew up the blind of her window and looked out—and, oh! what a clear, dry, beautiful, fresh, sparkling morning!
Oh! happy day! Now, Johnny, my dear, we shall go to auntie’s, and play in the meadow and garden through the bright sunny hours. Up! up! and be stirring every one! Get the breakfast over in a twinkling, and out with the pony chaise! Now they are off! Johnny and Mary, side by side, and one of her fond arms around him.
Auntie’s was an exceedingly nice place to go to. She had an excellent house, and beautiful grounds attached to it. There was a lawn and shrubbery, and flower-beds, and fountain, a dog and a peacock, and, oh! such a beautiful little pet lamb! Cousins Julia and George wove a garland of flowers and gave it to Johnny, who put it round the lamb’s neck. Mary got a basin of milk from the kitchen, and the gentle little creature lapped it from her hand.
Thus, sometimes out of doors, sometimes in, sometimes in the greenhouse and shrubbery, sometimes in the paddock,—sometimes playing with the dog, sometimes with the lamb, and always with each other, the happy children flew on the wings of golden hours to the evening of the day.
While the chaise was being got ready to take them home, Mary wandered alone for a moment or two into a retired part of the garden, and while there, she carelessly, and without thinking of what she did, rubbed the magic ring upon her finger.
The fairy instantly appeared.
“What, Fairy! have you come back again? I was not thinking of you. I did not know that I had rubbed the ring. I did not intend to trouble you.”
“I know you did not; but I have come for all that. Mary, my child, I am very happy indeed, to find that you have attended so well to my little bird, and that you have grown so patient and spiritual. I have come now to say that the time has arrived when we fairies must have our gifts returned to us. Give me that little ring from your finger.”
The little maiden obeyed, and put the ring into the fairy’s hand.