aid Christine; "we wouldn't hurt your feelings for
worlds. So, Ridgie, you walk next to Lal, and I will walk the other
side of you."

"A most reasonable child," muttered the Lion, "really quite reasonable."

"Did you bring the sulphur tablets?" asked the Lion mysteriously.

"Yes, here they are. Christine has them wrapped up in a packet,"
explained Ridgwell; "but, Lal, what can you want with sulphur tablets?
You promised me we should both be asked to the party, but sulphur
tablets do seem such an odd thing to want as a start. I have thought
over it, and Christine has thought over it, and we cannot really think
what they can be for."

The Lion chuckled his most pleasant chuckle.

"Give it up?"

"Yes," nodded Ridgwell.

"So would any one else," grinned the Lion, "except me. Have you ever
thought how the thick yellow London fogs come?" inquired the Lion
insinuatingly. "Do you know what causes them?"

"No," said Ridgwell. "I don't think anybody knows that."

"I do," replied the Lion.

"What causes them, then?" asked Ridgwell.

"The yellow fogs are caused solely by the habit the other three lions
have of sucking sulphur tablets whilst they are asleep," declared the
Lion. "They are always sleeping, and directly two sulphur tablets are
placed in the corner of each one's mouth they go on sleeping and
breathing, sleeping and breathing. The result is a thick yellow fog."

"I never knew that was the cause of London fogs," mused Ridgwell.

"One of them," sighed the Lion; "and who can wonder at it? Just look
at the size of their mouths."

"But your mouth is as large as theirs, is it not?" debated Christine.

"Yes," said the Lion, "but there is a particular reason for my mouth
being large."

"Why?" asked the children.

"On account of all the wisdom I utter," replied the Lion loftily.

"Anyway," said Ridgwell, "it does seem a horrid preparation for a party
to start with a fog. Surely nobody would see what was going on."

"Hush, hush, my children," remonstrated the Pleasant-Faced Lion. "Just
gather round and listen, and do not interrupt. You will be amazed at
all the things you are about to see and hear, for you are going to be
present to-night for a few minutes at the most wonderful party ever
given in the whole world."

"That will be lovely," said Ridgwell and Christine. "And oh! Lal,
really we have looked forward to it so much."

The Lion patted each of the children in turn affectionately upon