, and watched the
brilliant-coloured butterflies chasing each other in the pearly spaces
above him.

Christine, grasping a great yellow bunch of primroses in each hand,
ceased picking flowers and watched the bright-eyed squirrels and
rabbits gambolling everywhere around.

"Ridgie, have you noticed all the rabbits and squirrels are quite tame?"

"Of course they're tame," agreed the Lion, "Nobody here to hurt them;
why, they will come and eat out of your hand."

"Why is that?" asked Ridgwell.

"No guns or traps," chuckled the Lion. "Any animal respectably brought
up is indignant at the very thought of a gun or a trap; consequently
they keep themselves to themselves, and seldom go out into society."

Ridgwell's gaze roamed over the lovely spring landscape, and rested
upon the masses of flowers the other children were picking.

"Everything here is just as it ought to be, isn't it, Lal?"

"Every single thing," answered the Lion. "But it is going to change,
you know, almost directly."

"Change?" echoed Ridgwell. "Why, Lal?"

The Pleasant-Faced Lion chuckled softly, and lifting his head, called
out, "Summer."

Immediately the Lion said "Summer," everything around commenced to
alter most strangely.

Banks of primroses became stretches of sparkling golden sands, and the
great masses of bluebells, after swaying once or twice, dissolved
themselves into the misty rippling waves of a summer sea.

Christine and Ridgwell, looking hopelessly perplexed, found they were
each in a tiny boat with a pearly sail, skimming over shallow blue
waters that sparkled like sapphires.

The sky over their heads had changed to the burning blue of a summer
day. The air was filled with the sweet salt spray of the sea, which
descended in delicious showers upon all of them.

"Have all the children got boats?" demanded the Lion.

"All," shrilled the Dolphins. "Their boats can't upset, Lal, and the
waters are transparent, and shallow enough for them to fish up coloured
shells, coral, and mother-of-pearl. There's a sunken treasure-ship
half buried in the sands far upon the other side, Lal, if they sail for
it."

"They'll all make for that safe enough," answered the Lion. "Push
their boats off, Dolphins, and help them all to land upon the far
shore."

The Dolphins, splashing the water into little white frothy waves,
accompanied the little bobbing fleet of pearl-boats, and sang gaily as
they swam alongside.

"Blue and gold on