she
pictured it all the longing to be up there grew stronger than she could
bear. She rose quietly, and without disturbing her parents, left her home
for the last time.

In the upper world all was as she had pictured it, and lost in the joy and
beauty of it, Tamara wandered on and on until she came to a place called
Morwenstow, and a dainty little pool in the hollow of a rock. The sun was
so warm, and the pool so lovely, Tamara felt she must step into it; so,
laying aside her robe, she played and swam about in the fresh clear water
until she was quite tired out, when she dressed herself in her robe again,
and shaking her long golden locks to dry them, she lay down under the
shelter of a hawthorn-bush, and soon fell fast asleep.

Ah me! how sweet she looked, with her delicate cheeks so rosy after her
bathe, her lovely lashes resting on them, her cloud of golden hair spread
all about her! and so thought Tavy and Tawridge when they came along and
found her! At the sight of her they stood speechless with admiration, but
the great stupid fellows were as quiet and careful not to waken her as
fairies would have been. They just sat down near her and gazed and gazed
at her with great faithful dog-like eyes.

Presently a thrush began to sing hard by, and with a little stretch and a
sleepy sigh Tamara opened her big blue eyes. When she caught sight of her
guardians and captors, she broke into a little rippling laugh and sprang
to her feet, but this time she could not escape.

"Do not leave us," they pleaded. "We will not hurt you, Tamara. We may
be big and ugly, but we have good hearts. Have pity on us, lovely one,
for you know how we worship you, and how our lives are spent in seeking
you. Such a love for you fills our hearts we know no rest away from you."

They pleaded long and earnestly, those two love-stricken giants, they
called her by every sweet and endearing name that they could think of,
and Tamara listened, and made no further attempt to run away.
Their devotion pleased her, it was so new and strange, and she loved to
feel her power. So the morning sped away.

Deep down in the dark earth, the industrious little gnomes paused in their
labours and wondered where Tamara was. "She does not often stay so long,"
said the mother; "I trust no harm has befallen her."

"What a trouble she is to us!" said the father, growing angry because he
was alarmed. "We should be glad we have no more children, or we should