ring out of the hill. They did so at last, though, and as
soon as all were in their places the music suddenly changed, and became
more exquisite than ever.

The old man by this time seemed able to see more clearly, and hear more
distinctly, and his sense of smell grew keener. Never were such flashing
gems as here, never had any flowers such scents as these that were here.

There were now thousands of little ladies gathered on the Gump, and these
all broke out into song at the same instant, such beautiful singing, too,
so sweet and delicate. The words were in an unknown tongue, but the song
was evidently about some great personages who were about to emerge from
the amazing hill, for again it opened, and again poured forth a crowd of
Small People.

First of all came a bevy of little girls in white gauze, scattering
flowers, which, as soon as they touched the ground, sprang up into full
life and threw out leaves and more flowers, full of exquisite scents; then
came a number of boys playing on shells as though they were harps,
and making ravishing music, while after them came hundreds and hundreds of
little men clad in green and gold, followed by a perfect forest of banners
spreading and waving on the air.

Then last, but more beautiful than all that had gone before, was carried a
raised platform covered with silk embroidered with real gold, and edged
with crystals, and on the platform were seated a prince and princess of
such surpassing loveliness that no words can be found to describe them.
They were dressed in the richest velvet, and covered with precious stones
which blazed and sparkled in the myriad lights until the eye could scarce
bear to look at them.

Over her lovely robe the princess's hair flowed down to the floor, where
it rested in great shining, golden waves. In her hand she held a golden
sceptre, on the top of which blazed a diamond as large as a walnut, while
the prince carried one with a sapphire of equal size. After a deal of
marching backwards and forwards, the platform was placed on the highest
point of the Gump, which was now a hill of flowers, and every fairy walked
up and bowed, said something to the prince and princess, and passed on to
a seat at the tables. And the marvel was that though there were so many
fairies present, there was not the slightest confusion amongst them, not
one person moved out of place at the wrong moment. All was as quiet and
well-arranged as could possibly be.

A