r in passing, then arranged themselves in
perfect order behind her. Last of all came another troop of fairies, and
these took the herbs and flowers brought by the little ladies and
gentlemen and placed them in Betty's apron.

"These are what she makes her salves and ointments of," thought Joan to
herself; "no wonder she is thought so clever."

This done, all the other fairies who had been playing about the house came
down to the floor and joined the new-comers. Such a crowd never was seen!
No sooner had the flowers and herbs been heaped in Betty's lap than
another troop of fairies came forward with fox-glove bells full of dyes,
which they poured over Betty's dress, when in a moment her russet gown was
changed to the softest white velvet, her apron to the filmiest lace,
edged all round with a delicate fringe of harebells and snowdrops.
Other fairies outlined the quilted 'diamonds' of her petticoat with silver
cord.

When her dress had been transformed in this way, all the troop of Little
People came forward with dainty bunches of flowers to complete her toilet,
sweet wild flowers they were, delicate speedwells and forget-me-nots with
their fresh green, and their innocent blue eyes; the warm scarlet
pimpernel, violets, snowdrops, heather bells, and ladies' white
petticoats. Some of each and every kind of flower we find in the lanes
and hedges. The little ladies stitched a small nosegay in each 'diamond'
of Betty's petticoat, and every nosegay was different. The tiniest
flowers of all they laid on sprays of feathery moss, others had background
of graceful ferns, or delicate grass. Around the hem of the skirt were
sprays of pink and white dog-roses, while the bodice was wreathed with
tiny pink and white convolvulus. Sparkling at Betty's throat were such
brilliant jewels that Joan had to look away, her eyes were so dazzled.

The strangest part of all this was that Betty did not seem in the least
surprised at what was going on, and was apparently quite unaware that Joan
was watching her.

As soon as the gown was completed, another group of the clever little
creatures clambered up to the top of the high-backed chair in which Betty
was seated, and began to arrange her hair. Some had quaint little pots in
their hands from which they poured delicate perfumes over Betty's head,--
Joan picked up one of the pots, which they threw aside when empty, and
found to her astonishment that it was only a poppy head. Then they
c