and the markings of
these big butterfly wings were more exquisite than those found upon the
tail-feathers of the proudest peacocks.

The butterflies paid no attention to their visitors, but continued to
flutter aimlessly from flower to flower. Chubbins asked one of them a
question, but got no reply.

"Can't they talk?" he enquired of Ephel.

"Yes," said the Messenger, "they all know how to talk, but when they
speak they say nothing that is important. They are brainless, silly
creatures, for the most part, and are only interesting because they are
beautiful to look at. The King likes to watch the flashes of color as
they fly about, and so he permits them to live in this place. They are
very happy here, in their way, for there is no one to chase them or to
stick pins through them when they are caught."

Just then a chime of bells tinkled far away in the distance, and the
Royal Messenger listened intently and then said:

"It is my summons to his Majesty the King. We must return at once to
the palace."

So they flew into the air again and proceeded to cross the lovely
gardens and pass through the avenues of jewelled trees and the fragrant
orchards and groves until they came at last to the royal bower of white
flowers.

The child-larks entered with their guide and found the gorgeous King
Bird of Paradise still strutting on his perch on the golden bush and
enjoying the admiring glances of his courtiers and the ladies of his
family. He turned as the children entered and addressed his Messenger,
saying:

"Well, my dear Ephel, have you shown the strangers all the sights of
our lovely land?"

"Most of them, your Majesty," replied Ephel.

"What do you think of us now?" asked the King, turning his eyes upon
the lark-children.

"It must be the prettiest place in all the world!" cried Twinkle, with
real enthusiasm.

His Majesty seemed much pleased. "I am very sorry you cannot live here
always," he said.

"I'm not," declared Chubbins. "It's too pretty. I'd get tired of it
soon."

"He means," said Twinkle, hastily, for she feared the blunt remark
would displease the kindly King, "that he isn't really a bird, but a
boy who has been forced to wear a bird's body. And your Majesty is wise
enough to understand that the sort of life you lead in your fairy
paradise would be very different from the life that boys generally
lead."

"Of course," replied the King. "A boy's life must be a dreadful one."

"It suits me, all r