s many airs
as you please. Come!'

When Hilda heard this she certainly felt for a moment very much
tempted to do as the Queen asked her. But the next moment the thought
came to her of her poor little brother Hector, standing in the
hundred-and-first corner of Rumpty-Dudget's tower, with his face to
the wall and his hands behind his back. So she answered, with tears in
her eyes:

'Oh, Queen of the Air Spirits, I am so sorry for my little brother
that I do not any longer care to have everything my own way, or to
put on airs, or to do anything except find the Diamond Waterdrop, so
that Hector may be saved. Can you tell me where it is?'

But the Queen shook her beautiful head and frowned.

'I have no Diamond Waterdrop,' said she. 'Ask yourself where it is.'

Then poor Hilda felt as if her heart would break, and she sobbed out:

'Oh, what shall I do to save my poor little brother?'

There was no answer, and Hilda turned away. But, as she did so, the
Queen suddenly said:

'I see the Diamond Waterdrop now, Hilda!'

'Oh, where?' cried Hilda, turning again eagerly.

The Queen was smiling upon her now with a very kind expression.

'It is on your own cheek!' said she.

Hilda was so bewildered that, at first, she could only gaze at the
Queen without moving or speaking.

'Yes,' the Queen continued, in a gentle tone, 'you might have searched
through all the kingdoms of the earth and air, and yet never have
found that precious Diamond, had you not loved your brother Hector
more than you loved to be Queen. That tear upon your cheek, Hilda,
which you shed for love of him, is the Diamond Waterdrop that you have
sought. Keep it in this crystal phial; be prudent, patient, and
resolute, and sooner or later Hector will be free.'

As the Queen spoke she held out a small crystal phial, and the tear
from Hilda's cheek fell into it. Then the Queen hung the phial about
Hilda's neck by a chain of moon-sparkles, and kissed her tenderly and
bade her farewell. And away went Hilda, light of foot, for the
weariness had left her. But as she went she kept fancying that she had
somewhere heard a voice like this Queen's before; but where or when
she could not tell.

She now reached the solid air again, and hastening her steps, she
presently arrived at the harbour in which the cloud was anchored; and
there she found Tom the Cat awaiting her. He got up and stretched
himself as she approached; and when he saw the crystal phial hanging
at h