ring out of her pocket and tied up the top end. "That will do for
the present," she said. "You can carry the bag, my little dear, and we
will go straight home and begin work immediately. Say good-bye to your
brother and come along."

So Jill kissed Jack, took up the sack, (it was wonderful how very heavy
it was,) and opened the door to go out. It had stopped raining, but
was still grey and cloudy. As it was already dusk there was no one in
the village street as they climbed the hill to the old Witch's cottage
followed by the cat. They went slowly. Jill had plenty of time to
look about her. The familiar cottage gardens were bright with flowers.
Behind them spread the fields thick and lush with growing grass. Over
the road arched the trees in all the freshness of their first spring
beauty. At the foot of the hill babbled and gurgled the village
stream, by the side of which clacked and chattered a few ducks
revelling in the glories of the recent shower. Everything smelt fresh
and pure and spring-like. Only she, Jill, was tired, for the old
Witch's elastic bag seemed to grow heavier and heavier, and the cat
would keep on rubbing up against her legs and disconcerting her by
winking and blinking up at her with his green eyes.

It was quite dark when they reached the old Witch's cottage. Jill felt
she must be getting sleepy, but it certainly appeared to her as if the
branching palings round the cottage were really long lean arms joining
their skinny hands, and as if the skull-shaped knobs on the top of them
were real skulls.

As they approached, all the eyes of all the skulls suddenly lit up like
lanterns. Jill began to wish that she had never come.

They went in. The room was very small and dark, and the ceiling was
covered with cobwebs. There was a horrible smell coming from a huge
cauldron on the fire.

"Hurry up there," called out the old Witch sharply. "Put the bag down
on the floor and lay the table for supper."

Jill let down the bag on to the floor with a thud that disturbed
several spiders and snakes which were crawling about.

"Hurry up there!" called out the old Witch again.

Jill laid the supper. The old Witch ate hastily, clawing huge pieces
of meat out of the smoking cauldron, and throwing titbits to the cat,
who lay, winking and blinking as usual, in front of the fire.

After supper the old Witch called out, "Pick up the bag and follow me."

So Jill picked up the bag and followed the