ey Mouth, but with
no better fortune in the one case than in the other.

Once, it is true, they, like the Ash Goblin, had espied the Elf's door
open slowly and remain so for a moment, and they had waited eagerly for
the Prince to come forth, but no one had appeared, and presently the
door had closed again and had remained fast shut ever since.

The Wind, sitting on his rough seat in the Chimney, began to chafe at
the delay. He did not overlook the fact that the Breezes were merry
fellows, and that, though they took no liberties while they were under
his eye, and talked only in whispers among themselves when they perched
in the Chimney nooks, they had only to be out of his sight to begin to
whisk gaily about and dance and sing in the liveliest possible manner,
so as to enjoy their freedom to the utmost.

He began to believe that even on this occasion, in spite of the
strictness of his commands, they were amusing themselves after their
usual fashion, and, becoming more and more careless and inattentive to
their duty, had allowed Prince Ember to go on his way unobserved.

Leaning forward in his seat, he called down to them gruffly, demanding
to know whether any sign had yet been seen of the stranger prince. When
he received their answer, he was more than ever convinced of their
negligence and gave orders that one of their number should go out and
scour the Plain, to discover whether the Prince was anywhere about. But
the one who had been sent returned to say that there was nothing to be
seen but the yellow fog of Curling Smoke.

The Wind shrugged his great shoulders contemptuously. "The affairs of
Curling Smoke do not interest me," he declared.

For a little longer he waited and then began to stir about impatiently
upon his Chimney seat.

"Go out and search the Plain more carefully than was done by your
fellow," he shouted to another of the Breezes. "It is quite impossible
that the Prince should still be in the Elf's house."

Swift to obey his master, the second Breeze went forth, yet came back
in a little while, declaring that he had seen no one but the Ash Goblin,
bending over the ground as though intent upon some task.

"Bah!" exclaimed the Wind. "Why do you come to me with such news as
that? What difference can it make to me what such a wretched creature as
the Ash Goblin is doing? Let him amuse himself with his trifles as he
pleases."

Thus rebuffed, his servant retreated shamefacedly to his post, and again