e got the king's crown! I've got the king's crown!" cried another
little fellow, running up from the other side of the dell.

"What a bother the crowns are," said Philip.

"Well, suppose we don't wear them any more to-day," suggested the queen.

"No more we will," replied he; "and we had better take off our trains,
for there is no running or doing anything in them, and then you won't go
tumbling over yours, Pepitia; we will lay them down here, and we can put
them on again when we are going home."

So the trains, crowns, ball, and sceptre were put together in the corner
of the dell, and then the king and the queen were ready for a good game
of play with the rest of the troop.

"Well, now, what shall we play at next? I'm tired of hunting
butterflies," said Alphonse.

A little voice suggested "Hunt the slipper."

"Oh, yes! that's right; let's play at hunt the slipper," cried all the
youngest, clapping their hands and jumping up and down.

"I don't care for hunt the slipper," objected Amanda.

"Besides, we have not got a slipper," said the queen, "and I'm sure none
of you shall take your shoes off, or you will catch cold."

"I wish we had a slipper," whimpered a little voice.

At that moment there popped down amongst them, as if it had been thrown
from some high tree, a high-heeled silver slipper, studded with rubies
and emeralds.

"Oh!" screamed all of them, starting back and forming a circle around
it, "where did that come from?"

"Isn't it a beauty!" said one.

"How it sparkles!" said another.

"Why don't you pick it up?" said Edmund, nudging the little Teresa, who
stood next to him.

"I'm afraid," said she. "It's alive, isn't it?"

"No; it won't hurt you," replied he. "Pick it up."

Half afraid, Teresa crept cautiously forward, and, stooping down,
reached out her hand to take up the treasure; but before she could touch
it, it bounded up with such a spring as caused her to scream and run
hastily back.

Then it jumped over Amanda's head, just tapped her on the shoulder, as
much as to say, "Come, catch me," and was lying some dozen yards off on
the other side of the group before any of them could have said "Peter
Piper."

"I know what it is," cried Alphonse; "it's a fairy slipper. The fairy
has sent it for us to play with."

"It's a fairy slipper! It's a fairy slipper!" they all cried. "Let's
hunt the fairy slipper!"

Off they started, the king and queen joining in the chase this time, and
enjo