Illustration: Slowly turning over the leaves of the little yellow book
This seemed a strange request at such a moment, but between us we managed to find what he asked for.
The Dwarf suddenly tore the paper into seven parts, handing us each one and keeping one for himself.
"Now," said he, "each of you write on the piece of paper the name of something you would wish for luncheon."
He handed me the pencil first, and just for fun I wrote "Lobster salad."
Marjorie wrote "Game pie."
Dick thought that "Pies and tarts and plenty of them" was a suitable thing to ask for.
Lionel could imagine nothing more to be desired than "Ham and tongue sandwiches."
Lady Betty wanted "Fruit and nuts," and Fidge, after various painful attempts, wrote "Something nice to drink."
Shin Shira read them out one by one.
"Yes," he said, "they're all very well, but how are you going to eat them when you have got them? Now you see what I wish for," and he carefully wrote on his slip of paper, "Tablecloth, serviettes, plates, dishes, knives, forks, spoons, salt, pepper, mustard, oil, vinegar, glasses and a corkscrew." "There!" he exclaimed, "I think that will put us right. Now watch carefully. You see there is no deception!" and he laughingly rolled up his sleeves like a professional conjurer.
He placed the paper upon which he had written his list into his turban, shaking it violently.
To our surprise, in a few seconds it sounded as though there was something in it, and an instant later he drew forth from it a neatly folded snow-white tablecloth, the serviettes, spoons, forks, and in fact all the articles which he had named.
He set the children to work laying the cloth, while he placed the other lists in his turban, and in turn, beginning with a deliciously fresh-lookinglobster salad, and a large game pie, he brought forth every one of the good things which had been wished for.
Fidge's "something nice to drink" turned out to be bottles of lemonade, milk, soda water, and a bottle of wine for the grown-ups.
A more delicious feast it would be impossible to imagine.
We were just sitting down to enjoy it, and I had stuck the knife and fork into the game pie, when Marjorie sprang up with a little scream, brushing something from her face.
"Ough! a horrid caterpillar!" she cried.
"And here's another!" declared Fidge, knocking one from his coat.
"And an earwig!" exclaimed Dick, picking one up from the cloth.
"Oh! and spiders!" screamed Lady Betty, jumping up and shaking her frock.
"Dear! dear! this will never do!" I said, for the place was swarming with insects, owing to the very dry summer which we had had.
"There ought to be a marquee like we had at the choir treat," said Fidge.
"Oh, I vote we get on with the grub," said Dick greedily. "The insects won't kill us."
"No, but a marquee would certainly be more comfortable," said Shin Shira. "Come intothe meadow just over there, and I'll see if I can provide one."
Leaving Lionel to guard our feast, the rest of us all trailed after him, over the fence into the meadow, which was carpeted with soft long grass.
"The only thing is, I can't exactly remember what a marquee is like," he said. "Think, my dear boy, what the one was like which you had in your mind."
"Why, it had four poles, one at each corner," said Fidge, "and some iron things connecting them at the top, and it was covered all over and round the sides with some stripey stuff. Then there were ropes and things, and pegs driven into the ground to tie the poles to, and a trestle table and two long forms each side. That's all. Oh, yes, and Piggott & Son, Tentmakers, was written in big letters on the stripey stuff."
"Ah!" said Shin Shira, "I think I shall be able to imagine it sufficiently well now. I'll try," and after consulting his little yellow book again for instructions, he called for a stick, which the boys soon cut from the hedge, and marked out a large square space in the meadow; and then, using some magic words, he waved the stick three times, and there stood the very marquee which Fidge had described, even to the wordsPiggott & Son, Tentmakers, on the canvas covering.
"Now go and bring the luncheon, children, and we'll try again," said Shin Shira, in a rare good humour with himself (the little fellow was evidently delighted to find that his fairy powers were acting so well to-day); and soon we were seated around the table, which, I must confess, I found a more comfortable way of enjoying my luncheon.
To say that we did full justice to the good things provided, is but mildly describing the way the food disappeared.
The two elder boys in particular seemed as though they would never leave off, but at last we settled down comfortably to the fruit and nuts, and were just discussing what we should do with the marquee and its contents, when we suddenly all started to our feet in alarm.
A loud bellowing, combined with a dull sound of galloping hoofs, told us that something was coming our way.
I rushed to the door and looked out.
"Good heavens! A mad bull!" I cried, "tearing this way at a furious pace."
Shin Shira sprang to the opening.
"I'll attract him in another direction, and while he is after me you all escape over thefence," he cried hurriedly, and snatching a red silk handkerchief from Lionel's pocket, he rushed out into the open.
The bull paused, and though I frantically shouted to Shin Shira to come back, the brave little fellow flourished the red handkerchief to attract the creature's attention. With a bellow of anger the infuriated animal, holding his head down, tore after the Dwarf, who ran with surprising swiftness in the opposite direction to the marquee.
The Dwarf ran with surprising swiftness in the opposite direction
"Now children, quickly!" I cried, catching Lady Betty by the hand, and we all made for the fence as quickly as possible.
We were no sooner in safety than we turned to see how our gallant little friend was faring.
The yellow figure, still waving the red handkerchief, was running ahead of the bull, but to our great distress we could see that the beast was gaining on him.
"Oh dear! he'll never reach the other side in time," cried Marjorie, hiding her eyes in her hands and sinking to the ground in a panic of fear and fright.
Presently the boys gave an excited shout—"Hurrah! Bravo!" they cried, jumping from the fence and skipping about, tossing their caps into the air in an excess of relief. I sat down beside Marjorie and explained to her what had happened.
The bull was rapidly gaining on Shin Shira and the little fellow was becoming exhausted, when, by a happy chance, at that very moment he began to disappear, and before the bull could reach him he had vanished altogether.
The bull was rushing frantically about, bellowing and snorting and looking in vain for him, and at last, turning his attention to the marquee, he dashed into it, ripping up the canvas and overturning the table, smashing the dishes, and altogether making a most terrific commotion.
Now that we were all safe we could make light of the loss of the marquee and its contents, and could even smile at the quaint remark of Lady Betty when she said solemnly——
"In future I shall prefer to picnic where there are spiders, instead of where mad bulls are about. In fact, I shall rather like spiders after this: they're so gentle and don't bellow at all."
The boys were still watching the havoc which the bull was creating, when they noticed a man walking towards us beside the fence.
He was a big, burly farmer and looked very angry.
"Now then," he cried, in a surly voice, "what do you mean by all this?"
"I don't understand you," I answered.
"I speak plain English, don't I?" he said. "Wasn't it you that's been trampling in my long grass, and building tents and what not on private property? I'll learn you that I won't have no strangers in my meadows, I can tell ye."
"I'm very sorry if I've done any harm," said I, "and I'm sure if—"
"Ifyou've done any harm!" shouted the farmer. "Look at all that long grass trampled down all over the meadow."
"Yes," I interrupted, "but it was your bull which did that."
"He wouldn't have done it if you hadn't teased him," said the farmer obstinately. "I saw one of you myself teasing him with a red rag and making him furious. I'm not going tohave any of it. Off you come with me to the police station."
"No, no, I can't do that," I cried in alarm; "I have these children with me."
"People shouldn't take children out if they can't do without getting into mischief," grumbled the farmer. "No, you come along of me," and he caught hold of my arm.
"I'll give you my card," I said, "and if you have any serious complaint to make you can write to me."
"Aye, a likely story; and when I write to you, as likely as not I'll find you've given me a wrong address."
"Come back with me then to the inn: they know me there and will tell you whether or no the address is a correct one."
The old farmer was gradually persuaded to this course, though he grumbled all the way there that I ought to be "locked up," while the children, thoroughly subdued, walked in silence behind us.
"You'll have to pay a pretty penny for damages," said he warningly, when he had satisfied himself at the inn that I was known as "a gentleman who often drove over there in the summer, and always paid for what he had."
I assured him that he should have what wasjust, and when he had gone I ordered tea in the arbour at the end of the old-fashioned garden, and over it we forgot the unfortunate, but exciting, termination to our picnic.
We arrived home quite safely. Sure enough, a few days afterwards I received a preposterous claim for damage to the farmer's grass, which I left my solicitor to deal with; and more extraordinary still, I had a claim from Messrs. Piggott & Son for damages to a tent, which they "could not trace as having been hired to me, but which I must have hired at some time or another, since it bore their name marked as they only marked their tents let out on hire."
This letter also went to my solicitor, and to this day I've heard nothing further about either matter.
It was many months after this last adventure before I saw my friend Shin Shira again.
The summer was past, and it was the time of fires and warm drawn curtains. One evening, after dinner, I was sitting alone in my study, puzzling over a chess problem, when the servant brought me a card on which I read—
"Dr. Shin Shira Scaramanga Manousa Yama Hawa."
"Dr. Shin Shira Scaramanga Manousa Yama Hawa."
"Oh!" I laughed, "show him in at once, please." For I had been longing for an opportunity of thanking the gallant little fellow for the bravery he had shown in the matter of the mad bull—a bravery to which some of us, at all events, probably owed our lives.
"Come in, come in! Delighted to see you!" I cried, getting up and making him comfortable in "the Toad," the chair which I know he likes best. I got out the tobacco jar, and we were soon chatting comfortably over our pipes.
"By the way," I said, picking up his card again and looking at it, when we had exhausted most of the topics of conversation which came to our minds, "I didn't know before that you were a doctor."
"Oh, I don't practise, and I seldom use the title except on my cards. It was given to me by the King of Hearts very many years ago. Ha-ha-ha!" And Shin Shira laughed heartily at what was evidently a humorous recollection.
"Won't you tell me about it, please?" said I.
"I don't know," replied the Dwarf, "that there is much to tell.
"It was while I was travelling round the world in my earlier days, and I had come, in the course of my wanderings, upon the country ruled over by the King of Hearts and his most charming Queen.
"Talk about turtle-doves! I had never seen such a perfectly devoted couple before in my life. They were like a pair of happy lovers, although they must have been married several years before I knew them.
"I happened to appear at their Majesties' dinner-table one evening when they were dining alone, just as dinner was being served.
"Of course they were greatly astonished at seeing me suddenly appear in their presence,especially as I arrived at a particularly awkward moment, when, the servants being busy with the dishes and having their backs turned, the King was squeezing her Majesty's hand under the table, and looking lovingly into her eyes.
"The King turned to the Lord Chief Butler, when that official returned, and looking at me curiously, said, 'It's very thoughtless of me, but I do not remember that I invited any guests for this evening.'
"'I had heard nothing of it either, your Majesty,' said the Lord Chief Butler, pursing up his lips and looking at me severely. 'Shall I request the Lord High Footman and the Lord Under Footman to remove the person?'
"'By no means,' said the King kindly; 'I will ask him myself what brings him here.'
"'It was a matter of compulsion, rather than of inclination, your Majesty,' said I. And I explained as well as I was able the curious affliction from which I suffer, of having to appear and disappear at the fairies' pleasure.
"'Most interesting—most!' said the Queen, smiling sweetly, 'and we should be most inhospitable if we did not make you welcome here for so long as the fairies will spare you to us.'
"This gracious speech, and the Queen's beauty, quite won my heart, and putting my hand on myheart, I bowed in the most graceful manner that I could command.
"The Lord Chief Butler, seeing that I was in favour with their Majesties, now brought me a plate, and some glasses, and waited upon me most obsequiously.
"'Tarts, my lord!' he announced, handing me a silver dish on which were piled some rather stodgy-looking jam affairs.
"'No thank you,' I replied.
"The man looked horrified, and the King and Queen greatly embarrassed by my refusal. 'Er—tarts—er—your Highness,—er—her Majesty's own make,' whispered the Lord Chief Butler.
"'Oh, then by all means I will change my mind,' said I gallantly, and I took two of the tarts on my plate, while the King and Queen looked on approvingly.
"I can safely say that in all my wanderings, through all these years, I have never before or since tasted such exceedingly unpleasant tarts.
"I hesitate to say more, out of respect to the most beautiful and gracious Queen who ever lived, but I could say a great deal.
"However, I managed to get through them, even to the bitter end, and had the satisfaction of seeing her Majesty look greatly delighted.
"'I really must have another one, my love,'declared the King; 'they are most delicious, made as they were by your own royal and beautiful hands.'
"'No—no—dearest,' smiled the Queen, her pride in her pastry battling with her consideration for her husband's health, 'you have already had two.'
"'Perhaps, my darling, you are right,' replied the King, with a sigh of relief, and hurriedly motioning to the Lord Chief Butler to remove his plate.
"'Perhaps our guest, though—' began the Queen sweetly.
"'No—no—thank you, your Majesty,' I hastened to say. 'I never—never—by any chance indulge in more than two, under doctor's strict orders.'
"'Very well then,' said her Majesty, 'we will have dessert.'
"The rest of the dinner was uneventful, and I was more and more impressed as the time went on with the gracious and simple bearing of the exalted personages of whom I was an uninvited guest.
"At last her Majesty rose, gave me a bow, and was led with old-fashioned courtesy by his Majesty to the door, which was thrown open by the servants, and the King and I were left alone toour coffee and cigars. After we had talked on various subjects for some time, I ventured to express my admiration of, and devotion to, the gracious lady who had just left us, and the King's eyes sparkled with delight.
"'You may well admire her, sir; she is rightly beloved for her graciousness and beauty from one end of my kingdom to the other, and her thoughtfulness and kindness to myself are beyond expression.
"'Imusttell you of a little incident (which you have just shared in) to prove to you how wholly devoted she is to my interests.
"'I have, as many other royal personages have at times, some difficulty in regulating my affairs so as to make both ends meet comfortably.
"'Her Majesty knew of this, and immediately began to take cooking lessons with a view to cooking for us when we are alone, and thus saving expenses in the kitchen. The tarts you tasted to-day are her Majesty's first attempt.'
"'R-eally!' I murmured, seeing that the King paused as though he expected me to say something.
"'Yes,' continued his Majesty, 'and to-morrow she has made me promise to catch her some blackbirds, with which to make a pie.'
"'Catch them?' I cried; 'why not shoot them?'
"'Oh! the Queen wouldn't think of letting me do anything so cruel, she issotender-hearted. But you'll come with me to-morrow, and help me to catch some, won't you?'
"I assured his Majesty that unless I had unfortunately to disappear before then, I should be delighted, and we went up to join her Majesty in the drawing-room.
"We found the Queen surrounded by her Maids of Honour, of whom some were sitting at the tambour frames, others doing fine embroidery, while two of their number were at the piano playing and singing.
"I was presented to these ladies, and, at the Queen's request, related some of the extraordinary adventures which, as you know, have, at one time or another in my long career, befallen me. The evening was quite a success, and I felt that I had indeed fallen upon my feet in such charming company.
"At a moderately early hour we retired, and in the morning, soon after breakfast, his Majesty and I started on our expedition in quest of blackbirds for the Queen's pie.
"Her Majesty and the Maids of Honour watched us start off from the balcony, andseveral retainers followed at a respectful distance, carrying various bags and implements of which I could not even imagine the uses.
"When we had got some distance from the Castle, his Majesty whispered to me confidentially that he must confess that he didn't know much about this sort of thing.
"'Er—do you recommend—er—saltfor blackbirds?' he inquired anxiously.
"'What for?' I asked.
"'To put on their tails, you know,' said the King. 'I have a recollection of hearing something, somewhere, about catching birds by putting salt on their tails. But perhaps that doesn't refer to blackbirds?' he added.
"I couldn't help smiling a little at the simple, good-natured, inexperienced King, but suggested immediately afterwards that some grain scattered before and inside a sieve propped up with a stick, to which some string was attached, would probably be a more effectual way of catching the birds.
"'What a brilliant idea!' said the King. 'I'll send the salt back and order some sieves, grain, sticks and string, as you suggest. Is there anything else?'
"'Something to put the birds in if we catch any, your Majesty,' said I."'Oh! I've thought of that,' said the King, 'and have several baskets ready.'
"The men were soon back with the sieves, and I quickly rigged up two of them as traps; and having baited them, I showed the King how to hide and pull the string directly one of the birds was under the sieve.
"Fortunately, blackbirds seemed to abound in that country, and there were soon several fluttering about, pecking at and picking up the grain.
"Presently, one got under my sieve, and pulling the support away by the string, I was fortunate enough to catch it. The King was delighted, and the more so when a few minutes afterwards he trapped two at once, in the same manner.
"After this, the 'sport,' if it could be called so, became fast and furious, and ended in our catching four-and-twenty birds between us.
"This the King considered would be sufficient, so we set off to the Castle again, the men bearing the baskets in triumph before us.
"'Oh! the dear, sweet little things!' cried Her Majesty, when she was shown our captives, 'and how clever of you to have caught them all! They'll make a perfectly lovely pie!' And she set off in high glee to the kitchens, to try her hand at the culinary art again.
Illustration: This was carefully set before the King.
"The afternoon was spent in the beautiful gardens surrounding the Castle, playing fives, for which there was a specially built court, and practising at archery, so that the time quickly passed, till we were called in by the first dinner gong.
"The Maids of Honour, together with some of the State Ministers, joined us at dinner, and I could see that the Queen, though sweet and gracious as ever, was very anxious as the dinner proceeded.
"Presently there was a flourish of trumpets heard at the door, and two pages appeared, bearing a silver salver upon which was an enormous pie. This was carefully set before the King, and his Majesty, after smiling at the Queen rather nervously, put the knife into the crust and removed a portion of it.
"Immediately afterwards, there was a great commotion heard from inside the pie, and first one bird and then another began to sing, hopping out of the pie and on to the table, evidently delighted at regaining its liberty.
"Finally, amid the breathless silence of all about the table, they flew off through the open window, and nothing was left but the crust.
"The Queen sat back in her chair looking half-triumphant and half-ashamed.
"'I'm afraid it isn't a very satisfactory pie, from the eating point of view,' she faltered, 'but Icouldn'thave the poor pretty little things killed, and so I put them in the dish alive, and when the crust, which I baked separately, was nearly cold, I cut a hole in the top, so that they could breathe, and put it over them.'
"'It does your heart much credit, my love,' cried the King, 'and, the thought of cutting a hole in the crust was a very kind one.'
"And indeed, wherever and in whatever country I have been since that time, many years ago, and have related the story, the ladies of that country have always made a hole in the top of their pies, in honour of the beautiful and kind Queen who first invented it.
"I did not hear much more of the conversation which followed this episode, for unfortunately, just then, I felt myself disappearing, and had only just time to incline my head respectfully to the King and Queen before I had vanished."
"But," I remarked, when Shin Shira left off speaking, "you haven't told me yet how you came to get the title of 'Doctor.'"
"Oh, that's all part of the same story," said Shin Shira, refilling his pipe; "it has a sequel. About seven months after the events which Ihave narrated" (you'll have noticed that Shin Shira loved using long words when he could), "I found myself again in the same country, and I thought I could not leave it without paying my respects to the amiable King and Queen; so, one fine afternoon, I made my way up to the Castle.
I found the King in his counting-house
"I found the King in his counting-house, industriously counting out his money. He left off when he saw me, though, and came forward to greet me heartily.
"'The Queen, bless her! will be as delighted to see you as I am,' said he; 'we'll go and find her. I fancy I know where she is.'
"He led the way at once to the parlour, and there we found her Majesty looking sweet and amiable as ever.
"She was rather confused at being discovered in the act of eating some bread and honey.
"'I am suffering from a very poor appetite,' her Majesty explained, after she had made me welcome, 'and have eaten nothing at all to-day, and just now I fancied a little honey, for which I have a great liking.'
"'I hope your Majesty is not unwell, that your appetite is so feeble?' I inquired with great solicitation.
"'Oh no!' replied the Queen, with an effort at brightness; 'I'm a little worried, that's all.'
"'We're all worried, more or less,' chimed in the King. 'Youremember that blackbird pie, don't you?'
"'Yes, your Majesty, of course I do,' said I, smiling at the recollection.
"'Well, those birds, the ones which were put into it, have become very spiteful and dangerous. They have taken to haunting the precincts of the Castle, and attack the servants when they go into the garden, particularly the laundry maids; for, when they go into the garden to hang out the clothes, they have to use both hands to do so, and then these wretched birds fly down and peck at their noses. One poor creature lost hers altogether, with the result that all of the maidshave given notice, and we can't get laundry maids for love or money.'
"'It's very trying,' said the Queen; 'the poor King has to wear his things much longer than he should, and I have a difficulty in even getting a clean pocket-handkerchief.'
"It was a curious difficulty to be in, certainly, and I felt very anxious to help them if I could, so I asked permission to be allowed to visit the servants' hall, and talk to the maids on the subject.
"This was readily given, and I spoke to them as earnestly as I could about their good Queen and mistress, and how willing and eager they ought to be to do everything they could for her.
"I could see that they felt this keenly themselves, for some of them were in tears when I spoke of the Queen's goodness to everybody about her.
"'B—but our precious noses, sir!' sobbed one good-natured girl; 'we can't afford to lose them, can we now?'
"'No,' I said, 'but I have thought of a way by which it will be quite safe for you to go into the garden.
"'Now, like good creatures, the first thing in the morning, set to and get some laundry work done,and I'll go out and hang up some of the clothes, and you'll see that the birds won't hurt me.'
"They all agreed to this, and the good-natured girl who had been crying said, 'I'll come with you, if you like, and show you how to hang the things up.'
"'So you shall,' said I, and went up to my room to make preparations for the morning.
"It was quite simple. I sent for some coloured wax, and having made a wooden model of a nose, I made on it some little waxen cases which could be worn over one's own nose, andthen, if the birds pecked at it, it wouldn't matter in the least.
"In the morning, the wax cases were quite set and hard, and when the maid and I went out to hang up the clothes, it was great fun to see the bewilderment of a large blackbird when he flew away with the maid's false nose, and she calmly stuck on another.
"The birds soon gave up their evil ways after that, but for some months, as a precaution, the maids never ventured out without a nose protector.
"It was for this useful invention that the King of Hearts bestowed on me the title of 'Doctor to His Majesty's Household.'"
"H'm!" I remarked, when he had finished, "it's a very remarkable story. I seem to haveheard of some of the incidents before, somehow."
"Very likely, very likely," said Shin Shira "Well, I must be going now." And he shook hands and went out by the door, in a sensible way for once.
As he went out of the house, I heard him singing softly—
"The Queen of Hearts, she made some tartsAll on a summer's day"—
And then he changed his song to—
"Sing a song of sixpence,A pocketful of rye,Four-and-twenty blackbirdsBaked in a pie.The maid was in the gardenHanging out the clothes,And along came a blackbirdAnd nipped off her nose."
"Sing a song of sixpence,A pocketful of rye,Four-and-twenty blackbirdsBaked in a pie.
The maid was in the gardenHanging out the clothes,And along came a blackbirdAnd nipped off her nose."
And I remembered then why his story had seemed so familiar.
The day after my little friend had related to me his experiences in the land of the King and Queen of Hearts, I was surprised to receive a portmanteau addressed to me, which, on my opening it, I found to contain the little yellow costume, including the turban with the diamond ornament, which Shin Shira had always worn.
There was no note enclosed, and I naturally wondered very much what had occasioned this strange parcel being sent to me.
I had no means of communicating with Shin Shira, and so had to wait with what patience I could summon for an explanation from him.
I had not long to wait, fortunately, for in the afternoon of the same day the little fellow burst in upon me, clothed in a frock coat, tall hat and regulation costume of a gentleman in easy circumstances.
I must say he was not nearly such a picturesque looking person as he had been in his Orientaldress. He threw himself into a chair and seemed overflowing with news.
"I've decided to settle down," he said breathlessly. "I didn't tell you yesterday because my arrangements were not quite completed, but I've begun now, and I'm going to settle down."
"Whatdoyou mean?" I inquired, utterly bewildered by my friend's abrupt statement.
"Why," he began, "I'm tired of this constant changing from one place to another; and as I've not had to disappear now for some time, I've come to the conclusion that the fairies have overlooked the misdeeds of my ancestors and are going to give me a rest. I've taken a house in the highly respectable neighbourhood of Russell Square, and I've furnished it by means of my fairy powers with everything that is necessary; besides this, I've realised the full value of all my precious stones, except, of course, that which the dear Princess gave me, and have opened a banking account. There!" and the little fellow sat back, evidently feeling quite exhausted by his long speech and vainly searching for his little fan, which, of course, was not there.
I scarcely knew what to say to this surprising statement, and waited for further developments before replying."I've engaged a housekeeper to look after me, and two servants also; and—as you see—have discarded my Oriental costume for one more suitable to this country and climate; I sent you my old costume and turban by a trustworthy messenger this morning, having changed at my tailor's into the attire in which you see me. I hope it has arrived safely?"
I assured him that it had, and sent for the portmanteau in order that he might see for himself.
"That's all right, then," he said with a sigh of relief; "and now I want to hand you this blank cheque which I have signed, and, in case I disappear, I want you to draw out the whole amount standing to my account at the bank at the time, so that I may be able to get it in case I appear again. I have an idea that I shall not have to undergo these changes many more times. Of course, if I never come back, the money will be yours, as I have no one else to leave it to."
I thanked him very heartily for the trust he reposed in me, and assured him that his wishes should be carried out to the letter.
"That's all right, then!" he exclaimed in a tone of satisfaction; "and now I want to arrange for a nice little party at my new home to act as akind of—er—home warming—I think you call it. Ask the children and any of your friends who know me, and, if you let me know beforehand how many are coming, I will arrange for what, I hope, will turn out to be a very enjoyable evening."
We fixed the date, and after my little friend had gone, I wrote informally, as Shin Shira wished, to as many of my friends as would be likely to wish to come, to ask them to attend.
Nearly everybody accepted—for the little fellow was a great favourite with everybody who knew him—and, as Shin Shira looked in every day to know how the replies were coming in, I was able to tell him in a few days that we might expect from twenty to twenty-five guests.
From then till the date fixed Shin Shira was very busy, and I only saw him once or twice, and on the eventful day I did not see him at all.
The Verrinder children were coming in the carriage with me, and, according to arrangement, we were the first to arrive.
There was an awning at the door and a red carpet laid down the steps and across the pavement; the house was brilliantly lighted, and evidently grand preparations had been going on.
I hurried up the steps, followed by Marjorie, Dick and Fidge.
The servant who stood at the open door, and who knew me by sight, was looking very anxious, and whispered, "The housekeeper would like to speak to you at once in the dining-room, sir."
"Anything the matter?" I asked.
"Yes, sir, the master—he—he can't be found," said the man.
I hurried down to the dining-room, and found the housekeeper in her best black silk dress, looking even more distressed than the manservant had been.
"The master, sir," she began at once when I entered the room. "Whateveristo be done? He can't be found anywhere—and the guests beginning to arrive—"
"Never mind," said I, after thinking a moment. "I've no doubt he'll be here presently—and, in the meantime, as I know most if not all of the guests, I'll receive them, and explain that he has probably been called away and will no doubt be back presently."
I hurried up into the drawing-room, and found that by this time several guests had arrived, and were looking greatly surprised at finding no host to receive them.
I apologised for my friend as well as I was able,and pointed out that probably he would soon return, and, in the meantime, he would doubtless wish us to make ourselves at home.
We found everything arranged for our comfort. Professional singers gave an excellent concert in the drawing-room—an excellent supper was served downstairs.
The children were not forgotten, and, while the concert had been proceeding in the drawing-room, an amusing entertainment was provided for them in another room. Beside each plate at supper, also, there was a little present, chosen carefully, and our names written distinctly on each.
Everything was thoroughly well thought out and provided for—but—there was no host to receive our thanks and to bid us "good-bye" when we went.
The whole affair, therefore, though I naturally did my best for my friend's sake to "keep things going," concluded rather flatly, and I went home after it was all over feeling not a little depressed and anxious.
I called the next day, and the day after, but Shin Shira had not returned, nor had anything been heard of, or from him.
It was most mysterious, and I could only account for it by the fact that the fairies mayhave, in factmusthave, caused him to disappear once more.
The housekeeper told me, on my inquiring of her, that he had been at home the whole of the day on which the party had been held, superintending all the arrangements, and had gone up early to his room to dress, and from that time all trace of him had been lost.
I was very sorry, and the more so as days and weeks flew by and nothing happened to give us any clue as to his whereabouts.
After a couple of months, I told the servants that they had better seek other situations, and when they had done so I let them go. I closed the house, and waited for events.
It must have been quite a year later when I received the following letter—
"Isle of San Sosta,"South Pacific."My dear Friend,"I write once more to let you know that I am again in great trouble, but this time there is nothing in which you can help me, though I know, in the goodness of your heart, you would wish to do so if it were possible."When, in accordance with the fairies' decree, to which I must always most humbly bow, I wascalled upon to disappear at the very moment when I was hoping to welcome my guests to my newly established home, I found myself most unexpectedly in this place."It is an island very little known, and far out of the beaten track of vessels."Once a year, however, a trader calls, bringing and taking letters and exchanging for the produce of this place such necessities as we require from more civilised lands."The people of this country are very simple and of primitive habits, so much so that it is the custom here if a maiden remains unmarried after a certain age, and becomes a burden to her parents, to turn her out of the community, and leave her to seek food for herself or starve in the desert."This cruel and unnatural law I have constantly tried to get altered, and the King and his advisers consent to do so only on one condition, and that is, that I find a husband for the only unmarried daughter of the King, who is at present an outcast in the wilderness, being of most uncomely appearance and greatly deformed."I have been out into the wilderness to see the poor creature myself. She is indeed in a pitiful plight, being far from fair to look upon, and gaunt and thin with exposure and suffering."I conversed with her and found her intelligent, and patient under her great afflictions; in fact, her sad case so touched my heart that, not only for her sake, but for the sake of the other unfortunate maidens who, unless this cruel law is altered, may have to suffer a fate similar to hers, I have decided to marry her myself, and thus rescue her and others who may follow her."I think of my sweet Princess and feel that she would approve—for never shall I see her dear face again—and in making this marriage she would know I was inclined to it from pity and not from any untruthfulness to her most dear memory."The stone she gave me I cannot bear to see any more, and this I ask you to keepuntil I claim it again; all my other goods and the money in the bank I leave to you absolutely."I feel that I may never see you again, and if this be so, accept my hearty and devoted thanks for all you have done for me. Think of me sometimes and"Believe me to be,"Your friend always,"Shin Shira Scaramanga Manousa Yama Hawa."
"Isle of San Sosta,
"South Pacific.
"My dear Friend,"I write once more to let you know that I am again in great trouble, but this time there is nothing in which you can help me, though I know, in the goodness of your heart, you would wish to do so if it were possible.
"When, in accordance with the fairies' decree, to which I must always most humbly bow, I wascalled upon to disappear at the very moment when I was hoping to welcome my guests to my newly established home, I found myself most unexpectedly in this place.
"It is an island very little known, and far out of the beaten track of vessels.
"Once a year, however, a trader calls, bringing and taking letters and exchanging for the produce of this place such necessities as we require from more civilised lands.
"The people of this country are very simple and of primitive habits, so much so that it is the custom here if a maiden remains unmarried after a certain age, and becomes a burden to her parents, to turn her out of the community, and leave her to seek food for herself or starve in the desert.
"This cruel and unnatural law I have constantly tried to get altered, and the King and his advisers consent to do so only on one condition, and that is, that I find a husband for the only unmarried daughter of the King, who is at present an outcast in the wilderness, being of most uncomely appearance and greatly deformed.
"I have been out into the wilderness to see the poor creature myself. She is indeed in a pitiful plight, being far from fair to look upon, and gaunt and thin with exposure and suffering.
"I conversed with her and found her intelligent, and patient under her great afflictions; in fact, her sad case so touched my heart that, not only for her sake, but for the sake of the other unfortunate maidens who, unless this cruel law is altered, may have to suffer a fate similar to hers, I have decided to marry her myself, and thus rescue her and others who may follow her.
"I think of my sweet Princess and feel that she would approve—for never shall I see her dear face again—and in making this marriage she would know I was inclined to it from pity and not from any untruthfulness to her most dear memory.
"The stone she gave me I cannot bear to see any more, and this I ask you to keepuntil I claim it again; all my other goods and the money in the bank I leave to you absolutely.
"I feel that I may never see you again, and if this be so, accept my hearty and devoted thanks for all you have done for me. Think of me sometimes and
"Believe me to be,"Your friend always,"Shin Shira Scaramanga Manousa Yama Hawa."
I sat a long while after I had read this letter,thinking of all the strange happenings since I had known my little friend.
I had grown quite to love and respect him, and when I thought of the noble and chivalrous deed he intended performing in order to save the poor creature in that far-off island, I felt that he was indeed worthy of all admiration.
I got down a map, and tried in vain to find the island he mentioned. It was not marked in any of those which I had by me.
Then I found the portmanteau which Shin Shira had left with me, and looked at the little yellow costume, which reminded me so much of my friend.
In lifting it from the bag, something heavy dropped from between the folds. It was the Magic Crystal. I held it in my hand, and wished I could see what Shin Shira was doing at that moment. The thought had no sooner entered my head than I gave an exclamation of surprise.
A mist in which vague figures were moving filled the crystal, and presently I could see distinctly a large crowd of people gathered together. A man and woman stood beneath a canopy—the man I soon perceived was Shin Shira himself, still clothed in the immaculate frock coat and tall hat in which I had last seen him dressed.The woman was a poor, deformed thing and pitifully plain—her gaudy dress and many jewels but helped to point the contrast.
Before them stood a priest, and at the side the King, surrounded by his warriors. It was evidently the celebration of a wedding, and the ceremony was over, for the bridegroom led the bride from under the canopy and knelt with her before the King, who stretched out his hands as though he were giving them his blessing—and then, to my astonishment, a most marvellous thing happened. A blaze of light flashed across the scene, and a beautiful being, who I am convinced was the Fairy Queen herself, floated down from the heights above, accompanied by a crowd of beings nearly as beautiful as herself. She waved her wand three times, and the bride became a beautiful Princess, and Shin Shira grew tall, young and handsome in an instant.
The King and his court gazed in amazement at the scene, and the Princess fell into Shin Shira's arms.
The Fairy waved her wand again, and a bright crown appeared on Shin Shira's head, in which flashed a single stone of great brilliancy. At the same instant the jewel vanished from the yellow turban beside me.
The crystal grew clear as the beautiful scenefaded away, and that was the last glimpse I ever had of my little friend.
I often think of him, and I like to imagine, as, indeed, I believe to be the case, that the fairies have restored to him his full powers, and that the bride he had so unselfishly wedded turned out to be the very Princess to whom he had been faithful throughout his long life.
It may be so—if the crystal spoke truly. Who knows?