They were turning to enter the house again when a sudden thought struck Merran, who was carrying her new treasures with the greatest care. "Where shall I hide them?" she asked anxiously. "I _am_ so afraid of any one finding them, or taking them, and there's nowhere in the little room where I sleep that I can lock up. Aunt comes in any time and looks all about, to see that I keep things tidy." "Quite right of her," said the fairy. "I can help you to keep your treasures in perfect safety, much more so than if you locked them up in the strongest box that ever was made. Hold them out--one in each hand." Merran did so--the fairy touched them both, first the umbrella, then the parasol, murmuring some word or words that the child could not hear. "Now," she said, "I have made them become invisible to all eyes but your own, or those of the one to whom you may some day confide your secret, as you have permission to do. See--just to prove it to you, I will for a moment make them invisible even to yourself. Shut your eyes." Merran did so. "Open," said the Sunshine lady. Merran obeyed, but gave a cry of dismay. "They've gone, they've gone," she exclaimed, "and yet I didn't feel you touching them." The fairy laughed. "Wink your eyes," she said. "Now look again," and there sure enough were the magic gifts safe and sound. Merran laughed too. "So you don't need to be afraid of any one stealing them," said her friend. "N-no," said the child. "But still--where had I best keep them? For you see in my own room they might get knocked or brushed away, even without being seen?" "How about the garret?" asked the fairy. "No one ever interferes with you there--they are used to your playing there by yourself, aren't they?" "Oh yes," Merran replied. "Only sometimes aunt goes up to look over things, or dust a little. Why the other day she said she was going to throw away the rain-house, as it was no use. I was glad she didn't, for I have always liked seeing it. And fancy! if she had, I should never have come up here and seen this lovely place and you, dear Sunshine fairy, or the Rain fairy, or got your magic gifts! How dreadful to think of!" But her friend only smiled. "She could not have done it," she said. "She had no power to touch it while we were still here, while it was still one of the secret entrances to fairyland. But as to a hiding-place for your charms," she went on. "Have you ever peeped up at the eaves above the little storm-window where you are so fond of sitting?" "Yes, often," said Merran. "There is an old swallows' nest there, but," and she shook her head sadly, "they have quite deserted it for the last two years. I used to love to watch them and to hear their twittering."