"Now we must go home, children," mother called out, "before it begins to rain again." The children glanced round; their little friend had vanished, and no trace was to be seen of the lady of the larch-tree. So they turned reluctantly from the tree-house fully determined to come again very soon to this enchanted spot. "Mother, may we see your sketch?" "Not now," said mother, "it's going to be a surprise." "Did mother see him too?" "Do you think so?" said Lottchen. "Mother's a fairy herself." "I think," said Trudel, "she sees all sorts of queer things; but she won't tell us everything she sees." "It spoils some things to tell about them," said Lottchen. "I shan't tell Hermann and Fritz about the tree man." However, when she got home again, she could not contain herself. "Do you believe in fairies and tree men?" she said to the boys. "Of course not, that's all rot," said Hermann. "Like Santa Claus and such things, just invented to stuff us up!" "Santa Claus will never come to you any more if you talk like that; _he_ is _quite true_, I know. Trudel saw him come in last year when she was in bed, and she heard him filling our stockings. Of course she did not dare to turn round and look at him," said Lottchen. "I don't say it isn't nice to believe such things," said Hermann conscientiously, "but it isn't true; it's superstitious. You know quite well, Trudel, who Santa Claus really is." Trudel was silent; she was ten years old, and she had her doubts. "But I've seen a tree man to-day," said Lotty. The boys laughed. "Don't try to stuff us up with such nonsense; we're not so green as your tree man," they said. Gustel, the maid, came in, and joined in the conversation. She supported the boys' view. "I don't care," said Lottchen, now in a high state of excitement. "My mother knows a man--a very clever Irishman--a poet and a painter as well, and he has often seen the fairies." "Yes," said Trudel, "it's true he draws them just as he sees them with rainbow-coloured wings." "Well I never, you don't expect me to believe such things, do you?" said Gustel. "Why, that's all lies, and it is very wicked to tell a lie!" Lotty flew into a perfect tantrum. "How dare you say we tell lies; I will tell my mother of you," she screamed, and threw herself on the floor crying violently. Mother rushed in, not knowing what had happened. "Lotty, get up at once; tell me what's the matter, darling!" "Booh!--booh--booh!--Gustel won't believe--booh, booh, booh--that you know a man who has seen the fairies!" Mother could not help laughing. "Don't be so absurd, Lotty. Of course Gustel does not understand what you mean. Gustel," she said, "you are a Catholic and believe in the saints; they saw very queer things too, sometimes, didn't they?" "O yes, you're right; of course, ma'am," said Gustel, feeling embarrassed; for she had no arguments to support her disbelief in fairies.