In the morning, when the Godmother arose, she found that it was a warm, bright day and opened the window through which came the scents of the old lime tree, the carnations and the roses. Then she went into the black kitchen, started the fire and hung a pot of potatoes to cook for lunch, on the hook over the hearth. She told Tom that she was going to the village and that he should not run around and again get into danger. Having promised not to run around the room, Tom sat down by Castle Easter Egg, under the fir tree, and wrote of the experiences through which he had passed. But, after she had gone, he became curious to know whence came the lovely fragrance. He ran down from his garden, crossed the linen press to the window and stood upon the ledge. Above him he saw the blue sky and the golden sun; he heard the blackbirds and thrushes singing in the lilac bushes; and such a beautiful perfume came to him that his heart was filled with joy. Without realizing what he was doing, he felt he must go out and look at this magic world. Grasping the old vine by the window, he slid down very carefully through the transparent green leaves, jumped into the middle of a red carnation among its opening petals, and felt as though he were in a cloud of perfume. He waded through the soft, little petals, pressing them with his hands, and was sure that he was in Paradise itself! Yes, it must be the Paradise his Godmother had so beautifully described. What lights, colors and odors were here! What pleasure to gaze at the broad forest of red, white and pink bouquets and on the infinite green plain beyond, on which other blossoms like these were growing! As Tom walked to the edge of this flower, it bent over and he fell into the grass. But he did not mind this at all. He waded through the grass until he came upon a path, full of hard, shining little stones. He felt easy in his heart and shouted with delight, drinking the dew drops on the blades of grass and saying over and over to himself. »I am in Paradise, the place of eternal life and eternal pleasure.« He wanted to cross the path to the other side, where he saw great trees growing with broad crowns--his Godmother's rose bushes--and he was curious to learn what other charming things he might discover. But it was not easy for him to cross the path. He fell into little holes and stumbled over the sand grains which seemed to him like high stones. When he stood in the middle of the path, he saw a great black creature, with six legs and two horns, about to run by him. He stopped, instinctively placing his hand on the hilt of his dagger, but at the same time the creature stopped also and gazed at him with bulging eyes, raising its horns in the air. [Illustration]