Merrimeg looked down at the bodies of the two gnomes, lying on the bright green moss. One of them opened his eyes and yawned and stretched his arms; and the other yawned and stretched his arms and opened his eyes; and they both got up together, and looked down at their feet. “I suppose we’d better put on our shoes,” said one of them. “I suppose we had, brother,” said the other one. They put on their wooden shoes quickly, and then they noticed Merrimeg. [Illustration] “Oh, yes,” said one of the gnomes, “I remember everything now. Brother Nibby, we ought to thank her for helping us get our bodies back.” “That we ought, brother, that we ought, indeed,” said Nibby. “Which one of us should tell her?” said Malkin. “I think you could do it much better,” said Nibby. “You’re always so clever.” “Please don’t bother about thanking me,” said Merrimeg. “I’m so glad I could help you.” “Really, she isn’t rude at all to-day,” said Malkin. “Not a bit, brother Malkin, not a bit,” said Nibby. “Then we’d better go home,” said Malkin. “Why, bless me, we’re home right now! This is the roof of our own house!” “Now it’s queer I didn’t notice that before,” said Nibby. “How you do notice everything, brother!” “Good-by,” said Merrimeg. “I must get home before mother comes back from church. Good-by.” “Brother Nibby,” said Malkin, “will you ask her to stay and have dinner with us in our own house?” “I’m sorry,” said Merrimeg, “but I can’t stay now. Thank you ever so much. I must hurry home. Good-by.” She didn’t wait for an answer. Away she ran, and it wasn’t very long before she was in the village street again. In a few minutes she was sitting quietly at the front window of her house with the picture book on her knee, and there she was sitting when her mother came home from church. “That’s what I call a good little girl,” said her mother, “--sitting there quietly with your book, just as I left you.” “Yes’m,” said Merrimeg. [Illustration: MERRIMEG AND THE STARLIGHT FAIRIES] _MERRIMEG AND THE STARLIGHT FAIRIES_ Merrimeg was asleep in her little bed, and Merrimeg’s mother was asleep in her big bed. It was late at night, and everybody in the village was asleep. All the houses were dark, and the stars were shining overhead. Merrimeg woke up, and listened. She thought she heard a sound as if someone were crying. She got up out of bed in her white nightgown, and tiptoed over to her mother and looked at her. Her mother was fast asleep, but she still heard the sound of crying. She decided that it must be outside in the street, so she opened the front door and peeped out. In the street before the door were three beautiful children, and one of them was crying.