But he was greatly mistaken if he thought he could get rid of the star in any such way as that. Quick as a flash all three of the starlight fairies were in the air, and off like three arrows over the tree tops after the star. Before Merrimeg knew what was happening they were out of sight, and the star was gone. The water sprite was so astonished that he forgot he was angry. “Who are they?” he said, in a kind of whisper. “They’re the starlight fairies,” said Merrimeg. “They hang out the stars each night, and to-night they dropped that star by accident, and it fell into your pool. If they don’t get it back they can’t go home.” “But they killed my children and----” At that moment the lost star appeared over the tree tops, coming on towards them in a streak of white light, and in another moment the three starlight fairies stood on the ground, and Winnie was swinging the star in her hand. “Oh! oh!” she said, and began to laugh and cry at the same time. She couldn’t say another word, for joy. “We’ve got it!” cried Florrie. “We can go home now!” “But what about these poor babies?” said Merrimeg. “Can’t we do anything for them?” The three fairies knelt around the three tiny bodies on the ground, and looked closely at their foreheads. “Why,” said Pennie, “it’s nothing but a bruise!” “So it is,” said Winnie and Florrie together. “Is that all?” said Merrimeg. “Is that _all_?” said the water sprite, looking very helpless and pitiful. “Yaa! yaa!” came a little piping cry from the grass, and the water sprite dropped to the ground beside the babies. “He’s crying!” sang out the water sprite. “His eyes are open!” Another little cry and another came from the grass, and the water sprite sang out again: “They’re _all_ crying! They’re _all_ coming to! They’re _all_ right! Hurrah!” [Illustration] He picked up the three babies and bundled them in his arms, and without another word gave a leap into the water and splash! went down and out of sight, babies and all. Florrie laughed, Winnie laughed, and Pennie and Merrimeg laughed too. “But I’m sorry his house is ruined,” said Merrimeg. “Oh, he’ll mend it in no time,” said Florrie. “But see, Merrimeg, you’re all wet!” “Goodness!” said Merrimeg. “I’d forgotten all about it.” “Stand here,” said Florrie, and she and the other two fairies placed Merrimeg in the middle and turned their backs to her. Their wings began to flutter gently, and then began to move faster and faster, making a strong breeze which blew all over Merrimeg. Fanned in this way by the great butterfly wings, she was soon dry. “Good-by, Merrimeg,” said Florrie. “Good-by, dear Merrimeg,” said each of the others. “Thank you for my star,” said Winnie. “You must think of us whenever you look up at the stars.” “Indeed I will,” said Merrimeg.