"Well," said Jack, "I may have to stay inside here for a long time, and I have nothing to eat but this cake; however, your mouths are very small, so you shall have a piece;" and he broke off a small piece, and put it into the nest, climbing up to see them eat it. These young fairies were a long time dividing and munching the cake, and before they had finished, it began to be rather dark, for a black cloud came over and covered the little sunbeam. At the same time the wind rose, and rocked the boughs, and made the old tree creak and tremble. Then there was thunder and rain, and the little fairies were so frightened that they got out of the nest and crept into Jack's pockets. One got into each waistcoat pocket, and the other two were very comfortable, for he took out his handkerchief and made room for them in the pocket of his jacket. It got darker and darker, till at last Jack could only just see the hole, and it seemed to be a very long way off. Every time he looked at it, it was farther off, and at last he saw a thin crescent moon shining through it. "I am sure it cannot be night yet," he said; and he took out one of the fattest of the young fairies, and held it up towards the hole. "Look at that," said he; "what is to be done now? the hole is so far off that it's night up there, and down here I haven't done eating my lunch." "Well," answered the young fairy, "then why don't you whistle?" Jack was surprised to hear her speak in this sensible manner, and in the light of the moon he looked at her very attentively. "When first I saw you in the nest," said he, "you had a pinafore on, and now you have a smart little apron, with lace round it." "That is because I am much older now," said the fairy; "we never take such a long time to grow up as you do." "But your pinafore?" said Jack. "Turned into an apron, of course," replied the fairy, "just as your velvet jacket will turn into a tail-coat when you are old enough." "It won't," said Jack. "Yes it will," answered the fairy, with an air of superior wisdom. "Don't argue with me; I am older now than you are,--nearly grown up, in fact. Put me into your pocket again, and whistle as loudly as you can." Jack laughed, put her in, and pulled out another. "Worse and worse," he said; "why, this was a boy fairy, and now he has a mustache and a sword, and looks as fierce as possible!" "I think I heard my sister tell you to whistle?" said this fairy, very sternly. "Yes, she did," said Jack. "Well, I suppose I had better do it." So he whistled very loudly indeed. "Why did you leave off so soon?" said another of them, peeping out. "Why, if you wish to know," answered Jack, "it was because I thought something took hold of my legs." "Ridiculous child!" cried the last of the four, "how do you think you are ever to get out, if she doesn't take hold of your legs?"