It was eight-sided, having in each angle a slender pillar, round which silken draperies were twined. The wall between the pillars was entirely covered, to the height of six or seven feet, with creepers, from which hung quantities of ripe fruit and of brilliant flowers, that almost hid the leaves. In another place, perchance, I might have wondered to see fruit and flowers growing together: here, my chief wonder was that neither fruit nor flowers were such as I had ever seen before. Higher up, each wall contained a circular window of coloured glass; and over all was an arched roof, that seemed to be spangled all over with jewels. With hardly less wonder, I turned this way and that, trying to make out how in the world we had come in: for there was no door: and all the walls were thickly covered with the lovely creepers. “We are safe here, my darlings!” said the old man, laying a hand on Sylvie’s shoulder, and bending down to kiss her. Sylvie drew back hastily, with an offended air: but in another moment, with a glad cry of “Why, it’s _Father_!”, she had run into his arms. [Illustration: A BEGGAR’S PALACE] “Father! Father!” Bruno repeated: and, while the happy children were being hugged and kissed, I could but rub my eyes and say “Where, then, are the rags gone to?”; for the old man was now dressed in royal robes that glittered with jewels and gold embroidery, and wore a circlet of gold around his head. CHAPTER VI. THE MAGIC LOCKET. “Where are we, father?” Sylvie whispered, with her arms twined closely around the old man’s neck, and with her rosy cheek lovingly pressed to his. “In Elfland, darling. It’s one of the provinces of Fairyland.” “But I thought Elfland was _ever_ so far from Outland: and we’ve come such a _tiny_ little way!” “You came by the Royal Road, sweet one. Only those of royal blood can travel along it: but _you’ve_ been royal ever since I was made King of Elfland—that’s nearly a month ago. They sent _two_ ambassadors, to make sure that their invitation to me, to be their new King, should reach me. One was a Prince; so _he_ was able to come by the Royal Road, and to come invisibly to all but me: the other was a Baron; so _he_ had to come by the common road, and I dare say he hasn’t even _arrived_ yet.” “Then how far have we come?” Sylvie enquired. “Just a thousand miles, sweet one, since the Gardener unlocked that door for you.” “A thousand miles!” Bruno repeated. “And may I eat one?” “Eat a _mile_, little rogue?” “No,” said Bruno. “I mean may I eat one of that fruits?” “Yes, child,” said his father: “and then you’ll find out what _Pleasure_ is like—the Pleasure we all seek so madly, and enjoy so mournfully!” Bruno ran eagerly to the wall, and picked a fruit that was _shaped_ something like a banana, but had the _colour_ of a strawberry.