Tyltyl, who was a good-hearted little fellow, did not know what to do; and the Cat swore between her teeth like a wild beast. Fortunately, dear little Mytyl interfered on our friend's behalf: "No, no; I want him to stay," she pleaded. "I'm frightened when Tylo's not with us." Time was short and they had to come to a decision. "I'll find some other way to get rid of the idiot!" thought the Cat. And, turning to the Dog, she said, in her most gracious manner, "We shall be _so_ pleased if you will join us!" As they entered the great forest, the Children stuck close together, with the Cat and the Dog on either side of them. They were awed by the silence and the darkness and they felt much relieved when the Cat exclaimed: "Here we are! Turn the diamond!" Then the light spread around them and showed them a wonderful sight. They were standing in the middle of a large round space in the heart of the forest, where all the old, old Trees seemed to reach up to the sky. Wide avenues formed a white star amidst the dark green of the wood. Everything was peaceful and still; but suddenly a strange shiver ran through the foliage; the branches moved and stretched like human arms; the roots raised the earth that covered them, came together, took the shapes of legs and feet and stood on the ground; a tremendous crash rang through the air; the trunks of the Trees burst open and each of them let out its soul, which made its appearance like a funny human figure. Some stepped slowly from their trunks; others came out with a jump; and all of them gathered inquisitively round our friends. The talkative Poplar began to chatter like a magpie: "Little Men! We shall be able to talk to them! We have done with silence!... Where do they come from?... Who are they?" And so he rattled on. The Lime-tree, who was a jolly, fat fellow, came up calmly, smoking his pipe; the conceited and dandified Chestnut-tree screwed his glass into his eye to stare at the Children. He wore a coat of green silk embroidered with pink and white flowers. He thought the little ones too poor-looking and turned away in derision. "He thinks he's everybody, since he has taken to living in town! He despises us!" sneered the Poplar, who was jealous of him. "Oh, dear, oh, dear!" wept the Willow, a wretched little stunted fellow, who came clattering along in a pair of wooden shoes too big for him. "They have come to cut off my head and arms for firewood!" Tyltyl could not believe his eyes. He never stopped asking the Cat questions: "Who's this?... Who's that?..." And Tylette introduced the soul of each Tree to him.