The Chief Contractor had made a few changes in his costume. He still wore his big ring and his box marked "Soy"; but a huge hat now covered his head. Little shelves were hung all about his person, and on these and on his hat were placed pots and jars, cakes and flagons. He had many more than the Confectioner, who, after all, was only his lieutenant. He carried a quiverful of ebony knives, and an urn from which stuck out long bamboo spoons. His masks were slung from the end of a stick. He touched his lips with his magic ring, then he agitated the castanets which hung at his knee, and cried: "Food, food! Come in by the door, come in by the door," and he shut his mouth up again quickly with his left thumb. "I don't see a door, or even a place for a door. There isn't anything," said Smaly to Papylick. "There it is," said Redy, pointing towards a little door which stood in the middle of the square. "There's no wall, but that is a door. See, it's open," she added. "But what's the good of that door," cried Smaly to the Chocolate Grub, which had come up beside him and was waiting with the others to go and get his provisions. [Illustration: THE CONFECTIONER] "I know nothing about doors," said the Grub sharply. "You must ask some specialist in such matters; some one who knows about draughts and opening and shutting. Some one, in fact, who looks like a doorkeeper," and the Grub withdrew proudly. [Illustration: "NEVERTHELESS IT'S SO NARROW THAT ONLY ONE PERSON CAN GO THROUGH AT A TIME"] Smaly realized that he had been lacking in tact to mention the word "door" to the Grub, who always pretended that he was not a doorkeeper. Papylick explained to the two little people: "If there weren't a door the people would simply tear the Chief Contractor to bits to get at the food." "But----" began Smaly. "And anyway the door was open," said Redy. "That's true," replied Papylick, "but nevertheless it's so narrow that only one person can go through at a time." [Illustration: THE SONG WENT ON] And, indeed, each Wig was passing singly through the little door to receive in his pot or pan a drop of gooseberry jam or a morsel of cake or apple, or one or two cherry-stones. The Chief Contractor served out his goods with his bamboo spoons. When the Wigs were served they made their way in single file towards two posts which stood in the square, and passed very carefully between them so as not to spill any of their precious provisions. And every one had received from the Contractor a little powder in a box like a small snuff-box labelled "Soy." * * * * *