When she had put each flower exactly as she wished, she gently shook Smaly's elbow. He jumped up, took two vases without a word, while she picked up the third. They disposed a vase in each of the three little bedrooms, and stood back to admire the effect; which, indeed, was quite charming. Suddenly Redy gave a sigh. "It's all very well," said she, "but there's no one to live in our pretty rooms." Smaly sighed, too. "That's just what I was thinking," said he. "Oh, Redy, how nice it would be if we had three little girls to live in our three bedrooms, so that they could admire your flowers and look at themselves in my pretty mirrors." "Let us wish for them," said Redy, and she folded her hands together on her apron and chanted: "We wish to have three girls, Fine, sweet, pink, and good They shall have more pudding than they like, And a green, green, and rosy garden." Smaly repeated the poem in his turn, but Redy had to prompt him, for he had a very bad memory. They waited for some time, but nothing happened, so they said the verse over again, and this time Smaly repeated it without any mistake; but still nothing happened. "Wishing does not seem to be much good," said Smaly despondently. "Wishing never is any good," answered Redy, "unless one does something more than wish. If we want to find our three little girls we must set out and look for them." "Yes, but where?" asked Smaly. "As for that," answered his little wife, "I do not know any more than you, but that verse we chanted just now is a magic verse, and we shall find the way. We will get ready to start to-morrow." * * * * * So the very next morning they set off on their search for the three girls who would fill the white house with joy. [Illustration: SMALY] Redy had dressed herself in her best. Her green gown was trimmed with black and emerald leaves, and her stockings and little cocked hat were green to match. In her basket she thoughtfully placed two apples. [Illustration: IN THIS LAND ALL THE BIRDS WORE HATS AND SPURS] Smaly faced the world in his beautiful dark violet coat, on his head a tall hat of the same colour. A belt of yellow leather clasped his waist. In his buttonhole he stuck a sunflower to show how happy he was. His best boots shone upon his feet. In the big pocket of his coat he placed a couple of fresh rolls. The rolls and the apples were their provisions for the journey. For weapon, in case of attack, Smaly carried a thin red stick. * * * * * For a long while they walked and walked. They crossed many countries which everybody knows. At last, however, they found themselves in a strange land, a land of which one hardly ever even hears--a land which was even odder than these two odd little people. In this land both men and beasts lived upon nothing but sweetmeats and pastry.