“Perhaps it was Harriett,” said mamma, and then she saw that he was awake and began to speak of something else. Teddy wished his mother could see the Counterpane Fairy herself, and then she would know that it was a real fairy and not a make-believe. When he saw the Counterpane Fairy again he was going to ask her if he mightn’t take his mother into one of the stories with him. He was thinking of her so hard that it did not surprise him at all to hear her little thin voice just back of the counterpane hill. “Oh dear, dear! and the worst of it is that I hardly get to the top before I have to come down again.” “Is that you, Counterpane Fairy?” called Teddy. “Yes it is,” said the fairy. “I’ll be there in a minute;” and soon she appeared above the top of the hill, and seated herself on it to rest, and catch her breath. “Dear, dear!” she said, “but it’s a steep hill.” “Mrs. Fairy,” said Teddy, “I want to ask you something. You know my mother?” “Yes,” said the Counterpane Fairy, “I know who she is.” “Well,” said Teddy, “she’s just gone over into the sewing-room, and I want to know whether you won’t let me take her into a square sometime.” “My mercy, no!” said the fairy. “Have you forgotten what I told you the first time I came?” “What was that?” “I told you I went to see little boys and girls. I don’t go to see grown people. They wouldn’t believe in me.” “My mother would,” said Teddy. “She plays with me and she likes my books and I tell her all about you.” “No, no!” cried the Counterpane Fairy, “I couldn’t think of it. I’m very glad to take you into my stories, but if you don’t care to go by yourself —” and she picked up her staff and rose as though she were going. “Oh, I do, I do!” cried Teddy. “Please don’t go away.” “Well, I won’t,” said the fairy, sitting down again, “if you really want me to show you another. Have you chosen a square?” “No, I haven’t yet,” said Teddy. He looked the squares over very carefully, and at last he chose the black-and-white one where the circus was standing. “Very good,” said the fairy. “Now I’m going to begin to count.” Teddy fixed his eyes on the square and she commenced. Gradually he began to feel as though the white silk of the square was a pale cloudy sky. Before him stretched a white streak, and in the distance were some things like black squares; he did not know quite what. “FORTY-NINE!” cried the fairy. When Teddy looked about him he and the Counterpane Fairy were journeying along a dusty white road together, and the fairy looked just as any little old woman might, except that her eyes were so bright behind her spectacles. Before them lay a city with black roofs and spires; there was a sound of drums and music in the distance, and a faint noise as though a crowd of people were shouting a great way off. “What are they doing over there?” asked Teddy, hurrying his steps a little. “Is it a parade?”