"But now it is time that you rested after these journeys through my realm. You may join Fofo and Fifi for a time in the Fairy gardens, and say good-by to them; then the best thing you can do is to eat your supper of cakes and honey, and sleep soundly in readiness for the journey up the Golden Ladder. It was my wish, as I have told you, to make you my pages, and to keep you here in my realm for ever, for you are very good children indeed; but now I love and trust you so much that I am going to make you my messengers instead of my pages, and let you go away again for a little time. In order that you may be happy and contented, perhaps the Enchanted Banjo will now play for us." So saying she handed the Enchanted Banjo to Zuzu, and at once as he and Lulu placed their hands upon the Banjo it began to sing for them. FAREWELL TO THE FAIRIES Farewell, Fairies, gay and good; You who haunt the Christmas Wood, You of that thrice happy band Which lives down in Candy-land, You who idle in the shade By the Lake of Lemonade; Farewell, Fairies; thus we sigh When we come to say good-by. You that in the world of dreams Sail in bubble-boats the streams; You that hide beneath the grass Chanting to us as we pass; You that flash among the trees Laughing at the honey-bees-- Tears come sadly to each eye When we come to say good-by. Farewell, Fairies, one and all-- Some day we shall come and call To you from the border-land In the speech you understand-- So and so, and thus and thus-- Then you will remember us. But to-day we may but sigh Now that we must say good-by. Then the Queen bent over each little pillow and spoke softly: "Before you fall asleep I shall kiss you each good night and good-by; for when you awaken you will be far away." As she kissed Zuzu and Lulu, they began to feel very drowsy, but before they had time to reason it out to themselves, they were both fast asleep. The last thing they knew was the soft kiss of the Fairy Queen; and the last thing they saw was the room of the fairy palace, very beautiful, seeming to fade away and become more distant and indistinct. [Illustration] CHAPTER XXXII THE RETURN TO THE ISLAND When they awoke, Zuzu and Lulu rubbed their eyes very hard, and looked around them in wonder; as, indeed, well they might. They were now not in the fairy palace at all, but once more alone, and at the top of the Golden Ladder, whose long lines they could see far, far below them, shining like the beams of the sun at evening or morning. Near by them rose the walls of the rocky pass in which lived Jankow, the Dragon, and near them was the end of the tail of the Dragon. They could hear its harsh voice coming to their ears very plainly.