CHRISTMAS AT THE COURT OF KING JORUM _Illustrated by_ HUGH THOMSON, R.I. ONE APRIL DAY THE STORM THE TEAPOT BREWED MONICA THE MOON CHILD _Illustrated by_ C. WILHELM ILLUSTRATIONS THE FISH-KING AND THE DOG-FISH "SO YOU'VE COME TO SEE THE WIZARD," HE SAID ITS HEAD WAS PATTED GRACIOUSLY WHAT A GLORIOUS RIDE THAT WAS SHE STROKED IT--ACTUALLY STROKED IT TAKING THE BOY AND GIRL BY A HAND, HE LED THEM THE LITTLE PICTURE GIRL IN MARCHED A STOUT BEADLE THEN SHE ACCEPTED HIS INVITATION TO DANCE "IT IS YOU, O PRINCE, THE YOUTH OF MY DREAM!" "YOU CAN JUST HAND OVER THAT PHEASANT" "WHO ARE YOU, THEN?" SHE RAN AND FETCHED HIS PRESENTS SHE WAS ANXIOUS TO SHOW IT WAS A VERY, VERY LONG LADDER THE TWO REINDEER ... SPED RAPIDLY AWAY LAY LOW, AND HATCHED AN AUDACIOUS PLOT "OF COURSE YOUR YOUNG MAJESTY HAS GOT THE KEY?" "I REALLY DO LOOK EVERY INCH A KING!" LOOKING NEITHER TO THE RIGHT NOR TO THE LEFT ROUND ABOUT WAS NOTHING BUT MOUNTAINS, CRATERS, CAVERNS ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT ADVENTURES IN WIZARD-LAND "ALL THESE POOR CREATURES WERE CHILDREN" HE TOOK TWO JEWELLED CIRCLETS OUT OF A SATCHEL "I AM THE BIRD-FAIRY," SHE SAID THEY MET MANY A QUAINT CREATURE THE WIZARD, WITH A GROAN OF PAIN, HAD LEAPT BACK LYING FULL LENGTH ON THE GROUND NEXT TO HIS SHATTERED INVENTION INITIAL HE MOUNTED IT VERY CAREFULLY SMILED AS SHE WAVED GOOD-BYE "I SUPPOSE YOU KNOW YOU'RE TRESPASSING?" MONICA THE MOON CHILD SHE WAS SOARING LIKE A BIRD RIGHT OUT INTO THE NIGHT A TINY FIGURE, NO BIGGER THAN MONICA'S DOLL ROWS UPON ROWS OF THE BEAUTIFULLEST ROSES THE MAN LIFTED HIS ARM SO THAT HIS FACE WAS ONCE MORE HIDDEN IN GLOOM _The Title-page and End-papers are by_ MR. CARTON MOORE PARK. CHAPTER I A KNOCK AT THE RED DOOR "It's a shame, Dulcie. We mayn't go out just because it's raining a few drops," said the boy at the nursery window. "Yes, a fearful shame," replied his sister. She always sympathised with him and gave in to him, right or wrong. She carefully propped her doll bolt upright on a chair and came to where he stood. "Never mind, Cyril. Let's play at something." "Yes, but I do mind. It's too bad! It's always 'you mustn't' this, 'you mustn't' that. It would be a saving of breath if they'd just say the few things that we _might_ do. Are you willing to go on putting up with it? I suppose you are, as you're only a girl." "No, I don't want to, but I've got to. Mother says it is for our good, and we are spoilt." "I don't think so at all. It's very hard lines," growled Cyril. "I'm sure the garden isn't a bit wet, and the rocks have only a sprinkle."