"I _must_ try and find my way to Grandfather," repeated Rosella falteringly, realising that she didn't know in the least how to proceed. She never had a notion that a Snow Castle was so intricate inside, with a hall, a lift, a grotto, and things; indeed, she had always imagined for no particular reason that it had no inside at all; "but of course," she now argued, "if it has an outside it _must_ have an inside, or it wouldn't be an outside." But it was much more startling when she looked up and found that she was by no means alone: the cobwebs were all inhabited. Inhabited--not by ugly spiders, but by the wee-est little baby-fairies with the wee-est gossamer wings, swaying in their cobweb hammocks in all attitudes, fast asleep, soothed by the lullaby hummed by the wind. "This must be where they are bred!" cried Rosella, in an ecstasy of admiration and delight. "This is Fairy Spring's nursery," explained a beautiful Sprite, appearing suddenly at her elbow like a little bright sunbeam. "King Frost is the ground landlord, you know, and allows all her young things to sleep here and keep warm." "And who are you, please?" inquired the Sprite's young visitor. "I am Love of Goodwill, and my father's name is Christmas." "I know you by name quite well, and am so glad to see you. Perhaps you would kindly help me to find my way?" "If you keep on going to the right, when you see the snowdrops' mother, there you will find your landmark." "Oh, do please tell me more clearly. What did you say? Tell me where I"--but Rosella was again alone in the green grotto with the sleeping baby-fairies in their swaying hammocks, and the soft music of the wind. "Surely there can't be any grown-up snowdrops at Christmas--it's too early!--and I shall be losing my way for weeks!" continued Rosella. Nevertheless, she kept on turning to the right through upward passages first of rock, then of sand, in which were embedded deep growing roots, then of soil with its minerals, broken up leaves, and corpses of insects which she didn't like at all; then through a passage lined with true red soil, where little grubs were lying fast asleep in their nests. "You ugly grubby little things!" remarked Rosella as she passed them. "They are only lying low at present. They will be lovely Painted Ladies and visit the court of Fairy Spring," replied Love of Goodwill, hovering again at her side. "And look! There are the baby snowdrops asleep in their earthy cots. They, too, will awake soon and get up. I helped their mother to get up as she was in such a hurry to see the world. I'm afraid she will have got nipped by King Frost for her impatience. Farewell--I must go and see what is happening."