The Queen of the Fairies had sent an order for rose-coloured shoes, dozens and dozens of pairs. She wanted all the Court to wear rose-coloured shoes at her next party, and her next party was to take place in three days. “We could get the work done,” said the Chief Goblin anxiously, “it isn’t that. But we haven’t got the material. You see, the roses aren’t out yet. There’s been a great run on pink lately and we’ve used up all the pink flowers and all our other stuffs of that colour. We’ve scarcely got an inch of rose-colour of any kind, and we ought to start at once. It’ll take us all our time to get them made. It would be dreadful to disappoint the Queen. What are we to do?” The Rainbow Cat was more than willing to help, but he felt that it was a difficult matter. “How soon must you have the stuff?” he asked. “This afternoon would be the very latest,” said the goblin. “I’ll see what I can do,” said the Rainbow Cat. “I have an idea or two. Don’t worry, it’ll be all right. Meet me here at noon, and I’ll let you know what I’ve done.” The Chief Goblin went away feeling considerably relieved. The Rainbow Cat seemed so wise, just the kind of person to think of something helpful in an emergency. And sure enough at twelve o’clock he came to meet the Chief of the Goblins with a cheerful twinkle in his dark blue eye. “I’ve been making a few inquiries,” he said. “But I want to make sure that my information is correct. Sit down, and let us have a little quiet talk.” The Chief of the Goblins sat down and waited eagerly. He felt more and more hopeful. “Is it true,” said the Rainbow Cat, “is it true that the crooked hawthorn tree in the Weeshy Glen is very bad-tempered?” “Quite true,” said the Chief Goblin. “Nobody dares go near him, he’s such a cross, cantankerous creature. Lots of the hawthorns are very nice indeed, and we’re very fond of them. But he’s unbearable. He’ll give any one a nasty scratch if he gets half a chance, he’s so spiteful.” “Is it true,” continued the Rainbow Cat, “that he’s jealous of the other trees because he can’t grow tall and big like them, and reach up to the sky?” “Quite true,” said the Chief Goblin. “He makes every one round him miserable with his grumbling and scolding.” “H’m,” said the Rainbow Cat, and he folded his arms and sat lost in thought for a few minutes. “Would the petals of the hawthorn tree do to make fairy shoes of?” he said at last. “Beautifully,” said the Chief Goblin. “But they’re white.” (For at that time all hawthorn blossom was white, both in Fairyland and everywhere else.) “Quite true,” said the Rainbow Cat. “Can you lend me a mandolin?” “Yes, I think I can,” said the goblin, and he ran off and came back very soon with a beautiful mandolin all inlaid with silver and ivory and mother-of-pearl.