Meg went nearer and nearer. How big and black the pot looked! “Now,” said the Gray Dwarf, “shall I put you in, or will you jump?” “Oh, I’ll jump—if I really do have to get in,” said Meg, seeming to shrink. “Well, are you ready?” asked Grump, impatiently. “Quite ready!” cried Meg, and sprang forward. But, instead of jumping into the pot, she threw herself against it with all her weight. It swayed, toppled, and then went over with an awful hiss of steam and a wild leap of wicked, green fire. Meg heard the Gray Dwarf scream with fury and cry: “My power is gone! My magic is gone! What shall I do?” He was just in front of her, and tried to stop her with a snarl of rage. But she was bigger than he was, and stronger now, and she pushed him away, and plunged past him into the dark passage-way once more. On—on—up—up she struggled, leaving the green light and Grump’s cries farther and farther behind her. She breathed the damp, earthy air with joy in spite of its heavy closeness. On—on—up—up!... Suddenly she was in the outer air again, blinking and gasping and covered with clinging earth. At first she was so glad to be safe that she noticed nothing remarkable; but after a moment she cried out with surprise. The Wonderful Wood had entirely disappeared, and she was standing in a great meadow filled with rainbow flowers more lovely than any mortal ever saw before! [Illustration] VIII _The Court of the Fairy Queen_ [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER VIII _The Court of the Fairy Queen_ At first Meg thought she was alone, but soon she saw a lady standing near, picking pale yellow blossoms. She wore a green gown, and her feet were bare. On her bright hair was a little crown that seemed made of wee gold stars, and her face was very grave and sweet. Meg went up to her timidly. “Please,” she said with a catch in her voice, “will you tell me the way to Fairyland? I—I’m in a great hurry.” “What do you want to do in Fairyland?” said the lady, kindly. “Are you in trouble?” “N-n-o—that is, a little. I want to tell the Fairy Queen something she ought to know. And I want to let Mother Goose know how sorry I am that I was disobedient and naughty, and of course if I could I should like to help Dick save Humpty Dumpty.” “You look sad,” said the lady, and put her arm about Meg. “I want Bab and Dick,—that’s all,” said Meg, simply. “And—and—of course I’m sorry, and—and _worried_ about things, you know.” The lady smiled quite merrily. Then she lifted Meg in her arms and kissed her softly. “Dear little girl!” she said. “Sweet Meg! you have had a harder journey than Bab, but you are at the end of it.” “Who—who are you, please?” whispered Meg, wondering that she knew their names. “You may call me the Lady of Dreams-Come-True,” said the green-gowned stranger. “But that is not my name. Now run along quickly to the Court of the Fairies.” “Oh, but I am so dusty and dirty!” exclaimed Meg. “I can’t go to Court this way!”