Then Meg remembered her real errand, and explained at greater length, telling all about Mother Goose’s directions, and everything from the very beginning. At last it was all told, and the Queen sat for a space in silence, as though considering what she had heard. At last she sent two of the Fairies for the crystal box containing the spell. When they returned, bearing it between them, she opened the little casket, and took out of it a roll of paper as blue as the sky, covered with writing that glowed like orange fire. “Listen,” said the Fairy Queen, and then read aloud: “‘Closed door, closed shell, Locked box, sealed well, Shot bolt, shut gate Yield up your contents straight. All things that fastened are, Shake off the spell or bar; All strange disguises flee, Everything held,—go free! Closed door, closed shell, Yield to the opening spell!’ Now, do you understand that?” “I—I think so—partly,” said Meg, doubtfully. “But what am I to do with it, please?” “Take it to your brother,” said the Queen. “With it he can free Humpty Dumpty, and fulfil Mother Goose’s command. He has only to read it to Humpty Dumpty, at the same time striking the great egg-shell with something hard and sharp, and the young prince will be free, and in his own shape once more.” “Oh, splendid!” cried Meg joyfully, clapping her hands, and dancing first on one foot and then on the other. “The next difficulty,” continued the Queen, “will be for your brother to escape. Humpty Dumpty can escape from the wall well enough, but your brother cannot be freed by the spell, for he will be neither bound nor locked up; in neither shell, prison, nor box; behind no gate, no door, and no bars. Yet he will be on the top of the city wall, which is near the ground on the inside, but far, far from it on the outside. For this he has only to whisper ‘Help me!’ into one of the red flowers on the vine that grows on the outer side of the wall. Then he can clamber down by the help of these tiny climbing creepers. They are Fairy Flowers, and like to give aid. They cannot grow inside the city of the Wicked King, but they come as near as possible, and are always hoping that some day they may be able to help someone. Now, little Mortal, take my spell and hurry back with it!” “Oh, but—your Majesty!” stammered Meg. “I—I was told to serve you for a year and a day, or until I had done you some great service!” The Queen laughed until it sounded like a hundred little gold bells. “Dear child, you have served me,” she said. “Have you already forgotten the warning you gave me?” “Oh!” exclaimed Meg, and was dumb. She had never thought of that! [Illustration] IX _Under the Sea of Glass_ [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER IX _Under the Sea of Glass_