“Yes!” said the fairy, solemnly, half to herself, as she closed the wonderful book. “Folks say now that I can make beasts into men, by circumstance, and selection, and competition, and so forth. Well, perhaps they are right; and perhaps, again, they are wrong. That is one of the seven things which I am forbidden to tell, till the coming of the Cocqcigrues; and, at all events, it is no concern of theirs. Whatever their ancestors were, men they are; and I advise them to behave as such, and act accordingly. But let them recollect this, that there are two sides to every question, and a downhill as well as an uphill road; and, if I can turn beasts into men, I can, by the same laws of circumstance, and selection, and competition, turn men into beasts. You were very near being turned into a beast once or twice, little Tom. Indeed, if you had not made up your mind to go on this journey, and see the world, like an Englishman, I am not sure but that you would have ended as an eft in a pond.” “Oh, dear me!” said Tom; “sooner than that, and be all over slime, I’ll go this minute, if it is to the world’s end.” [Picture: Newt] CHAPTER VII “And Nature, the old Nurse, took The child upon her knee, Saying, ‘Here is a story book Thy father hath written for thee. “‘Come wander with me,’ she said, ‘Into regions yet untrod, And read what is still unread In the Manuscripts of God.’ “And he wandered away and away With Nature, the dear old Nurse, Who sang to him night and day The rhymes of the universe.” LONGFELLOW. [Picture: Tom about to dive] “NOW,” said Tom, “I am ready be off, if it’s to the world’s end.” “Ah!” said the fairy, “that is a brave, good boy. But you must go farther than the world’s end, if you want to find Mr. Grimes; for he is at the Other-end-of-Nowhere. You must go to Shiny Wall, and through the white gate that never was opened; and then you will come to Peacepool, and Mother Carey’s Haven, where the good whales go when they die. And there Mother Carey will tell you the way to the Other-end-of-Nowhere, and there you will find Mr. Grimes.” “Oh, dear!” said Tom. “But I do not know my way to Shiny Wall, or where it is at all.” “Little boys must take the trouble to find out things for themselves, or they will never grow to be men; so that you must ask all the beasts in the sea and the birds in the air, and if you have been good to them, some of them will tell you the way to Shiny Wall.” “Well,” said Tom, “it will be a long journey, so I had better start at once. Good-bye, Miss Ellie; you know I am getting a big boy, and I must go out and see the world.” “I know you must,” said Ellie; “but you will not forget me, Tom. I shall wait here till you come.”