'Will you like me a little instead?'

'I might do that,' she replied reluctantly.

'And you won't never say you don't believe father's story?'

'I aren't going to promise.'

Then, as the very last bite was taken of the apple, she added, 'I'll hear
some more of your stories first. I want to hear one now. Sally White told
me at school you know all about fairies.'

Teddy nodded impressively, then said slowly, 'I make believe I do, but I
don't make believe father's story.'

'Tell me a story now.'

Teddy clasped his hands round a bough, and with knitted brows considered.
Then he looked up, and the light sparkled in his eyes.

'Shall I tell you about when I went into an oak-tree, and found a little
door leading down some steps that took me to the goblin's cave?'

This sounded enchanting, and Nancy eagerly prepared herself to listen.
Such a story was then poured out that it held her spell-bound. Goblins,
elves, and fairies, underground glories, thrilling adventures and
escapes. Was it any wonder that with such a gift for story-telling Teddy
was the king of the village? It came to an end at last, and Nancy drew a
long breath of relief and content when she heard the concluding