himself had helped you, you couldn't have managed better! You've broken
the Hills--you've broken the Hills! It hasn't happened in a thousand
years.'

'We--we didn't mean to,' said Una.

'Of course you didn't! That's just why you did it. Unluckily the Hills
are empty now, and all the People of the Hills are gone. I'm the only
one left. I'm Puck, the oldest Old Thing in England, very much at your
service if--if you care to have anything to do with me. If you don't, of
course you've only to say so, and I'll go.'

He looked at the children, and the children looked at him for quite half
a minute. His eyes did not twinkle any more. They were very kind, and
there was the beginning of a good smile on his lips.

Una put out her hand. 'Don't go,' she said. 'We like you.'

'Have a Bath Oliver,' said Dan, and he passed over the squashy envelope
with the eggs.

'By Oak, Ash and Thorn,' cried Puck, taking off his blue cap, 'I like
you too. Sprinkle a plenty salt on the biscuit, Dan, and I'll eat it
with you. That'll show you the sort of person I am. Some of us'--he went
on, with his mouth full--'couldn't abide Salt, or Horse-shoes over a
door, or Mountain-ash berries, or Running Water, or Cold Iron, or the
sound of Church Bells. But I'm Puck!'

He brushed the crumbs carefully from his doublet and shook hands.