Panjandrum's Chief Cook, and that he had been to gather cabbages to make
an apple pie with."

I was about to ask how this was possible, when I caught Shin Shira's
eye, and I could see by the light in it that he was expecting me to make
some inquiry; but I was determined that he should not again have the
opportunity of remarking upon my ignorance, so I held my tongue and said
nothing, as though gathering cabbages in order to make an apple pie was
the most natural thing in the world to do.

He waited for a moment and then continued--

"I stood talking to the man for some time, and at last I asked what was
the matter with his face.

"'I've the toothache,' he said ruefully, 'and that's why I was singing;
I'm told that it's a capital remedy.'

"'I'll see if I can't find a better one,' said I, taking up this little
book, which I always carry with me." And Shin Shira held out for my
inspection a tiny volume bound in yellow leather, with golden clasps,
which was attached to his girdle by a long golden chain.

"This," he explained, "is a very remarkable book, and has been in our
family for many hundreds of years. It contains directions what to do in
any difficulty whatsoever, with the aid of the fairy power, which, as I
have told you, I inherit from my fairy ancestor.

"The only difficulty is that, as I am partly a mortal, _sometimes_
(owing perhaps to my fairy great-great-great-grandmother being in a bad