"This is my place," she said, with a sort of
wonderful gladness in her tone. "This is
where I come to the fairy balls. Do you see
them?"

"See what?" whispered one tiny boy.

"The fairies."

There was a silence. The older boy pulled
at my skirt.

"Do YOU see them?" he asked, his voice
trembling with expectancy.

"Indeed," I said, "I fear I am too old and
wicked to see fairies, and yet -- are their hats
red?"

"They are," laughed my little girl. "Their
hats are red, and as small -- as small!" She
held up the pearly nail of her wee finger to
give us the correct idea.

"And their shoes are very pointed at the
toes?"

"Oh, very pointed!"