and they shouted at the sight of Teddy: "Hail to the hero! Hail to the
hero!" and Teddy knew them by their voices for the golden birds that had
fluttered around him in the garden below.

"And all this is yours," said the beautiful princess, turning toward him
with---

* * * * * * * *

"So that is the story of the yellow square," said the Counterpane Fairy.

Teddy looked about him. The golden castle was gone, and the stairs, and
the shouting courtiers. He was lying in bed with the silk coverlet over
his little knees and Hannah was still singing in the kitchen below.

"Did you like it?" asked the fairy.

Teddy heaved a deep sigh. "Oh! Wasn't it beautiful?" he said. Then he
lay for a while thinking and smiling. "Wasn't the princess lovely?" he
whispered half to himself.

The Counterpane Fairy got up slowly and stiffly, and picked up the staff
that she had laid down beside her. "Well, I must be journeying on," she
said.

"Oh, no, no!" cried Teddy. "Please don't go yet."

"Yes, I must," said the Counterpane Fairy. "I hear your mother coming."

"But will you come back again?" cried Teddy.