hundred years old.

"Is everything packed up?" he asked in a querulous voice. Then his eyes
fell on Teddy the elf. He scowled until his little pin-pricks of eyes
almost disappeared. "Ugh! there's one of those nasty gamblesome elves,"
he said. "Now mischief's sure to follow."

"I'm not a gamblesome elf!" cried Teddy.

"Yes you are!" said the withered old fairy. "You needn't tell me! Look
at your red cap and the way your toes turn down. I say you are a
gamblesome elf."

Teddy looked at his toes and sure enough they did turn down. "I wonder
if I am a gamblesome elf," he thought.

But the old fairy paid no more attention to him. He seemed to be in a
great hurry and very cross. He bustled in and out of the knot-hole,
bringing a broom and an old coat that had been forgotten, and packed
them on the butterflies, and then he helped the lady fairy on to one,
and clambered on another himself.

After they were all ready to start he found that he had forgotten to
unhitch the butterflies, and grumbling and scolding he clambered down
again and untied them. Then he climbed back once more, and away they
flew down the hillside and out of sight, the lady fairy weeping all the
time as though her heart would break.

"I wonder what she was crying about," said the gamblesome elf to
himself, as he stared after them.