"I'd rather have a paper circus," said Teddy.

"Very well," said mamma, "I'll bring you a circus instead." Then she
gave him some picture-books to look at while she was out, and kissed him
good-bye, telling him to be a good boy.

She went out through the next room, and he heard her pause to wind the
music-box and set it playing. "There," she called back to him, "you'll
have the music to keep you company," and then she went on down-stairs.

After she had gone Teddy lay fingering the books and not caring to open
them, he knew them so well. "Oh dear!" he sighed, "I wish the
Counterpane Fairy was here!"

"Oh dear, dear, dear! How steep this hill is!" said a little voice just
back of his knees. "Don't break, me little staff, or down I'll go, head
over heels to the bottom." Teddy knew the voice well, and his heart gave
a leap of pleasure. There was the pointed cap and the withered face of
the Counterpane Fairy just appearing above the counterpane hill.

"Oh, Mrs. Fairy, I'm so glad you came, and I have the loveliest square
picked out!" cried Teddy. "I hadn't seen it before, because it was the
other side of my knees. It's that white one with the silver leaves on
it, and my mamma says it was a scrap left from her wedding dress."

"Wait, wait," said the fairy, "till a body gets her breath. Now which
one is it?"

"It's that one," said Teddy. "Will you tell me about it?"