"Very good," said the fairy. "Now I'm going to begin to count." Teddy
fixed his eyes on the square and she commenced.

Gradually he began to feel as though the white silk of the square was a
pale cloudy sky. Before him stretched a white streak, and in the
distance were some things like black squares; he did not know quite
what.

"FORTY-NINE!" cried the fairy.

When Teddy looked about him he and the Counterpane Fairy were journeying
along a dusty white road together, and the fairy looked just as any
little old woman might, except that her eyes were so bright behind her
spectacles.

Before them lay a city with black roofs and spires; there was a sound of
drums and music in the distance, and a faint noise as though a crowd of
people were shouting a great way off.

"What are they doing over there?" asked Teddy, hurrying his steps a
little. "Is it a parade?"

"No," said the fairy, "it's not a parade, but it is a grand merrymaking,
and it's because of it that I've brought you here. But I'm tired and
hungry, for we've come a long way, so let us sit down by the roadside a
bit, and while we rest I'll tell you all about the goings on and what we
have to do with them."

Teddy was quite willing, so he and the Counterpane Fairy sat down
together on the soft grass beside the road, with the mild and misty sky