Princess! Was she only the doll that Harriett had forgotten the night
before and that Teddy had set up against his knees to watch the show?
Were the streets only black and white silk?

There he was, back in his own room with the little wooden soldiers and
the paper circus. There was the square of silk with the book under it,
and the Counterpane Fairy sitting on his knees.

"Oh! but, Counterpane Fairy," cried Teddy, "what became of us? Did we
get away? Oh, I didn't want to come out of the story just yet!"

"Why, of course you escaped," said the fairy. "How could the King stop
you after you had changed his soldiers into wood?"

"And what became of you?" asked Teddy.

"Oh, I took the clown's cap," said the fairy, "for it was the
wishing-cap, and fast as you and the Princess rode back to the country
of King Whitebeard I was there before you."

Teddy thought for a while and then he heaved a deep sigh. "I wish I
really had a circus horse," he said, "and could ride round and have all
the people watching and shouting. But what did the Princess say when she
found I had rescued her?"

"Hark!" said the fairy, "isn't that your mother coming along the hall?
I must be going. Oh, my poor bones! What a hill it is to go down! Oh
dear, dear, dear!"