brown staff, and all. She sat down with her staff in her hand and nodded
to him, smiling. "Good-morning," she said.

"Good-morning," said Teddy. "Mrs. Fairy, I was wondering whether you
wouldn't like it if I kept my knees down, and then there wouldn't be any
hill."

"No," said the fairy, "I like to be up high so that I can look about me,
only it's hard climbing sometimes. Now, how about a story? Would you
like to see one to-day?"

"Oh, yes!" cried Teddy. "Indeed, I would."

"Then which square will you choose? Make haste, for I haven't much
time."

"I think I'll take that red one," said Teddy.

"Very good," said the fairy, and then she began to count.

As she counted, the red square spread and glowed until it seemed to
Teddy that he was wrapped in a mist of ruddy light. Through it he heard
the voice of the Counterpane Fairy counting on and on, and as she
counted he heard, with her voice, another sound,--at first very
faintly, then more and more clearly: clink-clank! clink-clank!
clink-clank! It reminded him a little of the ticking of the clock on the
mantle, only it was more metallic.

"FORTY-NINE!" cried the Counterpane Fairy, clapping her hands.