Teddy lay there for what seemed to him a long time. The house was very
still, and the afternoon sun shone in through the slats of the shutters
in golden chinks and lines.

Teddy wondered where mamma was, and why she didn't come back, for it
seemed to him that he had been alone almost all the afternoon, though
really it had not been for long.

Presently he heard someone humming cheerfully back of the counterpane
hill, and as soon as he heard it he felt sure that the Counterpane Fairy
must be coming.

Sure enough in a few minutes she appeared at the top and stood looking
down at him with a pleasant smile. "Oh, Mrs. Fairy, I knew that was
you!" cried Teddy.

"Did you?" said the fairy, sitting down on top of his knees. "And then
did you think, 'Now I shall see another story'?"

"Oh, yes!" cried Teddy, eagerly. 'I hoped you would show me one."

"Then I suppose I'll have to," said the fairy. "And what square shall
it be this time?"

"There's one close by you," said Teddy, "and it's most every color, like
a rainbow. Will you show me that story?"

"Yes," said the fairy, "I'll show you that. Now fix your eyes on it."
Then she began to count.