and he drew his fingers across my eyes, and not a ray could I
see. I kept a tight grip of him, and I little knew whether he was
going backwards or forwards, or how long we were about it, till
my hand was taken again, and I felt the ground under me. The
fingers went the other way across my eyes, and there we were
before a castle door, and in we went through a big hall and great
rooms all painted in fine green colours, with red and gold bands
and ornaments, and the finest carpets and chairs and tables and
window curtains, and grand ladies and gentlemen walking about. At
last we came to a bedroom, with a beautiful lady in bed, with a
fine bouncing boy beside her. The lady clapped her hands, and in
came the Dark Man and kissed her and the baby, and praised me,
and gave me a bottle of green ointment to rub the child all over.

'Well, the child I rubbed, sure enough; but my right eye began to
smart, and I put up my finger and gave it a rub, and then stared,
for never in all my life was I so frightened. The beautiful room
was a big, rough cave, with water oozing over the edges of the
stones and through the clay; and the lady, and the lord, and the
child weazened, poverty-bitten creatures--nothing but skin and
bone--and the rich dresses were old rags. I didn't let on that I
found any difference, and after a bit says the Dark Man, "Go
before me to the hall door, and I will be with you in a few
moments, and see you safe home." Well, just as I turned into the
outside cave, who should I see watching near the door but poor
Molly. She looked round all terrified, and says she to me in a
whisper, "I'm brought here to nurse the child of the king and
queen of the fairies; but there is one chance of saving me. All
the court will pass the cross near Templeshambo next Friday
night, on a visit to the fairies of Old Ross. If John can catch