"Won't someone rob the house while she's asleep?" asked the child
anxiously.

"No, dear. My charm will protect the house from any intrusion."

"That's fine!" exclaimed Trot in delight.

"It's jes' won-erful!" said Cap'n Bill. "I wish I knew it was so.
Trot's mother has a awful sharp tongue when she's worried."

"You may see for yourselves," declared the Queen, and waved her hand
again. At once they saw before them the room in the cottage, with
Mayre's mother asleep by the window. Her knitting was in her lap,
and the cat lay curled up beside her chair. It was all so natural
that Trot thought she could hear the clock over the fireplace tick.
After a moment the scene faded away, when the queen asked with
another smile, "Are you satisfied?"

"Oh yes!" cried Trot. "But how could you do it?"

"It is a form of mirage," was the reply. "We are able to bring any
earth scene before us whenever we wish. Sometimes these scenes are
reflected above the water so that mortals also observe them."

"I've seen 'em," said Cap'n Bill, nodding. "I've seen mirages, but I
never knowed what caused 'em afore now."

"Whenever you see anything you do not understand and wish to ask
questions, I will be very glad to answer them," said the Queen.