considerable art, the fringed ends hanging from either shoulder, and
making, to her mind, a fair substitute for wings. "See!" she cried,
running to and fro, and glancing backward as she ran. "They wave!
they really do wave! Look, Mrs. Neptune! aren't they lovely? But you
are envious, and that is why you look so cross. 'Merrily, merrily,
shall I live now, under the blossom that hangs on the bough.'" She
leaped and danced about the room, light and radiant as a creature
of another world: then stopped, to survey with frowning brows her
little blue stockings and stout laced boots. "Ariel _never_ wore such
things as those!" she declared; "if you say she did, Mrs. Neptune,
you show your ignorance, and that is all I have to say to you." Off
came the shoes and stockings, and the little white feet were certainly
much prettier to look at. "Now," cried Star, "I will go down-stairs
and wait for Daddy Captain, and perhaps he will think I am a real
fairy. Oh, wouldn't that be fun? I am _sure_ I look like one!" and
down the stairs she flitted like a golden butterfly. Once in the
kitchen, the housewife in her triumphed for a moment over the fairy:
she raked up the fire, put on more wood, and swept the hearth
daintily. "But Ariel did such things for Prospero," she said. "I'm
Ariel just the same, so I may as well fill the kettle and put some
apples down to roast." This was soon done, and clapping her hands
with delight the "tricksy spirit" began to dance and frolic anew.

"'Come unto these yellow sands,
And then take hands!'"

she sang, holding out her hands to invisible companions.

"'Courtesied when ye have, and kissed
(The wild waves whist!)