The Little House
and this had bothered them for a second, but they built a verandah round it leading to the front door. The windows were the size of a coloured picture-book and the door rather smaller, but it would be easy for her to get out by taking off the roof. The fairies, as is their custom, clapped their hands with delight over their cleverness, and they were so madly in love with the little house that they could not bear to think they had finished it. So they gave it ever so many little extra touches, and even then they added more extra touches.
For instance, two of them ran up a ladder and put on a chimney.
‘Now we fear it is quite finished,’ they sighed.
But no, for another two ran up the ladder, and tied some smoke to the chimney.
‘That certainly finishes it,’ they said reluctantly.
‘Not at all,’ cried a glow-worm; ‘if she were to wake without seeing a night-light she might be frightened, so I shall be her night-light.’
‘Wait one moment,’ said a china merchant, ‘and I shall make you a saucer.’
Now, alas! it was absolutely finished.
Oh, dear no!
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