THE BOOK OF BETTY BARBER.
“Of course,” said Easter.
“One moment,” said Summer.
And the three fairies swung themselves down from the tree and hurried away.
“Where are they off to, this time?” said the Fraction. “They only mean mischief, let us all set to work to pick up the bits before the fairies come back.”
And all the figures, Lucy, Minora, and Miss Crimson Lake set to work with a will.
“I think,” said Half-term, sitting down, for once, “you are wasting your time. My charming sisters have gone to fetch a friend, who will do the work much better. Ah, I thought so. Here he comes. If you will take my advice, you will all lie flat on your faces.”
Father William lay down, but the others took no notice.
Then, suddenly, the pieces of paper began to run along the round.
“A wind getting up,” said Thirteen-fourteenths.
But as he spoke the wind grew stronger and stronger. The trees tossed their branches, showers of twigs and leaves tumbled to the ground, the wind howled and whistled; but through all the noise the shouting and laughing of the three sisters could be heard.
Lucy, Minora, and all the others were glad to take Half-term’s advice, and lie flat on the ground.
“What a wind!” whispered Thirteen-fourteenths.
“It is going away,” whispered Lucy.
And, as suddenly as it had risen, the wind died away.
“It’s all right, he’s gone,” cried Half-term.
And one after another Lucy, the Fraction, Minora, and the others raised their heads, and looked about them.
“What’s that?” cried Ellessdee, pointing to something black and white lying on the ground beneath a tree.
“I believe it’s the piece of my jacket,” said Thirteen-fourteenths. “The wind has blown it down.”
129
