Christmas-Tree Land

'It seemed so at least, but in reality it was very different. Auréole had received a shock which she felt deeply, and which she could not forget. It grieved her, too, to see her...

'I hope it _was_ true,' said Maia, the first to find her tongue. 'Poor Halbert, I think he deserved to be happy at the end. I think Auréole was rather--rather--_cross_, don't yo...

It was early summer when _we_ saw them last. It is mid-winter--December--now. And winter comes in good earnest in the country where I have shown you the white castle, and told y...

----Godmother was no longer there. She and the carriage and the ponies had completely disappeared. Maia opened her eyes and mouth with amazement, and stood staring. Waldo and Si...

The next few days passed rather slowly for the children. There was no talk of another expedition to the woods. And they had a good many lessons to do, so that short walks in the...

Supper was a formal and stately affair. The children were placed one on each side of their cousin, and helped to such dishes as she considered suitable, without asking them what...

It was not their home. That was easy to be seen by the eager looks of curiosity and surprise on the two little faces inside the heavy travelling carriage. Yet the faces were gra...

Godmother turned to the little strangers. The two pairs of blue eyes were still fixed upon her. _Her_ eyes looked very kind and gentle, and yet very 'seeing', as she caught thei...

Did you ever see the sun rise? I hope so; but still I am sure you never saw it from such a point as that whereon their winged conductors gently deposited the castle and the fore...

'I've been asleep,' said the poor boy, looking rather ashamed of himself. 'What birds were they? Did you see them? I have a queer sort of feeling,' and he hesitated, looking at...

Rollo pushed a little more, and still a little. No sound was heard--no voice demanded what they wanted; they gathered courage, till at last the door stood sufficiently ajar for...

Nothing was asked of the children as to where or how they had spent their day. Lady Venelda looked at them kindly as they took their places at the supper-table, and she kissed t...