had a pretty fair supply of fresh ones, except for a week or twoabout Christmas time. How should I have known that this year would bedifferent from other years? If you are so wonderfully wise, why did younot bring Strawberry indoors a month sooner than usual? It is evidentthat she has caught cold. You need not sneer at my eggs when you countyour pats of butter. Why, there are not above half what you had twomonths ago."
"When you manage your own affairs properly, you may find fault withmine," said Arminel snappishly.
And they felt so unamiable towards each other that all the way to marketand back they walked on separate sides of the road without speaking aword.
Such a state of things had never been known before.
It was late when they got home that afternoon, and being a dull andcloudy day it was almost dark. The poor girls felt tired and unhappy,for each was sad with the double sadness of having to bear her troublesalone. And besides this, there is nothing more tiring than ill-temper.
Arminel sat down weariedly on a chair. The fire was out; the cottagefelt very chilly; the one little candle which Chloe had lighted gave buta feeble ray. Arminel sighed deeply. Chloe, whose heart was very soft,felt sorry for her, and setting down her basket began to see to thefire.
"Leave it alone," said her sister. "We may as well go to bed withoutany supper. I'm too tired to eat; and it's just as well to getaccustomed to scanty fare. It is what is before us, I suppose."
"You need not be quite so downhearted," said Chloe, persevering in herefforts. "Things may mend again. I sold my eggs for more than everbefore. It seems that everybody's hens are doing badly. I'll have thefire burning in a minute, and some nice hot coffee ready, and thenyou'll feel better."
But Arminel was not to be so easily consoled.
"If you've done well with your eggs it's more than I did with mybutter," she said. "Dame Margery, the housekeeper from the castle, saysshe'll take no more from me if I can't promise as much as last year.She doesn't like to go changing about for her butter, she says; and minewas enough for the ladies."
"I'm sure you've enough for two ladies still," said Chloe.
"Yes; but if I don't keep a little for my other customers, they won'tcome back to me when I have plenty again," answered her sister, whoseemed determined to look on the black side of things.
Then, unluckily, in spite of Chloe's care, the cold and the damp of thechimney made the fire smoke; great clouds puffed out, almost filling thekitchen.
"I wish you had let me go to bed," said Arminel hastily; and Chloe'spatience being exhausted, she retorted by calling her sister unkind andungrateful.
The smoke was very disagreeable, no doubt. Arminel opened the windowwide to let it clear off. The wind was blowing from the forest whichlay on this side of the house. All looked dark and gloomy, and Arminelgave a little shiver as she glanced out. Suddenly she started.
"Chloe," she said, "did you hear that?"
"What?" said Chloe.
"A cry--yes, there it is again, as if some one was in great trouble."
Chloe heard it too, but she was feeling rather sulky and contradictory.
"It's nothing," she said. "Only a hare or some wild creature; theyoften scream," and she turned back to the table where she was preparingcoffee.
But though the room was now pretty clear of smoke and the fire wasbehaving better, Arminel did not close the window. She still stood byit listening. And again there came the strange shrill yet feeble cry,telling unmistakably of anguish, or whether of beast or man no one couldhave told. And this time Chloe stood still with the kettle in her hand,more startled than she had been before.
"Sister," said Arminel decidedly, "that is not the squeal of a hare; itis something worse. Perhaps some child from the town may have strayedinto the forest and got benighted. It is possible at least. And theforest is not like other places. Who knows what might happen to oneastray there?"
"What could we do in such a case?" said Chloe. "We're notall-powerful." She spoke more out of a little remaining temper thanfrom cowardice or indifference, for like her sister she was both braveand kind.
"Remember what our grandmother said," said Arminel, and she repeated thegrandmother's words: "`Never hang back from doing a kind action; no harmcan come to you while you love each other and do your duty.' I am goingalone to the forest if you will not come," she went on, and she turnedtowards the door as she spoke.
"Of course I will come with you," said Chloe, reaching down her mantleand hood which she had hung up on a nail. "Close the window, Arminel,"she said. "I'll leave the coffee on the hob. The fire is burningnicely now, and we shall find it bright and warm when we come back."
As they stepped outside, closing the door behind them, the cry broke outagain. Tired though they were with their long day at market, thesisters set off running. Two or three fields lay between them and theedge of the wood, and part of the way the ground was very rough, butthey were nimble and sure-footed. And ever as they ran came the cries,feebler yet more distinct, and before long they could distinguish thewords, "Help! comrades, help!"
"It is not a hare, you see," said Arminel.
"No, indeed," answered Chloe, and both felt a thrill of fear, thoughthey only ran the faster.
The cries, though now they grew rarer, becoming indeed mingled withgroans, still served to guide them. Soon they were in the midst of thetrees, making their way more by a sort of instinct, for it was almostdark. Suddenly a ray of moonlight glimmered through the firs, and a fewpaces in front of them they saw lying on the ground a small dark objectwrithing and groaning.
Just here the trees were not so thick. It was like a little clearing.The girls stepped onwards cautiously, catching hold of each other.
"It is--" whispered Arminel--"Oh, Chloe, it is one of the dwarfs."
"Courage," murmured Chloe in return, though her own heart was beatingvery fast. "He seems in no state to hurt us now, if only it be not atrick."
The groans had ceased, and when they got close to the strange figure onthe ground it seemed quite motionless. The moonlight had grownstronger. They stooped down and examined the dwarf. His eyes wereclosed; his face was wrinkled and brown; he was brown all over. He worea furry coat, much the same colour as his own skin.
Arminel lifted one of his queer clawlike hands; it fell down again byhis side.
"I believe he is dead," she said. "I didn't know the dwarfs ever coulddie. What shall we do, Chloe? We cannot leave him here, in case heshould be still living."
"We must carry him home, I'm afraid," said Chloe. "Yes, I'm afraid wemust, for see, Arminel, he's opening his eyes," as two bright blackbeads suddenly glanced up at them.
"Nimbo, Hugo," said a weak, hoarse little voice. "Are you there? No,"and the dwarf opened his eyes more widely, and tried to sit up. "No,"he went on, "it is not my comrades! Who are you?" and he shuddered asif with fear.
CHAPTER FIVE.
THE STORY OF THE THREE WISHES--CONTINUED.
It was indeed a turning of the tables for a dwarf to be afraid of them.It gave the sisters courage to speak to him. "We heard your cries,"said Arminel. "Ever so far off in our cottage across the fields weheard them. What is the matter? Have you hurt yourself?" The littleman groaned.
"I have had a fall," he said, "from a branch of the tree under which Iam lying. I climbed up to shake down some large fir-cones, and lost myfooting. I have hurt myself sadly. I feel bruised all over. How Ishall ever get back to my comrades I do not know," and again he groaned.
He was not a very courageous dwarf evidently; perhaps the courage of therace had been lost with its stature! But the sisters felt very sorryfor him.
"Have you broken any bones, do you think?" said Chloe, who was verypractical.
The dwarf turned and twisted himself about with many sighs and moans.
"No," said he, "I think I am only bruised and terribly cold. I havebeen lying here so long, so long. I cannot go home; they are miles awayin the centre of the forest."
"You must come home with us," they said, speaking together. "We can atleast give you shelter and warmth, and a night's rest may do you muchgood."
"There is the salve for bruises which granny taught us to make," addedChloe.
"We have some of it by us, I know." The dwarf gave a sigh of relief.
"Maidens," he said, "you shall never have cause to regret your kindness.I know your cottage. We have often watched you when you little knewit. I think I could make shift to walk there if you will each give mean arm." They got him to his feet with some difficulty. He was sosmall, hardly reaching up to their elbows, that it ended in their almostcarrying him between them. And they seemed to get home much morequickly than they had come, even though they walked slowly. The dwarfknew every step of the way, and his queer bead-like eyes pierced throughthe darkness as if it had been noonday.
"A little to the right," he would say, or, "a few paces to the left, theground is better."
And almost before they knew where they were they found themselves beforetheir own door. The wind had gone down, all was peaceful and still, andinside the kitchen was a picture of comfort, the fire burning red andcheerily.
"Ah," said the little man, when they had settled him on a stool in frontof the hearth, "this is good!" and he stretched out his small brownhands to the ruddy glow. "It is long since I have seen such a fire, andvery long since I have been in a room like this." But then he grewquite silent, and the sisters did not like to ask him what he meant.
Chloe busied herself with the coffee which boiled up in no time; and inthe larder, to her surprise, when she went in to fetch a loaf of breadintended for the sisters' supper, she found a pat of butter and a jug ofcream which she had not known were there. She was very pleased, forboth she and Arminel had hospitable hearts, and she would have beensorry to have had nothing for their guest but dry bread and skim-milkcoffee.
"Arminel," she said, as she came back into the kitchen, "you hadforgotten this cream and butter, fortunately so, for now we can give ourfriend a nice supper."
Arminel looked quite astonished.
"I took all the butter there was with me to market this morning, and Inever keep cream except for our Sunday treat."
But there was another surprise in store.
Arminel in her turn went into the larder.
"Chloe!" she called out, "see what _you_ have forgotten. Eggs!" and sheheld up three large, beautiful brown eggs.
"I don't know where they have come from," said Chloe. "I'm certain theywere not there when I packed my basket. Besides, none of my hens layeggs of that colour."
"Never mind," said the dwarf; "here they are, and that is enough. Weshall now have an omelette for supper. An omelette and hot coffee!That is a supper for a king."
He seemed to be getting quite bright and cheerful, and complained nomore of his bruises as he sat there basking in the pleasant warmth ofthe fire. Supper was soon ready, and the three spent a pleasantevening; the little man asking the sisters many questions about theirlife and occupations. They told him all about their present troubles,and he told them to keep up heart, and never forget their goodgrandmother's counsel.
"Did you know our grandmother?" they asked in surprise.
"I have heard of her," was all he said; and though they were curious toknow more, they did not venture to question him further.
After supper they made up a bed for him on the kitchen settle, where hesaid he was sure he would sleep most comfortably.
"And now farewell," he added; "I shall be off in the morning before youare stirring. Your kindness has so refreshed me that I feel sure Ishall be able to make my way home without difficulty."
He gave a little sigh as he spoke.
"I would fain do what I can in return for your goodness," he continued."Some things are still in my power. I can give you three wishes which,under certain conditions, will be fulfilled."
The sisters' eyes sparkled with delight.
"Oh, thank you a thousand times," they said. "Pray tell us what we mustdo, and we will follow your orders exactly."
"Three wishes between you are all I can give," he replied. "One each,and the fulfilment of these depends upon the third, to which a secret isattached, and this secret you must discover for yourselves. The key ofit is, I trust, in your own hearts."
"We will do our best to find it," said Arminel. "If it has to do withour love for each other you may trust us. Chloe and I never quarrel."
But suddenly, as she said this, the remembrance of that day struck her,and she grew red, feeling the dwarfs eyes fixed upon her.
"At least," she added hurriedly, "I should say we seldom quarrel, thoughI'm afraid our anxieties lately have not sweetened our tempers."
"Beware, then, for the future," said the dwarf. "All will depend onyourselves."
The sisters went to bed full of eagerness and hopefulness, longing forthe next day to come that they might decide how to use their strangefriend's gift.
"I shall not be able to sleep," said Arminel; "my head is so full of thethree wishes."
"And so is mine," said her sister.
"You shall have the first, Arminel, and I the second. The third will bethe one to ponder over."
"I shall have no difficulty in deciding," said Arminel. "And you,Chloe, being the younger, must, of course, be guided partly by myadvice."
"I don't see that at all," said Chloe. "The dwarf said nothing aboutelder or younger, and--"
At this moment a loud snore from the kitchen reminded them that theirguest was still there.
"Dear, dear," said Chloe. "What would he think if he heard us beginningto quarrel already? We must beware."
But Arminel was not so ready to give in, and there is no saying whatmight not have befallen, had it not happened that the moment her headtouched the pillow she fell fast asleep. And Chloe quickly followed herexample.
They awoke later than usual the next morning, feeling quite rested andrefreshed.
"I never slept so soundly in my life," said Arminel. "I suppose it waswith being so tired."
"I don't know," said Chloe. "I have an idea that our friend hadsomething to do with our falling asleep so quickly to prevent usquarrelling. Now, Arminel, whatever we do, let us remember hiswarning."
"Of course, I don't want to quarrel," her sister replied. "We didn'tneed the dwarf to come here to tell us to be good friends. But, afterall, his promise of fulfilling our wishes may be nonsense. I long totest it. I wonder if he is still there, by the bye."
No, he was gone; the little bed they had made up for him on the settle,of some extra blankets and pillows, was neatly folded away. The firewas already lighted and burning brightly, the kettle singing on thehearth--the room showed signs of having been carefully swept and dusted,and the window was slightly open to admit a breath of the fresh morningair.
"Good little dwarf!" exclaimed Arminel. "I wish he would pay us a visitoften if he helps us so nicely with our work."
They sat down to breakfast in the best of spirits; and when the meal wasover, and they went out, they found that the dwarf's good offices hadnot been confined to the house. The cow was carefully foddered, andlooking most prosperous and comfortable--the poultry had been seen to,the hen-house cleaned out, and already, early as it was, several lovelycream white eggs had been laid in the nests.
All this was very encouraging. "There can be no sort of doubt," saidChloe, "that our friend, dwarf though he be, has a kind heart and magicpower. I feel certain his promises are to be relied upon. Butremember, Arminel, the first two wishes will be no good unless we agreeabout the third. What shall we do?"
"I propose," sa
id Arminel, who had plenty of good sense, "that we goabout our work as usual till this evening. Then each of us will havehad time to decide as to her own wish, and each of us can proposesomething for the third. As to the third, we can then consulttogether."
To this Chloe agreed.
They spoke little to each other during the day, but when the light beganto fail their work was over. They sat down together by the fire.
"Now for a good talk," said Chloe. "We have the whole evening beforeus."
"Five minutes would be enough for me," said Arminel. "I've got my wishcut and dry. I have been longing to tell you all day, but I thought itbest to keep to our determination of this morning."
"How strange!" said Chloe. "I am just in the same condition. I decidedupon my wish almost immediately. Tell me what yours is, and I will tellyou mine."
"My wish," said Arminel, "is to have a cow. A dun-coloured cow I thinkI should prefer--I can picture her so sweet and pretty--who would givemilk all the year round without ever running short."
"Excellent," cried Chloe; "my wish goes well with yours. For what Iwant is a
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