Page:On a pincushion.djvu/155

could down the long dark passage, and out into the broad daylight again, and there he sat down to think over all the strange things he had seen. He would have believed it all a dream, but for the seeds in his bosom and the rods at his side. And there, just as he had left them, were the long rows of sunflowers with the beautiful faces looking over their tops, and the white arms and hands stretching out from their sides; and then, after a few minutes, he saw the tigress coming towards him, walking very slowly, as if she had scarcely strength to move, and looking very thin.

“At last you are come,” she cried, when she saw him; “how long I have waited for you!”

“Long!” said Rupert, staring with surprise; “why, I have not been gone many hours.”

“Hours!” said the tigress, feebly; “why, you have been gone six months.”

“Six months!” cried Rupert, “and it has seemed to me like two hours.”

“But you have returned, and have brought the rod with you,” she said, joyfully. “So now all is right. But I am very hungry, for I have not been able to find any grass or herbs for a week. So now make haste and beat me at once.”