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said the tiny man, “and even then I am afraid you'd find it warm.”

“I shouldn't mind that,” said Jack. “And in your own home, where you live, is it quite red and bright, like the middle of a fire?”

“It’s a great deal better. Ah, that is worth seeing!” said the fairy, thrusting one arm over a burning coal, and skilfully balancing himself in a little jet of flame. “All round the palace where our King lives there’s flame—flame—nothing but flame for miles, and the Princess’s windows look on to burning hills. Ah, what a pity it is people are so discontented! If there is any one who ought to be happy, it’s the Princess Pyra.”

“Isn’t she happy?” asked Jack.

“Don’t be so inquisitive. She might be, if she liked.”

“Then why isn’t she ?”

“It all came of sending her to school,” said the little man, gravely. “If she'd never left her father’s palace she would never have seen him. You must know that our King and Queen have only one daughter, Princess Pyra, and of course they are very proud of her, and wished her to make a good match. A fire King, whose