Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno.djvu/253

XVI] With this object I purposely made a considerable circuit on my way to the Hall (as we called the Earl's house): "and if I could only manage to lose my way a bit," I thought to myself, "that would suit me capitally!"

In this I succeeded better, and sooner, than I had ventured to hope for. The path through the wood had been made familiar to me, by many a solitary stroll, in my former visit to Elveston; and how I could have so suddenly and so entirely lost it——even though I was so engrossed in thinking of Arthur and his lady-love that I heeded little else——was a mystery to me. "And this open place," I said to myself, "seems to have some memory about it I cannot distinctly recall——surely it is the very spot where I saw those Fairy-Children! But I hope there are no snakes about!" I mused aloud, taking my seat on a fallen tree. "I certainly do not like snakes——and I don't suppose Bruno likes them, either!"

"No, he doesn't like them!" said a demure little voice at my side. "He's not afraid of them, you know. But he doesn't like them. He says they're too waggly!"

Q