Page:Fairy Book by Sophie May.djvu/154

144 Reginald, you will let me change you into a charming green snake."

"Alas!" cried Zora, turning pale, "who ever heard of such a cruel request?"

"Cruel, am I?" said the goblin in delight.

"Oh, I must seem cruel to one who is so gentle and lovely as Hilda!"

"Alas," cried Zora, "I may fail to win Prince Reginald."

"All the better," chuckled the fairy. "When you become a snake, you and I shall enjoy each other's society, I assure you."

Zora shuddered.

"But it's all one to me," added the goblin, beginning to yawn. "On the whole, I think you may as well go home."

Zora wrung her hands, and groaned.

"Yes," said the gnome: "go back to the castle. Ugh! I would sooner trust one of my winking owls to do a daring deed than