Page:Stories and story-telling (1915).djvu/108

 "How can you talk so!" cried Thumbelina, indignantly.

"Sing us one of your sweet songs, Thumbelina, my dear," said the field-mouse.

So Thumbelina had to sing. She sang, "Lady-bug, fly away." She sang it so sweetly that the mole fell in love with her. But he did not tell her so yet. As for her, she was glad when his visit was over.

THUMBELINA

Well, the mole had dug a long passage through the earth from his house to the field-mouse's, and he told Thumbelina and the field-mouse they might walk in the passage whenever they chose.

"Don't be afraid of the dead bird lying there," said he; "come with me and I'll show you where it is." He led the way with a bit of rotted wood in his mouth to light up the long dark passage. When he came to the place, he thrust his broad nose through the ceiling to make a hole so that the daylight might shine down. And there in the middle of the floor lay a dead swallow, with his beautiful wings pressed close against his sides and his feet and head drawn in under the feathers. The poor thing looked as if he had died of cold.

Thumbelina was very sorry for him, but the mole