Page:Stories and story-telling (1915).djvu/111

 that the old field-mouse would be lonely without her.

"No, I cannot," said she.

"Farewell then, you pretty, good child," said the swallow, and he flew off into the sunshine. Thumbelina looked after him, and the tears came into her eyes, she was so sorry to part with him.

"Tweet-tweet," he sang, as she lost sight of him in the green wood.

THUMBELINA

"My dear," said the field-mouse one day after the mole had paid her a visit, "the mole has asked me to give you to him for his wife. You are very fortunate, a poor child like you. You must be ready to marry him as soon as possible. Set to work at once on your wedding-dress."

So Thumbelina had to turn the spindle to make herself not only a wedding-dress but plenty of wool and linen, for the field-mouse said she would not have her go to the mole empty-handed, as if she were a beggar-girl. And the mole himself hired four spiders to weave her a beautiful cobweb veil. And every evening he paid her a visit, and said they must be married as soon as the summer was over.

Poor Thumbelina did not know what to do. She