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Miss Crimson Lake, Lucy, and Major C sat down side by side under the tree. At Easter’s suggestion, Lucy, like the Dormouse at the Mad Hatter’s tea party, was put in the middle, so that the other two might keep her awake.

“I shan’t go to sleep if they will really settle down to read the book,” said Lucy.

“We'll try to read it,” said Christmas, laughing, ‘but as for settling down”

“We never did such a thing in our lives,” said Easter.

“It looks like an exercise-book,” said Summer, “and we don’t like lesson-books. Indeed, I’m not particularly fond of books of any kind.”

“Well, let us make a beginning, at any rate,” said Christmas. “If you’ll excuse us, we’ll climb into the branches of the tree. Then we can swing our legs, and we all finddon’t we?” she said, turning to the others.

“We do,” said Summer.

“That we can think so much better if we are able to swing our legs,” said Christmas.

“We can,” said Easter.

“Really, dear me!” said the Major politely, and he watched the fairies climb up into the tree.

“You don’t think so?” asked Christmas. ‘Then, perhaps you have never tried it.”

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