Dick, Marjorie and Fidge | Page 4

fairy book Aunt
May gave us, and dear old 'Alice in Wonderland,' and----"
"That was years ago," interrupted Dick, turning very red. "I've had it all
explained to me since that, and I don't read those kind of books now."
"Do you read Shakespeare?" demanded one of the little folks.
"Some of it," replied Dick, doubtfully.
"Have you ever read 'Midsummer Night's Dream?'"
"Oh, yes! Jolly! Titania, and Oberon, and Puck, and all that lot, you
know; and the jolly little chaps that----"
"Hullo! I thought you didn't believe in fairies," interrupted some one.

"Oh, well, that's different, you know; that's Shakespeare, and--and----"
"And what? I suppose you'll admit that he believed in them?"
"Well, I suppose so," said Dick, grudgingly; "but I----"
"But you imagine yourself to be cleverer than Shakespeare."
"Ha--ha--ha!" laughed a chorus of little people, derisively.
"Look here! I'll tell you what it is," said the first speaker, "you have
evidently been taught by some of those wise old know-nothings, who
have succeeded in making you as clever as themselves, and it is our
intention to show you how ignorant you all are. I think you will believe
in fairies before we have done with you. Now, we are gnomes, and
have just completed a subterranean passage between here and the land
of the little Panjandrum."
[Illustration: "Four extraordinary figures came in sight."]
The word little was spoken so softly as to be quite indistinct. "The
what!" cried Dick.
"Sh! the little Panjandrum," said the gnome, speaking the word almost
inaudibly.
"What do you say it like that for?" asked the children.
"Well, you see, his Magnificence and Serene Importance is somewhat
sensitive on the subject; there is the GRAND Panjandrum, you know."
"Oh, I see," said Dick, "and the other chap doesn't like to take a back
seat, that's it, is it? Well, who is the Little Panjandrum, anyhow?"
"Sh! sh!" cried the gnomes, looking about them nervously. "You really
mustn't say little as loudly as that. Supposing any one heard you?"
"Well, what if they did?" asked Dick.

"O! His Serene Importance would be terribly angry, and perhaps
would----"
What the conclusion of the sentence was to have been the children
never knew, for at that moment there was a loud clattering noise in the
passage leading from the cave, and a moment afterwards four
extraordinary figures came in sight.
They were mounted upon ostriches, and one of them, more richly
caparisoned than the others, had a kind of canopy attached to his
trappings, beneath which sat a stern-faced little man with an elaborate
turban and head-dress. He wore also a very curious collar, from which
depended a large gold ornament of curious design. He carried in one
hand a long pipe, and with the other guided his strange steed.
[Illustration: "What do you know about the Dodo?"]
The others of the party, who were evidently his attendants, each carried
a banner emblazoned with mysterious signs and characters.
The silver bells attached to the head of the ostrich, and on the top of the
canopy over the grandee, tinkled merrily as he came forward.
"In the name of the little Panjandrum," he shouted, in a loud voice, and
immediately all the gnomes bowed respectfully almost down to the
ground.
"His Serene Importance and Most Magnificent Greatness is grievously
distressed."
The gnomes all brought forth little pocket-handkerchiefs, and began to
cry.
"The Dodo presented to His Worshipful Gorgeousness by the Grand
Panjandrum himself has escaped!"
The gnomes all threw up their hands in dismay.
"Why, we saw it," cried Marjorie, excitedly. "Didn't we, Dick?"

The little man on the ostrich turned around sharply, and after staring at
the children for a moment, shouted--
"Who are you?"
"I am Dick Verrinder, sir, and this is my sister Marjorie, and our little
brother Fidge," said Dick politely. "We are spending our summer
holiday at Mrs. Lawrence's cottage on the other side of the cliff. The
tide rose very high this morning, and we----"
"Don't tell me all that nonsense. What do you know about the Dodo?"
said the little man, impatiently.
"Why, we met it floating about on a chair, and it told us that it was
going to the Equator to meet a--a--er--a----"
"Well?"
"It was something with a very long name," stammered Dick; "I can't
quite remember what."
"Look here," said the little man, bending forward excitedly, "that story
won't do for me. I am the Ambassador Extraordinary of his
Magnificence the little Panjandrum, and you tell me that you have seen
the Dodo; that is enough. Now then! Where is it? It's no use telling me
that it has gone off to keep an appointment with something with a long
name. I say, where is the bird? If you don't instantly produce that Dodo
I shall take