uckoo shook his head.

"That," said he, "I cannot do."

"Why not?" said Griselda. "Lots of children have been there."

"I doubt it," said the cuckoo. "_Some_ may have been, but not lots. And
some may have thought they had been there who hadn't really been there
at all. And as to those who have been there, you may be sure of one
thing--they were not _taken_, they found their own way. No one ever was
_taken_ to fairyland--to the real fairyland. They may have been taken to
the neighbouring countries, but not to fairyland itself."

"And how is one ever to find one's own way there?" asked Griselda.

"That I cannot tell you either," replied the cuckoo. "There are many
roads there; you may find yours some day. And if ever you do find it, be
sure you keep what you see of it well swept and clean, and then you may
see further after a while. Ah, yes, there are many roads and many doors
into fairyland!"

"Doors!" cried Griselda. "Are there any doors into fairyland in this
house?"

"Several," said the cuckoo; "but don't waste your time looking for them
at present. It would be no use."

"Then how will you amuse me?" inquired Griselda, in a rather
disappointed tone.

"Don't you care to go anywhere except to fairyland?" said the cuckoo.

"Oh yes, there are lots of places I wouldn't mind seeing. Not geography
sort of places--it would be just like lessons to go to India and Africa
and all those places--but _queer_ places, like the mines where the
goblins make diamonds and precious stones, and the caves down under the
sea where the mermaids live. And--oh, I've just thought--now I'm so nice
and little, I _would_ like to go all over the mandarins' palace in the
great saloon."

"That can be easily managed," said the cuckoo; "but--excuse me for an
instant," he exclaimed suddenly. He gave a spring forward and
disappeared. Then Griselda heard his voice outside the doors, "Cuckoo,
cuckoo, cuckoo." It was three o'clock.

The doors opened again to let him through, and he re-settled himself on
his chair. "As I was saying," he went on, "nothing could be easier. But
that palace, as you call it, has an entrance on the other side, as well
as the one you know."

"Another door, do you mean?" said Griselda. "How funny! Does it go
through the wall? And where does it lead to?"

"It leads," replied the cuckoo, "it leads to the country of the Nodding
Mandarins."

"_What_ fun!" exclaimed Griselda, clapping her hands. "Cuckoo, do let us
go t