"But the peasants do those things."

"Well, the peasants are happy."

"But I shall not live as they do."

"No matter; it is well you should understand all things; they may serve
you, they may not; they will teach you in many other ways. You will
learn to have sympathy for all; you will learn to be patient and
painstaking."

"Then I will try."

[Illustration: "AFTER THIS SHE ASSISTED THE MOTHERKIN IN DRESSING GRIM'S
ANKLE."]

"That is all I ask. And now suppose I tell you all about these wonderful
herbs?" Picking up a sprig of each, the Motherkin related its qualities,
while Laura, with a pencil and paper, wrote down her words; then she
fastened each sprig in a slip of paper with its name attached. After
this she assisted the Motherkin in dressing Grim's ankle, carrying warm
water, and rolling the bandage, while Grim looked on with a funny face,
holding his cap with its scarlet tassel in one hand, and with the other
supporting himself in his chair.

Then the fire had to be lighted and tea made, and Laura no longer was
awkward, but very alert, for now she had the willing spirit which makes
everything so much easier to do than where there is reluctance.

After tea, Grim said he would tell her what he had seen on his little
journey, so, drawing near the chairs upon which he was resting, the
Motherkin and Laura listened to the old man's tale.

CHAPTER V.

"I must explain to little Lady Laura," said Grim, with a wave of his
hand towards the Motherkin, "if you will allow me, madam, that we
fairies have the power of making ourselves unseen whenever we wish,
though we seldom use the power except for some useful purpose."

"Ah," thought Laura, "perhaps I was not so much alone in the Motherkin's
absence as I thought."

"And thus it is," continued the dwarf, "that we see many strange things;
but I have nothing very remarkable at present to relate, for my journey
was an ordinary one but for my accident. I had to see the elves who had
charge of healing herbs, and gain their permission to cull them, for
they are very particular that they should be pulled in the right season,
and they so cover their gardens up that one could easily think there
was not a bit of motherwort or hoarhound to be found when they choose to
conceal them. To see the Chief Gardener Elf I had to go pretty far out
of my way, for he was off superintending the planting of some tansy
beds, and had quite an army of elves at work. I wish Lady La