sie believed contained food for them. How glad she was now that she
had fled from the shepherd. The good fairy had come.

[Illustration: "THE CARRIAGE DREW UP CLOSE BY THEM" (_p. 131_).]

There was one thing Elsie had never thought of. Wicked spirits often
assume the appearance of good fairies. Every one knows that, so that it
was to be seen whether this was a good fairy or not.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER X.--THE NEW MOTHER.

Such a disappointment! As the figure drew near, Elsie saw that she had
made a mistake. Instead of the beautifully-dressed lady of the carriage,
it turned out to be a person dressed in black garments, with a long
black veil covering her face.

She walked along quickly, and as she came up to the children, she
stopped. Then she turned up her veil, and Elsie saw with astonishment
that it was really the lady who had spoken to them that morning, but so
changed, that it was no wonder Elsie had not known her. The face that
had looked so gay and smiling was now sad and pensive; the fair curling
hair, falling in pretty confusion over the white forehead, was drawn
smoothly back under the neat crape bonnet, with its widow's cap.

[Illustration]

The many bracelets and other jewellery were all gone. So complete was
the transformation that Elsie stood staring, not knowing what to
believe.

"I told you I was a fairy," the lady said, in a kind, but sad, voice.
"You must not be surprised to see me so changed. To-morrow I may change
again. A fairy is all sorts of things, you know."

"Ye--es, ma'am," Elsie said, doubtfully.

"I dare say you think that a fairy can change other people as well as
herself, do you not?"

"Yes, ma'am; fairies do that in books," Elsie replied.

"Well, and I tell you I am a fairy," the lady said, a little sharply;
"and I am going to change you."

"What is she going to change us into, Elsie?" asked the matter-of-fact
Duncan.

"Ah! what?" the lady asked, with a laugh. "Shall I change you into two
little Highland sheep scampering over the hills, and feeding upon
grass?"

"Oh no!" Elsie said quickly; but Duncan, whose mind never readily
accepted a new idea, only replied stolidly, "You couldn't, you know."

"Don't be so sure of that," the lady replied. "But I am not going to. I
am going to make you into my own little children."

This seemed very nice and kind, but it so completely did away with their
own father that Elsie did not know what to say. The lady seemed
displease