are set right again that people have caused to
go wrong in the world. The world, you know, is what men and women call
their own home."

"I know," said Jack; "and that's where I came from." Then, as the
groom seemed no longer to be angry, he went on: "And I wish you would
tell me about Lady Betty."

"She was a beautiful fleet creature, of the racehorse breed," said the
groom; "and she won silver cups for her master, and then they made her
run a steeple-chase, which frightened her, but still she won it; and
then they made her run another, and she cleared some terribly high
hurdles, and many gates and ditches, till she came to an awful one,
and at first she would not take it, but her rider spurred and beat her
till she tried. It was beyond her powers, and she fell and broke both
her forelegs. Then they shot her. After she had died that miserable
death, we had her here, to make her all right again."

"Is this the only country where you set things right?" asked Jack.

"Certainly not," answered the groom; "they lie about in all
directions. Why, you might wander for years, and never come to the end
of this one."

"I am afraid I shall not find the one I am looking for," said Jack,
"if your countries are so large."

"I don't think our world is much larger than yours," answered the
groom. "But come along: I hear the bell, and we are a good way from
the palace."

Jack, in fact, heard the violent ringing of a bell at some distance;
and when the groom began to run, he ran beside him, for he thought he
should like to see the palace. As they ran, people gathered from all
sides,--fields, cottages, mills,--till at last there was a little
crowd, among whom Jack saw Dow and Faxa, and they were all making for
a large house, the wide door of which was standing open. Jack stood
with the crowd, and peeped in. There was a woman sitting inside upon a
rocking-chair,--a tall, large woman, with a gold-colored gown on,--and
beside her stood a table, covered with things that looked like keys.

"What is that woman doing?" said he to Faxa, who was standing close to
him.

"Winding us up, to be sure," answered Faxa. "You don't suppose,
surely, that we can go forever?"

"Extraordinary!" said Jack. "Then are you wound up every evening, like
watches?"

"Unless we have misbehaved ourselves," she answered; "and then she
lets us run down."

"And what then?"

"What then?" repeated Faxa, "why, then we have to stop and stand
against a wall, ti