ugh it.

"I am sure it cannot be night yet," he said; and he took out one of
the fattest of the young fairies, and held it up towards the hole.

"Look at that," said he; "what is to be done now? the hole is so far
off that it's night up there, and down here I haven't done eating my
lunch."

"Well," answered the young fairy, "then why don't you whistle?"

Jack was surprised to hear her speak in this sensible manner, and in
the light of the moon he looked at her very attentively.

"When first I saw you in the nest," said he, "you had a pinafore on,
and now you have a smart little apron, with lace round it."

"That is because I am much older now," said the fairy; "we never take
such a long time to grow up as you do."

"But your pinafore?" said Jack.

"Turned into an apron, of course," replied the fairy, "just as your
velvet jacket will turn into a tail-coat when you are old enough."

"It won't," said Jack.

"Yes it will," answered the fairy, with an air of superior wisdom.
"Don't argue with me; I am older now than you are,--nearly grown up,
in fact. Put me into your pocket again, and whistle as loudly as you
can."

Jack laughed, put her in, and pulled out another. "Worse and worse,"
he said; "why, this was a boy fairy, and now he has a mustache and a
sword, and looks as fierce as possible!"

"I think I heard my sister tell you to whistle?" said this fairy, very
sternly.

"Yes, she did," said Jack. "Well, I suppose I had better do it." So he
whistled very loudly indeed.

"Why did you leave off so soon?" said another of them, peeping out.

"Why, if you wish to know," answered Jack, "it was because I thought
something took hold of my legs."

"Ridiculous child!" cried the last of the four, "how do you think you
are ever to get out, if she doesn't take hold of your legs?"

Jack thought he would rather have done a long-division sum than have
been obliged to whistle; but he could not help doing it when they told
him, and he felt something take hold of his legs again, and then give
him a jerk, which hoisted him on to its back, where he sat astride,
and wondered whether the thing was a pony; but it was not, for he
presently observed that it had a very slender neck, and then that it
was covered with feathers. It was a large bird, and he presently found
that they were rising towards the hole, which had become so very far
off, and in a few minutes she dashed through the hole, with Jack on
her back and all the fai