he
Goblin was speaking to a large Toad.

"Forty croaks," said the Toad, in a husky whisper; and then, as a frog
croaked in the pool, he added, "That makes it forty-one. The Snoopers
have come in, and Thimbletoes is shaking in his boots." And with these
words the Toad coughed, and then hopped heavily away.

"What does he mean?" whispered Davy.

"He means that the fairies are here, and _that_ means that we won't get
our ride," said the Goblin, rather sulkily.

"And who is Thimbletoes?" said Davy.

"He's the Prime Minister," said the Goblin. "You see, if any one of the
Snoopers finds out something the Queen didn't know before, out goes the
Prime Minister, and the Snooper pops into his boots. Thimbletoes doesn't
fancy that, you know, because the Prime Minister has all the honey he
wants, by way of a salary. Now, here's the mouse-stable, and don't you
speak a word--mind!"

As the Goblin said this they came upon a little thatched building, about
the size of a baby-house, standing just beyond the pool; and the Goblin,
cautiously pushing open the door, stole noiselessly in, with Davy
following at his heels, trembling with excitement.

The little building was curiously lighted up by a vast number of
fire-flies, hung from the ceiling by loops of cobweb; and Davy could see
several spiders hurrying about among them and stirring them up when the
light grew dim. The field-mice were stabled in little stalls on either
side, each one with his tail neatly tied in a bow-knot to a ring at one
side; and, at the farther end of the stable was a buzzing throng of
fairies, with their shining clothes and gauzy wings sparkling
beautifully in the soft light. Just beyond them Davy saw the Queen
sitting on a raised throne, with a little mullen-stalk for a sceptre,
and beside her was the Prime Minister, in a terrible state of agitation.

"Now, here's this Bandybug," the Prime Minister was saying. "What does
_he_ know about untying the knots in a cord of wood?"

"Nothing!" said the Queen, positively. "Absolutely nothing!"

"And then," continued the Prime Minister, "the idea of his presuming to
tell your Gossamer Majesty that he can hear the bark of the dogwood
trees"--

"Bosh!" cried the Queen. "Paint him with raspberry jam, and put him to
bed in a bee-hive. That'll make him smart, at all events."

Here the Prime Minister began dancing about in an ecstasy, until the
Queen knocked him over with the mullen-stalk, and shouted, "Silence! and