I guess
the water wasn't right for swimming to-day," and with that he walked off,
and hid himself in some leaves, to get dry, for he hadn't any towels at
his house. But the Wibblewobble children kept on swimming, for they knew
how; and now, let me see; well, how about a story of an enchanted castle
for to-morrow night; eh? that is if the scissors don't cut up too much.

STORY XI

ALICE WIBBLEWOBBLE'S ENCHANTED CASTLE

Alice Wibblewobble had made up her mind to find out more about the fairy
prince. She couldn't believe he was only a mud turtle. She felt sure he
was merely in that form until some one came along, pronounced the magical
words, or sprinkled the magical water on him, or did something else, to
change him back again.

"I think I will have another talk with him," she said. "Perhaps, if I go
all alone, he will tell me what to do. Oh, wouldn't it be perfectly lovely
if I could change him into a king with a golden-diamond-ruby crown. Yes, I
certainly shall go."

So Alice swam off up the pond, in the direction the gold fish had once led
Lulu and Jimmie and her.

Well, Alice went on and on and on, for ever so long, but she couldn't seem
to find the place where the mud turtle fairy prince lived. She saw the
green rushes hanging over the water's edge, she saw the bright ripples,
just like diamonds that might be in a king's crown, and she heard the
birds singing; but there was no mud hole where the fairy prince lived.

"Oh dear!" exclaimed Alice. "I'm afraid I'm lost."

"What? Lost in this beautiful place?" asked a voice just above her head,
and, looking up, Alice saw a dear little yellow bird sitting on a tree
over the water.

"Yes," said Alice, and a tear came into her eye, and ran down her yellow
bill. "I am lost. I can't find the fairy prince."

"Oh, that is too bad," said the little yellow bird. "I don't just know
what a fairy prince is, but it must be dreadful not to be able to find one
when you want to. Do not feel badly, however. I can take you to an
enchanted castle, if that will do."

"Oh, can you?" cried Alice. "That will be lovely. I had almost as soon see
an enchanted castle as a fairy prince. Is it a really, truly one?"

"Oh, yes," answered the bird. "It certainly is. It is the most beautiful
place in all the world. Come, and I will show you."

Then Alice felt delighted, and she walked out of the water, and waddled
along on the land. The bird flew along, going slowly, so as not to ge