d a low fire burning in the grate. In an armchair sat the
old woman, while her grandson lay on the floor at her feet with his
head resting upon his hand.

"There are two fairies," said the grandmother, "two great fairies--the
Fairy of the Water and the Fairy of the Woods. Ten years ago I had
gone out at daybreak to catch the crabs asleep in the sand, when I saw
a halcyon flying gently towards the shore. The halcyon is a sacred
bird, so I never stirred for fear I should scare it away. And at the
same time from a cleft in the mountain I saw a beautiful green adder
appear and come gliding along the sands toward the bird. When they
were near each other the adder twined itself around the neck of the
halcyon as if it were embracing it tenderly. Then I saw a great black
cat, who could be nothing else than a magician, hiding itself behind a
rock close to me. And scarcely had the halcyon and adder embraced than
the cat sprang on the innocent pair. This was my time to act. I
seized him in spite of his struggles and with the knife I used for
opening oysters I cut off the monster's head, paws and tail. And as
soon as I had thrown the creature's body into the sea, before me stood
two beautiful ladies, one with a crown of white feathers and the other
with a scarf made of snake's skins. They were, as I have told you, the
Fairy of the Water and the Fairy of the Woods."

With these words, Polly moved a few steps nearer the place set for her
entrance. On the opposite side she could see the other girl who
impersonated the water fairy, also ready to make her entrance. Tonight
was New Year's eve and the house was unusually crowded.

But the grandmother was continuing her speech.

"Enchanted by a wicked Jinn, they were obliged to remain bird and snake
until some hand should restore them to liberty. To me they owed
freedom and power. 'Ask what thou wilt,' they said, 'and thy wishes
shall be fulfilled."

"I thought how I was old and had too hard a life to wish for it over
again. But the day would come when nothing would be too good for thee,
my child." The old woman leaned over, stroking her grandson's dark
hair. "The Fairy of the Woods gave me a scale from the snake's skin
and the Fairy of the Water a small white feather from her crown. They
are hidden in a box under some rags. Open the box and thou wilt find
the scale and the feather."

The boy then crossed the stage and a moment later handed the box to the
old wom