rrets.

"Listen!" said the Counterpane Fairy. "In that golden castle there lies
an enchanted princess. For more than a hundred years she has been lying
there waiting for the hero who is to come and rescue her, and you are
the hero who can do it if you will."

With that the fairy led him to a little pool close by, and bade him look
in the water. When Teddy looked, he saw himself standing there in the
golden garden, and he did not appear as he ever had before. He was tall
and strong and beautiful, like a hero.

"Yes," said Teddy, "I will do it."

At these words, from the grass, the bushes, and the tress around,
suddenly started a flock of golden birds. They circled about him and
over him, clapping their wings and singing triumphantly. Their song
reminded Teddy of the blackbirds that sang on the lawn at home in the
early spring, when the daffodils were up. Then in a moment they were all
gone, and the garden was still again.

Their song had filled his heart with a longing for great deeds, and,
without pausing longer, he ran to the glass steps and began to mount
them.

Up and up and up he went. Once he turned and waved his hand to the
Counterpane Fairy in the golden garden far below. She waved her hand in
answer, and he heard her voice faint and clear. "Good-bye! Good-bye! Be
brave and strong, and beware of that that is little and gray."

Then Teddy turned his face toward the castle, and in a moment he was
standing before the great shining gates.

He raised his hand and struck bravely upon the door. There was no
answer. Again he struck upon it, and his blow rang through the hall
inside; then he opened the door and went in.

The hall was five-sided, and all of pure gold, as clear and shining
as glass. Upon three sides of it were three arched doors; one was of
emerald, one was of ruby, and one was of diamond; they were arched, and
tall, and wide,--fit for a hero to go through. The question was, behind
which one lay the enchanted princess.

While Teddy stood there looking at them and wondering, he heard a little
thin voice, that seemed to be singing to itself, and this is what it
sang:

"In and out and out and in,
Quick as a flash I weave and spin.
Some may mistake and some forget,
But I'll have my spider-web finished yet."

When Teddy heard the song, he knew that someone must be awake in the
enchanted castle, so he began looking about him.

On the fourth side of the wall there hung a curtai