The Consequences
But at last the spring came, and after the spring the summer. And the very first warm day, Colin took his spade and pickaxe, and down rushed the stream once more, singing and bounding into the cottage. Colin was even more delighted than he had been the first time. And he watched late into the night, but there came neither moon nor fairy fleet. And more than a week passed thus.
At length, on the ninth night, Colin, who had just fallen asleep, opened his eyes with sudden wakefulness, and behold! the room was all in a glimmer with moonshine and fairy glitter. The boats were rocking on the water, and the queen and her court had landed and were dancing merrily on the earthen floor. He lost no time.
“Queen! queen!” he said, “I’ve got your bottle of Carasoyn.”
The dance ceased in a moment, and the queen bounded upon the edge of his bed.
“I can’t bear the look of your great, glaring, ugly eyes,” she said. “I must make you less before I can talk to you.”
So once more she laid her rush wand across his eyes, whereupon Colin saw them all six times the size they were before, and the queen went on:
“Where is the Carasoyn? Give it me.”
“It is in my box under the bed. If your majesty will stand out of the way, I will get it for you.”