“I couldn’t if I tried. It would come true if I said it, and then I should be punished enough.” And she smiled like the sun through a summer-shower.
“But now,” she went on, “I must get you washed and dressed, and then we shall have some supper.”
“Oh! I had supper long ago,” said Tangle.
“Yes, indeed you had,” answered the lady—“three years ago. You don’t know that it is three years since you ran away from the bears. You are thirteen and more now.”
Tangle could only stare. She felt quite sure it was true.
“You will not be afraid of anything I do with you—will you?” said the lady.
“I will try very hard not to be; but I can’t be certain, you know,” replied Tangle.
“I like your saying so, and I shall be quite satisfied,” answered the lady.
She took off the girl’s nightgown, rose with her in her arms, and going to the wall of the cottage, opened a door. Then Tangle saw a deep tank, the sides of which were filled with green plants, which had flowers of all colours. There was a roof over it like the roof of the cottage. It was filled with beautiful clear water, in which swam a multitude of such fishes as the one that had led her to the cottage. It was the light their colours gave that showed the place in which they were.
The lady spoke some words Tangle could not understand, and threw her into the tank.
The fishes came crowding about her. Two or three of them got under her head and kept it up. The rest of them rubbed themselves all over her, and