38 FOREST FANCIES 



and one can't afford to prance jest for noth- 

 ing 1'' 



Nani snatched her hand away, her radiance 

 quite fading as she cried, ^^O Aunt Mi- 

 randa, I can't go with you — ^just yet! I'm 

 afraid " 



*^ Afraid of what?" demanded Aunt Mi- 

 randa. 



** Afraid, Aunt Miranda, that you might 

 break the spell!" and Nani laughed gaily, flit- 

 ting away through the darkening wood. 



So rapidly was the sap dripping that 

 Farmer Brier prepared to continue the boil- 

 ing all night. 



The light of the campfire played over the 

 gray columns of the trees and awoke the rest- 

 less shadows under them. It danced in a cir- 

 cle, like an elfin ring, and a little bright figure 

 skipped in and out among the shadows, with 

 the firelight for a partner. Yet Farmer Brier 

 did not notice ; in fact, he was so busy that he 

 had no time for dreams or dancing shadows 

 or firelight frisking with an elf, for he was a 

 simple, practical man, and when the moon 



