THE FAIRIES 73 



black face and red trousers made him very fine. I 

 dare say the children hardly knew about the Red 

 Cross lady in her long white flowing veil and dress, 

 but she reminded me of The Talisman and Crusaders, 

 for she had a beautiful red cross worked upon the 

 front of her gown and her face had that reflective, 

 peaceful look that sheds contentment wherever it 

 goes. 



I think it was at tea that we saw them all best, 

 and by that time we were less shy and could talk 

 more easily. The Admiral made me a beautiful 

 bow and gave me his arm to take me to the red 

 dining-hall, and I must confess that I secretly 

 wondered how he could be so skilled in managing 

 his long sword, for I rather suspect he had not worn 

 one like that before, as his promotion was so very 

 recent. After tea, he volunteered some remarks 

 about it and said he thought it was an inherited 

 instinct, handed down from his father. Freed 

 from anxiety in attending to the many require- 

 ments of his guests, the cake-cutting and handing 

 of sweets, he then performed some pas seuls to music 

 and ended by drawing his sword and placing it on 

 the floor and dancing round it. The Jack Tars 

 could keep quiet no longer, and even Saunders 

 forgot all about the shortage of material and 

 danced a hornpipe. Whilst we were still breath- 

 lessly recovering from this wild, yet childish dis- 

 play of spirits, there came the moment so anxiously 

 awaited, when the selection of the prettiest and 

 most original dress was made. Then followed the 

 distribution of prizes for the three best ideas as 

 well as for the cheapest costume. A " Christmas 



