146 
OtJR BIRDS IN WINTER. 
was thrown down, when the cat, alarmed at 
the noise, darted from the house towards the 
forest, where she could eat her prey securely. 
Henry, when he found that he was at last in 
the power of his enemy, lost his consciousness, 
the cat bearing him through the wood at a 
rapid rate. When he recovered bis senses, 
he found himself lying on the grass in the 
^ Fairies’ Circle,’ the elves having captured the 
cat, and restored her victim to his natural 
form. It was near daybreak when lie awoke, 
and it was some time before he recalled all 
the events of the past twenty-four hours. As 
he lay on the grass, endeavoring to collect his 
thoughts, he lieard light footsteps approaching, 
and soon one of the party of fairies stood be- 
fore him. 
Looking sternly at him, she said : ‘ I hope 
the occurrences of the past day will have a 
lasting beneficial effect on you. A revengeful, 
jealous disposition is hateful before all others ; 
you have seen that it carries its own punish- 
ment, and that its possessor is disliked and 
shunned. Conquer it, therefore; and years 
