“’It’s just lovely,” cried Sylvie, delightedly. “Look well at it, my darling,” the old man was saying, “and tell me how you like it.” I tried to pick so me myself-but it was like grasping air, and I soon gave up the attempt and returned to Sylvie. Meanwhile the Fairy-King and Sylvie were talking together, but in such low tones that I could not catch the words: so I followed Bruno, who was picking and eating other kinds of fruit, in the vain hope of finding some that had a taste.

“There’s some lovely striped ones, just like a rainbow!” And off he ran. “I’ll try anuvver kind of fruits!” he said, and jumped down off the King’s knee. But to me they are real.”īruno looked puzzled.

“They’re all like that to you, darling, because you don’t belong to Elfland-yet. “It was a Phlizz,” Sylvie gravely replied. “I couldn’t feel nuffin in my mouf! It’s a-what’s that hard word, Sylvie?” “It hasn’t got no taste at all!” he complained. He ate it with beaming looks, that became gradually more gloomy, and were very blank indeed by the time he had finished. “Yes, child,” said his father: “and then you’ll find out what Pleasure is like-the Pleasure we all seek so madly, and enjoy so mournfully!”īruno ran eagerly to the wall, and picked a fruit that was shaped something like a banana, but had the color of a strawberry. “Just a thousand miles, sweet one, since the Gardener unlocked that door for you.” “Then how far have we come?” Sylvie enquired. One was a Prince so he was able to come by the Royal Road, and to come invisibly to all but me: the other was a Baron so he had to come by the common road, and I dare say he hasn’t even arrived yet.” They sent two ambassadors, to make sure that their invitation to me, to be their new King, should reach me. Only those of royal blood can travel along it: but you’ve been royal ever since I was made King of Elfland that’s nearly a month ago. “But I thought Elfland was ever so far from Outland: and we’ve come such a tiny little way!” “Where are we, father?” Sylvie whispered, with her arms twined closely around the old man’s neck, and with her rosy cheek lovingly pressed to his. You should visit Browse Happy and update your internet browser today! The embedded audio player requires a modern internet browser.

Sylvia and bruno