Lock-Out Time

           Itisfrightfullydifficulttoknowmuchaboutthefairies,andalmosttheonlythingknownforcertainisthattherearefairieswherevertherearechildren.LongagochildrenwereforbiddentheGardens,andatthattimetherewasnotafairyintheplace;thenthechildrenwereadmitted,andthefairiescametroopinginthatveryevening.Theycan’tresistfollowingthechildren,butyouseldomseethem,partlybecausetheyliveinthedaytimebehindtherailings,whereyouarenotallowedtogo,andalsopartlybecausetheyaresocunning.TheyarenotabitcunningafterLock-out,butuntilLock-out,myword!

           Whenyouwereabirdyouknewthefairiesprettywell,andyourememberagooddealabouttheminyourbabyhood,whichitisagreatpityyoucan’twritedown,forgraduallyyouforget,andIhaveheardofchildrenwhodeclaredthattheyhadneveronceseenafairy.VerylikelyiftheysaidthisintheKensingtonGardens,theywerestandinglookingatafairyallthetime.Thereasontheywerecheatedwasthatshepretendedtobesomethingelse.Thisisoneoftheirbesttricks.Theyusuallypretendtobeflowers,becausethecourtsitsintheFairies’Basin,andtherearesomanyflowersthere,andallalongtheBabyWalk,thatafloweristhethingleastlikelytoattractattention.Theydressexactlylikeflowers,andchangewiththeseasons,puttingonwhitewhenliliesareinandblueforbluebells,andsoon.Theylikecrocusandhyacinthtimebestofall,astheyarepartialtoabitofcolour,buttulips(exceptwhiteones,whicharethefairycradles)theyconsidergarish,andtheysometimesputoffdressingliketulipsfordays,sothatthebeginningofthetulipweeksisalmostthebesttimetocatchthem.

           Whentheythinkyouarenotlookingtheyskipalongprettylively,butifyoulook,andtheyfearthereisnotimetohide,theystandquitestillpretendingtobeflowers.