It was a beautiful evening, soft and balmy, but to leave the bright roadway and enter the dark woods demanded some courage, for ill-usage had rendered Florio timid in the darkness, though, as I have said before, he did not fear wild animals.  Indeed, when a young fox came cautiously out of the thicket, and glanced about, Florio approached near enough to touch his bushy tail.

It was somewhat difficult to find the precise spot of the day’s occurrence, but he noticed that whenever he went in a wrong direction a crowd of fire-flies would start up and show him the right way, and thus he was enabled to find the sweet-brier bush.  As he reached it he heard the same patter, patter, patter on the leaves of the bush, and looking up he saw what caused the sound.  Troops of tiny creatures were fluttering from leaf to leaf.  Each had little silvery wings like butterflies, and each carried sprigs and sprays of blossoms, while following them came elves of most grotesque appearance, bearing platters of fruit and wild honey.  In a moment they had formed a circle on the grass, and danced about, singing as they went, while the elves arranged a feast.

When all was in readiness, one—­of largest size and of apparent superiority—­beckoned to Florio to come near.  Afraid to disobey, yet equally fearful of treading upon them, Florio approached, and in a moment he was surrounded, and with gentle pressure obliged to take their various offerings.  One gave him grape leave cups and baskets woven of perfumed grasses, another filled them with honey and fruit, while all laughed to see what appeared to them the enormous quantities necessary for one so large.

“Florio, you have done well to obey me,” said the same sweet voice he had heard in the daytime.  “This, added to your consideration for the bird’s-nest to-day, has pleased me, and your evident misery has aroused my compassion.  Fussioldfuri is an enemy of ours, and I never expected to see one trained by her show a pitiful or kind spirit.  It proves to me that there must be something in you worth cultivating.  Are you willing to be guided by me?  Do you want to leave old Fuss, and become one of my servitors?”

Florio was not quite sure that he fully understood all that was said to him, but he was delighted at the idea of leaving Fuss, and said so.

Florella smiled upon him, and continued, “It may not be so easy as you imagine; those who serve me have to stand a test of faithfulness, energy, and courage.  Our life seems one of careless mirth, but it is not so.  We, of course, are happy, and enjoy ourselves; but we have many duties, and are not altogether free, as would be supposed.  I am at the head of this little band.  We are Flower Fairies, cousins to the Wind Fairies and Herb Elves.  I am familiar with every wild-flower that grows, and I am now desirous of getting for our forests some seeds of the Swiss Edelweiss.  If you can procure them for me I will reward you handsomely.”