And just then, what should happen but that some water began to spurt, then and there, right out of the top of that big pile of stones.  Up, up it went, in a spray, spreading out at the tops like an umbrella in a rain storm, and the drops fell with a splash into the basin below.  Then Alice Wibblewobble cried out!

“Why, this isn’t an enchanted castle at all!”

“No?” asked the yellow bird, putting its head on one side, so as to see better.  “Why, we always call this our enchanted castle; always.”

“No,” answered Alice.  “It is only a fountain in a stone pile in somebody’s flower garden.  I’ve seen one before, near our house.”

“Well, it looks like an enchanted castle,” said the bird, “and I’m sure it’s just as pretty as one.  Isn’t it as good as your fairy prince?”

“Well,” replied the little duck girl.  “I suppose it is.  But it’s only water, such as I swim in.”

“Oh, do you swim?” asked the bird.  “Do please show me how.  I’ve always wanted to learn.”

So, though Alice was disappointed about the enchanted castle, she got in the little pond at the foot of the fountain, and swam around.  The water spurted up in the air and fell all over her, but she didn’t mind that.  All the birds gathered around to watch, and even the flowers nodded their heads, they were so delighted.

“Oh, I’m sure we never can learn to swim,” said the yellow bird, as Alice went around again.  “It is much too difficult.”

Then, all of a sudden, something happened.  A boy and a girl came running down the gravel walk to the fountain.  The little girl had yellow hair, just like a daffodil, and as soon as she saw Alice she cried out:  “Oh, Norman!  Come quick!  Here is a lovely duck!  I hope we can keep it!”

That frightened Alice very much, especially as the boy tried to grab her.  So she sprang out of the water and ran and hid under some bushes where the children couldn’t find her, and as soon as she could, she went back the way she had come, into the pond, and started to swim home.

And on the way a fox chased her and a big hawk tried to swoop down, and grab her, but she managed to get away.  She was all tired out when she got home, and when Jimmie and Lulu asked her where she had been she told them all her adventures.

“Well,” said Jimmie, when his sister had finished, “I think I would rather see that enchanted castle than the fairy prince again.  Will you take us there some day, Alice?”

“Perhaps,” she said, but before they made that trip something else happened, which you shall hear about to-morrow night if I find a green popcorn ball with a pink ribbon on it.  It’s a story of a visit to Grandpa Wibblewobble’s house.

STORY XII

A VISIT TO GRANDPA WIBBLEWOBBLE

Jimmie Wibblewobble was playing marbles with Bully, the frog, one day.  They had just finished one game, and were beginning another when Alice Wibblewobble came alone.  “Jimmie,” she said, “mamma wants you.”