“So there is,” said the Owl.  “Oohoo!  Well, I can tell you where to find one of the Brownies; and if you find him, he will tell you where his brother is.  But all this depends upon whether you feel equal to undertaking it, and whether you will follow my directions.”

“I am quite ready to go,” said Tommy, “and I will do as you shall tell me.  I feel sure I could persuade them.  If they only knew how every one would love them if they made themselves useful!”

“Oohoo! oohoo!” said the Owl.  “Now pay attention.  You must go to the north side of the mere when the moon is shining—­(’I know Brownies like water,’ muttered Tommy)—­and turn yourself round three times, saying this charm: 

     ’Twist me, and turn me, and show me the Elf—­
     I looked in the water, and saw—­’

When you have got so far, look into the water, and at the same moment you will see the Brownie, and think of a word that will fill up the couplet, and rhyme with the first line.  If either you do not see the Brownie, or fail to think of the word, it will be of no use.”

“Is the Brownie a merman,” said Tommy, wriggling himself along the beam, “that he lives under water?”

“That depends on whether he has a fish’s tail,” said the Owl, “and this you can discover for yourself.”

“Well, the moon is shining, so I shall go,” said Tommy.  “Good-bye, and thank you, Ma’am;” and he jumped down and went, saying to himself as he ran, “I believe he is a merman all the same, or else how could he live in the mere?  I know more about Brownies than Granny does, and I shall tell her so;” for Tommy was somewhat opinionated, like other young people.

The moon shone very brightly on the centre of the mere.  Tommy knew the place well, for there was a fine echo there.  Round the edge grew rushes and water plants, which cast a border of shadow.  Tommy went to the north side, and turning himself three times, as the Old Owl had told him, he repeated the charm—­

     “Twist me, and turn me, and show me the Elf—­
     I looked in the water, and saw—­”

Now for it!  He looked in, and saw—­the reflection of his own face.

“Why, there’s no one but myself!” said Tommy.  “And what can the word be?  I must have done it wrong.”

“Wrong!” said the Echo.

Tommy was almost surprised to find the echo awake at this time of night.

“Hold your tongue!” said he.  “Matters are provoking enough of themselves.  Belf!  Celf!  Delf!  Felf!  Gelf!  Helf!  Jelf!  What rubbish!  There can’t be a word to fit it.  And then to look for a Brownie, and see nothing but myself!”

“Myself,” said the Echo.

“Will you be quiet?” said Tommy.  “If you would tell one the word there would be some sense in your interference; but to roar ‘Myself!’ at one, which neither rhymes nor runs—­it does rhyme though, as it happens,” he added; “and how very odd! it runs too—­