Jack was too flabbergasted this time even to open his mouth; his eyes opened instead.

[Illustration:  As he spoke he drew out of his pocket five beans]

“Did you say right into the very sky?” he asked at last; for, see you, Jack had wondered more about the sky than about anything else.

“RIGHT UP INTO THE VERY SKY” repeated the queer old man, with a nod between each word.  “It’s a good bargain, Jack; and, as fair play’s a jewel, if they don’t—­why! meet me here to-morrow morning and you shall have Milky-White back again.  Will that please you?”

“Right as a trivet,” cried Jack, without stopping to think, and the next moment he found himself standing on an empty road.

“Two in each hand and one in my mouth,” repeated Jack.  “That is what I said, and what I’ll do.  Everything in order, and if what the queer little old man said isn’t true, I shall get Milky-White back to-morrow morning.”

So whistling and munching the bean he trudged home cheerfully, wondering what the sky would be like if he ever got there.

“What a long time you’ve been!” exclaimed his mother, who was watching anxiously for him at the gate.  “It is past sun-setting; but I see you have sold Milky-White.  Tell me quick how much you got for her.”

“You’ll never guess,” began Jack.

“Laws-a-mercy!  You don’t say so,” interrupted the good woman.  “And I worriting all day lest they should take you in.  What was it?  Ten pounds—­fifteen—­sure it can’t be twenty!”

Jack held out the beans triumphantly.

“There,” he said.  “That’s what I got for her, and a jolly good bargain too!”

It was his mother’s turn to be flabbergasted; but all she said was: 

“What!  Them beans!”

“Yes,” replied Jack, beginning to doubt his own wisdom; “but they’re magic beans.  If you plant them over-night, by morning they—­grow—­right up—­into—­the—­sky—­Oh!  Please don’t hit so hard!”

For Jack’s mother for once had lost her temper, and was belabouring the boy for all she was worth.  And when she had finished scolding and beating, she flung the miserable beans out of window and sent him, supperless, to bed.

If this was the magical effect of the beans, thought Jack ruefully, he didn’t want any more magic, if you please.

However, being healthy and, as a rule, happy, he soon fell asleep and slept like a top.

When he woke he thought at first it was moonlight, for everything in the room showed greenish.  Then he stared at the little window.  It was covered as if with a curtain by leaves.  He was out of bed in a trice, and the next moment, without waiting to dress, was climbing up the biggest beanstalk you ever saw.  For what the queer little old man had said was true!  One of the beans which his mother had chucked into the garden had found soil, taken root, and grown in the night....

Where?...