The little ones sat round the table with their eyes on the door, watching till Toinette should come in and be surprised.

“I wish she’d hurry,” said Pierre, drumming on his bowl with a spoon.

“We all want Toinette, don’t we?” said the mother, smiling as she poured the hot porridge.

“It will be fun to see her stare,” declared Marc.

“Toinette is jolly when she stares.  Her eyes look big and her cheeks grow pink.  Andre Brugen thinks his sister Aline is prettiest, but I don’t.  Our Toinette is ever so pretty.”

“She is ever so nice, too,” said Pierre.  “She’s as good to play with as—­as—­a boy,” finished triumphantly.

“Oh, I wish my Toinette would come,” said Jeanneton.

Toinette waited no longer, but sped upstairs with glad tears in her eyes.  Two minutes, and down she came again visible this time.  Her heart was light as a feather.

“Merry Christmas!” clamoured the children.  The ship was presented, Toinette was duly surprised, and so the happy day began.

That night Toinette left the window open, and lay down in her clothes; for she felt, as Thistle had been so kind, she ought to receive him politely.  He came at midnight, and with him all the other little men in green.

“Well, how was it?” asked Thistle.

“Oh, I liked it this time,” declared Toinette, with shining eyes, “and I thank you so much.”

“I’m glad you did,” said the elf.  “And I’m glad you are thankful, for we want you to do something for us.”

“What can it be?” inquired Toinette, wondering.

“You must know,” went on Thistle, “that there is no dainty in the world which we elves enjoy like a bowl of fern-seed broth.  But it has to be cooked over a real fire, and we dare not go near fire, you know, lest our wings scorch.  So we seldom get any fern-seed broth.  Now, Toinette, will you make us some?”

“Indeed, I will!” cried Toinette, “only you must tell me how.”

“It is very simple,” said Peascod; “only seed and honey dew, stirred from left to right with a sprig of fennel.  Here’s the seed and the fennel, and here’s the dew.  Be sure and stir from the left; if you don’t, it curdles, and the flavour will be spoiled.”

Down into the kitchen they went, and Toinette, moving very softly, quickened the fire, set on the smallest bowl she could find, and spread the doll’s table with the wooden saucers which Marc had made for Jeanneton to play with.  Then she mixed and stirred as the elves bade, and when the soup was done, served it to them smoking hot.  How they feasted!  No bumblebee, dipping into a flower-cup, ever sipped and twinkled more rapturously than they.

When the last drop was eaten, they made ready to go.  Each in turn kissed Toinette’s hand, and said a word of farewell.  Thistle brushed his feathered cap over the doorpost as he passed.