Chapter 25 Summary

Azalea manages to get back on the horse and trot back to the palace. Mr. Pudding sees her ride up and ushers her into the palace to get dry and warm. When Azalea wakes in a feverish state, she finds a note from Bramble saying they've gone to ball in the silver forest without her. She rushes through the fireplace and down the staircase. When she gets downstairs, Azalea finds her mother crumpled on the floor. Azalea takes her mother up the stairs and rubs the handkerchief on the brick for the mantle to open. Her mother starts to cry so Azalea wipes the tears with the handkerchief, but it causes her mother's skin to melt like candle wax. Azalea burns the handkerchief on one of the hot coals from the fireplace. As they get to the top step, the threads in her...