The Wishing chair (2)

The Wishing chair (2)

So on they went and came to a small,narrow street whose houses were so close that there was hardly any light in the road !

And there, tucked away in the middle, was the shop with
" Antiques " printed on a label inside the dirty window.

" Good ! " said Peter.
" Here is a shop that sells old things.Look, Mollie, do you see that strange little vase with swans set all round it ?
I'm sure Mother would like that.
It is marked twenty-five pence.
We could buy that and some flowers to put it ! "

So into the old dark shop they went.

It was so dark that the children stumbled over some piled up rugs on the floor.

Nobody seemed to be about.

Peter went to the counter and rapped  on it.

A tiny door at the back opened and out came the strangest little man, no higher than the counter top.

He had pointed ears like a pixie.

The children stared at him in surprise.

He looked very cross, and spoke shaply.
"What do you want, making a noise like that ? "

" We want to buy the vase with swans round it," said Peter.

Muttering and grumbling to himself, the little chap picked up the vase and pushed it across the counter.

Peter put down the money.

" Can I have some paper to wrap the vase in ? "
he asked politely.
"You see, it's for my mother's birthday, and I don't want her to see me carring it home. "

Grumbling away to himself, the little man went to a pile of box at the back of the shop and began to open one to look for a piece of paper.

The children watched.

(2/15)