The Wishing chair (4)

The Wishing chair (4)

It was the most curious shop they had ever been in !

Fancy keeping all those queer things in boxes !

Really, there must be magic about somewhere.
It couldn't be a proper shop.

The children noticed a little stairway leading off the shop about the middle, and suddenly at the top of this, there appeard somebody else !

It was somebody tall and thin, with such a long beard that it swept the ground.

On his head was a pointed hat that made him seem taller still.

" Look ! " said Mollie.
" Doesn't he look like a wizard ? "

" Tippit, Tippit, what are you doing ? " cried the newcomer, in a strange, deep voice, like the rumbling of faraway thunder.

"Looking for a piece of paper ! " answered the little man, in a surly tone.
" And all I find is butterflies and foxes, a black cat, and ー"

" What ! You've dared to open those boxes ! "
shouted the other angrily.
He stamped down the stairs, and then saw the children.

" And who are you ? " he asked, staring at them.
" how dare you came here ? "

" We wanted to buy this vase, " said Peter, frightened.

"Well, seeing you are here, you can help Tippit to catch the fox, " said the tall man, twisting his beard up into a knot and tying it under his chin.
" Come on ! "

" I don't want to, " said Mollie.
" He might bite me. Unlock the door and let us go out. "

" Not till the fox and all the butterflies are caught and put into their boxes again, " said the tall man.

"Oh dear ! "said the Peter, making no movement to get out of the chair, in which he and Mollie were still sitting with their legs drawn up. 
" I do wish we were safely at home ! "

(4/15)