Through the fire (14)

Through the fire (14)

A dozen questions flashed into Jack's mind at once, but he remembered the Princess's warning and held his tongue.

" Come, now, " said the old man coaxingly; " you'll never go back after asking only one question !" and the old man caught his wrist and held him firmly.

But Jack gave a violent wriggle which knocked over the old man's lantern. It fell with a crash which brought the wind-fairy to Jack's side  in an instant.
He took Jack on his shoulders and flew off with him without a word.

" The fire-ball is gone out, " he said to Jack after they had gone a little way.
" If you feel sleepy you may as well as well go to sleep. "

Jack did fall into a doze, although he woke every now and then to ask if they were getting near home.

At last the fairy said; " Now we are over London. "

" I hope my mother isn't come home yet, " said Jack.
" She'd be so frightened if she came back and didn't find me. "

" Why, it isn't twelve o'clock yet, " laughed the fairy, " and the New Year is not come in. Here is the street, where you live. "

From outside, Jack could see the Prince waiting on the window sill, and when the wind-fairy left him in the middle of the room, there was Princess with her golden hair falling over the bars of the grate. 

(14/15) 
次回一応のハッピーエンドなのですが、後日談があり、１回延びる予定です。