children during the last verse of the song; how he had then glanced round the room, to see what effect "de great chest-note" had had upon his audience; and how, when he looked back again, they had both disappearedwhen exclamations of dismay began to be heard on all sides, the Count hastily bringing his story to an end to join in the outcry.
The walking-things had all disappeared!
After the utter failure of the search for the children, there was a very half-hearted search made for their apparel. The remaining guests seemed only too glad to get away, leaving only the Count and our four selves.
The Count sank into an easy-chair, and panted a little.
"Who then are these dear children, I pray you?" he said. "Why come they, why go they, in this so little ordinary a fashion? That the music should make itself to vanishthat the hats, the boots, should make themselves to vanishhow is it, I pray you?"
"I've no idea where they are!" was all I could say, on finding myself appealed to, by general consent, for an explanation.
