“The child sent me, and I pray thee to do me good, and not evil.”
“Come down, then, with me into the well,” said the woman, “and have no
fear.”
So the mother held out her hand, and the other drew her down a flight
of stone steps, and then they came to a massive closed door, and the
old woman unlocked it and bade her enter. But the mother was afraid,
and wept.
“Enter,” said the other, “and fear nothing. For this is the gate of the
king’s palace, and you will see the queen of the fairies herself, for
it is her son you are nursing; and the king, her husband, is with her
on his golden throne. And have no fear, only ask no questions, and do
as they order.”
Then they entered into a beautiful hall, and the floor was of marble,
and the walls were of solid gold, and a great light shone over
everything, so that the eyes could hardly see for the light. Then they
passed on into another room, and at the end of it, on a golden throne,
sat the king of the fairies. He was very handsome, and beside him sat
his queen, fair and beautiful to look upon, all clad in silver.
“This, madam, is the nurse of your son, the young prince,” said the old
woman.
The queen smiled, and bade the nurse to sit down, and asked her how she
came to know of the place.
“My son it is who told her,” said the king, looking very angry.