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THE ENCHANTED CASTLE
• • •
• •
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
FOR CHILDREN
Illustrated, crown 8vo, cloth gilt, 6s. The Treasure Seekers The Would-be-Goods Nine Unlikely Tales for Children Five Children and It New Treasure Seekers The Story of the Amulet
FOR GROWN-UPS
Crmvn 8vo, cloth, 6s. Man and Maid LONDON : T. FISHER UNWIN
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2008 with funding from
Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/enchantedcastleOOnesbrich
THE HALL IN WHICH THE CHILDREN FOUND THEMSELVES WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN THE WORLD.
The
Enchanted Castle
BY
E. NESBIT
AUTHOR OF "THE STORY OF THE AMULET,' "THE TREASURE SEEKERS," ETC.
WITH 47 ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. R. MILLAR
LONDON
T. FISHER UNWIN
Adelphi Terrace
1907
(All rights reserved.)
TO
MARGARET OSTLER
WITH LOVE FROM
E. NESBIT
Peggy, you came from the heath and moor, And you brought their airs through my open door You brought the blossom of youth to blow- In the Latin Quarter of Soho.
For the sake of that magic I send you here A tale of enchantments, Peggy dear, — A bit of my work, and a bit of my heart . . . The bit that you left when we had to part.
September 25, 1907. Royalty Chambers, Soho, W.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
THE HALL IN WHICH THE CHILDREN FOUND THEMSELVES Frontispiece
PAGE " LITTLE DECEIVER ! " SHE SAID . . . . .18
JIMMY CAME IN HEAD FIRST ..... 24
"IT'S THE ENTRANCE TO THE ENCHANTED CASTLE " . . 29
" THIS IS AN ENCHANTED GARDEN " . . . . 33
THE RED CLUE RAN STRAIGHT ACROSS THE GRASS . . 37
THE THREE STOOD BREATHLESS, AWAITING THE RESULT . 40
"it's A GAME, isn't IT?" ASKED JIMMY . . .48
she was waiting for them with a candle in her hand 51 looking at herself in the little silver-framed mirror . 56 backward and forward he went .... 61
"your shadow's not invisible, anyhow " . . .68
the bread and butter waving about in the air . 75
" halloa, missy, ain't you blacked yer back, neither ! " . 83 "you're getting at me " . . . . 92
"STOW it!" cried THE MAN . . . . .95
10 THE ENCHANTED CASTLE
PAGK " WHAT'S THAT ? " THE POLICEMEN ASKED QUICKLY . 104
" I MUST GO HOME — NOW — THIS MINUTE "... 108
THE MOVING STONE BEAST ..... 115
THE MEN WERE TAKING SILVER OUT OP TWO GREAT CHESTS . 120
JOHNSON WASHING IN HIS OWN BACKYARD . . . 131
GERALD HALTED AT THE END OP A LITTLE LANDING-STAGE . 137
HE STAGGERED BACK AGAINST THE WATER-BUTT . . 142
"'e's LEP' INTO THE WATER" . ... 151
IT WAS ELIZA, DISHEVELLED, BREATHLESS . . . 154
SHE KISSED HIM WITH LITTLE QUICK, FRENCH PECKS . . 160
DOWN CAME THE LOVELIEST BLUE-BLACK HAIR . . 171
FULLY HALF A DOZEN OF THE CHAIRS WERE OCCUPIED . 175
A LIMP HAND WAS LAID ON HIS ARM . . . 184
" WONDER WHAT LIES HE'S TELLING THEM " . . 195
IT WAS A STRANGE PROCESSION .... 201
A PAINTED POINTED PAPER FACE PEERED OUT . . . 214
JIMMY SHOOK THEM TO PIECES .... 221
TWO HATS WERE RAISED ...... 231
KATHLEEN HANDS UP THE CLOTHES AND THE STICKS . 235
HE CRIED OUT ALOUD IN THAT CROWDED PLACE . . 246
SHE SAT DOWN SUDDENLY ON THE FLOOR . . . 250
KATHLEEN HAD HER WISH. SHE WAS A STATUE . . 264
MABEL LAY DOWN, WAS COVERED UP, AND LEFT . . 268
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 11
PAGE THE MONSTER LIZARD SLIPPED HEAVILY INTO THE WATER . 272
"WHAT IS IT?" SHE ASKED, BEGINNING TO TREMBLE . 27G
SIDE BY SIDE THE THREE SWAM ..... 283
IT WAS A CELESTIAL PICNIC ..... 288
THE JOYS OP DIPPING ONE'S FEET IN COOL, RUNNING WATER 315
THEY STOOD STILL AND LOOKED AT EACH OTHER . . 319
HE BECAME EAGER, ALERT, VERY KEEN" . . . 326
THE AMERICAN FIRED AGAIN .... 332
The Enchanted Castle