"Don't be afraid," cried the
Knight. "This is the end of Manunderthebed!" And he stooped and caught
hold of the shaggy fellow by the shoulder. A crack, a rip, and the
whole silly disguise came away in one piece, fur suit, teeth, claws,
and green glass eyes. The terrible King of the Bad Dreams was just a
big naughty boy in knickerbockers who kicked and cried and begged to
be let go! The children had to laugh, they could not help it, to hear
him blubber and whine and promise over and over again that he'd never,
no, _never_ frighten little girls and boys any more! So at last the
Knight let him scramble to his feet and rush off through the woods as
fast as he could go.
"That's the last of _him_" said the children's protector smiling, "but
now tell me, you three, what do you think of the change in _my_
appearance?"
For a moment the three children stared up at the tall figure, admiring
yet puzzled, then Ann clapped her hands and shouted: "Oh, I know _now_
who you are--you're the Knight-mare!"
The tall figure swept off his helmet and made Ann such a low bow that
his fair curling locks brushed the ground, fluttering like yellow
plumes about his ruddy face. "I'm all knight now," cried he, "and none
of me mare. I'm a Good Dream now, and I've no doubt she'll be rather
pleased to get me back--the lady I belong to in the castle, you know.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133