Then Nora herself, in a breathless moment of fear, was presented to
the queen, and the queen kissed her daintily just above her lips on
both sides. And suddenly Nora found herself back on her stony bench by
the spring with the branches of the beech-tree waving silently before
her.
"Oh, mothereen and grandmotherkin," she cried as soon as she got home,
and she ran home all the way--"let me tell you about the wonderful
visit I have been making out in the wildwood." And after she had
told her story, mothereen said, "I think Nora has been dreaming," but
grandmotherkin said, "No, daughter, I think our little acushla has had
her eyes opened the day." Then Nora in triumph showed the two dimples
where the fairy queen had kissed her. And do you know, my darlings, I
cannot but think that she told the truth after all, for ever after,
if one kissed Nora upon those two dimples or even touched them or even
looked at them, she would break into the sweetest smile, and she never
was gloomerin' or lowerin' any more.
[Footnote 1: First published in _John Martin's Book_. Reprinted by
special permission.]
* * * * *
LIST OF BEST BOOKS OF FAIRY TALES AND CHILDREN'S POEMS
* * * * *
ANDERSEN, HANS CHRISTIAN .
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