Ch6-A Late–Winter’s Daydream

CHAPTER SIX A Late~Winter's Daydream Jack sighed. Their mission really seemed hopeless now. "We'd better go find her," said Annie. "She won't go far," said Mary. "My poor Augusta… she has a fine mind and a brave heart. But she is so unhappy." "Why is she so unhappy, Mary?" asked Annie.

"Yeah, what is her problem?" said Jack. "More than any of her brothers and sisters, Miss Augusta loved my stories," said Mary. "Remembered every one of them, she did." "Really?" said Jack. "Yes, she would repeat them back to me, word for word," said Mary. "That's amazing," said Annie. "She loved the stories so much that she grew desperate to see the Shee for herself," said Mary. "At night she would carry a lantern across the fields, calling for them. By day, she poked and prodded every part of the farm. Why, she even used a magnifying glass, scouring the earth for

tiny footprints! But I'm afraid she never found them." "Why?" said Annie. Mary sighed. "Because she looked for them with her head and not her heart," she said. "Eventually she gave up and stopped searching. She didn't even want to hear the stories anymore. She's been a dutiful—but sorrowful—child ever since." "That's terrible," said Annie. "What can we do to help her?" "There is only one thing you can do," said Mary. "What?" breathed Jack.

Mary leaned forward in her chair. Her blue eyes seemed to stare right through Jack and Annie. "You must show her the magic," she said. What? thought Jack. Does Mary know about the magic tree house? "What do you mean?" he asked. "I know that you children are like me—you see things that others don't," said Mary. "Help Augusta see them, too. Help her find the magic in the fields and in the forest." For a moment, Jack and Annie didn't say anything. The wind blew through the open door. The fire crackled. Then Annie took a deep breath. "Okay," she said. "We know exactly what to do."

"We do?" said Jack. "Yep, we'll talk about it outside," said Annie. "Thanks, Mary. We'll find Augusta and take care of everything." Jack and Annie stood up to go. "One and twenty fare-thee-wells on this wonderful winter day," said Mary. "One and twenty to you, too," said Jack. Then he and Annie left the cozy cottage, scattering the winter birds by the front door. It had warmed up a little outside. The rain had stopped, but fog hung heavily over the sheep fields. The ground was soggy with mud. Jack could barely make out Augusta's red cape through the fog. She was across the lane, sitting

on a stone wall at the edge of the sheep meadow. "Mary was right, she didn't go far," Jack said. "So how do we show her the magic, Annie?" "Easy," said Annie. "We play our magic whistle." "No, we can't do that," said Jack. "We're supposed to save the whistle for a moment of great danger." "That moment is now!" said Annie. "Come on." "Hold on," said Jack. "What great danger are we facing right now?" "Not us. Augusta," said Annie. "She faces the great danger of losing all hope and happiness and being bored and sad for the rest of her life—and