Her hair was of a silvery yellow and was like a mist about her head; she was very beautiful and was dressed from head to foot in silver that shone and sparkled as she moved.Around her was flying a flock of white doves, and she was playing with them and talking.
As soon as she saw Teddy she cried out, "Oh, it's a little child!" and running down the hall to him, with her doves flying about her, she put her little hands on his cheeks and kissed him.Then she stood back and looked at him with her hands clasped."You dear little boy!" she said.
"Where did you come from?"
"I came through the white square," said Teddy.
"I don't know the white square," said the little girl, "but I'm glad you came.I haven't anyone to play with since Silverling went away.""Where has Silverling gone?" asked Teddy."I must find him."The little girl shook her head."I don't know," she said."We quarrelled once and he went away.He must be in some of the halls, but I've been hunting and hunting ever since and I can't find him."Then Teddy told her how the Counterpane Fairy had said that he must find Silverling and Starlein and that then perhaps he could get into the garden where the singing fountain was.
The little girl shook her head again."I am Starlein," she said, "but Ican't take you into the garden, because I have never found the gate into it since Silverling went away," and she went over and sat down on a marble bench beside the wall, and all the doves settled about her on her knees and shoulders.
"Never mind," cried Teddy, bravely, "you wait here and I'll go and find him.I found you and I'll find him too."Turning he ran down the hall and through an arched way into another hall, and there, far, far down at the other end, he saw a little boy dressed in silver, who was tossing a silver ball up into the air and catching it again.
When he saw Teddy he slipped the ball into his pocket and ran to meet him, leaping with delight and clapping his hands."Oh, little boy!
little boy!" he cried, "will you come and play with me?""Are you Silverling?" cried Teddy, breathlessly.
"Yes," said the little boy.
"Then come! come quick!" cried Teddy."Starlein is just around the corner, and she is waiting for you to come and show us the way into the garden where the singing fountain is."He caught Silverling by the hand and without another word they ran as fast as they could up the hall and around the corner, through the silvery archway, and into the other hall.There Teddy stopped short, looking blankly about him.Starlein was gone.
Silverling shook his head sadly."I know how it would be," he said.
"I've been hunting for her ever since we quarrelled, but I can't find her, and I can't find the way into the garden of the singing fountain either.""What did you quarrel about?" asked Teddy.
"We quarrelled about this," said the little boy, touching a slender golden chain that hung around his neck."We found it in the garden and we quarrelled about who should wear it, but I'd be so glad to give it to Starlein now if she would only come back again.""Well, wait!" said Teddy."She can't be far away and I'll go and find her.""No, no!" cried Silverling."You can't find her, and I'll lose you too.
Stay here awhile, little boy, and play with me, for I'm very lonely.
Look! Let's play with my silver ball," and taking it from his pocket he tossed it to Teddy.Teddy caught it and threw it back to him, and so they played together in the marble hall, tossing the silver ball and shouting with laughter.
At last Silverling missed the ball, and as it rolled on down the hall he ran after it, stooping and trying to catch it, but always just missing.
Teddy shouted and clapped his hands, jumping up and down with his bare feet, and then he stood still watching Silverling as he ran far, far down the hall.
As he stood thus, suddenly he heard from just around the corner the cooing of Starlein's doves.
He did not stop a moment, but turning ran around into the next hall, and there sure enough was Starlein with her doves about her.
