The  brownie  appears  during  all  this  to
have  taken  upon  himself  the  duties  of  show-
man. I  see  what  may  be  described  as  a  fairy
fountain  about  twenty  feet  ahead.  It  is
caused  by  an  uprush  of  fairy  force  from  the
ground — and  spreading  fish-tail  fashion
higher  into  the  air — it  is  many-hued.  This
was  also  seen  by  Frances.
(Monday,  August  15.  In  the  field.)  I  saw
three  figures  racing  from  the  field  into  the
wood — the  same  figures  previously  seen  in
the  wood.  When  about  a  distance  of  ten
yards  from  the  wall  they  leapt  over  it  into
the  wood  and  disappeared.  Elsie  sees  in
centre  of  field  a  very  beautiful  fairy  figure,
somewhat  resembling  a  figure  of  Mercury,
without  winged  sandals,  but  has  fairy  wings.
Nude,  light  curly  hair,  kneeling  down  in  a

115


THE  COMING  OF  THE  FAIRIES

dark  clump  of  grass,  with  its  attention  fixed
on  something  in  the  ground.  It  changes  its
position ;  first  it  is  sitting  back  on  its  heels,
and  then  it  is  rising  to  its  full  kneeling
height.  Much  larger  than  usual,  probably
eighteen  inches  high.  It  waves  its  arms  over
some  object  on  the  ground.  It  has  picked  up
something  from  the  ground  (as  I  think  a
baby)  and  holds  it  to  its  breast  and  seems  to
be  praying.  Has  Greek  features  and  re-
sembles a  Greek  statue — like  a  figure  out  of
a  Greek  tragedy.
(Tuesday,  August  16,  10  p.m.  In  the
field.)  By  the  light  of  a  small  photographic
lamp.
Fairies.  Elsie  sees  a  circle  of  fairies  trip-
ping round,  hands  joined,  facing  outwards.
A  figure  appears  in  the  centre  of  the  ring,
at  the  same  time  the  fairies  faced  inwards.
