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She was resting her head on her hand, and did not look up till Peter and the Parsnip-men were quite close to her. Then she gave a cry of joy. "So you've come at last, Peter!" she cried, her eyes brightening with delight; and as she took his hand, he saw that she was no other than his favourite playfellow and neighbour, little Mary. There was a second seat beside her, and to this she drew Peter.
Then she beckoned to the Parsnip-men, and said, "You have got everything ready, have you not?" The Parsnip-men bowed low, and hurried away. In a minute or two they returned, followed by about thirty mannikins like themselves, who bore a magnificent dress which they deposited before Peter. There was a coat of blue silk, turned up with fur, and trimmed with precious stones.
To this Mary led Peter, and then said emphatically "These are our seats." Up they climbed, and then Mary dropped Peter's arm and sat down on one of the seats, and he seated himself beside her on the other. From his present elevation Peter was well able to observe the Parsnip-men as they passed by in procession, and took their places on the chairs. When all were seated the music recommenced.
The further they went the louder grew the music, and at last the Parsnip-men came to a standstill. The one who held the lantern threw its light upon the wall till it disclosed a knob, on which he pressed. Then he put out his lantern, and all was dark. But the music sounded louder than before.
Strange music shook the walls, and to the time of this music hundreds and hundreds of little Parsnip-men twirled and danced. All of them were dressed in yellow coats and green hats, and many of them wore long white beards. And oh, how they chirped and smirked, and laughed and jumped about, as if they were mad! For a long time Peter stood bewildered.
At last the little Parsnip-men who had brought him so far led him right into the room, and the wall closed behind them. "Now for the Queen!" whispered one of them. "Come along." They went down the side of the room, against the wall of which were ranged chairs with grand purple coverings and gilded arms. Once or twice Peter nearly slipped, so polished was the floor.
"She is the Queen of the Parsnip-men, you know. And she gave me cake and wine and fruit." "Well, we'll ask her about it next time she comes," said his mother, laughing. Just then there was a knock at the door. The mother hastened to open it, and found a messenger waiting with a letter in his hand which had several seals on it.
The two Parsnip-men now took Peter between them, each holding a hand. They went through long dark passages, and then they began to go down-stairs. Peter counted a hundred steps, but still they went down, down, and he could count no more. All at once he heard music, which sounded as if it came from a distance. They were now at the bottom of the steps, and walking on level ground.
They stepped down into the hall, where all the Parsnip-men had now ranged themselves in two long rows, down the centre of which the Queen and her companion now passed, and then the Parsnip-men closed in and formed a long procession behind them. In this way they came to the other end of the hall. The large folding-doors swung open, and Peter fancied he was looking into a large garden.
It is at midnight, when you have long, long been asleep, and the church clock strikes twelve, that they come to life. Then away they all go to the great cave where the queen dwells in state, and here they hold high festival. There they dance, sing, play, and eat out of golden dishes. But as soon as the clock strikes one, all is over, and the Parsnip-men are only roots once more.
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