Chapter 10: The Counterpane Fairy Says Good-Bye

Teddy was to go out-doors the next day if it was mild and pleasant. The doctor had come in that morning for the last time to see him. “Well, my little man,” he had said, giving Teddy’s cheek a pinch, “can’t be pretending you’re a sick boy any longer with cheeks and eyes like these. Now we’ll have you back at school in no time, and then I suppose you’ll be up to all your old tricks again.”

Later on the little boy had gone downstairs for dinner, for the first time since he had been ill. Everything there had looked very strange to him, and as if he had not seen it for years.

He had felt just as well as ever until he tried to chase the cat, Muggins, down the hall, and then his legs had given way in a funny, weak fashion that made him laugh.

After dinner Muggins followed him upstairs, and curling down under a chair went fast asleep. Teddy took his blocks and built them about the chair, so that when the cat woke he found himself built up inside a little house.

However, a door had been left, and he poked his nose and his paw through it, and then the whole front wall went down with a noisy clatter, and Muggins scampered down to the kitchen with his tail on end. Teddy had to laugh; he looked so funny.

Papa came home from his office earlier than usual that afternoon, bringing with him a bundle of long, smooth sticks and a roll of tissue papers, and spent all the rest of the time between that and supper in making a great kite for Teddy. He told the little boy that if the next day were fine he would fly it for him, and that he might ask some of the boys to come and help.