The Magic Mirror

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Contents

PAOK

I. THE GLASS BRAIN, 1

II. GILES THE SWINEHERD, 44

II

Nearly three miles to the north of Master Walter de Courcey's town mansion, stood his farm, which not only produced the flour necessary for the consumption of his family and servants, but also cattle, sheep, poultry, and swine. The care of the latter was intrusted to a tall, thin, pale-faced young man, of the name of Giles. His cottage was close to the piggeries, and was situated on the extreme comer of the estate. The farm was very extensive ; and, as the pathways and roads on it were very bad, there was but little communication kept up, especially in winter, between Giles and the bailiff, whose house was on the opposite corner, nearest London. Whenever the bailiff wished to communicate with Giles in the winter season, he was in the habit of sending a lad about fifteen years of age with a message, and it was Giles's duty to obey whatever orders the boy brought him.

In the personal character of Giles, who was a bachelor, there was little to admire or respect. He was idle and gluttonous. Education, of course, he had none. In that age gentlemen were rarely able to sign their own names, unless they belonged to the Church, and it was not to be supposed that a

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swineherd, living on the extreme verge of a large estate, had had much trouble expended on him. And grateful indeed was he for his education having been neglected. As it was, the proper feeding of his swine was a study almost too difficult for him to accomplish; and it is more than probable, had he not been from time to time encouraged by the bailiflf 's walking-staff over his shoulders, he never would have arrived at the pitch of perfection he could boast of. The only study with the slightest amount of science in it he took any pleasure in was cooking ; and in this he somewhat excelled, that is to say, if his own tastes were to be taken as the standard of excellence.

The dwelling of Giles was a neat cottage, which he was compelled to keep in good order. It consisted of one large room, with a communication from the back part to the storehouse for the food of his pigs, which again led to the stove for the drying and curing of bacons and hams. Outside were extensive piggeries as well as sheds, and a slaughterhouse. All, thanks to the discipline established by the bailiff, were in good order, and any other than so idle and discontented a man as Giles would have considered himself fortunate in possessing so comfortable and convenient an abode.

One fine morning, after a very rainy night, a few weeks from the commencement of our narrative, Giles received a message from the bailiff, ordering him immediately to take two of the finest hams from the store, and carry them as quickly as he could to the house in Bishopsgate Street. When

Giles heard this his countenance assumed so terrible an appearance of anger, that the boy did not stop to hear anything he might have to say in reply, but ran back to his master without delay. Giles was perfectly furious, and for some time even mutinous. He first declared he would not go, but a vision of the bailifTs walking-stafi^ induced him reluctantly to alter his determination. He then said, to spite them he would pick out the two hardest and smallest hams he could find. For this purpose, he went into the storehouse, and began carefully to examine them, when a singular sum in arithmetic, albeit without his knowing even the meaning of the word, occurred to him. Deduct from two small hard hams the amount of a good flogging (for in those days masters had the right of flogging disobedient servants), and what will be the difference? He calculated this question with a minuteness which did him great credit; and he then resolved that perhaps it would be better to choose two somewhat larger. He went on carefully picking out those he thought would best answer, till at last he ended in selecting the two finest in the store ; thus, in fact, fulfilling the order he had received ; which he might as well have done at first, and thus saved himself a considerable amount of anxiety and trouble.

He now dressed himself for his march, and having slung the two hams over his shoulders, he started for London. In a short time he again took the trouble of getting out of temper; but there was now some excuse to be urged for him. The roads were heavy with the last night's rain, and the hams certainly did not weigh less than fifty pounds. Still I he kept on his way — slowly enough, it is true — and at last arrived in London.

The arrival of Giles at the house in Bishopsgate Street was always the signal for fun among the servants. To tease him appeared to give them pleasure, but as their jokes generally ended by offering him a good dinner, he was accustomed to put up with them good-humouredly enough. This day, however, it was so late when he arrived that dinner was over, and as the cook, not feeling very well, had gone to bed, and the steward, being in an ill-humour, would not allow the door of the larder to be opened, Giles got exceedingly angry at their jesting, and made use of some language it is not necessary to repeat. The men took this in high dudgeon, and a violent quarrel seemed likely to ensue, when Joan, one of the waiting-maids (who, it was suspected, would not have objected to assist Giles in keeping his cottage in order, with the rights and title of wife), came in and acted as peacemaker. She attempted, but in vain, to make Giles understand that all that was said and done by the others was simply in joke. Giles could not see it in that light, and Joan, to facilitate matters, took him from the room, telling him she had something very beautiful to show him, and as the family were now all away, it would be an excellent opportunity for him to see it

Giles sullenly left the kitchen, and went with her upstairs. She took him into the chamber in which was the Venetian mirror, and showed him his own face in it. He was, for the moment, somewhat surprised, but it gave him no pleasure whatever. Joan, on the contrary, admired her own face in it with every symptom of delight, although she had performed the same experiment on it fifty times already.

^ Is it not beautiful ? ' she asked her companion.

* Pretty well for that, but I don't see much good m it.

* Why, you can see your face whenever you want.'

* And what 's the use of that ? I know pretty well what I am like already.'

* But still it 's very beautiful. Do you think you could get the fairies to bring me such a one some night? I wish you'd ask them to do it for me. I am sure in that out-of-the-way cottage of yours you must see plenty of them. It's just the sort of place they would like to live about'

* I only know that if there are any fairies there, or hobgoblins either, I wish they would make themselves a little more useful than they do.'

* Why, what would you wish them to do ? ' said Joan, in a pla3rful manner — * bring you a wife ? '

* Not exactly.'

* What then ? '

* Well, I wish they 'd do all my work for me, and bring me plenty to eat; that's all I want of them.'

Joan, in a fit of disgust, left her unsympathetic companion, who followed her downstairs. He tried again to get into conversation with her, but it was quite useless, she would have nothing to say to him.

He then essayed to speak to the other servants, but with no better success ; and at last, finding himself avoided by all, he took up his cap and staff and left the house.

He was in an intensely bad humour when he left London and bent his steps homewards. When he arrived near his cottage it was dark night ; and he was so tired he could hardly drag one foot after the other. He was also faint and hungry, and he cursed his ill-fortune that he should have to light a fire and cook his evening meal before he could eat it, and, when he had finished it, that he should have to feed his swine before he could go to bed. When he came in sight of his cottage, he was greatly astonished to find it lit up, and a good fire evidently burning on the hearth. He recovered himself, however, and walked rapidly forward, so great was the effect his curiosity had on him. At last he arrived, and on opening his door he was not a little surprised to find two large wax candles stuck, in wooden candlesticks on the table, and a magnificent log fire burning in the fireplace. But what astonished him more than all was to see standing on the table a little man dressed with exquisite neatness. He could not have been a foot high, yet he was so beautifully formed that it would have been impossible to find a more perfect model. His dress consisted of a tight pair of white silk pantaloons with stripes running down them, and a neat- made velvet jacket tight to his body. His clothes fitted him so beautifully, he might have been born in them. On his head he wore a neat velvet cap with a white feather

D in it, a natty-looking little dagger, about the size of a penknife, hung by his side, and a little silver whistle was slung round his neck by a silken thread.

As soon as Giles had somewhat recovered from his surprise, the figure, with an air of the most exquisite puppyism, took ofi^ his cap and stood bareheaded. He waited a short time, as if expecting to be spoken to, but as Giles said nothing he took the initiative :

* Welcome home, my lord ; we have been expecting you for some time, and at last we became somewhat alarmed, fearing you might have lost yourself in the darkness of the night'

* And pray who may you be ? ' said Giles.

* My name, my lord, is Capsicum. His Majesty Oberon, the king of the fairies, hearing it was your wish that his people should do your work for you and find you in food, ordered me to bring a party of fairies to your house to attend on your wishes, and to carry them out to the best of their abilities. He also bade me take with me a troop of goblins to do the outdoor and grosser work. I am afraid, from the short notice I had, you will hardly find things in the order I could wish them to be ; but to-morrow I hope everything will be done to your perfect satisfaction. Is there any order you would kindly favour me with at present ? '

*I most sincerely wish,' said Giles, *you would go directly and get me something to eat, for I am starving.'

*I will inmiediately order in the butler to obey your commands. My position in your lordship's establishment is that of major-domo.'

So saying, he placed his silver whistle to his lips, and instantly another fairy entered the room. Although in size the newcomer was no taller than Capsicum, there was a marked difference in their appearance. Vineleaf, the butler, was a stout, respectable, grave-looking fairy, whose countenance bore such an intense expression of respect, that it appeared doubtful if he were really capable of smiling. Capsicum told him it was his lordship s wish that dinner should be on the table forthwith ; and Vineleaf, bowing low, immediately left the room. As soon as he had gone. Capsicum explained that Vineleaf was to act as butler. He said he thoroughly understood his duties ; in fact, he had but one fault. He was occasionally too fond of tasting the wine he had under his care. He, Capsicum, had however given him especial instructions to be on his best behaviour, or he should be under the painful necessity of reporting him at headquarters. Capsicum had hardly finished his remark, when at least twenty male fairies entered the room. Many of them, in pairs, bore dishes which would have been too heavy for them single-handed, although they contained portions of cooked food which ordinary mortals would have considered ridiculously small, and others carried lighter viands and fruit; one, an apple; another, although it was winter, a peach ; a third, a bunch of dried grapes. All carried something, and the whole made up a dinner far more copious than the heartiest man would have been able to eat at one meal. All were dressed in a neat uniform livery, and, in spite of their diminutive size, made really a very grand appearance. As it was naturally impossible for them to reach to the table, the genius of Capsicum had improvised a sort of staircase out of diflferent articles he had found in the house, and by its help the fairies mounted on the table, and placed the dishes in their proper order. When all was arranged, Vineleaf informed Giles that his dinner was ready. His chair was then pushed nearer the table, and he commenced his meal.

At first he was somewhat disgusted at the small portions placed before him, but, as each was consumed, another supplied its place ; and at last he became content with the arrangement. The dishes were all exquisitely cooked, and of the most delicate description ; and the service was admirably managed, although the plan followed was somewhat singular. As the diminutive size of the servants precluded the possibility of their standing on the floor, they placed themselves on the table; yet so much order was observed, that not the slightest inconvenience occurred among them. Vineleaf had placed himself at the right hand of Giles, and from time to time fUled his horn with the most delicious wine. As Giles drank, his spirits rose, and in a short time he had become fully accustomed to the scene before him, and felt every inch a lord. From time to time, however, unpleasant ideas entered his mind. He remembered, in the first place, that his hogs had not been fed, and an unpleasant vision of the bailifTs staff presented itself before him ; but still he had philosophy enough to determine to enjoy his dinner while he was about it.

The quantity he consumed was perfectly wonderful. He was naturally a glutton, and on the present occasion he showed that qualification in a perfectly developed manner. Capsicum, who also stood on the table, seemed perfectly delighted with his lord's appetite, and as he attacked each successive dish placed before him, his satisfaction appeared to increase in proportion. But everything must have an end, and there was one to Giles's appetite. At last he pushed his chair from the table, and placed it by the fire. In his long, lank figure there were evident symptoms that he had done justice to his meal ; and he now determined to enjoy his ease at his own fireside. The servants rapidly debarrassed the table of the rest of the feast, and in a short time Giles was left alone with Capsicum, who had now placed himself beside the fire, and in front of his master.

* I hope the dinner was to your lordship's satisfaction,' he remarked.

* Yes, pretty well for that,' answered Giles, determined to appear as if he had been used to repasts of the kind.

*I hope,' said Capsicum, *that if your lordship noticed any little irregularity, you will kindly excuse it. I trust to-morrow things will be done in better style.'

Giles graciously bowed his head.

* Do the liveries meet with your lordship's approbation ? If not, they shall be altered. It was only about six hours ago that I received his Majesty's commands to wait on you, and I have been rather hurried, or I would have paid greater attention to the servants' dress.'

' I remarked nothing to complain of,' said Giles, with great dignity.

* It gives me much satisfaction to hear your lordship say so. Would your lordship wish to see the female servants to-night, or will you put it off till the morning ? They are all ready to appear should you desire it. I flatter myself you will be pleased with them. I assure you I chose such to attend you as I thought you would like.'

*Yes,' said Giles, *I have no objection to their coming in now.'

Capsicum blew his silver whistle and a footman entered.

* Tell the female servants to wait on his lordship,' he said.

The footman disappeared, and the next moment a long file of female fairies, each more beautiful than the other, with the exception of the housekeeper, who was somewhat too stout for perfect symmetry, entered the room. They were neatly dressed in white, their costume being perfectly uniform. They strongly resembled, in miniature, those we are accustomed to see on the stage at the opera, with the exception that their faces were not painted, and they were without those absurd spangled verdigriscoloured wings which theatrical managers from time immemorial appear to think have been worn in

Fairyland, utterly ignoring the impossibility of their wearing cashmere shawls (always a weakness with fairies) along with those appendages. As they walked before Giles, Capsicum mentioned their names, and explained their various duties. As each passed, she gracefully curtsied, and then disappeared through the door. When they had all left. Capsicum remarked, with the most perfect foppishness of manner, that he trusted his lordship was pleased with them, as he flattered himself he had a keen eye for female beauty; to which Giles graciously remarked that they met with his most perfect approbation.

A silence of some minutes now ensued, during which the mind of Giles was occupied on a most unpleasant subject. The pigs had not been fed, and he knew perfectly well that it must be done before he went to bed, especially as there were several litters of young pigs, whose mothers might suffer severely from any neglect on his part. Still, he hardly knew in what way it was to be done, for it was impossible to mention a subject of the kind to the exquisite little dandy that stood before him, and he knew that, if he went out without speaking on the subject, he would be watched, which would be equally derogatory. The silence, however, was broken by the loquacious Capsicum :

* Would not your lordship like to have your boots taken off?'

* Yes — No — Well, perhaps you may as well do it,' was the reply.

* Pardon me, your lordship,' said Capsicum, with great respect, but at the same time showing that his feelings had been hurt by the request, *but that does not come within a fairy s duties. I will send for the captain of the goblins, who will attend you immediately.'

So saying, he blew his silver whistle, and when the footman appeared, said :

* Send that fellow Calfskin here.'

The footman bowed and retired, and a minute afterwards he returned with the captain of the goblins.

It would be difficult to imagine two creatures bearing any resemblance to the human race who differed more in form and expression of countenance than Capsicum and Calfskin. The one was slim, graceful, and rapid in his movements; the other was strong, heavy, and slow. Capsicum, with all his foppery and self-conceit, had an immense amount of intellect in his handsome countenance; while Calfskin showed scarcely more ability than a brute. His brow was low though broad, his face flat and square, and his lower jaw heavy. In height he was taller by two or three inches than Capsicum, but so wide across the shoulders and squat in form, that he scarcely looked so tall. To sum up all. Capsicum seemed the incarnation of gracefulness and intelligence, while Calfskin was that of heavy brute force.

As soon as Calfskin had made his obeisance. Capsicum said to him :

* Fellow, his lordship wishes his boots taken off. Be careful that you do it without hurting him, or we shall quarrel. We must have no clumsiness here/

Calfskin respectfully bowed, and with more skill than he would have been thought capable of, succeeded in taking of Giles's boots. He was then on the point of retiring, when Capsicum addressed him with great sternness :

*Have you no report, fellow, to give of the manner in which the duties of your charge have been performed ? You will certainly get yourself severely punished if I find any more of this remissness on your part.'

*I beg your lordship's pardon,' said Calfskin, bowing very low. * The pigs have all been fed, and their beds have been made up for the night. I am also happy to say that the young litters are doing well : not a casualty of any kind has occurred.'

' That will do,' said Capsicum ; * if his lordship has no other question to ask, you may depart.'

Giles merely made a negative gesture, yawning the while, and Calfskin left the room with the boots. As soon as he was gone Capsicum said, * I see your lordship is fatigued, and probably would wish to retire for the night. If you have no commissions for me, I will respectfully take my leave.'

Giles said he wanted nothing more, and Capsicum left him.

When Giles awoke the next morning, he found the room had been dusted and put in order, his boots were by the side of his bed, and a glorious fire was burning on the hearth ; yet all this had been done so silently, that he had not been aware of the presence of any one in his room. He arose and leisurely dressed himself. When his toilet was fully completed, he seated himself in his chair, which had been placed ready for him by the fire, and was on the point of calling Capsicum, when he found that ubiquitous gentleman standing before him, cap in hand, waiting for his lordship to speak.

Giles seemed to wish to say something worthy of a lord, and in fact was turning over in his own mind some polite method of addressing his major-domo, but it all ended in simply, * Bring me my breakfast'

The silver whistle was immediately put into requisition, and a dozen servants, who had anticipated the order, entered with the breakfast, and placed it on the table in the same manner and with the same regularity as the dinner had been served the evening before. Of tea and coffee there was none, but warm sweet wines deliciously spiced supplied their place. There were eggs cooked in every mode, beautiful white and brown bread, broiled ham and cakes, and in fact everything that could tempt the appetite. Giles ate of everything, and it was only when he could eat no more that he left off.

As soon as breakfast was over. Capsicum invited him to see the arrangements he had made in the house for the servants, as well as for carrying on the routine out of doors. Giles, who, by the bye, was not particularly disposed to move, rose from his chair, and followed his major-domo. They went into the kitchen, and there the housekeeper, in a new cap, joined them, and from time to time entered into the conversation, at least as long as they remained inside the house. This seemed particularly to annoy Capsicum, who wished it to appear that he was lord and master of all the domestic establishment. The kitchen was certainly a miracle of fairy ingenuity and neatness. Capsicum had placed it in the storeroom in which the pigs' victuals were kept, but in that part nearest to the sitting-room ; and it was carefully shut off from the rest of the storehouse by twigs gracefully plaited together, and so closely and neatly that it was impossible to perceive a fissure in any part of it. To any one but a phlegmatic individual like Giles, the inspection of the arrangements of the kitchen would have afforded a rich treat. Fifty little furnaces, each not capable of holding so much fuel as would go into a tea-cup, were ranged along the wall, and on wooden shelves were placed innumerable little saucepans of a size corresponding with the furnaces, all of copper and beautifully bright. The honours of the kitchen were performed by a stout, middle-aged male fairy dressed in white, with a white cap on his head and a knife stuck in his girdle. He went through the task with a grace like that of Soyer or Francatelli, when explaining to visitors the magnificent kitchen of the Reform Club. During the whole time a double row of undercooks and fairy kitchen-maids in neat uniform dresses stood silently by, apparently deeply impressed with the dignity of the visitor.

On leaving the kitchen Capsicum showed Giles the sleeping accommodation for the male servants ; and then, taking him into the stoves used for drying the bacon and hams, he was on the point of showing him the sleeping-apartments of the female servants, when the fairy housekeeper interposed and requested his lordship's patience, as that apartment was hardly ready for his inspection. At her interference Capsicum appeared highly offended, and whispered to Giles as they left the house that she was an illtempered, frumpish old thing, and he much regretted having chosen her to wait upon his lordship.

Giles now inspected the outdoor arrangements, attended by Capsicum and Calfskin, who had been summoned for the purpose. They first cast a glance into the quarters of the goblins, but Giles cared little for their comfort, and Capsicum wore on his face the while an expression of supreme disgust. They then visited the piggeries, and here Giles for the first time seemed really pleased with the efficiency displayed. The pigs had not only been fed, but an entire army of goblins were employed in cleaning out the sties. Everything was in perfect order, and there was not a single thing of which Giles could complain, or he would conscientiously have done so.

He now strolled leisurely round the house, conversing with Capsicum. Meantime there was something pressing anxiously on his mind. It was, that if the bailiff should make him a visit and find how comfortable he had been made, he might order him to some other part of the farm, where his position would not be a jot more agreeable than it was the morning before. Capsicum appeared intuitively to understand his master's thoughts.

* It is my duty,' said he, * to inform your lordship that all the arrangements which have been made are solely for your own use. Nothing would annoy his Majesty our king more than that it should be thought his people were servants to mortals, for whom in general he entertains a supreme dislike. Whenever a messenger comes from London, or the bailiff pays you a visit, everything we have done will be invisible. Not a fairy or goblin will be seen, and he may walk all over the place without finding anything different from its ordinary condition. I must therefore trust to your discretion that you will say nothing about it/

Giles readily made the promise, as nothing could possibly have better suited his views.

For some time Giles's life appeared to him one of perfect happiness. His gluttonous propensities were pampered to the utmost, and he had positively nothing to do. So skilful were all Capsicum's arrangements, and so effectually were they carried out, that not a feature of the supernatural was visible to general observers. A message came one afternoon from the bailiff to send two flitches of bacon to his house the next morning, and Giles was somewhat puzzled how to execute the order without lowering his dignity in the eyes of the fairies. He passed a very troubled night in thinking on the subject, and rose the next morning without having come to any conclusion. He determined, however, that he would breakfast first, and then take the question into serious consideration. Capsicum as usual made his appearance at the breakfast^table, and in course of conversation informed him that the order had already been executed. Calfskin, about midnight, had pressed all hands, and the goblins had carried two flitches of bacon to the bailiff's, and had deposited them in his house before any of the family were stirring.

A few days afterwards the bailiff paid a visit of inspection to the piggeries, and was much pleased at the excellent order they were in. Capsicum had seen him approach, ahd all the fairies and goblins with their separate arrangements were immediately ordered to be invisible. He saw only one thing that surprised him, and that was the great improvement which had taken place in Giles's appearance. He was considerably stouter, so much so in fact that the bailiff, had he met him elsewhere, would hardly have known him.