BY this time the Rainbow Cat was getting a little tired of travelling about, and decided that he would go home and have a good rest after his many exertions. But on the way back he had to pass through the Ever After country, and the people who lived there were most pressing in their request that he should spend a little time with them. The Ever After country is inhabited by all the Fairy Tale and Nursery Rhyme people, who go to live there when their adventures are over.
Cinderella and her prince have a beautiful castle there, where the glass slipper is kept on a red velvet cushion in a little gilt cabinet, and shown to distinguished visitors. Cinderella never had another pair; she said they were very uncomfortable, and of course she was always afraid some one might tread on her toes.
Her two disagreeable sisters have a little house of their own. They have taken to gardening, and keep bees and chickens, and are altogether immensely[110] improved, so that everybody is quite fond of them.
They are rather sensitive about their past, and are both, alas! a little lame, because, as you will remember, they cut pieces off their feet in order to make them smaller.
Snow-White, too, lives in a castle with her husband. The seven dwarfs have a fine carpenter’s shop on the estate, where they are kept very busy indeed.
They make the most lovely little chairs and tables for Snow-White’s children, and do most of the work of that kind required by the dwellers in the Ever After land.
Red-Riding-Hood and her grandmother have a pretty cottage close to that of Cinderella’s sisters. Red-Riding-Hood often runs in to have a chat with them, and they are very kind about sending in honey and eggs for the old lady.
Of course, there are many, many more people. Jack the Giant-Killer, who has grown rather fat and lazy, but loves to talk about all his great fights; Little Miss Muffet, who is still a bit afraid of spiders; Boy Blue, Mother Hubbard, Aladdin—it would take me all day to mention half of them, but they are all there, not one is missing.
The Rainbow Cat stayed with Fatima, Bluebeard’s last wife, who lives with the two brothers who saved her life by their valour.
[111]Poor Fatima has never quite got over the dreadful shock she had when she discovered the other wives all hanging up, and she can’t so much as bear the sight of a bunch of keys.
As usual, the Rainbow Cat was most kindly welcomed and was introduced to all the important people in the place.
 
They are always delighted to see strangers, as sometimes they feel that things are a little dull after the exciting adventures many of them have been through.
On the third day after his arrival he was invited to a great banquet at the palace of the Queen of Hearts.
[112]It was a most wonderful banquet.
The Rainbow Cat wore his best bow, his dancing-shoes, and the gold collar which the giantess had given him. He took his mandolin with him; it had been most useful to him on several occasions, and it seemed a pity to leave it behind.
He met a number of friends at the party.
Puss-in-Boots, for instance, and the Pussy-cat who went to London to visit the Queen.
Dick Whittington’s cat was there too, but he gave himself great airs. It seems it wasn’t really quite certain whether he was a fairy-tale cat at all. Some people thought he was real.
It was silly of him to be so stuck-up about it, but it only amused the Rainbow Cat.
They were about half-way through the banquet when there was a slight pause. The meat course was finished, and everybody was waiting for the sweets. At that moment a servant came quietly in and whispered to the Queen. She became deadly pale, and half rose in her seat.
“What is the matter, your Majesty?” said the Rainbow Cat, who sat in the place of honour at her right hand.
“He’s done it again,” said the Queen in a low, horrified whisper, sinking weakly down again into her chair.
“Who has done what?” said the Rainbow Cat.
“The Knave—stolen the tarts!” said the Queen[113] with an agonised look. “They’re nowhere to be found. It’s all my fault. He begged so hard to be taken on again that I gave him another chance. Oh! why did I trust him?”
“Isn’t there anything else?” asked the Rainbow Cat.
“Nothing ready,” replied the Queen. “You see, they’re very special tarts. I make them myself. Every one thinks so much of them. What shall I do?”
“Don’t worry,” said the Rainbow Cat. “Send round to all the pastry-cooks’ for anything they have ready, and meanwhile I’ll sing a song to fill up the time.”
The Queen was much relieved at this suggestion, and gave orders that messengers should be dispatched immediately to buy up all the available tarts in the place.
Meanwhile the Master of Ceremonies was bidden to announce that their distinguished visitor, the Rainbow Cat, had kindly promised............