"Sitting on the grass and washing their feet in the fountain is against the law there," Helma said.

Helma looked a little grave.

"They are prisoners," said Tree Mother, "just as you were, Helma, with this one difference.

" Helma sighed and laughed at once.

She had cleaned it with a different cleaning from what it had had for Helma's first return.

"You are a good neighbor, Nora," Helma said gratefully.

Late that afternoon Helma and Ivra and Eric gathered ferns and flowers to deck themselves for the evening.

Helma made a girdle of brakes for herself, and a dandelion wreath for her hair.

He knew that Helma and Ivra had not wanted to wake him, but had gone home when the moon set, and were waiting breakfast for him there now.

Helma was swinging in a vine swing she had made for herself high in a tree above the garden.

But Helma usually knew when her children were in trouble, no matter how tiny the trouble, and so before Eric had stood there long or dug up more than a bushel of earth with his bare toes, she leaned over the nest and called to him.

"I am so happy here, and Helma is my mother now.

And if there were I wouldn't want her,not after Helma!

No, Helma is my only mother, and Ivra is my comrade.

"But as to getting there, Helma is the one to tell you that.

Ivra docs not belong out in the world of humans, and Helma will never leave her.

Now he wanted to get back to Helma and tell her all about it.

He stayed erect, his face lifted towards the first dim stars, and told Helma all about his wanting to go away from them out through the Forest and across the sea, and all that Wild Star had said about music and Earth People's lives.

Helma listened quietly, and said nothing for many minutes after he was through.

" Eric sighed with contentment, and leaned his head against Helma's shoulder.

But after a little he knew it was not Helma's little forest house that was to go swinging away into space and adventure,it was himself.

He called the news in to Helma and Ivra, who were still within doors.

Oh, what made Wild Star know so much?" "Sit down," said Helma.

His cap was new, too, and Helma had stuck two new little brown feathers in it as in the old one; so he still had a look of flying.

Helma called to Ivra, and she came out slowly.