AustLit

Little Bridget's mother tells her a story as Bridget is falling asleep. The story is about Bridget's twin sister, Nancy, who died in infancy. Bridget and Nancy were identical in every way, except that one had hazel eyes, and the other had grey eyes. Mother says that Nancy is a fairy now, and has gone to live in the Country of the Fairies. Bridget wants to go and visit her sister, just for a little while. Remarkably, she falls asleep and meets her sister. Nancy agrees to turn Bridget into a fairy so that she can pass through the Country of the Fairies undetected, disguised as her twin. But Bridget and Nancy must not be seen together, otherwise the ruse will be revealed, and 'terrible, awful things would happen,' Nancy says. 'I don't know what they are, but it is the first thing every young fairy is taught. If a human being is admitted into the Fairy Country there will be a great disaster.' Nancy turns Bridget into a fairy, and promptly disappears, and Bridget opens her eyes to find herself in a spider's web, wearing a dress made of flowers, and suddenly possessing two gossamer wings.