Ma, herself, must have come across places they had just left, but probably she had lacked the patience to await their return or the faith to woo them into being.

There were little woods people, too, no bigger than your thumb, whose drinking goblets were acorn cups, and whose plates were shiny leaves.

He showed her how to set a fairy tablecloth with her handkerchief and with toadstools for seats.
In a reckless burst of confidence Ma told him how it felt to walk upside down, like a fly, and to go bounding through the woods like a thistledown.

Gray had never tried it, but he was interested.
Then, finally, alas! the inconsistency of woman! she told him all about her hidden band of mountaineers.
Now this was something he _could_ understand.

This was more his speed.
He insisted upon making the personal acquaintance of those bold followers of hers and upon hearing the whole sad story of the Princess Pensacola.