Not that they were all alike, for though all were squarish, they were of different sizes, and decorated in all sorts of different ways, some with paintings in bright colours, some with black and silver designs.

There were terraces, and gardens, and balconies, and open spaces with trees.

Their guide took them to a little house in a back street, where a kind-faced woman sat spinning at the door of a very dark room.
'Here,' he said, 'just lend these children a mantle each, so that they can go about and see the place till the Queen's audience begins.

You leave that wool for a bit, and show them round if you like.

I must be off now.' The woman did as she was told, and the four children, wrapped in fringed mantles, went with her all about the town, and oh! how I wish I had time to tell you all that they saw.