Some exceedingly cynical and incredulous people have cast doubt on the truth of Maida’s story. One of them actually said she slept and dreamed it all. The idea!

That very day the Man with the Growly Voice came to see Aunt Mary, and when Maida met him she asked him how he got back. He didn’t just recollect for a moment, but when she reminded him, he remembered everything that happened while they were away together.

So there now!

Besides, Aunt Mary took Maida—not so long after that—to a great big house, like one of the Illusian palaces, where there were wonderful lights and a band which played beautiful music; then a big picture rolled up and there was the Toy Shop, and Santa Claus, and Billy; yes, and Jack-in-the-Box and the Candy Kid, too—even the Bear—all of them.

So she knows it was all true. So do you. Don’t you?

Transcriber’s Note:

Capitalisation in several instances of “man with the growly voice” was changed to “Man with the Growley Voice”, see pages 10, 27, 31, and 35. The following changes were also made:

• Page 22
  “Yes,” So that was settled changed to
  “Yes.” So that was settled
• Page 24
  or turn over over and over changed to
  or turn over and over
• Page 31
  “just here.” If we weren’t here changed to
  “just here. If we weren’t here
• Page 51
  replied Jack-in-the-Box, that’s my changed to
  replied Jack-in-the-Box, “that’s my
• Page 96
  a tree——(Now do you know it _is_ rather changed to
  a tree——” (Now do you know it _is_ rather
• Page 116
  “Spring has came,” he said changed to
  “Spring has come,” he said
• Page 119
  The starboard wing is smashed changed to
  “The starboard wing is smashed
• Page 149
  The most wonderful toy you ever saw changed to
  “The most wonderful toy you ever saw
• Page 170
  thought Maida, slying peering about changed to
  thought Maida, slyly peering about
• Page 171
  and acts diferent, and her voice changed to
  and acts different, and her voice
• Page 176
  You needn’t shake it too much. He paused changed to
  You needn’t shake it too much.” He paused