You can hardly imagine how soft and pleasant it was to the touch.

A half-sleepy feeling came over them; they shut their eyes and did not feel inclined to open them again.

But they did not really go to sleep; the fairy lady began to work the wheel, and through the soft whirr came the sound of a voice--whether it was the voice of the lady or of the wheel they could not tell.

And this was the old, old story the wheel spun for them.
"Listen, children," it began.
"We are listening," said Jeanne, rather testily.

"You needn't say that again." "Hush, Jeanne," said Hugh; "you'll stop the story if you're not quiet." "Listen, children," said the voice again.