Suddenly Ranulph broke the silence with the startling question, ‘How far is it from here to Fairyland?’ The little boys nudged one another and again began to snigger behind their hands. ‘For shame, Master Ranulph!’ cried Luke indignantly, ‘talking like that before youngsters!’ ‘But I want to know!’ said Ranulph petulantly. ‘Tell what your old granny used to say, Dorian,’ giggled Toby. And Dorian was finally persuaded to repeat the old saying: ‘A thousand leagues by the great West Road and ten by the Milky Way.’
