108. An Archangel Called Ivan by Barbara Cartland

Please!” the twins cried excitedly. “We will help you, but where will we find the fairies?”
    “They are what we are going to find now.”
    On her instructions they stopped outside a toy shop that the coachman told her was the largest in the town.
    Arliva asked to see the manager and explained to him what they were going to do at Wilson Hall.
    At first he was almost too astonished to speak and then he said,
    “It’s certainly a most original idea, miss. I think that a great number of people would like to visit the wood and take their children with them.”
    “And that is why you have to help us,” Arliva said pleadingly.
    The manager became very enthusiastic at the idea.
    Snapping his fingers, he sent members of his staff in every direction to find tiny dolls and they collected a considerable number of them.
    But, of course, they did not have wings as the twins pointed out to Arliva.
    “I have thought of that,” she replied. “I am sure that Mr. Moss, the manager, will be able to help us there.”
    “With wings?” he enquired in astonishment.
    “They are quite easy to make and, if you can tie small bows of ribbon on their backs, they will look like fairies if they are in the grass or up a tree.”
    “You are quite right,” Mr. Moss said, “I had not thought of that.”
    By the time they had finished they had collected an enormous number of small dolls.
    The saleswomen were already finding stiff ribbons that they said could be tied round the chest of the doll which would stand out like wings behind them.
    “We can do some of these ourselves,” Arliva said. “Now we must have a great deal of tinsel, which is used at Christmas and I think some small balloons among the trees would look particularly attractive.”
    Everyone serving in the shop was running to bring something else that might look pretty in the wood.
    By the time they had finished, Johnnie had written almost four pages of what had been purchased.
    “We will take all we can work on back with us,” Arliva informed Mr. Moss. “And perhaps you will be kind enough to send us the remainder of the materials as soon as possible.”
    “I certainly will,” Mr. Moss replied. “I am thinking that you will need a great deal more silver tinsel than we have in the shop at present.”
    “Perhaps you will find some more stored away,” Arliva suggested, “and please we need it quickly!”
    “As quick as it is humanly possible,” he promised. “And I do congratulate you on a very exciting and original idea.”
    They drove back to Wilson Hall with the children talking animatedly about what they had bought.
    On Arliva’s instructions, instead of turning into the drive when they reached home, they went to the Vicarage.
    The Parson, who was old and who had been the Vicar for over fifteen years, greeted the children.
    Then he looked questioningly at Arliva, as she held out her hand.
    “I am the new Governess,” she told him. “We have come to tell you about an idea that we feel will benefit children in this village and in the neighbouring ones.”
    She told the Vicar of the fairy wood and how if they charged sixpence for each person the money could go towards something for the poor children.
    “It is the most original idea I have ever heard,” the Vicar said. “And of course you are so right, Miss Parker, people will undoubtedly come from all over the country to see something as new as this. I can only hope the sunshine continues and the wood is as pretty as it is now.”
    “I think it’s likely to be a very warm summer,” she replied. “And will you please tell us who you would like the money to be given to.”
    “I have thought for a long time,” the Vicar said, “that what we really need is a fund for sick children.”
    Arliva did not reply and he went on,
    “If they have been ill, instead of convalescing at home where they are sleeping with two or three others and don’t get a chance of peace and quiet that the doctor has prescribed for