But down at the bottom of the ladder there was no Faraway Tree.

Instead, to Jo's astonishment, there was a narrow passage, lit by a

swinging green lantern.
"I say," he said to the others, "What's this? Where's the Faraway Tree?"
"We've come down the wrong hole," groaned Moon-Face. "Oh,
goodness, what bad luck!"
"Well, where are we?" asked Dick in wonder.
"I don't know," said Moon-Face. "We'd better follow this passage and
see where it leads to. It's no Use climbing back and trying to find the
right hole. We'd never find it in the dark-and anyway, I'm pretty sure
the Land of Spells has moved on by now."
Everyone felt very gloomy. Jo led the way down the passage. It twisted
and turned, went up and down steps, and was lighted here and there by
the green lanterns swinging from the roof.
At last they came to a big yellow door. On it was a blue knocker, a blue
bell, a blue letter-box and a blue notice that said:
"Mister Change-About. Knock once, ring twice, and rattle the letter-
box."
Jo knocked once, very loudly. Then he rang twice, and everyone heard
the bell going "R-r-r-r-r-r-ring! R-r-r-r-r-r-ring!" Then he rattled the
letter-box.
The door didn't open. It completely disappeared. It was most peculiar.
One minute it was there- and the next it had gone, and there was
nothing in front of them. They could see right into a big underground
room.
At the end of it, by a roaring fire, a round fat person was sitting. "That
must be Mister Change-About!" whispered Dick. "Dare we go in?"
7-Mr. Change-About and the Enchanter.
Everyone stared at Mr. Change-About. At least, as he was the only
person in the room, they thought that was who it must be. He got up
and came towards them.
He was a fat, comfortable-looking person with a broad smile on his
face. "Dear me, what a lot of visitors!" he said. "Do sit down."
There was nowhere to sit except the floor. This was made of stone and
looked rather cold. So nobody sat down.
Something happened to Mr. Change-About when nobody obeyed him. He
grew tall and thin. His broad smile disappeared and a frown came all
over his face. He looked a most unpleasant person.
"SIT DOWN!" he roared. And everybody sat down in a hurry!
Mr. Change-About looked at the Saucepan Man, who had sat down with
a tremendous clatter.
"Have you a nice little kettle that would boil enough water for two cups
of tea?" he asked.
The Saucepan Man didn't hear. So Jo shouted in his ear, and he beamed,
got up, and undid a little kettle from the many that hung about him.
"Just the thing!" he said, handing it to Mr. Change-About. "Try it and
see!"
Mr. Change-About changed again, and became a happy-looking little
creature with dancing eyes and a sweet smile. He took the kettle.