And from the foot of the throne there swum away , out and out into the sea , millions of new-born creatures , of more shapes and colours than man ever dreamed . And they were Mother Carey 's children , whom she makes out of the sea-water all day long . He expected , of course -- like some grown people who ought to know better -- to find her snipping , piecing , fitting , stitching , cobbling , basting , filing , planing , hammering , turning , polishing , moulding , measuring , chiselling , clipping , and so forth , as men do when they go to work to make anything . But , instead of that , she sat quite still with her chin upon her hand , looking down into the sea with two great grand blue eyes , as blue as the sea itself . Her hair was as white as the snow -- for she was very very old -- in fact , as old as anything which you are likely to come across , except the difference between right and wrong . And , when she saw Tom , she looked at him very kindly . `` What do you want , my little man ? It is long since I have seen a water-baby here . '' Tom told her his errand , and asked the way to the Other-end-of - Nowhere . `` You ought to know yourself , for you have been there already . '' `` Have I , ma'am ? I 'm sure I forget all about it . '' `` Then look at me . '' And , as Tom looked into her great blue eyes , he recollected the way perfectly . Now , was not that strange ? `` Thank you , ma'am , '' said Tom . `` Then I wo n't trouble your ladyship any more ; I hear you are very busy . '' `` I am never more busy than I am now , '' she said , without stirring a finger . `` I heard , ma'am , that you were always making new beasts out of old . '' `` So people fancy .
But I am not going to trouble myself XXXXX make things , my little dear .
So between except of out that to upon with without