at first effie and her brother were quite pleased with the change in their lives. it was so amusing to sit up all night instead of going to sleep, and to play in the garden lighted by electric lamps. and it sounded so funny to hear mother say, when they were going to bed: "good night, my darlings, sleep sound all day, and don't get up too soon. you must not get up before it's quite dark. you wouldn't like the nasty dragons to catch you."