So into the cage went Pixi and Mrs Parkin. Grizel locked the cage and left it on the floor as she walked away.

“She’s going to eat us!” said Mrs Parkin, “I can’t imagine why you would have wanted me to do that. I suppose it’s different being a boy. I just wish we could get out of here.”

“You could get out, if I helped you,” said Pixi, and shrank to tiny size, “Just put me in the lock.”

“You’re still the Brainy Pixie alright,” said Mrs Parkin, and positioned him to go to work.

Within the lock, he had no trouble working its mechanism to release his governess from the giant mother’s cage.

“Thank you for saving us!” she said, and kissed him, “Now grow back to full size and let’s run back to the Faraway Tree.”

“I’m going to stay here,” he said, resuming his normal size.

“But she’ll eat you… Oh yes.”

Mrs Parkin looked hurt. Was she jealous of the giant mother? He could reassure her with one simple truth to spare her feelings.

“Her mouth is not quite as pretty as yours, but at last I’ll have my big chance to be eaten,” he said, “I don’t even have to shrink for it.”

“But I want you to come back with me,” she said.

“I would like you to do it instead, but you won’t,” said Pixi, “This is my one big chance.”

“Is it that important to you?” she asked, “Do you really want so much to be eaten?”

“I do if the lady eating me has a lovely tongue like yours.”

“Alright then. If you come back with me, we’ll talk about it.”

“If you don’t do it, the giant land will have moved away from the Faraway Tree, and Grizel’s mother won’t be able to. I’ll come with you if you promise to eat me.”

“Alright,” said Mrs Parkin going pale, “You do taste nice, and at least I’ll be the one to have you in my tummy. I couldn’t bear to think of you in the giant mother’s huge stomach instead.”

“Thank you so much!” said Pixi.

“Let’s just get away quickly,” said Mrs Parkin and led him into the garden.

No sooner had they reached the edge of the giant property, when they heard voices. They turned and looked back and saw the giant mother, now dressed in her best, searching the garden for them, with her daughter Grizel helping.

The two people ran for their lives. Pixi didn’t want to be caught by the giantess either, now that he had Mrs Parkin’s guarantee to eat him instead, and he had no desire to see her lost to Grizel’s mother either. Clearly, to her, being eaten would not be the special treat that it was to him.

They reached the Faraway Tree at last, and were never so fast before in the way that they descended to the wood below. They made their way back to Mrs Parkin’s house and his own.