Eloise and Iris didn't know anything about Lenora or that people like her even existed, but that entire week they continued to transformed their shabby neighborhood into luxurious living quarters. Never once did they think of improving themselves, for each girl only thought about each other and her neighbors. The crazed street cats became beautiful and fat felines, the skinny rabid dogs became well-groomed poodles, and pesky rodents became small exotic animals. Even the small apartments and shacks became mansions and lovely town houses. All men, women, and children walked with confidence, for their part of town was now envied throughout England.
Although only God knew what was happening, the natives of the region could easily suppose it was all due to the sisters. News passed around that the girls were magical beings, enchantresses, and even witches.
"You have no one to thank, except for these gloves," the sisters would say, embarrassed that their popularity made them somewhat of celebrities.
All was well until Sorceress Lenora received the news of the sisters and their alleged "magical" gloves. It occurred to her that she wasn't overcome with poor health; someone had just stolen her magic.
I must witness this for myself, she thought, so she went to the district where this entire mystique had been taking place. She saw the magnificent town houses and then saw two blond girls in fine clothing sitting idly beside a tree.
"Children, do you know of the sisters named Iris and Eloise?" She requested sweetly.
"Oh yes, they live down the lane in the cottage with bricks of peppermint scent and a lake of sparkling cider," the taller one said.
Lenora smiled at them and walked as swiftly as her legs could take her until she reached the road where the smell of peppermint grew stronger with each step. She covered her wrinkled nose with her tattered black shawl, hoping it would dampen the cloying smell. As Lenora was just steps away from the door, two girls dressed in many layers of fine ruffled taffeta were gathering to get a drink of cider.
Lenora noticed the gloves almost instantly. The taller sister had one glove on her right hand while the younger one had hers on her left. Whatever power remained in Lenora was draining. Her complexion was getting greyer and older by each moment. A curious one at heart, she quizzically studied what it could be that was draining away her lifeline, but angry at the fact that they were oblivious that they had her magic.
The girls didn't take notice of the unfamiliar lady until they realized she couldn't have been from the neighborhood since she was wearing old torn clothes and her face was so dreary.
Eloise felt tense at first sight of this woman. Iris, however, felt compassionate.
"Miss, would you like anything, perhaps clothes or food? We will gladly give you what you need," Iris asked sincerely. Lenora didn't reply for a while. Ideas flew in her mind about ways to get a hold of the gloves.
I need these gloves. I will soon perish without them. How? Elixirs..perhaps? Which one? Bullocks, I'll worry of this later. What shall I do? Great star of the heavens, help me! I've got it! If I hold the older one captive, the younger will be lost, she finally concurred. The sisters, of course, had no idea what Lenora was thinking.
"I don't need anything," she said weakly, yet harshly. I'll come again, but I must find the older one alone. Then I may have the gloves, she thought spitefully. She quickly left the two girls.
Eloise and Iris found this woman a peculiarity. "I believe this woman is a bad omen," Eloise said.
"I'm sure she was just lost. She will be no harm to us," Iris replied carelessly. They ignored Lenora's visit and spent the rest of the day planning things to improve and initially decided on changing the dying barley fields into prosperous sugar cane countryside. All the while, evil Lenora was cooking up a scheme.