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11706 lines
305 KiB
Go
11706 lines
305 KiB
Go
package main
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// Src is A. A. Milne's "Once on a Time" as transcribed by Project Gutenberg.
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const Src = `<H1 ALIGN="center">
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ONCE ON A TIME
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</H1>
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<H3 ALIGN="center">
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<i>By</i>
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</H3>
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<H2 ALIGN="center">
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A.A. Milne
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</H2>
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<BR><BR><BR>
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<H3 ALIGN="center">
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DECORATED<BR>
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BY CHARLES<BR>
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ROBINSON
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</H3>
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<BR>
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<H4 ALIGN="center">
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GROSSET & DUNLAP<BR>
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Publishers New York<BR>
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By Arrangement with G. P. Putnam's Sons
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</H4>
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<br>
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<p class="noindent" align="center"><img src="images/0008X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Copyright page decoration of a dark-haired girl in medieval garb]"></p>
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<br>
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<H5 ALIGN="center">
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Copyright, 1922
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<BR>
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by
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<BR>
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A. A. Milne
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</H5>
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<br>
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<br>
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<p class="noindent" align="center"><img src="images/0009X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: A young blonde girl in medieval garb]"></p>
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<H3 ALIGN="center">
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PREFACE
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</H3>
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<P>
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This book was written in 1915, for the amusement of my wife and myself
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at a time when life was not very amusing; it was published at the end
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of 1917; was reviewed, if at all, as one of a parcel, by some brisk
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uncle from the Tiny Tots Department; and died quietly, without
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seriously detracting from the interest which was being taken in the
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World War, then in progress.
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</P>
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<P>
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It may be that the circumstances in which the book was written have
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made me unduly fond of it. When, as sometimes happens, I am
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introduced to a stranger who starts the conversation on the right
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lines by praising, however insincerely, my books, I always say, "But
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you have not read the best one." Nine times out of ten it is so. The
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tenth takes a place in the family calendar; St. Michael or St. Agatha,
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as the case may be, a red-letter or black-letter saint, according to
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whether the book was bought or borrowed. But there are few such
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saints, and both my publisher and I have the feeling (so common to
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publishers and authors) that there ought to be more. So here comes
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the book again, in a new dress, with new decorations, yet much, as far
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as I am concerned, the same book, making the same appeal to me; but,
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let us hope, a new appeal, this time, to others.
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</P>
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<P>
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For whom, then, is the book intended? That is the trouble. Unless I
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can say, "For those, young or old, who like the things which I like,"
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I find it difficult to answer. Is it a children's book? Well, what
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do we mean by that? Is <i>The Wind in the Willows</i> a children's book?
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Is <i>Alice in Wonderland?</i> Is <i>Treasure Island?</i> These are
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masterpieces which we read with pleasure as children, but with how
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much more pleasure when we are grown-up. In any case what do we mean
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by "children"? A boy of three, a girl of six, a boy of ten, a girl of
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fourteen—are they all to like the same thing? And is a book
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"suitable for a boy of twelve" any more likely to please a boy of
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twelve than a modern novel is likely to please a man of thirty-seven;
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even if the novel be described truly as "suitable for a man of
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thirty-seven"? I confess that I cannot grapple with these difficult
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problems.
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</P>
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<P>
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But I am very sure of this: that no one can write a book which
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children will like, unless he write it for himself first. That being
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so, I shall say boldly that this is a story for grown-ups. How
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grown-up I did not realise until I received a letter from an unknown
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reader a few weeks after its first publication; a letter which said
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that he was delighted with my clever satires of the Kaiser, Mr. Lloyd
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George and Mr. Asquith, but he could not be sure which of the
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characters were meant to be Mr. Winston Churchill and Mr. Bonar Law.
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Would I tell him on the enclosed postcard? I replied that they were
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thinly disguised on the title-page as Messrs. Hodder & Stoughton. In
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fact, it is not that sort of book.
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</P>
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<P>
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But, as you see, I am still finding it difficult to explain just what
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sort of book it is. Perhaps no explanation is necessary. Read in it
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what you like; read it to whomever you like; be of what age you like;
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it can only fall into one of two classes. Either you will enjoy it,
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or you won't.
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</P>
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<P>
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It is that sort of book.
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</P>
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<P>
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A. A. Milne.
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</P>
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<br><br>
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<p class="noindent" align="center"><img src="images/0013X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Contents page decoration of a child bent over a large boot]"></p>
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<br><br>
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<H3 ALIGN="center">
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CONTENTS
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</H3>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap01">I.—The King of Euralia has a Visitor to Breakfast</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap02">II.—The Chancellor of Barodia has a Long Walk Home</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap03">III.—The King of Euralia Draws his Sword</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap04">IV.—The Princess Hyacinth Leaves it to the Countess</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap05">V.—Belvane Indulges her Hobby</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap06">VI.—There are no Wizards in Barodia</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap07">VII.—The Princess Receives a Letter and Writes One</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap08">VIII.—Prince Udo Sleeps Badly</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap09">IX.—They are Afraid of Udo</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap10">X.—Charlotte Patacake Astonishes the Critics</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap11">XI.—Watercress Seems to go with the Ears</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap12">XII.—We Decide to Write to Udo's Father</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap13">XIII.—"Pink" Rhymes with "Think"</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap14">XIV.—"Why Can't you be like Wiggs?"</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap15">XV.—There is a Lover Waiting for Hyacinth</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap16">XVI.—Belvane Enjoys Herself</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap17">XVII.—The King of Barodia Drops the Whisker Habit</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap18">XVIII.—The Veteran of the Forest Entertains Two Very Young People</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap19">XIX.—Udo Behaves Like a Gentleman</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap20">XX.—Coronel Knows a Good Story when he Hears it</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap21">XXI.—A Serpent Coming after Udo</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#chap22">XXII.—The Seventeen Volumes go back Again</a>
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</P>
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<br><br>
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<p class="noindent" align="center">
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<img src="images/0015X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: A dark-haired girl in medieval garb in a pastoral scene]"></p>
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<BR><BR>
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<H3 ALIGN="center">
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ILLUSTRATIONS
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</H3>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0020">
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A Map of Euralia showing the Adjacent Country of Barodia and the
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far-distant Araby
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0021X">
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He was a Man of Simple Tastes
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0026">
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"Most extraordinary," said the King</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0046">
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He found the King nursing a Bent Whisker and in the very Vilest of Tempers
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0060">
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"Try it on me," cried the Countess</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0078">
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Five Times he had come back to give her his Last Instructions</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0102">
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Armed to the Teeth, Amazon after Amazon marched by</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0118">
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When the Respective Armies returned to Camp they found Their Majesties
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asleep</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0132">
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The Rabbit was gone, and there was a Fairy in front of her</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0154">
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As Evening fell they came to a Woodman's Cottage at the Foot of a High
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Hill</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0168">
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"Coronel, here I am," said Udo pathetically, and he stepped out</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0186">
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Twenty-one Minutes later Henrietta Crossbuns was acknowledging a Bag
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of Gold
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0200">
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Princess Hyacinth gave a Shriek and faltered slowly backwards
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0220">
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"Now we can talk," said Hyacinth
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0242">
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He forgot his Manners, and made a Jump towards her
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0243">
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She glided gracefully behind the Sundial in a Pretty Affectation of
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Alarm
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0262">
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When anybody of Superior Station or Age came into the Room she rose
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and curtsied
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0274">
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And then she danced
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0284">
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"Good Morning," said Belvane
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0308">
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The Tent seemed to swim before his Eyes, and he knew no more
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0332">
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She turned round and went off daintily down the Hill
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0352">
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Let me present to you my friend the Duke Coronel
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0368">
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As the Towers of the Castle came in sight, Merriwig drew a Deep Breath
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of Happiness
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0396">
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Belvane leading the Way with her Finger to her Lips
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0397">
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Merriwig following with an Exaggerated Caution
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0412">
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He was a Pleasant-looking Person, with a Round Clean-shaven Face
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</a>
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</P>
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<P>
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<a href="#img0420X">
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Roger Scurvilegs
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</a>
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</P>
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<p class="noindent" align="center"><img src="images/0017X.jpg" alt="Illustration: End of Illustration List Decoration"></p>
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<br><br><br>
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<p class="noindent" align="center">
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<img src="images/0019.jpg" alt="Illustration: Page 1 Decoration">
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</p>
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<br><br>
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<p class="noindent" align="center">
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<a name="img0020"></a>
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<img src="images/0020.jpg" alt="[Frontispiece: A Map of Euralia showing the Adjacent Country of Barodia and the far-distant Araby]"></p>
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<BR><BR><BR>
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<p class="noindent" align="center">
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<a name="img0021X"></a>
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<A NAME="chap01"></A>
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<img src="images/0021X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: He was a Man of Simple Tastes]">
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</p>
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<H3 ALIGN="center">
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CHAPTER I
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</H3>
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<H3 ALIGN="center">
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THE KING OF EURALIA HAS A VISITOR TO BREAKFAST
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</H3>
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<P>
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King Merriwig of Euralia sat at breakfast on his castle walls. He
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lifted the gold cover from the gold dish in front of him, selected a
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trout and conveyed it carefully to his gold plate. He was a man of
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simple tastes, but when you have an aunt with the newly acquired gift
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of turning anything she touches to gold, you must let her practise
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sometimes. In another age it might have been fretwork.
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</P>
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<P>
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"Ah," said the King, "here you are, my dear." He searched for his
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napkin, but the Princess had already kissed him lightly on the top of
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the head, and was sitting in her place opposite to him.
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</P>
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<P>
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"Good morning, Father," she said; "I'm a little late, aren't I? I've
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been riding in the forest."
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</P>
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<P>
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"Any adventures?" asked the King casually.
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</P>
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<P>
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"Nothing, except it's a beautiful morning."
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</P>
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<P>
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"Ah, well, perhaps the country isn't what it was. Now when I was a
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young man, you simply couldn't go into the forest without an adventure
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of some sort. The extraordinary things one encountered! Witches,
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giants, dwarfs——. It was there that I first met your mother," he
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added thoughtfully.
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</P>
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<P>
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"I wish I remembered my mother," said Hyacinth.
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</P>
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<P>
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The King coughed and looked at her a little nervously.
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</P>
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<P>
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"Seventeen years ago she died, Hyacinth, when you were only six months
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old. I have been wondering lately whether I haven't been a little
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remiss in leaving you motherless so long."
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</P>
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<P>
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The Princess looked puzzled. "But it wasn't your fault, dear, that
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mother died."
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</P>
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<P>
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"Oh, no, no, I'm not saying that. As you know, a dragon carried her
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off and—well, there it was. But supposing"—he looked at her
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shyly—"I had married again."
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</P>
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<P>
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The Princess was startled.
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</P>
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<P>
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"Who?" she asked.
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</P>
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<P>
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The King peered into his flagon. "Well," he said, "there <i>are</i>
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people."
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</P>
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<P>
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"If it had been somebody <i>very</i> nice," said the Princess wistfully,
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"it might have been rather lovely."
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</P>
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<P>
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The King gazed earnestly at the outside of his flagon.
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</P>
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<P>
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"Why 'might have been?'" he said.
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</P>
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<P>
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The Princess was still puzzled. "But I'm grown up," she said; "I
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don't want a mother so much now."
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</P>
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<P>
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The King turned his flagon round and studied the other side of it.
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</P>
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<P>
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"A mother's—er—tender hand," he said, "is—er—never——" and then
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the outrageous thing happened.
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</P>
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<P>
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It was all because of a birthday present to the King of Barodia, and
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the present was nothing less than a pair of seven-league boots. The
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King being a busy man, it was a week or more before he had an
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opportunity of trying those boots. Meanwhile he used to talk about
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them at meals, and he would polish them up every night before he went
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to bed. When the great day came for the first trial of them to be
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made, he took a patronising farewell of his wife and family, ignored
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the many eager noses pressed against the upper windows of the Palace,
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and sailed off. The motion, as perhaps you know, is a little
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disquieting at first, but one soon gets used to it. After that it is
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fascinating. He had gone some two thousand miles before he realised
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that there might be a difficulty about finding his way back. The
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difficulty proved at least as great as he had anticipated. For the
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rest of that day he toured backwards and forwards across the country;
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and it was by the merest accident that a very angry King shot in
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through an open pantry window in the early hours of the morning. He
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removed his boots and went softly to bed. . . .
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</P>
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<P>
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It was, of course, a lesson to him. He decided that in the future he
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must proceed by a recognised route, sailing lightly from landmark to
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landmark. Such a route his Geographers prepared for him—an early
|
|
morning constitutional, of three hundred miles or so, to be taken ten
|
|
times before breakfast. He gave himself a week in which to recover
|
|
his nerve and then started out on the first of them.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0026"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0026.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: "Most extraordinary," said the King, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0027.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: "Most extraordinary," said the King, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Now the Kingdom of Euralia adjoined that of Barodia, but whereas
|
|
Barodia was a flat country, Euralia was a land of hills. It was
|
|
natural then that the Court Geographers, in search of landmarks,
|
|
should have looked towards Euralia; and over Euralia accordingly,
|
|
about the time when cottage and castle alike were breakfasting, the
|
|
King of Barodia soared and dipped and soared and dipped again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A mother's tender hand," said the King of Euralia,
|
|
"is—er—never—good gracious! What's that?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was a sudden rush of air; something came for a moment between
|
|
his Majesty and the sun; and then all was quiet again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What was it?" asked Hyacinth, slightly alarmed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Most extraordinary," said the King. "It left in my mind an
|
|
impression of ginger whiskers and large boots. Do we know anybody
|
|
like that?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The King of Barodia," said Hyacinth, "has red whiskers, but I don't
|
|
know about his boots."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But what could he have been doing up there? Unless——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was another rush of wind in the opposite direction; once more
|
|
the sun was obscured, and this time, plain for a moment for all to
|
|
see, appeared the rapidly dwindling back view of the King of Barodia
|
|
on his way home to breakfast.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig rose with dignity.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You're quite right, Hyacinth," he said sternly; "it <i>was</i> the King of
|
|
Barodia."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth looked troubled.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He oughtn't to come over anybody's breakfast table quite so quickly
|
|
as that. Ought he, Father?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A lamentable display of manners, my dear. I shall withdraw now and
|
|
compose a stiff note to him. The amenities must be observed."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Looking as severe as a naturally jovial face would permit him, and
|
|
wondering a little if he had pronounced "amenities" right, he strode
|
|
to the library.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The library was his Majesty's favourite apartment. Here in the
|
|
mornings he would discuss affairs of state with his Chancellor, or
|
|
receive any distinguished visitors who were to come to his kingdom in
|
|
search of adventure. Here in the afternoon, with a copy of <i>What to
|
|
say to a Wizard</i> or some such book taken at random from the shelves,
|
|
he would give himself up to meditation.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And it was the distinguished visitors of the morning who gave him most
|
|
to think about in the afternoon. There were at this moment no fewer
|
|
than seven different Princes engaged upon seven different enterprises,
|
|
to whom, in the event of a successful conclusion, he had promised the
|
|
hand of Hyacinth and half his kingdom. No wonder he felt that she
|
|
needed the guiding hand of a mother.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The stiff note to Barodia was not destined to be written. He was
|
|
still hesitating between two different kinds of nib, when the door was
|
|
flung open and the fateful name of the Countess Belvane was announced.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess Belvane! What can I say which will bring home to you
|
|
that wonderful, terrible, fascinating woman? Mastered as she was by
|
|
overweening ambition, utterly unscrupulous in her methods of achieving
|
|
her purpose, none the less her adorable humanity betrayed itself in a
|
|
passion for diary-keeping and a devotion to the simpler forms of
|
|
lyrical verse. That she is the villain of the piece I know well; in
|
|
his <i>Euralia Past and Present</i> the eminent historian, Roger
|
|
Scurvilegs, does not spare her; but that she had her great qualities I
|
|
should be the last to deny.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She had been writing poetry that morning, and she wore green. She
|
|
always wore green when the Muse was upon her: a pleasing habit which,
|
|
whether as a warning or an inspiration, modern poets might do well to
|
|
imitate. She carried an enormous diary under her arm; and in her mind
|
|
several alternative ways of putting down her reflections on her way to
|
|
the Palace.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good morning, dear Countess," said the King, rising only too gladly
|
|
from his nibs; "an early visit."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You don't mind, your Majesty?" said the Countess anxiously. "There
|
|
was a point in our conversation yesterday about which I was not quite
|
|
certain——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What <i>were</i> we talking about yesterday?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, your Majesty," said the Countess, "affairs of state," and she
|
|
gave him that wicked, innocent, impudent, and entirely scandalous look
|
|
which he never could resist, and you couldn't either for that matter.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Affairs of state, of course," smiled the King.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why, I made a special note of it in my diary."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She laid down the enormous volume and turned lightly over the pages.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Here we are! '<i>Thursday.</i> His Majesty did me the honour to consult
|
|
me about the future of his daughter, the Princess Hyacinth. Remained
|
|
to tea and was very——' I can't quite make this word out."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Let <i>me</i> look," said the King, his rubicund face becoming yet more
|
|
rubicund. "It looks like 'charming,'" he said casually.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Fancy!" said Belvane. "Fancy my writing that! I put down just what
|
|
comes into my head at the time, you know." She made a gesture with
|
|
her hand indicative of some one who puts down just what comes into her
|
|
head at the time, and returned to her diary. "'Remained to tea, and
|
|
was very charming. Mused afterwards on the mutability of life!'" She
|
|
looked up at him with wide-open eyes. "I often muse when I'm alone,"
|
|
she said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King still hovered over the diary.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Have you any more entries like—like that last one? May I look?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, your Majesty! I'm afraid it's <i>quite</i> private." She closed the
|
|
book quickly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I just thought I saw some poetry," said the King.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Just a little ode to a favourite linnet. It wouldn't interest your
|
|
Majesty."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I adore poetry," said the King, who had himself written a rhymed
|
|
couplet which could be said either forwards or backwards, and in the
|
|
latter position was useful for removing enchantments. According to
|
|
the eminent historian, Roger Scurvilegs, it had some vogue in Euralia
|
|
and went like this:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
"<i>Bo, boll, bill, bole.</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>Wo, woll, will, wole.</i>"<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
A pleasing idea, temperately expressed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess, of course, was only pretending. Really she was longing
|
|
to read it. "It's quite a little thing," she said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class=poem>
|
|
"<i>Hail to thee, blithe linnet,</i><BR>
|
|
<i>Bird thou clearly art,</i><BR>
|
|
<i>That from bush or in it</i><BR>
|
|
<i>Pourest thy full heart!</i><BR>
|
|
<i>And leads the feathered choir in song</i><BR>
|
|
<i>Taking the treble part.</i>"<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Beautiful," said the King, and one must agree with him. Many years
|
|
after, another poet called Shelley plagiarised the idea, but handled
|
|
it in a more artificial, and, to my way of thinking, decidedly
|
|
inferior manner.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Was it a real bird?" said the King.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"An old favourite."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Was it pleased about it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Alas, your Majesty, it died without hearing it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Poor bird!" said his Majesty; "I think it would have liked it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Meanwhile Hyacinth, innocent of the nearness of a mother, remained on
|
|
the castle walls and tried to get on with her breakfast. But she made
|
|
little progress with it. After all, it <i>is</i> annoying continually to
|
|
look up from your bacon, or whatever it is, and see a foreign monarch
|
|
passing overhead. Eighteen more times the King of Barodia took
|
|
Hyacinth in his stride. At the end of the performance, feeling rather
|
|
giddy, she went down to her father.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She found him alone in the library, a foolish smile upon his face, but
|
|
no sign of a letter to Barodia in front of him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Have you sent the Note yet?" she asked.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Note? Note?" he said, bewildered, "what—oh, you mean the Stiff Note
|
|
to the King of Barodia? I'm just planning it, my love. The exact
|
|
shade of stiffness, combined with courtesy, is a little difficult to
|
|
hit."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I shouldn't be too courteous," said Hyacinth; "he came over eighteen
|
|
more times after you'd gone."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Eighteen, eighteen, eight—my dear, it's outrageous."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I've never had such a crowded breakfast before."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's positively insulting, Hyacinth. This is no occasion for Notes.
|
|
We will talk to him in a language that he will understand."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And he went out to speak to the Captain of his Archers.
|
|
</P>
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<img src="images/0037X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Decoration of a pile of books]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap02"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0039X.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: Selection from next two-page drawing]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER II
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
THE CHANCELLOR OF BARODIA HAS A LONG WALK HOME
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Once more it was early morning on the castle walls.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King sat at his breakfast table, a company of archers drawn up in
|
|
front of him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Now you all understand," he said. "When the King of Baro—when a
|
|
certain—well, when I say 'when,' I want you all to fire your arrows
|
|
into the air. You are to take no aim; you are just to shoot your
|
|
arrows upwards, and—er—I want to see who gets highest. Should
|
|
anything—er—should anything brush up against them on their way—not
|
|
of course that it's likely—well, in that case—er—in that case
|
|
something will—er—brush up against them. After all, what <i>should?</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Quite so, Sire," said the Captain, "or rather, not at all."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Very well. To your places."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Each archer fitted an arrow to his bow and took up his position. A
|
|
look-out man had been posted. Everything was ready.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King was decidedly nervous. He wandered from one archer to
|
|
another asking after this man's wife and family, praising the polish
|
|
on that man's quiver, or advising him to stand with his back a little
|
|
more to the sun. Now and then he would hurry off to the look-out man
|
|
on a distant turret, point out Barodia on the horizon to him, and
|
|
hurry back again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The look-out knew all about it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Royalty over," he bellowed suddenly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"When!" roared the King, and a cloud of arrows shot into the air.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well done!" cried Hyacinth, clapping her hands. "I mean, how could
|
|
you? You might have hurt him."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Hyacinth," said the King, turning suddenly; "you here?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have just come up. Did you hit him?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Hit who?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The King of Barodia, of course."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The King of—— My dear child, what could the King of Barodia be
|
|
doing here? My archers were aiming at a hawk that they saw in the
|
|
distance." He beckoned to the Captain. "Did you hit that hawk?" he
|
|
asked.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"With one shot only, Sire. In the whisk—in the tail feathers."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King turned to Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"With one shot only in the whisk—in the tail feathers," he said.
|
|
"What was it, my dear, that you were saying about the King of
|
|
Barodia?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Father, you are bad. You hit the poor man right in the whisker."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"His Majesty of Barodia! And in the whisker! My dear child, this is
|
|
terrible! But what can he have been doing up there? Dear, dear, this
|
|
is really most unfortunate. I must compose a note of apology about
|
|
this."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I should leave the first note to him," said Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, yes, you're right. No doubt he will wish to explain how he came
|
|
to be there. Just a moment, dear."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He went over to his archers, who were drawn up in line
|
|
again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You may take your men down now," he said to the Captain.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, your Majesty."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
His Majesty looked quickly round the castle walls, and then leant
|
|
confidentially towards the Captain.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Er—which was the man who—er"— he fingered his cheek—"er—quite
|
|
so. The one on the left? Ah, yes." He went to the man on the left
|
|
and put a bag of gold into his hand.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You have a very good style with the bow, my man. Your wrist action
|
|
is excellent. I have never seen an arrow go so high."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The company saluted and withdrew. The King and Hyacinth sat down to
|
|
breakfast.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A little mullet, my dear?" he said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Hereditary Grand Chancellor of Barodia never forgot that morning,
|
|
nor did he allow his wife to forget it. His opening, "That reminds
|
|
me, dear, of the day when——" though the signal of departure for any
|
|
guests, allowed no escape for his family. They had to have it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And indeed it was a busy day for him. Summoned to the Palace at nine
|
|
o'clock, he found the King nursing a bent whisker and in the very
|
|
vilest of tempers. His Majesty was for war at once, the Chancellor
|
|
leant towards the Stiff Note.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"At least, your Majesty," he begged, "let me consult the precedents
|
|
first."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There is no precedent," said the King coldly, "for such an outrage as
|
|
this."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not precisely, Sire; but similar unfortunate occurrences
|
|
have—occurred."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It was worse than an occurrence."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I should have said an outrage, your Majesty. Your late lamented
|
|
grandfather was unfortunate enough to come beneath the spell of the
|
|
King of Araby, under which he was compelled—or perhaps I should say
|
|
preferred—to go about on his hands and knees for several weeks. Your
|
|
Majesty may recall how the people in their great loyalty adopted a
|
|
similar mode of progression. Now although your Majesty's case is not
|
|
precisely on all fours——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not at all on all fours," said the King coldly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"An unfortunate metaphor; I should say that although your Majesty's
|
|
case is not parallel, the procedure adopted in your revered
|
|
grandfather's case——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't care what <i>you</i> do with your whiskers; I don't care what
|
|
<i>anybody</i> does with his whiskers," said the King, still soothing his
|
|
own tenderly; "I want the King of Euralia's blood." He looked round
|
|
the Court. "To any one who will bring me the head of the King, I will
|
|
give the hand of my daughter in marriage."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was a profound silence. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Which daughter?" said a cautious voice at last.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The eldest," said the King.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was another profound silence. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0046"></a><img src="images/0046.jpg" alt="[Illustration: He found the King nursing a bent whisker and in the
|
|
very vilest of tempers, verso]"><img src="images/0047.jpg" alt="[Illustration: He found the King
|
|
nursing a bent whisker and in the very vilest of tempers, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My suggestion, your Majesty," said the Chancellor, "is that for the
|
|
present there should be merely an exchange of Stiff Notes; and that
|
|
meanwhile we scour the kingdom for an enchanter who shall take some
|
|
pleasant revenge for us upon his Majesty of Euralia. For instance,
|
|
Sire, a king whose head has been permanently fixed on upside-down
|
|
lacks somewhat of that regal dignity which alone can command the
|
|
respect of his subjects. A couple of noses, again, placed at
|
|
different angles, so they cannot both be blown together——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, yes," said the King impatiently, "<i>I'll</i> think of the things, if
|
|
once you can find the enchanter. But they are not so common nowadays.
|
|
Besides, enchanters are delicate things to work with. They have a
|
|
habit of forgetting which side they are on."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor's mouth drooped piteously.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," said the King condescendingly, "I'll tell you what we'll do.
|
|
You may send <i>one</i> Stiff Note and then we will declare war."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Thank you, your Majesty," said the Chancellor.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So the Stiff Note was dispatched. It pointed out that his Majesty of
|
|
Barodia, while in the act of taking his early morning constitutional,
|
|
had been severely insulted by an arrow. This arrow, though
|
|
fortunately avoiding the more vital parts of his Majesty's person,
|
|
went so far as to wound a favourite whisker. For this the fullest
|
|
reparation must be made . . . and so forth and so on.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Euralia's reply was not long delayed. It expressed the deepest
|
|
concern at the unhappy accident which had overtaken a friendly
|
|
monarch. On the morning in question, his Majesty had been testing his
|
|
archers in a shooting competition at a distant hawk; which
|
|
competition, it might interest his Majesty of Barodia to know, had
|
|
been won by Henry Smallnose, a bowman of considerable promise. In the
|
|
course of the competition it was noticed that a foreign body of some
|
|
sort brushed up against one of the arrows, but as this in no way
|
|
affected the final placing of the competitors, little attention was
|
|
paid to it. His Majesty of Barodia might rest assured that the King
|
|
had no wish to pursue the matter farther. Indeed, he was always glad
|
|
to welcome his Barodian Majesty on these occasions. Other shooting
|
|
competitions would be arranged from time to time, and if his Majesty
|
|
happened to be passing at the moment, the King of Euralia hoped that
|
|
he would come down and join them. Trusting that her Majesty and their
|
|
Royal Highnesses were well, . . . and so on and so forth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Grand Chancellor of Barodia read this answer to his Stiff Note
|
|
with a growing feeling of uneasiness. It was he who had exposed his
|
|
Majesty to this fresh insult; and, unless he could soften it in some
|
|
way, his morning at the Palace might be a painful one.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
As he entered the precincts, he wondered whether the King would be
|
|
wearing the famous boots, and whether they kicked seven leagues as
|
|
easily as they strode them. He felt more and more that there were
|
|
notes which you could break gently, and notes which you
|
|
couldn't. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Five minutes later, as he started on his twenty-one mile walk home, he
|
|
realised that this was one of the ones which you couldn't.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
This, then, was the real reason of the war between Euralia and
|
|
Barodia. I am aware that in saying this I differ from the eminent
|
|
historian, Roger Scurvilegs. In Chapter IX of his immortal work,
|
|
<i>Euralia Past and Present</i>, he attributes the quarrel between the two
|
|
countries to quite other causes. The King of Barodia, he says,
|
|
demanded the hand of the Princess Hyacinth for his eldest son. The
|
|
King of Euralia made some commonplace condition as that his Royal
|
|
Highness should first ride his horse up a glassy mountain in the
|
|
district, a condition which his Majesty of Barodia strongly resented.
|
|
I am afraid that Roger is incurably romantic; I have had to speak to
|
|
him about it before. There was nothing of the sentimental in the whole
|
|
business, and the facts are exactly as I have narrated them.
|
|
</P>
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center"><img src="images/0052X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: End of chapter decoration. Looks to be Belvane reading her diary, but it is very small.]">
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap03"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0053X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Merriwig from next large drawing]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER III
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
THE KING OF EURALIA DRAWS HIS SWORD
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
No doubt you have already guessed that it was the Countess Belvane who
|
|
dictated the King of Euralia's answer. Left to himself, Merriwig
|
|
would have said, "Serve you jolly well right for stalking over my
|
|
kingdom." His repartee was never very subtle. Hyacinth would have
|
|
said, "Of course we're <i>awfully</i> sorry, but a whisker isn't <i>very</i>
|
|
bad, is it? and you really <i>oughtn't</i> to come to breakfast without
|
|
being asked." The Chancellor would have scratched his head for a long
|
|
time, and then said, "Referring to Chap VII, Para 259 of the <i>King's
|
|
Regulations</i> we notice . . ."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But Belvane had her own way of doing things; and if you suggest that
|
|
she wanted to make Barodia's declaration of war inevitable, well, the
|
|
story will show whether you are right in supposing that she had her
|
|
reasons. It came a little hard on the Chancellor of Barodia, but the
|
|
innocent must needs suffer for the ambitions of the unprincipled—a
|
|
maxim I borrow from <i>Euralia Past and Present;</i> Roger in his moral
|
|
vein.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," said Merriwig to the Countess, "that's done it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It really is war?" asked Belvane.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It is. Hyacinth is looking out my armour at this moment."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What did the King of Barodia say?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He didn't <i>say</i> anything. He wrote 'W A R' in red on a dirty bit of
|
|
paper, pinned it to my messenger's ear, and sent him back again."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How very crude," said the Countess.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, I thought it was—er—rather forcible," said the King awkwardly.
|
|
Secretly he had admired it a good deal and wished that he had been the
|
|
one to do it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," said the Countess, with a charming smile, "that sort of
|
|
thing depends so <i>very</i> much on who does it. Now from your Majesty it
|
|
would have seemed—dignified."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He must have been very angry," said the King, picking up first one
|
|
and then another of a number of swords which lay in front of him. "I
|
|
wish I had seen his face when he got my Note."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"So do I," sighed the Countess. She wished it much more than the
|
|
King. It is the tragedy of writing a good letter that you cannot be
|
|
there when it is opened: a maxim of my own, the thought never having
|
|
occurred to Roger Scurvilegs, who was a dull correspondent.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King was still taking up and putting down his swords.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's very awkward," he muttered; "I wonder if Hyacinth——" He went
|
|
to the door and called "Hyacinth!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Coming, Father," called back Hyacinth, from a higher floor.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess rose and curtsied deeply.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good morning, your Royal Highness."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good morning, Countess," said Hyacinth brightly. She liked the
|
|
Countess (you couldn't help it), but rather wished she didn't.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Hyacinth," said the King, "come and tell me about these swords.
|
|
Which is my magic one?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth looked at him blankly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Father," she said. "I don't know at all. Does it matter very
|
|
much?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear child, of course it matters. Supposing I am fighting the
|
|
King of Barodia and I have my magic sword, then I'm bound to win.
|
|
Supposing I haven't, then I'm not bound to."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Supposing you both had magic swords," said Belvane. It was the sort
|
|
of thing she <i>would</i> say.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King looked up slowly at her and began to revolve the idea in his
|
|
mind.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, really," he said, "I hadn't thought of that. Upon my word,
|
|
I——" He turned to his daughter. "Hyacinth, what would happen if we
|
|
both had magic swords?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I suppose you'd go on fighting for ever," said Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Or until the magic wore out of one of them," said Belvane innocently.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There must be something about it somewhere," said the King, whose
|
|
morning was in danger of being quite spoilt by this new suggestion;
|
|
"I'd ask the Chancellor to look it up, only he's so busy just now."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He'd have plenty of time while the combat was going on," said Belvane
|
|
thoughtfully. Wonderful creature! she saw already the Chancellor
|
|
hurrying up to announce that the King of Euralia had won, at the very
|
|
moment when he lay stretched on the ground by a mortal thrust from his
|
|
adversary.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King turned to his swords again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, anyway, I'm going to be sure of <i>mine</i>," he said. "Hyacinth,
|
|
haven't you <i>any</i> idea which it is?" He added in rather a hurt voice,
|
|
"Naturally I left the marking of my swords to <i>you</i>."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
His daughter examined the swords one by one.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Here it is," she cried. "It's got 'M' on it for 'magic.'"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Or 'Merriwig,'" said the Countess to her diary.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The expression of joy on the King's face at his daughter's discovery
|
|
had just time to appear and fade away again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You are not being very helpful this morning, Countess," he said
|
|
severely.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Instantly the Countess was on her feet, her diary thrown to the
|
|
floor—no, never thrown—laid gently on the floor, and herself, hands
|
|
clasped at her breast, a figure of reproachful penitence before him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, your Majesty, forgive me—if your Majesty had only asked me—I
|
|
didn't know your Majesty wanted me—I thought her Royal Highness——
|
|
But <i>of course</i> I'll find your Majesty's sword for you." Did she
|
|
stroke his head as she said this? I have often wondered. It would be
|
|
like her impudence, and her motherliness, and her—-and, in fact, like
|
|
her. <i>Euralia Past and Present</i> is silent upon the point. Roger
|
|
Scurvilegs, who had only seen Belvane at the unimpressionable age of
|
|
two, would have had it against her if he could, so perhaps there is
|
|
nothing in it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There!" she said, and she picked out the magic sword almost at once.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0060"></a><img src="images/0060.jpg" alt="[Illustration: "Try it on me," cried the Countess, verso]"><img src="images/0061.jpg" alt="[Illustration: "Try it on me," cried the Countess, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then I'll get back to my work," said Hyacinth cheerfully, and left
|
|
them to each other.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King, smiling happily, girded on his sword. But a sudden doubt
|
|
assailed him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Are you sure it's the one?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Try it on <i>me</i>," cried the Countess superbly, falling on her knees
|
|
and stretching up her arms to him. The toe of her little shoe touched
|
|
her diary; its presence there uplifted her. Even as she knelt she saw
|
|
herself describing the scene. How do you spell "offered"? she
|
|
wondered.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I think the King was already in love with her, though he found it so
|
|
difficult to say the decisive words. But even so he could only have
|
|
been in love a week or two; a fortnight in the last forty years; and
|
|
he had worn a sword since he was twelve. In a crisis it is the old
|
|
love and not the greater love which wins (Roger's, but I think I agree
|
|
with him), and instinctively the King drew his sword. If it were
|
|
magic a scratch would kill. Now he would know.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Her enemies said that the Countess could not go pale; she had her
|
|
faults, but this was not one of them. She whitened as she saw the
|
|
King standing over her with drawn sword. A hundred thoughts chased
|
|
each other through her mind. She wondered if the King would be sorry
|
|
afterwards; she wondered what the minstrels would sing of her, and if
|
|
her diary would ever be made public; most of all she wondered why she
|
|
had been such a fool, such a melodramatic fool.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King came to himself with a sudden start. Looking slightly
|
|
ashamed he put his sword back in its scabbard, coughed once or twice
|
|
to cover his confusion, and held his hand out to the Countess to
|
|
assist her to rise.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Don't be absurd, Countess," he said. "As if we could spare you at a
|
|
time like this. Sit down and let us talk matters over seriously."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
A trifle bewildered by the emotions she had gone through, Belvane sat
|
|
down, the beloved diary clasped tightly in her arms. Life seemed
|
|
singularly sweet just then, the only drawback being that the minstrels
|
|
would not be singing about her after all. Still, one cannot have
|
|
everything.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King walked up and down the room as he talked.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am going away to fight," he said, "and I leave my dear daughter
|
|
behind. In my absence, her Royal Highness will of course rule the
|
|
country. I want her to feel that she can lean upon you, Countess, for
|
|
advice and support. I know that I can trust you, for you have just
|
|
given me a great proof of your devotion and courage."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, your Majesty!" said Belvane deprecatingly, but feeling very glad
|
|
that it hadn't been wasted.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Hyacinth is young and inexperienced. She needs a—a——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A mother's guiding hand," said Belvane softly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King started and looked away. It was really too late to propose
|
|
now; he had so much to do before the morrow. Better leave it till he
|
|
came back from the war.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You will have no official position," he went on hastily, "other than
|
|
your present one of Mistress of the Robes; but your influence on her
|
|
will be very great."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess had already decided on this. However there <i>is</i> a look
|
|
of modest resignation to an unsought duty which is suited to an
|
|
occasion of this kind, and the Countess had no difficulty in supplying
|
|
it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I will do all that I can, your Majesty, to help—gladly; but will not
|
|
the Chancellor——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The Chancellor will come with me. He is no fighter, but he is good
|
|
at spells." He looked round to make sure that they were alone, and
|
|
then went on confidentially, "He tells me that he has discovered in
|
|
the archives of the palace a Backward Spell of great value. Should he
|
|
be able to cast this upon the enemy at the first onslaught, he thinks
|
|
that our heroic army would have no difficulty in advancing."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But there will be other learned men," said Belvane innocently, "so
|
|
much more accustomed to affairs than us poor women, so much better
|
|
able"—("What nonsense I'm talking," she said to herself)—"to advise
|
|
her Royal Highness——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Men like that," said the King, "I shall want with me also. If I am
|
|
to invade Barodia properly I shall need every man in the kingdom.
|
|
Euralia must be for the time a country of women only." He turned to
|
|
her with a smile and said gallantly, "That will be—er—— It
|
|
is—er—not—er——. One may well—er——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was so obvious from his manner that something complimentary was
|
|
struggling to the surface of his mind, that Belvane felt it would be
|
|
kinder not to wait for it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, your Majesty," she said, "you flatter my poor sex."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not at all," said the King, trying to remember what he had said. He
|
|
held out his hand. "Well, Countess, I have much to do."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I, too, your Majesty."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She made him a deep curtsey and, clasping tightly the precious diary,
|
|
withdrew.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King, who still seemed worried about something, returned to his
|
|
table and took up his pen. Here Hyacinth discovered him ten minutes
|
|
later. His table was covered with scraps of paper and, her eyes
|
|
lighting casually upon one of them, she read these remarkable words:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>In such a land I should be a most contented subject.</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She looked at some of the others. They were even shorter:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>That, dear Countess, would be my——</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>A country in which even a King——</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Lucky country!</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The last was crossed out and "<i>Bad</i>" written against it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Whatever are these, Father?" said Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King jumped up in great confusion.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Nothing, dear, nothing," he said. "I was just—er—— Of course I
|
|
shall have to address my people, and I was just jotting down a few——
|
|
However, I shan't want them now." He swept them together, screwed
|
|
them up tight, and dropped them into a basket.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And what became of them? you ask. Did they light the fires of the
|
|
Palace next morning? Well, now, here's a curious thing. In Chapter X
|
|
of <i>Euralia Past and Present</i> I happened across these words:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The King and all the men of the land having left to fight the wicked
|
|
Barodians, Euralia was now a country of women only—<i>a country in
|
|
which even a King might be glad to be a subject</i>."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Now what does this mean? Is it another example of literary theft? I
|
|
have already had to expose Shelley. Must I now drag into the light of
|
|
day a still worse plagiarism by Roger Scurvilegs? The waste-paper
|
|
baskets of the Palace were no doubt open to him as to so many
|
|
historians. But should he not have made acknowledgments?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I do not wish to be hard on Roger. That I differ from him on many
|
|
points of historical fact has already been made plain, and will be
|
|
made still more plain as my story goes on. But I have a respect for
|
|
the man; and on some matters, particularly those concerning Prince Udo
|
|
of Araby's first appearance in Euralia, I have to rely entirely upon
|
|
him for my information. Moreover I have never hesitated to give him
|
|
credit for such of his epigrams as I have introduced into this book,
|
|
and I like to think that he would be equally punctilious to others.
|
|
We know his romantic way; no doubt the thought occurred to him
|
|
independently. Let us put it at that, anyhow.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane, meanwhile, was getting on. The King had drawn his sword on
|
|
her and she had not flinched. As a reward she was to be the power
|
|
behind the throne.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not necessarily <i>behind</i> the throne," said Belvane to herself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap04"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0071X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Hyacinth on the castle walls]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER IV
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
THE PRINCESS HYACINTH LEAVES IT TO THE COUNTESS
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It is now time to introduce Wiggs to you, and I find myself in a
|
|
difficulty at once. What <i>was</i> Wiggs's position in the Palace?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
This story is hard to tell, for I have to piece it together from the
|
|
narratives of others, and to supply any gaps in their stories from my
|
|
knowledge of how the different characters might be expected to act.
|
|
Perhaps, therefore, it is a good moment in which to introduce to you
|
|
the authorities upon whom I rely.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
First and foremost, of course, comes Roger Scurvilegs. His monumental
|
|
work, <i>Euralia Past and Present</i>, in seventeen volumes, towers upon my
|
|
desk as I write. By the merest chance I picked it up (in a
|
|
metaphorical sense) at that little shop near—I forget its name, but
|
|
it's the third bookshop on the left as you come into London from the
|
|
New Barnet end. Upon him I depend for the broad lines of my story,
|
|
and I have already indicated my opinion of the value of his work.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Secondly, come the many legends and ballads handed on to me years ago
|
|
by my aunt by marriage, one of the Cornish Smallnoses. She claims to
|
|
be a direct descendant of that Henry Smallnose whose lucky shot
|
|
brought about the events which I am to describe. I say she claims to
|
|
be, and one cannot doubt a lady's word in these matters; certainly she
|
|
used to speak about Henry with that mixture of pride and extreme
|
|
familiarity which comes best from a relation. In all matters not
|
|
touching Henry, I feel that I can rely upon her; in its main lines her
|
|
narrative is strictly confirmed by Scurvilegs, and she brought to it a
|
|
picturesqueness and an appreciation of the true character of Belvane
|
|
which is lacking in the other; but her attitude towards Henry
|
|
Smallnose was absurd. Indeed she would have had him the hero of the
|
|
story. This makes Roger and myself smile. We give him credit for the
|
|
first shot, and then we drop him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Thirdly, Belvane herself. Women like Belvane never die, and I met her
|
|
(or a reincarnation of her) at a country house in Shropshire last
|
|
summer. I forget what she calls herself now, but I recognised her at
|
|
once; and, as I watched her, the centuries rolled away and she and I
|
|
were in Euralia, that pleasant country, together. "Stayed to tea and
|
|
was very charming." Would she have said that of me, I wonder? But
|
|
I'm getting sentimental—Roger's great fault.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
These then are my authorities; I consult them, and I ask myself, What
|
|
was Wiggs?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Roger speaks of her simply as an attendant upon the Princess. Now we
|
|
know that the Princess was seventeen; Wiggs then would be about the
|
|
same age—a lady-in-waiting—perhaps even a little older. Why not?
|
|
you say. The Lady Wiggs, maid-of-honour to her Royal Highness the
|
|
Princess Hyacinth, eighteen and a bit, tall and stately. Since she is
|
|
to endanger Belvane's plans, let her be something of a match for the
|
|
wicked woman.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Yes, but you would never talk like that if you had heard one of my
|
|
aunt's stories. Nor if you had seen Belvane would you think that any
|
|
grown-up woman could be a match for her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs was a child; I feel it in my bones. In all the legends and
|
|
ballads handed down to me by my aunt she appears to me as a little
|
|
girl—Alice in a fairy story. Roger or no Roger I must have her a
|
|
child.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And even Roger cannot keep up the farce that she is a real
|
|
lady-in-waiting. In one place he tells us that she dusts the throne
|
|
of the Princess; can you see her ladyship, eighteen last February,
|
|
doing that? At other times he allows her to take orders from the
|
|
Countess; I ask you to imagine a maid-of-honour taking orders from any
|
|
but her own mistress. Conceive her dignity!
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
A little friend, then, of Hyacinth's, let us say; ready to do anything
|
|
for anybody who loved, or appeared to love, her mistress.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King had departed for the wars. His magic sword girded to his
|
|
side, his cloak of darkness, not worn but rolled up behind him, lest
|
|
the absence of his usual extensive shadow should disturb his horse, he
|
|
rode at the head of his men to meet the enemy. Hyacinth had seen him
|
|
off from the Palace steps. Five times he had come back to give her
|
|
his last instructions, and a sixth time for his sword, but now he was
|
|
gone, and she was alone on the castle walls with Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Saying good-bye to fathers is very tiring," said Hyacinth. "I do
|
|
hope he'll be all right. Wiggs, although we oughtn't to mention it to
|
|
anybody, and although he's only just gone, we do think it will be
|
|
rather fun being Queen, don't we?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It must be lovely," said Wiggs, gazing at her with large eyes. "Can
|
|
you really do whatever you like now?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth nodded.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I always <i>did</i> whatever I liked," she said, "But now I really <i>can</i>
|
|
do it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Could you cut anybody's head off?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Easily," said the Princess confidently.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I should hate to cut anybody's head off."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"So should I, Wiggs. Let's decide to have no heads off just at
|
|
present—till we're more used to it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs still kept her eyes fixed upon the Princess.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Which is stronger," she asked, "you or a Fairy?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I knew you were going to ask something horrid like that," said
|
|
Hyacinth, pretending to be angry. She looked quickly round to see
|
|
that nobody was listening, and then whispered in Wiggs's ear, "I am."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"O—oh!" said Wiggs. "How lovely!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Isn't it? Did you ever hear the story of Father and the Fairy?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"His Majesty?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"His Majesty the King of Euralia. It happened in the forest one day
|
|
just after he became King."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Did <i>you</i> ever hear the story? I expect not. Well, then, you must
|
|
hear it. But there will be too many inverted commas in it if I let
|
|
Hyacinth tell you, so I shall tell you myself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0078"></a><img src="images/0078.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Five times he had come back to give her his last instructions, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0079.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Five times he had come back to give her his last instructions, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was just after he became King. He was so proud that he used to go
|
|
about saying, "I am the King. I am the King." And sometimes, "The
|
|
King am I. The King I am." He was saying this one day in the forest
|
|
when a Fairy overheard him. So she appeared in front of him and said,
|
|
"I believe you are the King?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am the King," said Merriwig. "I am the King, I am the——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And yet," said the Fairy, "what is a King after all?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It is a very powerful thing to be a King," said Merriwig proudly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Supposing I were to turn you into a—a small sheep. Then where would
|
|
you be?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King thought anxiously for a moment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I should like to be a small sheep," he said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Fairy waved her wand.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then you can be one," she said, "until you own that a Fairy is much
|
|
more powerful than a King."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So all at once he was a small sheep.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well?" said the Fairy.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well?" said the King.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Which is more powerful, a King or a Fairy?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A King," said Merriwig. "Besides being more woolly," he added.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was silence for a little. Merriwig began to eat some grass.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't think much of Fairies," he said with his mouth full. "I
|
|
don't think they're very powerful."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Fairy looked at him angrily.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"They can't make you say things you don't want to say," he explained.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Fairy stamped her foot.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Be a toad," she said, waving her wand. "A nasty, horrid, crawling
|
|
toad."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I've <i>always</i> wanted—" began Merriwig—"to be a toad," he ended from
|
|
lower down.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well?" said the Fairy.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't think much of Fairies," said the King. "I don't think
|
|
they're very powerful." He waited for the Fairy to look at him, but
|
|
she pretended to be thinking of something else. After waiting a
|
|
minute or two, he added, "They can't make you say things you don't
|
|
want to say."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Fairy stamped her foot still more angrily, and moved her wand a
|
|
third time.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Be silent!" she commanded. "And stay silent for ever!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was no sound in the forest. The Fairy looked at the blue sky
|
|
through the green roof above her; she looked through the tall trunks
|
|
of the trees to the King's castle beyond; her eyes fell upon the
|
|
little glade on her left, upon the mossy bank on her right . . . but
|
|
she would not look down to the toad at her feet.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
No, she wouldn't. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She <i>wouldn't</i>. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And yet——
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was too much for her. She could resist no longer. She looked at
|
|
the nasty, horrid, crawling toad, the dumb toad at her feet that was
|
|
once a King.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And, catching her eye, the toad—<i>winked</i>.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Some winks are more expressive than others. The Fairy knew quite well
|
|
what this one meant. It meant:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't think much of Fairies. I don't think they're very powerful.
|
|
They can't make you say things you don't want to say."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Fairy waved her wand in disgust.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, be a King again," she said impatiently, and vanished.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And so that is the story of how the King of Euralia met the Fairy in
|
|
the forest. Roger Scurvilegs tells it well—indeed, almost as well as
|
|
I do—but he burdens it with a moral. You must think it out for
|
|
yourself; I shall not give it to you.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs didn't bother about the moral. Her elbows on her knees, her
|
|
chin resting on her hands, she gazed at the forest and imagined the
|
|
scene to herself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How wonderful to be a King like that!" she thought.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That was a long time ago," explained Hyacinth. "Father must have
|
|
been rather lovely in those days," she added.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It was a very bad Fairy," said Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It was a very stupid one. I wouldn't have given in to Father like
|
|
that."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But there are good Fairies, aren't there? I met one once."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You, child? Where?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I don't know if it would have made any difference to Euralian history
|
|
if Wiggs had been allowed to tell about her Fairy then; as it was, she
|
|
didn't tell the story till later on, when Belvane happened to be near.
|
|
I regret to say that Belvane listened. It was the sort of story that
|
|
<i>always</i> got overheard, she explained afterwards, as if that were any
|
|
excuse. On this occasion she was just too early to overhear, but in
|
|
time to prevent the story being told without her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The Countess Belvane," said an attendant, and her ladyship made a
|
|
superb entry.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good morning, Countess," said Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good morning, your Royal Highness. Ah, Wiggs, sweet child," she
|
|
added carelessly, putting out a hand to pat the sweet child's head,
|
|
but missing it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Wiggs was just telling me a story," said the Princess.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Sweet child," said Belvane, feeling vaguely for her with the other
|
|
hand. "<i>Could</i> I interrupt the story with a little business, your
|
|
Royal Highness?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
At a nod from the Princess, Wiggs withdrew.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well?" said Hyacinth nervously.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane had always a curious effect on the Princess when they were
|
|
alone together. There was something about her large manner which made
|
|
Hyacinth feel like a schoolgirl who has been behaving badly: alarmed
|
|
and apologetic. I feel like this myself when I have an interview with
|
|
my publishers, and Roger Scurvilegs (upon the same subject) drags in a
|
|
certain uncle of his before whom (so he says) he always appears at his
|
|
worst. It is a common experience.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Just one or two little schemes to submit to your Majesty," said the
|
|
Countess. "How silly of me—I mean, your Royal Highness. Of course
|
|
your Royal Highness may not like them at all, but in case your Royal
|
|
Highness did, I just—well, I just wrote them out."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She unfolded, one by one, a series of ornamental parchments.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"They are beautifully written," said the Princess.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane blushed at the compliment. She had a passion for coloured
|
|
inks and rulers. In her diary the day of the week was always
|
|
underlined in red, the important words in the day's doings being
|
|
frequently picked out in gold. On taking up the diary you saw at once
|
|
that you were in the presence of somebody.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The first parchment was headed:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
SCHEME FOR ECONOMY IN REALM
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Economy" caught the eye in pale pink. The next parchment was headed:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
SCHEME FOR SAFETY OF REALM
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Safety" clamoured to you in blue.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The third parchment was headed:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
SCHEME FOR ENCOURAGEMENT OF LITERATURE IN REALM
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Encouragement of Literature" had got rather cramped in the small
|
|
quarters available for it. A heading, Belvane felt, should be in one
|
|
line; she had started in letters too big for it, and the fact that the
|
|
green ink was giving out made it impossible to start afresh.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There were ten parchments altogether.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
By the end of the third one, the Princess began to feel uncomfortable.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
By the end of the fifth one she knew that it was a mistake her ever
|
|
having come into the Royal Family at all.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
By the end of the seventh she decided that if the Countess would
|
|
forgive her this time she would never be naughty again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
By the end of the ninth one she was just going to cry.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The tenth one was in a very loud orange and was headed:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
SCHEME FOR ASSISTING CALISTHENICS IN REALM
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes," said the Princess faintly; "I think it would be a good idea."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I thought if your Royal Highness approved," said Belvane, "we might
|
|
just——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth felt herself blushing guiltily—she couldn't think why.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I leave it to you, Countess," she murmured. "I am sure you know
|
|
best."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was a remark which she would never have made to her Father.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap05"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0089X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Hyacinth, reviewing the Army of Amazons]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER V
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
BELVANE INDULGES HER HOBBY
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
In a glade in the forest the Countess Belvane was sitting: her throne,
|
|
a fallen log, her courtiers, that imaginary audience which was always
|
|
with her. For once in her life she was nervous; she had an anxious
|
|
morning in front of her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I can tell you the reason at once. Her Royal Highness was going to
|
|
review her Royal Highness's Army of Amazons (see <i>Scheme II, Safety of
|
|
Realm</i>). In half an hour she would be here.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And why not? you say. Could anything be more gratifying?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I will tell you why not. There was no Army of Amazons. In order that
|
|
her Royal Highness should not know the sad truth, Belvane drew their
|
|
pay for them. 'Twas better thus.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
In any trouble Belvane comforted herself by reading up her diary. She
|
|
undid the enormous volume, and, idly turning the pages, read some of
|
|
the more delightful extracts to herself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Monday, June 1st</i>," she read. "Became bad."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She gave a sigh of resignation to the necessity of being bad. Roger
|
|
Scurvilegs is of the opinion that she might have sighed a good many
|
|
years before. According to him she was born bad.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Tuesday, June 2nd</i>," she read on. "Realised in the privacy of my
|
|
heart that I was destined to rule the country. <i>Wednesday, June 3rd.</i>
|
|
Decided to oust the Princess. <i>Thursday, June 4th.</i> Began ousting."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
What a confession for any woman—even for one who had become bad last
|
|
Monday! No wonder Belvane's diary was not for everybody. Let us look
|
|
over her shoulder and read some more of the wicked woman's
|
|
confessions.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Friday, June 5th.</i> Made myself a——" Oh, that's quite private.
|
|
However we may read this: "<i>Thought for the week.</i> Beware lest you
|
|
should tumble down In reaching for another's crown." An admirable
|
|
sentiment which Roger Scurvilegs would have approved, although he
|
|
could not have rhymed it so neatly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess turned on a few more pages and prepared to write up
|
|
yesterday's events.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Tuesday, June 23rd</i>," she said to herself. "Now what happened?
|
|
Acclaimed with enthusiasm outside the Palace—how do you spell
|
|
'enthusiasm'?" She bit the end of her pencil and pondered. She
|
|
turned back the pages till she came to the place.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes," she said thoughtfully. "It had three 's's' last time, so it's
|
|
'z's' turn."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She wrote "enthuzziazm" lightly in pencil; later on it would be picked
|
|
out in gold.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She closed the diary hastily. Somebody was coming.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, if you please, your Ladyship, her Royal Highness sent me to tell
|
|
you that she would be here at eleven o'clock to review her new army."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was the last thing of which Belvane wanted reminding.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, Wiggs, sweet child," she said, "you find me overwhelmed." She
|
|
gave a tragic sigh. "Leader of the Corps de Ballet"—she indicated
|
|
with her toe how this was done, "Commander-in-Chief of the Army of
|
|
Amazons"—here she saluted, and it was certainly the least she could
|
|
do for the money, "Warden of the Antimacassars and Grand Mistress of
|
|
the Robes, I have a busy life. Just come and dust this log for her
|
|
Royal Highness. All this work wears me out, Wiggs, but it is my duty
|
|
and I do it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Woggs says you make a very good thing out of it," said Wiggs
|
|
innocently, as she began to dust. "It must be nice to make very good
|
|
things out of things."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess looked coldly at her. It is one thing to confide to your
|
|
diary that you are bad, it's quite another to have Woggsseses shouting
|
|
it out all over the country.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't know what Woggs is," said Belvane sternly, "but send it to me
|
|
at once."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
As soon as Wiggs was gone, Belvane gave herself up to her passions.
|
|
She strode up and down the velvety sward, saying to herself, "Bother!
|
|
Bother! Bother! Bother!" Her outbreak of violence over, she sat
|
|
gloomily down on the log and abandoned herself to despair. Her hair
|
|
fell in two plaits down her back to her waist; on second thoughts she
|
|
arranged them in front—if one is going to despair one may as well do
|
|
it to the best advantage.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Suddenly a thought struck her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am alone," she said. "Dare I soliloquise? I will. It is a thing
|
|
I have not done for weeks. 'Oh, what a——" She got up quickly.
|
|
"<i>Nobody</i> could soliloquise on a log like that," she said crossly.
|
|
She decided she could do it just as effectively when standing. With
|
|
one pale hand raised to the skies she began again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, what a—"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Did you call me, Mum?" said Woggs, appearing suddenly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Bother!</i>" said Belvane. She gave a shrug of resignation. "Another
|
|
time," she told herself. She turned to Woggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Woggs must have been quite close at hand to have been found by Wiggs
|
|
so quickly, and I suspect her of playing in the forest when she ought
|
|
to have been doing her lessons, or mending stockings, or whatever made
|
|
up her day's work. Woggs I find nearly as difficult to explain as
|
|
Wiggs; it is a terrible thing for an author to have a lot of people
|
|
running about his book, without any invitation from him at all.
|
|
However, since Woggs is there, we must make the best of her. I fancy
|
|
that she was a year or two younger than Wiggs and of rather inferior
|
|
education. Witness her low innuendo about the Lady Belvane, and the
|
|
fact that she called a Countess "Mum."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Come here," said Belvane. "Are you what they call Woggs?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Please, Mum," said Woggs nervously.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess winced at the "Mum," but went on bravely. "What have you
|
|
been saying about me?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"N—Nothing, Mum."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane winced again, and said, "Do you know what I do to little girls
|
|
who say things about me? I cut their heads off; I——" She tried to
|
|
think of something very alarming! "I—I stop their jam for tea. I—I
|
|
am <i>most</i> annoyed with them."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Woggs suddenly saw what a wicked thing she had done.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, please, Mum," she said brokenly and fell on her knees.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Don't</i> call me 'Mum,'" burst out Belvane. "It's so <i>ugly</i>. Why do
|
|
you suppose I ever wanted to be a countess at all, Woggs, if it wasn't
|
|
so as not to be called 'Mum' any more?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't know, Mum," said Woggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane gave it up. The whole morning was going wrong anyhow.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Come here, child," she sighed, "and listen. You have been a very
|
|
naughty girl, but I'm going to let you off this time, and in return
|
|
I've something you are going to do for me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, Mum," said Woggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane barely shuddered now. A sudden brilliant plan had come to
|
|
her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Her Royal Highness is about to review her Army of Amazons. It is a
|
|
sudden idea of her Royal Highness's, and it comes at an unfortunate
|
|
moment, for it so happens that the Army is—er——" <i>What</i> was the
|
|
Army doing? Ah, yes—"manoeuvring in a distant part of the country.
|
|
But we must not disappoint her Royal Highness. What then shall we do,
|
|
Woggs?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't know, Mum," said Woggs stolidly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Not having expected any real assistance from her, the Countess went
|
|
on, "I will tell you. You see yonder tree? Armed to the teeth <i>you</i>
|
|
will march round and round it, giving the impression to one on this
|
|
side of a large army passing. For this you will be rewarded. Here
|
|
is——" She felt in the bag she carried. "No, on second thoughts I
|
|
will owe it to you. Now you quite understand?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, Mum," said Woggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Very well, then. Run along to the Palace and get a sword and a
|
|
helmet and a bow and an arrow and an—an arrow and anything you like,
|
|
and then come back here and wait behind those bushes. When I clap my
|
|
hands the army will begin to march."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Woggs curtsied and ran off.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It is probable that at this point the Countess would have resumed her
|
|
soliloquy, but we shall never know, for the next moment the Princess
|
|
and her Court were seen approaching from the other end of the glade.
|
|
Belvane advanced to meet them.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good morning, your Royal Highness," she said, "a beautiful day, is it
|
|
not?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Beautiful, Countess."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
With the Court at her back, Hyacinth for the moment was less nervous
|
|
than usual, but almost at the first words of the Countess she felt her
|
|
self-confidence oozing from her. Did I say I was like this with my
|
|
publishers? And Roger's dragged-in Uncle——one can't explain it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Court stood about in picturesque attitudes while Belvane went on:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your Royal Highness's brave Women Defenders, the Home Defence Army of
|
|
Amazons" (here she saluted; one soon gets into the knack of it, and it
|
|
gives an air of efficiency) "have looked forward to this day for
|
|
weeks. How their hearts fill with pride at the thought of being
|
|
reviewed by your Royal Highness!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She had paid, or rather received, the money for the Army so often that
|
|
she had quite got to believe in its existence. She even kept a roll of
|
|
the different companies (it meant more delightful red ink for one
|
|
thing), and wrote herself little notes recommending Corporal Gretal
|
|
Hottshott for promotion to sergeant.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I know very little about armies, I'm afraid," said Hyacinth. "I've
|
|
always left that to my father. But I think it's a sweet idea of yours
|
|
to enrol the women to defend me. It's a little expensive, is it not?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your Royal Highness, armies are <i>always</i> expensive."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Princess took her seat, and beckoned Wiggs with a smile to her
|
|
side. The Court, in attitudes even more picturesque than before,
|
|
grouped itself behind her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Is your Royal Highness ready?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Quite ready, Countess."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess clapped her hands.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was a moment's hesitation, and then, armed to the teeth, Amazon
|
|
after Amazon marched by. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
An impressive scene. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
However, Wiggs must needs try to spoil it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why, it's Woggs!" she cried.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Silly child!" said Belvane in an undertone, giving her a push.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Princess looked round inquiringly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The absurd creature," explained the Countess, "thought she recognized
|
|
a friend in your Royal Highness's gallant Army."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How clever of her! They all look exactly alike to <i>me</i>."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane was equal to the occasion.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The uniform and discipline of an army have that effect rather," she
|
|
said. "It has often been noticed."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I suppose so," said the Princess vaguely. "Oughtn't they to march in
|
|
fours? I seem to remember, when I came to reviews with Father——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, your Royal Highness, that was an army of men. With women—well,
|
|
we found that if they marched side by side, they <i>would</i> talk all the
|
|
time."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Court, which had been resting on the right leg with the left knee
|
|
bent, now rested on the left leg with the right knee bent. Woggs also
|
|
was getting tired. The last company of the Army of Amazons was not
|
|
marching with the abandon of the first company.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0102"></a><img src="images/0102.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Armed to the teeth, Amazon after Amazon marched by, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0103.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Armed to the teeth, Amazon after Amazon marched by, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think I should like them to halt now so that I can address them,"
|
|
said Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane was taken aback for the moment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am afraid, your—your Royal Highness," she stammered, her brain
|
|
working busily all the time, "that that would be contrary to—to—to
|
|
the spirit of—er—the King's Regulations. An army—an army in
|
|
marching order—must—er—<i>march</i>." She made a long forward movement
|
|
with her hand. "Must march," she repeated, with an innocent smile.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I see," said Hyacinth, blushing guiltily again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane gave a loud cough. The last veteran but two of the Army
|
|
looked inquiringly at her and passed. The last veteran but one came
|
|
in and was greeted with a still louder cough. Rather tentatively the
|
|
last veteran of all entered and met such an unmistakable frown that it
|
|
was obvious that the march-past was over. . . . Woggs took off her
|
|
helmet and rested in the bushes.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That is all, your Royal Highness," said Belvane. "158 marches past,
|
|
217 reported sick, making 622; 9 are on guard at the Palace—632 and 9
|
|
make 815. Add 28 under age and we bring it up to the round thousand."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs opened her mouth to say something, but decided that her mistress
|
|
would probably wish to say it instead. Hyacinth, however, merely
|
|
looked unhappy.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane came a little nearer.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I—er—forgot if I mentioned to your Royal Highness that we are
|
|
paying out today. One silver piece a day and several days in the
|
|
week, multiplied by—how many did I say?—comes to ten thousand pieces
|
|
of gold." She produced a document, beautifully ruled. "If your Royal
|
|
Highness would kindly initial here——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Mechanically the Princess signed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Thank you, your Royal Highness. And now perhaps I had better go and
|
|
see about it at once."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She curtsied deeply, and then, remembering her position, saluted and
|
|
marched off.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Now Roger Scurvilegs would see her go without a pang; he would then
|
|
turn over to his next chapter, beginning "Meanwhile the King——," and
|
|
leave you under the impression that the Countess Belvane was a common
|
|
thief. I am no such chronicler as that. At all costs I will be fair
|
|
to my characters.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane, then, had a weakness. She had several of which I have
|
|
already told you, but this is another one. She had a passion for the
|
|
distribution of largesse.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I know an old gentleman who plays bowls every evening. He trundles
|
|
his skip (or whatever he calls it) to one end of the green, toddles
|
|
after it, and trundles it back again. Think of him for a moment, and
|
|
then think of Belvane on her cream-white palfrey tossing a bag of gold
|
|
to right of her and flinging a bag of gold to left of her, as she
|
|
rides through the cheering crowds; upon my word I think hers is the
|
|
more admirable exercise.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And, I assure you, no less exacting. When once one has got into this
|
|
habit of "flinging" or "tossing" money, to give it in any ordinary
|
|
way, to slide it gently into the palm, is unbearable. Which of us who
|
|
has, in an heroic moment, flung half a crown to a cabman can ever be
|
|
content afterwards to hold out a handful of three-penny bits and
|
|
coppers to him? One must always be flinging. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So it was with Belvane. The largesse habit had got hold of her. It
|
|
is an expensive habit, but her way of doing it was less expensive than
|
|
most. The people were taxed to pay for the Amazon Army; the pay of
|
|
the Amazon Army was flung back at them; could anything be fairer?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
True, it brought her admiration and applause. But what woman does not
|
|
like admiration? Is that an offence? If it is, it is something very
|
|
different from the common theft of which Roger Scurvilegs would accuse
|
|
her. Let us be fair.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap06"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0109X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of sleeping king]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER VI
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
THERE ARE NO WIZARDS IN BARODIA
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Meanwhile "the King of Euralia was prosecuting the war with utmost
|
|
vigour."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So says Roger in that famous chapter of his, and certainly Merriwig
|
|
was very busy.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
On the declaration of war the Euralian forces, in accordance with
|
|
custom, had marched into Barodia. However hot ran the passion between
|
|
them, the two Kings always preserved the elementary courtesies of war.
|
|
The last battle had taken place in Euralian territory; this time,
|
|
therefore, Barodia was the scene of the conflict. To Barodia, then,
|
|
King Merriwig had led his army. Suitable pasture land had been
|
|
allotted them as a camping ground, and amid the cheers of the Barodian
|
|
populace the Euralians made their simple preparations for the night.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The two armies had now been sitting opposite to each other for some
|
|
weeks, but neither side had been idle. On the very first morning
|
|
Merriwig had put on his Cloak of Darkness and gone to the enemy's camp
|
|
to explore the situation. Unfortunately the same idea had occurred at
|
|
the same moment to the King of Barodia. He also had his Cloak of
|
|
Darkness.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Half way across, to the utmost astonishment of both, the two Kings had
|
|
come violently into contact. Realising that they had met some
|
|
unprecedented enchantment, they had hurried home after the recoil to
|
|
consult their respective Chancellors. The Chancellors could make
|
|
nothing of it. They could only advise their Majesties to venture
|
|
another attempt on the following morning.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But by a different route," said the Chancellors, "whereby the Magic
|
|
Pillar shall be avoided."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So by the more southerly path the two Kings ventured out next morning.
|
|
Half way across there was another violent collision, and both Kings
|
|
sat down suddenly to think it out.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Wonder of wonders," said Merriwig. "There is a magic wall stretching
|
|
between the two armies."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He stood up and holding up his hand said impressively:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
"<i>Bo, boll, bill, bole.</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>Wo, woll——</i>"<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Mystery of mysteries!" cried the King of Barodia. "It can——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He stopped suddenly. Both Kings coughed. They were remembering with
|
|
some shame their fright of yesterday.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Who are you?" said the King of Barodia.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig saw that there was need to dissemble.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"His Majesty's swineherd," he said, in what he imagined might be a
|
|
swineherd's voice.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Er—so am I," said the King of Barodia, rather feebly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was obviously nothing for it but for them to discuss swine.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig was comfortably ignorant of the subject. The King of Barodia
|
|
knew rather less than that.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Er—how many have you?" asked the latter.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Seven thousand," said Merriwig at random.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Er—so have I," said the King of Barodia, still more feebly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Couples," explained Merriwig.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Mine are ones," said the King of Barodia, determined to be
|
|
independent at last.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Each King was surprised to find how easy it was to talk to an expert
|
|
on his own subject. The King of Barodia, indeed, began to feel
|
|
reckless.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," he said, "I must be getting back. It's—er—milking time."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"So must I," said Merriwig. "By the way," he added, "what do you feed
|
|
yours on?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King of Barodia was not quite sure if it was apple sauce or not.
|
|
He decided that perhaps it wasn't.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That's a secret," he said darkly. "Been handed down from generation
|
|
to generation."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig could think of nothing better to say to this than "Ah!" He
|
|
said it very impressively, and with a word of farewell returned to his
|
|
camp.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He was in brilliant form over the wassail bowl that night as he drew a
|
|
picture of his triumphant dissimulation. It is only fair to say that
|
|
the King of Barodia was in brilliant form too. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
For several weeks after this the battle raged. Sometimes the whole
|
|
Euralian army would line up outside its camp and call upon the
|
|
Barodians to fight; at other times the Barodian army would form fours
|
|
in full view of the Euralians in the hope of provoking a conflict. At
|
|
intervals the two Chancellors would look up old spells, scour the
|
|
country for wizards, or send each other insulting messages. At the
|
|
end of a month it was difficult to say which side had obtained the
|
|
advantage.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
A little hill surmounted by a single tree lay half way between the two
|
|
camps. Thither one fine morning came the two Kings and the two
|
|
Chancellors on bloody business bent. (The phrase is Roger's.) Their
|
|
object was nothing less than to arrange that personal fight between
|
|
the two monarchs which was always a feature of Barodo-Euralian
|
|
warfare. The two Kings having shaken hands, their Chancellors
|
|
proceeded to settle the details.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I suppose," said the Chancellor of Barodia, "that your Majesties will
|
|
wish to fight with swords?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Certainly," said the King of Barodia promptly; so promptly that
|
|
Merriwig felt certain that he had a Magic Sword too.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Cloaks of Darkness are not allowed, of course," said the Chancellor
|
|
of Euralia.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why, have <i>you</i> got one?" said each King quickly to the other.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig was the first to recover himself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have one—naturally," he said. "It's a curious thing that the only
|
|
one of my subjects who has one is my—er—swineherd."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That's funny," said the King of Barodia. "My swineherd has one too."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," said Merriwig, "they are almost a necessity to
|
|
swineherding."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Particularly in the milking season," said the King of Barodia.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They looked at each other with added respect. Not many Kings in those
|
|
days had the technicalities of such a humble trade at their fingers'
|
|
ends.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor of Barodia has been referring to the precedents.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It was after the famous conflict between the two grandfathers of your
|
|
Majesties that the use of the Magic Cloak in personal combats was
|
|
discontinued."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Great-grandfathers," said the Chancellor of Euralia.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Grandfathers, I think."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Great-grandfathers, if I am not mistaken."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Their tempers were rising rapidly, and the Chancellor of Barodia was
|
|
just about to give the Chancellor of Euralia a push when Merriwig
|
|
intervened.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Never mind about that," he said impatiently. "Tell us what happened
|
|
when our—our ancestors fought."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It happened in this way, your Majesty. Your Majesty's
|
|
grandfather——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Great-grandfather," said a small voice.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor cast one bitter look at his opponent and went on:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The ancestors of your two Majesties arranged to settle the war of
|
|
that period by personal combat. The two armies were drawn up in full
|
|
array. In front of them the two monarchs shook hands. Drawing their
|
|
swords and casting their Magic Cloaks around them, they——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well?" said Merriwig eagerly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It is rather a painful story, your Majesty."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Go on, I shan't mind."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, your Majesty, drawing their swords and casting their Magic
|
|
Cloaks around them they—h'r'm—returned to the wassail bowl."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Dear, dear," said Merriwig.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0118"></a><img src="images/0118.jpg" alt="[Illustration: When the respective armies returned to camp they found
|
|
their Majesties asleep, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0119.jpg" alt="[Illustration: When the respective armies returned to camp they found
|
|
their Majesties asleep, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"When the respective armies, who had been waiting eagerly the whole of
|
|
the afternoon for some result of the combat, returned to camp, they
|
|
found their Majesties——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Asleep," said the Chancellor of Euralia hastily.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Asleep," agreed the Chancellor of Barodia. "The excuse of their two
|
|
Majesties that they had suddenly forgotten the day, though naturally
|
|
accepted at the time, was deemed inadequate by later historians." (By
|
|
Roger and myself, anyway.)
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Some further details were discussed, and then the conference closed.
|
|
The great fight was fixed for the following morning.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The day broke fine. At an early hour Merriwig was up and practising
|
|
thrusts upon a suspended pillow. At intervals he would consult a
|
|
little book entitled <i>Sword Play for Sovereigns</i>, and then return to
|
|
his pillow. At breakfast he was nervous but talkative. After
|
|
breakfast he wrote a tender letter to Hyacinth and a still more tender
|
|
one to the Countess Belvane, and burnt them. He repeated his little
|
|
rhyme, "Bo, Boll, Bill, Bole," several times to himself until he was
|
|
word perfect. It was just possible that it might be useful. His last
|
|
thoughts as he rode on to the field were of his great-grandfather.
|
|
Without admiring him, he quite saw his point.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The fight was a brilliant one. First Merriwig aimed a blow at the
|
|
King of Barodia's head which the latter parried. Then the King of
|
|
Barodia aimed a blow at his adversary's head which Merriwig parried.
|
|
This went on three or four times, and then Merriwig put into practice
|
|
a remarkable trick which the Captain of his Bodyguard had taught him.
|
|
It was his turn to parry, but instead of doing this, he struck again
|
|
at his opponent's head; and if the latter in sheer surprise had not
|
|
stumbled and fallen, there might have been a very serious ending to
|
|
the affair.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Noon found them still at it; cut and parry, cut and parry; at each
|
|
stroke the opposing armies roared their applause. When darkness put an
|
|
end to the conflict, honours were evenly divided.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was a stiff but proud King of Euralia who received the
|
|
congratulations of his subjects that night; so proud that he had to
|
|
pour out his heart to somebody. He wrote to his daughter.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"MY DEAR HYACINTH,
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You will be glad to hear that your father is going on well and that
|
|
Euralia is as determined as ever to uphold its honour and dignity.
|
|
To-day I fought the King of Barodia, and considering that, most
|
|
unfairly, he was using a Magic Sword, I think I may say that I did
|
|
well. The Countess Belvane will be interested to hear that I made
|
|
4,638 strokes at my opponent and parried 4,637 strokes from him. This
|
|
is good for a man of my age. Do you remember that magic ointment my
|
|
aunt used to give me? Have we any of it left?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I played a very clever trick the other day by pretending to be a
|
|
swineherd. I talked to a real one I met for quite a long time about
|
|
swine without his suspecting me. The Countess might be interested to
|
|
hear this. It would have been very awkward for me if it had been
|
|
found out who I was.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I hope you are getting along all right. Do you consult the Countess
|
|
Belvane at all? I think she would be able to advise you in any
|
|
difficulties. A young girl needs a guiding hand, and I think the
|
|
Countess would be able to advise you in any difficulties. Do you
|
|
consult her at all?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am afraid this is going to be a long war. There doesn't seem to be
|
|
a wizard in the country at all, and without one it is a little
|
|
difficult to know how to go on. I say my spell every now and
|
|
then—you remember the one:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
'<i>Bo, boll, bill bole.</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>Wo, woll, will, wole.</i> '<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent">
|
|
and it certainly keeps off dragons, but we don't seem to get any
|
|
nearer defeating the enemy's army. You might tell the Countess
|
|
Belvane that about my spell; she would be interested.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"To-morrow I go on with my fight with the King of Barodia. I feel
|
|
quite confident now that I can hold him. He parries well, but his
|
|
cutting is not very good. I am glad the Countess found my sword for
|
|
me; tell her that it has been most useful.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I must now close as I must go to bed so as to be ready for my fight
|
|
to-morrow. Good-bye, dear. I am always,
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P align="right">
|
|
"YOUR LOVING FATHER. <BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"P.S.—I hope you are not finding your position too difficult. If you
|
|
are in any difficulties you should consult the Countess Belvane. I
|
|
think she would be able to advise you. Don't forget about that
|
|
ointment. Perhaps the Countess might know about some other kind.
|
|
It's for stiffness. I am afraid this is going to be a long war."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King sealed up the letter and despatched it by special messenger
|
|
the next morning. It came to Hyacinth at a critical moment. We shall
|
|
see in the next chapter what effect it had upon her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap07"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0127X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Wiggs meeting her Fairy]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER VII
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
THE PRINCESS RECEIVES A LETTER AND WRITES ONE
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Princess Hyacinth came in from her morning's ride in a very bad
|
|
temper. She went straight up to her favourite seat on the castle
|
|
walls and sent for Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Wiggs," she said, "what's the matter with me?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs looked puzzled. She had been dusting the books in the library;
|
|
and when you dust books you simply <i>must</i> stop every now and then to
|
|
take just one little peep inside, and then you look inside another one
|
|
and another one, and by the time you have finished dusting, your head
|
|
is so full of things you have seen that you have to be asked questions
|
|
very slowly indeed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm pretty, aren't I?" went on Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
That was an easy one.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Lovely!" said Wiggs, with a deep breath.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And I'm not unkind to anybody?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Unkind!" said Wiggs indignantly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then why—oh, Wiggs, I know it's silly of me, but it <i>hurts</i> me that
|
|
my people are so much fonder of the Countess than of me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, I'm sure they're not, your Royal Highness."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, they cheer her much louder than they cheer me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs tried to think of a way of comforting her mistress, but her head
|
|
was still full of the last book she had dusted.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why should they be so fond of her?" demanded Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Perhaps because she's so funny," said Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Funny! Is she funny?" said the Princess coldly. "She doesn't make
|
|
<i>me</i> laugh."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, it <i>was</i> funny of her to make Woggs march round and round that
|
|
tree like that, <i>wasn't</i> it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Like what? You don't mean——" The Princess's eyes were wide open
|
|
with astonishment. "Was that Woggs all the time?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, your Royal Highness. Wasn't it lovely and funny of her?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Princess looked across to the forest and nodded to herself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes. That's it. Wiggs, I don't believe there has ever been an Army
|
|
at all. . . . And I pay them every week!" She added solemnly, "There
|
|
are moments when I don't believe that woman is quite honest."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Do you mean she isn't good?" asked Wiggs in awe.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth nodded.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm <i>never</i> good," said Wiggs firmly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What do you mean, silly? You're the best little girl in Euralia."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm <i>not</i>. I do awful things sometimes. Do you know what I did
|
|
yesterday?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Something terrible!" smiled Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I tore my apron."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You baby! That isn't being bad," said Hyacinth absently. She was
|
|
still thinking of that awful review.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The Countess says it is."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The Countess!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Do you know why I want to be <i>very</i> good?" said Wiggs, coming up
|
|
close to the Princess.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why, dear?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Because then I could dance like a fairy."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Is that how it's done?" asked the Princess, rather amused. "The
|
|
Countess must dance <i>very</i> heavily." She suddenly remembered
|
|
something and added: "Why, of course, child, you were going to tell
|
|
me about a fairy you met, weren't you? That was weeks ago, though.
|
|
Tell me now. It will help me to forget things which make me rather
|
|
angry."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was a simple little story. There must have been many like it in
|
|
the books which Wiggs had been dusting; but these were simple times,
|
|
and the oldest story always seemed new.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs had been by herself in the forest. A baby rabbit had run past
|
|
her, terrified; a ferret in pursuit. Wiggs had picked the little
|
|
fluffy thing up in her arms and comforted it; the ferret had slowed
|
|
down, walked past very indifferently with its hands, as it were, in
|
|
its pockets, hesitated a moment, and then remembered an important
|
|
letter which it had forgotten to post. Wiggs was left alone with the
|
|
baby rabbit, and before she knew where she was, the rabbit was gone
|
|
and there was a fairy in front of her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0132"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0132.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: The rabbit was gone, and there was a fairy in front of her, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0133.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: The rabbit was gone, and there was a fairy in front of her, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You have saved my life," said the fairy. "That was a wicked magician
|
|
after me, and if he had caught me then, he would have killed me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Please, your Fairiness, I didn't know fairies <i>could</i> die," said
|
|
Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"They can when they take on animal shape or human shape. He could not
|
|
hurt me now, but before——" She shuddered.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm so glad you're all right now," said Wiggs politely.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Thanks to you, my child. I must reward you. Take this ring. When
|
|
you have been good for a whole day, you can have one good wish; when
|
|
you have been bad for a whole day, you can have one bad wish. One
|
|
good wish and one bad wish—that is all it will allow anybody to
|
|
have."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
With these words she vanished and left Wiggs alone with the ring.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So, ever after that, Wiggs tried desperately hard to be good and have
|
|
the good wish, but it was difficult work. Something always went wrong;
|
|
she tore her apron or read books when she ought to have been dusting,
|
|
or—— Well, you or I would probably have given it up at once, and
|
|
devoted ourselves to earning the bad wish. But Wiggs was a nice
|
|
little girl.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And, oh, I <i>do</i> so want to be good," said Wiggs earnestly to the
|
|
Princess, "so that I could wish to dance like a fairy." She had a
|
|
sudden anxiety. "That <i>is</i> a good wish, <i>isn't</i> it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's a lovely wish; but I'm sure you could dance now if you tried."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I can't," said Wiggs. "I always dance like this."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She jumped up and danced a few steps. Wiggs was a dear little girl,
|
|
but her dancing reminded you of a very dusty road going up-hill all
|
|
the way, with nothing but suet-puddings waiting for you on the top.
|
|
Something like that.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It isn't <i>really</i> graceful, is it?" she said candidly, as she came to
|
|
rest.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, I suppose the fairies <i>do</i> dance better than that."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"So that's why I want to be good, so as I can have my wish."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I really must see this ring," said the Princess. "It sounds
|
|
fascinating." She looked coldly in front of her and added,
|
|
"Good-morning, Countess." (How long had the woman been there?)
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good-morning, your Royal Highness. I ventured to come up
|
|
unannounced. Ah, sweet child." She waved a caressing hand at Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
(Even if she had overheard anything, it had only been child's talk.)
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What is it?" asked the Princess. She took a firm hold of the arms of
|
|
her chair. She would <i>not</i>, <i>not</i>, <i>not</i> give way to the Countess
|
|
this time.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The merest matter of business, your Royal Highness. Just this scheme
|
|
for the Encouragement of Literature. Your Royal Highness very wisely
|
|
decided that in the absence of the men on the sterner business of
|
|
fighting it was the part of us women to encourage the gentler arts;
|
|
and for this purpose . . . there was some talk of a competition,
|
|
and—er——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, yes," said Hyacinth nervously. "I will look into that
|
|
to-morrow."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A competition," said Belvane, gazing vaguely over Hyacinth's head.
|
|
"Some sort of a money prize," she added, as if in a trance.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There should certainly be some sort of a prize," agreed the Princess.
|
|
(Why not, she asked herself, if one is to encourage literature?)
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Bags of gold," murmured Belvane to herself. "Bags and bags of gold.
|
|
Big bags of silver and little bags of gold." She saw herself tossing
|
|
them to the crowd.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, we'll go into that to-morrow," said Hyacinth hastily.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have it all drawn up here," said Belvane. "Your Royal Highness has
|
|
only to sign. It saves <i>so</i> much trouble," she added with a disarming
|
|
smile. . . . She held the document out—all in the most beautiful
|
|
colours.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Mechanically the Princess signed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Thank you, your Royal Highness." She smiled again, and added, "And
|
|
now perhaps I had better see about it at once." The Guardian of
|
|
Literature took a dignified farewell of her Sovereign and withdrew.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth looked at Wiggs in despair.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There!" she said. "That's me. I don't know what it is about that
|
|
woman, but I feel just a child in front of her. Oh, Wiggs, Wiggs, I
|
|
feel so lonely sometimes with nothing but women all around me. I wish
|
|
I had a man here to help me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Are <i>all</i> the men fighting in <i>all</i> the countries?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not all the countries. There's—Araby. Don't you remember—oh, but
|
|
of course you wouldn't know anything about it. But Father was just
|
|
going to ask Prince Udo of Araby to come here on a visit, when the war
|
|
broke out. Oh, I wish, I <i>wish</i> Father were back again." She laid
|
|
her head on her arms; and whether she would have shed a few royal
|
|
tears or had a good homely cry, I cannot tell you. For at that moment
|
|
an attendant came in. Hyacinth was herself again at once.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There is a messenger approaching on a horse, your Royal Highness,"
|
|
she announced. "Doubtless from His Majesty's camp."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
With a shriek of delight, and an entire lack of royal dignity, the
|
|
Princess, followed by the faithful Wiggs, rushed down to receive him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Meanwhile, what of the Countess? She was still in the Palace, and,
|
|
more than that, she was in the Throne Room of the Palace, and, more
|
|
even than that, she was on the Throne, of the Throne Room of the
|
|
Palace.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She couldn't resist it. The door was open as she came down from her
|
|
interview with the Princess, and she had to go in. There was a woman
|
|
in there, tidying up, who looked questioningly at Belvane as she
|
|
entered.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You may leave," said the Countess with dignity. "Her Royal Highness
|
|
sent me in here to wait for her."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The woman curtsied and withdrew.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess then uttered these extraordinary words:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"When I am Queen in Euralia they shall leave me backwards!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Her subsequent behaviour was even more amazing.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She stood by the side of the door, and putting her hand to her mouth
|
|
said shrilly, "Ter-rum, ter-rum, terrumty-umty-um." Then she took her
|
|
hand away and announced loudly, "Her Majesty Queen Belvane the First!"
|
|
after which she cheered slightly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Then in came Her Majesty, a very proper dignified gracious Queen—none
|
|
of your seventeen-year-old chits. Bowing condescendingly from side to
|
|
side she made her way to the Throne, and with a sweep of her train she
|
|
sat down.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Courtiers were presented to her; representatives from foreign
|
|
countries; Prince Hanspatch of Tregong, Prince Ulric, the Duke of
|
|
Highanlow.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, my dear Prince Hanspatch," she cried, stretching out her hand to
|
|
the right of her; "and you, dear Prince Ulric," with a graceful
|
|
movement of the left arm towards him; "and, dear Duke, <i>you</i> also!"
|
|
Her right hand, which Prince Hanspatch had by now finished with, went
|
|
out to the Duke of Highanlow that he too might kiss it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But it was arrested in mid-air. She felt rather than saw that the
|
|
Princess was watching her in amazement from the doorway.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Without looking round she stretched out again first one arm and then
|
|
the other. Then, as if she had just seen the Princess, she jumped up
|
|
in a pretty confusion.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, your Royal Highness," she cried, "you caught me at my physical
|
|
exercises!" She gave a self-conscious little laugh. "My physical
|
|
exercises—a forearm movement." Once again she stretched out her arm.
|
|
"Building up the—er—building up—building up——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Her voice died away, for the Princess still looked coldly at her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Charming, Countess," she said. "I am sorry to interrupt you, but I
|
|
have some news for you. You will like to know that I am inviting
|
|
Prince Udo of Araby here on a visit. I feel we want a little outside
|
|
help in our affairs."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Prince Udo?" cried the Countess. "<i>Here?</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Have you any objection?" said Hyacinth. She found it easier to be
|
|
stern now, for the invitation had already been sent off by the hand of
|
|
the King's Messenger. Nothing that the Countess could say could
|
|
influence her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No objection, your Royal Highness; but it seems so strange. And then
|
|
the expense! Men are such hearty eaters. Besides," she looked with a
|
|
charming smile from the Princess to Wiggs, "we were all getting on so
|
|
<i>nicely</i> together! Of course if he just dropped in for afternoon tea
|
|
one day——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He will make a stay of some months, I hope." There were no wizards
|
|
in Barodia, and therefore the war would be a long one. It was this
|
|
which had decided Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," said Belvane, "whatever your Royal Highness wishes, but I
|
|
do think that His Majesty——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear Countess," said Hyacinth, with a smile, "the invitation has
|
|
already gone, so there's nothing more to be said, is there? Had you
|
|
finished your exercises? Yes? Then, Wiggs, will you conduct her
|
|
ladyship downstairs?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She turned and left her. The Countess watched her go, and then stood
|
|
tragically in the middle of the room, clasping her diary to her
|
|
breast.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"This is terrible!" she said. "I feel <i>years</i> older." She held out
|
|
her diary at arm's length and said in a gloomy voice, "<i>What</i> an entry
|
|
for to-morrow!" The thought cheered her up a little. She began to
|
|
consider plans. How could she circumvent this terrible young man who
|
|
was going to put them all in their places. She wished that——
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
All at once she remembered something.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Wiggs," she said, "what was it I heard you saying to the Princess
|
|
about a wish?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, that's my ring," said Wiggs eagerly. "If you've been good for a
|
|
whole day you can have a good wish. And my wish is that——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A wish!" said Belvane to herself. "Well, I wish that——" A sudden
|
|
thought struck her. "You said that you had to be good for a whole day
|
|
first?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane mused.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I wonder what they mean by <i>good</i>," she said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," explained Wiggs, "if you've been bad for a whole day you
|
|
can have a bad wish. But I should hate to have a bad wish, wouldn't
|
|
you?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Simply hate it, child," said Belvane. "Er—may I have a look at that
|
|
ring?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Here it is," said Wiggs; "I always wear it round my neck."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess took it from her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Listen," she said. "Wasn't that the Princess calling you? Run
|
|
along, quickly, child." She almost pushed her from the room and
|
|
closed the door on her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Alone again, she paced from end to end of the great chamber, her left
|
|
hand nursing her right elbow, her chin in her right hand.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"If you are good for a day," she mused, "you can have a good wish. If
|
|
you are bad for a day you can have a bad wish. Yesterday I drew ten
|
|
thousand pieces of gold for the Army; the actual expenses were what I
|
|
paid—what I owe Woggs. . . . I suppose that is what narrow-minded
|
|
people call being bad. . . . I suppose this Prince Udo would call it
|
|
bad. . . . I suppose he thinks he will marry the Princess and throw
|
|
me into prison." She flung her head back proudly. "Never!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Standing in the middle of the great Throne Room, she held the ring up
|
|
in her two hands and wished.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I wish," she said, and there was a terrible smile in her eyes, "I
|
|
wish that something very—very <i>humorous</i> shall happen to Prince Udo
|
|
on his journey."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap08"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0147X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Udo and Coronel on their journey]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER VIII
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
PRINCE UDO SLEEPS BADLY
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Everybody likes to make a good impression on his first visit, but
|
|
there were moments just before his arrival in Euralia when Prince Udo
|
|
doubted whether the affair would go as well as he had hoped. You
|
|
shall hear why.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He had been out hunting with his friend, the young Duke Coronel, and
|
|
was returning to the Palace when Hyacinth's messenger met him. He
|
|
took the letter from him, broke the seals, and unrolled it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Wait a moment, Coronel," he said to his friend. "This is going to be
|
|
an adventure of some sort, and if it's an adventure I shall want you
|
|
with me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm in no hurry," said Coronel, and he got off his horse and gave it
|
|
into the care of an attendant. The road crossed a stream here.
|
|
Coronel sat up on the little stone bridge and dropped pebbles idly
|
|
into the water.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Prince read his letter.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<i>Plop . . . Plop . . . Plop . . . Plop . . .</i>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Prince looked up from his letter.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How many days' journey is it to Euralia?" he asked Coronel.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How long did it take the messenger to come?" answered Coronel,
|
|
without looking up. (<i>Plop.</i> )
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I might have thought of that myself," said Udo, "only this letter has
|
|
rather upset me." He turned to the messenger. "How long has it——?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Isn't the letter dated?" said Coronel. (<i>Plop.</i> )
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo paid no attention to this interruption and finished his question
|
|
to the messenger.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A week, sire."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ride on to the castle and wait for me. I shall have a message for
|
|
you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What is it?" said Coronel, when the messenger had gone. "An
|
|
adventure?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think so. I think we may call it that, Coronel."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"With me in it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, I think you will be somewhere in it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel stopped dropping his pebbles and turned to the Prince.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"May I hear about it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo help out the letter; then feeling that a lady's letter should be
|
|
private, drew it back again. He prided himself always on doing the
|
|
correct thing.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's from Princess Hyacinth of Euralia," he said; "she doesn't say
|
|
much. Her father is away fighting, and she is alone and she is in
|
|
some trouble or other. It ought to make rather a good adventure."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel turned away and began to drop his pebbles into the stream
|
|
again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, I wish you luck," he said. "If it's a dragon, don't forget
|
|
that——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But you're coming, too," said Udo, in dismay. "I must have you with
|
|
me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Doing what?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Doing what?" said Coronel again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," said Prince Udo awkwardly, "er—well, you—well."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He felt that it was a silly question for Coronel to have asked.
|
|
Coronel knew perfectly well what he would be doing all the time. In
|
|
Udo's absence he would be telling Princess Hyacinth stories of his
|
|
Royal Highness's matchless courage and wisdom. An occasional
|
|
discussion also with the Princess upon the types of masculine beauty,
|
|
leading up to casual mention of Prince Udo's own appearance, would be
|
|
quite in order. When Prince Udo was present Coronel would no doubt
|
|
find the opportunity of drawing Prince Udo out, an opportunity of
|
|
which a stranger could not so readily avail himself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But of course you couldn't very well tell Coronel that. A man of any
|
|
tact would have seen it at once.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," he said, "don't come if you don't like. But it would
|
|
look rather funny if I went quite unattended; and—and her Royal
|
|
Highness is said to be very beautiful," he added lamely.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel laughed. There are adventures and adventures; to sit next to
|
|
a very beautiful Princess and discuss with her the good looks of
|
|
another man was not the sort of adventure that Coronel was looking
|
|
for.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He tossed the remainder of his pebbles into the stream and stood up.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course, if your Royal Highness wishes——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Don't be a fool, Coronel," said his Royal Highness, rather snappily.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, then, I'll come with my good friend Udo if he wants me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I do want you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Very well, that settles it. After all," he added to himself, "there
|
|
may be <i>two</i> dragons."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Two dragons would be one each. But from all accounts there were not
|
|
two Princesses.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So three days later the friends set out with good hearts upon the
|
|
adventure. The messenger had been sent back to announce their
|
|
arrival; they gave him three days' start, and hoped to gain two days
|
|
upon him. In the simple fashion of those times (so it would seem from
|
|
Roger Scurvilegs) they set out with no luggage and no clear idea of
|
|
where they were going to sleep at night. This, after all, is the best
|
|
spirit in which to start a journey. It is the Gladstone bag which has
|
|
killed romance.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They started on a perfect summer day, and they rode past towers and
|
|
battlements, and by the side of sparkling streams, and came out into
|
|
the sunlight again above sleepy villages, and, as they rode, Coronel
|
|
sang aloud and Udo tossed his sword into the air and caught it again.
|
|
As evening fell they came to a woodman's cottage at the foot of a high
|
|
hill, and there they decided to rest for the night. An old woman came
|
|
out to welcome them.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good evening, your Royal Highness," she said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0154"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0154.jpg" alt="[Illustration: As evening fell they came to a woodman's cottage at
|
|
the foot of a high hill, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0155.jpg" alt="[Illustration: As evening fell they came to a woodman's cottage at the foot of a high hill, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You know me?" said Udo, more pleased than surprised.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I know all who come into my house," said the old woman solemnly, "and
|
|
all who go away from it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
This sort of conversation made Coronel feel creepy. There seemed to
|
|
be a distinction between the people who came to the house and the
|
|
people who went away from it which he did not like.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Can we stay here the night, my good woman?" said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You have hurt your hand," she said, taking no notice of his question.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's nothing," said Udo hastily. On one occasion he had caught his
|
|
sword by the sharp end by mistake—a foolish thing to have done.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, well, since you won't want hands where you're going, it won't
|
|
matter much."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was the sort of thing old women said in those days, and Udo did not
|
|
pay much attention to it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, yes," he said; "but can you give my friend and myself a bed for
|
|
to-night?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Seeing that you won't be travelling together long, come in and
|
|
welcome."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She opened the door and they followed her in.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
As they crossed the threshold, Udo half turned round and whispered
|
|
over his shoulder to Coronel,
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Probably a fairy. Be kind to her."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How can one be kind to one's hostess?" said Coronel. "It's she who
|
|
has to be kind to <i>us</i>."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, you know what I mean; don't be rude to her."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear Udo, this to <i>me</i>—the pride of Araby, the favourite courtier
|
|
of his Majesty, the——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, all right," said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Sit down and rest yourselves," said the old woman. "There'll be
|
|
something in the pot for you directly."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good," said Udo. He looked approvingly at the large cauldron hanging
|
|
over the fire. It was a big fireplace for such a small room. So he
|
|
thought when he first looked at it, but as he gazed, the room seemed
|
|
to get bigger and bigger, and the fireplace to get farther and farther
|
|
away, until he felt that he was in a vast cavern cut deep into the
|
|
mountainside. He rubbed his eyes, and there he was in the small
|
|
kitchen again and the cauldron was sending out a savoury smell.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There'll be something in it for all tastes," went on the old woman,
|
|
"even for Prince Udo's."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm not so particular as all that," said Udo mildly. The room had
|
|
just become five hundred yards long again, and he was feeling quiet.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not now, but you will be."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She filled them a plate each from the pot; and pulling their chairs up
|
|
to the table, they fell to heartily.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"This is really excellent," said Udo, as he put down his spoon and
|
|
rested for a moment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You'd think you'd always like that, wouldn't you?" she said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I always shall be fond of anything so perfectly cooked."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah," remarked the old woman thoughtfully.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo was beginning to dislike her particular style of conversation. It
|
|
seemed to carry the merest suggestion of a hint that something
|
|
unpleasant was going to happen to him. Nothing apparently was going
|
|
to happen to Coronel. He tried to drag Coronel into the conversation
|
|
in case the old woman had anything over for him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My friend and I," he said, "hope to be in Euralia the day after
|
|
to-morrow."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No harm in hoping," was the answer.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Dear me, is something going to happen to us on the way?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Depends what you call 'us.'"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel pushed back his chair and got up.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I know what's going to happen to me," he said. "I'm going to sleep."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," said Udo, getting up too, "we've got a long day before us
|
|
to-morrow, and apparently we are in for an adventure—er, <i>we</i> are in
|
|
for an adventure of some sort." He looked anxiously at the old woman,
|
|
but she made no sign. "And so let's to bed."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"This way," said the old woman, and by the light of a candle she led
|
|
them upstairs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo slept badly. He had a feeling (just as you have) that something
|
|
was going to happen to him; and it was with some surprise that he woke
|
|
up in the morning to find himself much as he was when he went to bed.
|
|
He looked at himself in the glass; he invited Coronel to gaze at him;
|
|
but neither could discover that anything was the matter.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"After all," said Udo, "I don't suppose she meant anything. These old
|
|
women get into a way of talking like that. If anybody is going to be
|
|
turned into anything, it's much more likely to be you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Is that why you brought me with you?" asked Coronel.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I suppose that by this time they had finished their dressing. Roger
|
|
Scurvilegs tells us nothing on such important matters; no doubt from
|
|
modesty. "Next morning they rose," he says, and disappoints us of a
|
|
picture of Udo brushing his hair. They rose and went down to
|
|
breakfast.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The old woman was in a less cryptic mood at breakfast. She was
|
|
particularly hospitable to Udo, and from some secret store produced an
|
|
unending variety of good things for him to eat. To Coronel it almost
|
|
looked as if she were fattening him up for something, but this
|
|
suggestion was received with such bad grace by Udo that he did not
|
|
pursue the subject.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
As soon as breakfast was over they started off again. From one of the
|
|
many bags of gold he carried, Udo had offered some acknowledgment to
|
|
the old woman, but she had refused to take it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Nay, nay," she said. "I shall be amply rewarded before the day is
|
|
out." And she seemed to be smiling to herself as if she knew of some
|
|
joke which the Prince and Coronel did not yet share.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I like to-day," said Coronel as they rode along. "There's a smell of
|
|
adventure in the air. Red roofs, green trees, blue sky, white road—I
|
|
could fall in love to-day."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Who with?" said Udo suspiciously.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Any one—that old woman, if you like."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, don't talk of her," said the Prince with a shudder. "Coronel,
|
|
hadn't you a sense of being <i>out</i> of some joke that she was in?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Perhaps we shall be in it before long. I could laugh very easily on
|
|
a morning like this."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, I can see a joke as well as any one," said Udo. "Don't be afraid
|
|
that I shan't laugh, too. No doubt it will make a good story,
|
|
whatever it is, to tell to the Princess Hyacinth. Coronel," he added
|
|
solemnly, the thought having evidently only just occurred to him, "I
|
|
am all impatience to help that poor girl in her trouble." And as if
|
|
to show his impatience, he suddenly gave the reins a shake and
|
|
cantered ahead of his companion. Smiling to himself, Coronel followed
|
|
at his leisure.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They halted at mid-day in a wood, and made a meal from some provisions
|
|
which the old woman had given them; and after they had eaten, Udo lay
|
|
down on a mossy bank and closed his eyes.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm sleepy," he said; "I had a restless night. Let's stay here
|
|
awhile; after all, there's no hurry."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Personally," said Coronel, "I'm all impatience to help that——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I tell you I had a very bad night," said Udo crossly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, well, I shall go off and look for dragons. Coronel, the Dragon
|
|
Slayer. Good-bye."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Only half an hour," said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Right."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
With a nod to the Prince he strolled off among the trees.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR>
|
|
|
|
<P align="right"><img src="images/0164X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Small decoration of Belvane writing in her diary.]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap09"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0165X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Udo in his animal form, coming out of some plants.]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER IX
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
THEY ARE AFRAID OF UDO
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
This is a painful chapter for me to write. Mercifully it is to be a
|
|
short one. Later on I shall become used to the situation; inclined,
|
|
even, to dwell upon its humorous side; but for the moment I cannot see
|
|
beyond the sadness of it. That to a Prince of the Royal House of
|
|
Araby, and such an estimable young man as Udo, those things should
|
|
happen. Roger Scurvilegs frankly breaks down over it. "That
|
|
abominable woman," he says (meaning, of course, Belvane), and he has
|
|
hysterics for more than a page.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Let us describe it calmly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel came back from his stroll in the same casual way in which he
|
|
had started and dropped down lazily upon the grass to wait until Udo
|
|
was ready to mount. He was not thinking of Udo. He was wondering if
|
|
Princess Hyacinth had an attendant of surpassing beauty, or a dragon
|
|
of surpassing malevolence—if, in fact, there were any adventures in
|
|
Euralia for a humble fellow like himself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Coronel!" said a small voice behind him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He turned round indifferently.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Hullo, Udo, where are you?" he said. "Isn't it time we were
|
|
starting?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"We aren't starting," said the voice.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What's the matter? What are you hiding in the bushes for?
|
|
Whatever's the matter, Udo?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm not very well."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My poor Udo, what's happened?" He jumped up and made towards him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Stop!" shrieked the voice. "I command you!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel stopped.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your Royal Highness's commands," he began rather coldly——
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was an ominous sniffing from the bushes.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Coronel," said an unhappy voice at last, "I think I'm coming out."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wondering what it all meant, Coronel waited in silence.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, I am coming out, Coronel," said the voice. "But you mustn't be
|
|
surprised if I don't look very well. I'm—I'm—Coronel, here I am,"
|
|
said Udo pathetically and he stepped out.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Poor Prince Udo!
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0168"></a><img src="images/0168.jpg" alt="[Illustration: "Coronel, here I am," said Udo pathetically, and he stepped out, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0169.jpg" alt="[Illustration: "Coronel, here I am," said Udo pathetically, and he stepped out, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He had the head and the long ears of a rabbit, and in some unfortunate
|
|
way a look of the real Prince Udo in spite of it. He had the mane and
|
|
the tail of a lion. In between the tail and the mane it is difficult
|
|
to say what he was, save that there was an impression of magnificence
|
|
about his person—such magnificence, anyhow, as is given by an
|
|
astrakhan-trimmed fur coat.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel decided that it was an occasion for tact.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, here you are," he said cheerfully. "Shall we get along?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Don't be a fool, Coronel," said Udo, almost crying. "Don't pretend
|
|
that you can't <i>see</i> that I've got a tail."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why, bless my soul, so you have. A tail! Well, think of that!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo showed what he thought of it by waving it peevishly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"This is not a time for tact," he said. "Tell me what I look like."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel considered for a moment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Really frankly?" he asked.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Y—yes," said Udo nervously.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then, frankly, your Royal Highness looks—funny."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Very</i> funny?" said Udo wistfully.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Very</i> funny," said Coronel.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
His Highness sighed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I was afraid so," he said. "That's the cruel part about it. Had I
|
|
been a lion there would have been a certain pathetic splendour about
|
|
my position. Isolated—cut off—suffering in regal silence." He
|
|
waved an explanatory paw. "Even in the most hideous of beasts there
|
|
might be a dignity." He meditated for a moment. "Have you ever seen
|
|
a yak, Coronel?" he asked.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Never."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I saw one once in Barodia. It is not a beautiful animal, Coronel;
|
|
but as a yak I should not have been entirely unlovable. One does not
|
|
laugh at a yak, Coronel, and where one does not laugh one may come to
|
|
love. . . . What does my head look like?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It looks—striking."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I haven't seen it, you see."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"To one who didn't know your Royal Highness it would convey the
|
|
impression of a rabbit."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo laid his head between his paws and wept.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A r—rabbit!" he sobbed. So undignified, so lacking in true pathos,
|
|
so—— And not even a whole rabbit," he added bitterly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How did it happen?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't know, Coronel. I just went to sleep, and woke up feeling
|
|
rather funny, and——" He sat up suddenly and stared at Coronel. "It
|
|
was that old woman did it. You mark my words, Coronel; she did it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why should she?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't know. I was very polite to her. Don't you remember my
|
|
saying to you, 'Be polite to her, because she's probably a fairy!'
|
|
You see, I saw through her disguise at once. Coronel, what shall we
|
|
do? Let's hold a council of war and think it over."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So they held a council of war.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Prince Udo put forward two suggestions.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The first was that Coronel should go back on the morrow and kill the
|
|
old woman.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The second was that Coronel should go back that afternoon and kill the
|
|
old woman.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel pointed out that as she had turned Prince Udo into—into
|
|
a—a—("Quite so," said Udo)—it was likely that she alone could turn
|
|
him back again, and that in that case he had better only threaten her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I want <i>somebody</i> killed," said Udo, rather naturally.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Suppose," said Coronel, "you stay here for two days while I go back
|
|
and see the old witch, and make her tell me what she knows. She knows
|
|
something, I'm certain. Then we shall see better what to do."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo mused for a space.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why didn't they turn <i>you</i> into anything?" he asked.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Really, I don't know. Perhaps because I'm too unimportant."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, that must be it." He began to feel a little brighter.
|
|
"Obviously, that's it." He caressed a whisker with one of his paws.
|
|
"They were afraid of me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He began to look so much happier that Coronel thought it was a
|
|
favourable moment in which to withdraw.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Shall I go now, your Royal Highness?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, yes, you may leave me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And shall I find you here when I come back?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You may or you may not, Coronel; you may or you may not. . . .
|
|
Afraid of me," he murmured to himself. "Obviously."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And if I don't?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then return to the Palace."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good-bye, your Royal Highness."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo waved a paw at him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good-bye, good-bye."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel got on his horse and rode away. As soon as he was out of
|
|
earshot he began to laugh. Spasm after spasm shook him. No sooner
|
|
had he composed himself to gravity than a remembrance of Udo's
|
|
appearance started him off again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I couldn't have stayed with him a moment longer," he thought. "I
|
|
should have burst. Poor Udo! However, we'll soon get him all right."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
That evening he reached the place where the cottage had stood, but it
|
|
was gone. Next morning he rode back to the wood. Udo was gone too.
|
|
He returned to the Palace, and began to think it out.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Left to himself Udo very soon made up his mind. There were three
|
|
courses open to him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He might stay where he was till he was restored to health.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
This he rejected at once. When you have the head of a rabbit, the
|
|
tail of a lion, and the middle of a woolly lamb, the need for action
|
|
of some kind is imperative. All the blood of your diverse ancestors
|
|
calls to you to be up and doing.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He might go back to Araby.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
To Araby, where he was so well-known, so respected, so popular? To
|
|
Araby, where he rode daily among his father's subjects that they might
|
|
have the pleasure of cheering him? How awkward for everybody!
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
On to Euralia then?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Why not? The Princess Hyacinth had called for him. What devotion it
|
|
showed if he came to her even now—in his present state of bad health!
|
|
She was in trouble: enchanters, wizards, what-nots. Already, then,
|
|
he had suffered in her service—so at least he would say, and so
|
|
possibly it might be. Coronel had thought him—funny; but women had
|
|
not much sense of humour as a rule. Probably as a child Hyacinth had
|
|
kept rabbits . . . or lambs. She would find him—strokable. . . .
|
|
And the lion in him . . . in his tail, his fierce mane . . . she would
|
|
find that inspiring. Women like to feel that there is something
|
|
fierce, untamable in the man they love; well, there it was.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was not as if he had Coronel with him. Coronel and he (in his
|
|
present health) could never have gone into Euralia together; the
|
|
contrast was too striking; but he alone, Hyacinth's only help! Surely
|
|
she would appreciate his magnanimity.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Also, as he had told himself a moment ago, there was quite a chance
|
|
that it was a Euralian enchanter who had put this upon him—to prevent
|
|
him helping Hyacinth. If so, he had better go to Euralia in order to
|
|
deal with that enchanter. For the moment, he did not see exactly how
|
|
to deal with him, but no doubt he would think of some tremendously
|
|
cunning device later on.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
To Euralia then with all dispatch.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He trotted off. As Coronel had said, they were evidently afraid of
|
|
him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap10"></A><img src="images/0179X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Belvane on horseback and throwing something]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER X
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHARLOTTE PATACAKE ASTONISHES THE CRITICS
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Lady Belvane sits in her garden. She is very happy. An enormous
|
|
quill-pen, taken from a former favourite goose and coloured red, is in
|
|
her right hand. The hair of her dark head, held on one side, touches
|
|
the paper whereon she writes, and her little tongue peeps out between
|
|
her red lips. Her left hand taps the table—one-two, one-two,
|
|
one-two, one-two, one-two. She is composing.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wonderful woman!
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
You remember that scene with the Princess Hyacinth? "I feel we want a
|
|
little outside help in our affairs." A fortnight of suspense before
|
|
Prince Udo arrived. What had the ring done to him? At the best, even
|
|
if there would be no Udo at all to interfere, nevertheless she knew
|
|
that she had lost her footing at the Palace. She and the Princess
|
|
would now be open enemies. At the worst—those magic rings were so
|
|
untrustworthy!—a Prince, still powerful, and now seriously annoyed,
|
|
might be leagued against her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Yet she composed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And what is she writing? She is entering for the competition in
|
|
connection with the Encouragement of Literature Scheme: the last
|
|
scheme which the Princess had signed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I like to think of her peacefully writing at a time when her whole
|
|
future hung in the balance. Roger sneers at her. "Even now," he
|
|
says, "she was hoping to wring a last bag-full of gold from her
|
|
wretched country." I deny emphatically that she was doing anything of
|
|
the sort. She was entering for a duly authorised competition under
|
|
the pen-name of Charlotte Patacake. The fact that the Countess
|
|
Belvane, according to the provisions of the scheme, was sole judge of
|
|
the competition, is beside the point. Belvane's opinion of Charlotte
|
|
Patacake's poetry was utterly sincere, and uninfluenced in any way by
|
|
monetary considerations. If Patacake were rewarded the first prize it
|
|
would be because Belvane honestly thought she was worth it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
One other fact by way of defence against Roger's slanders. As judge,
|
|
Belvane had chosen the subject of the prize poems. Now Belvane and
|
|
Patacake both excelled in the lighter forms of lyrical verse; yet the
|
|
subject of the poem was to be epic. "The Barodo-Euralian War"—no
|
|
less. How many modern writers would be as fair?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
"THE BARODO-EURALIAN WAR."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
This line is written in gold, and by itself would obtain a prize in
|
|
any local competition.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
<i>King Merriwig the First rode out to war</i><BR>
|
|
<i>As many other kings had done before!</i><BR>
|
|
<i>Five hundred men behind him marched to fight—</i><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There follows a good deal of scratching out, and then comes (a sudden
|
|
inspiration) this sublimely simple line:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
<i>Left-right, left-right, left-right, left-right, left-right.</i> <BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
One can almost hear the men moving.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
<i>What gladsome cheers assailed the balmy air—</i><BR>
|
|
<i>They came from north, from south, from everywhere!</i><BR>
|
|
<i>No wight that stood upon that sacred scene</i><BR>
|
|
<i>Could gaze upon the sight unmoved, I ween:</i><BR>
|
|
<i>No wight that stood upon that sacred spot</i><BR>
|
|
<i>Could gaze upon the sight unmoved, I wot:</i><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It is not quite clear whether the last couplet is an alternative to
|
|
the couplet before or is purposely added in order to strengthen it.
|
|
Looking over her left shoulder it seems to me that there is a line
|
|
drawn through the first one, but I cannot see very clearly because of
|
|
her hair, which will keep straying over the page.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
<i>Why do they march so fearless and so bold?</i><BR>
|
|
<i>The answer is not very quickly told.</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>To put it shortly, the Barodian king</i><BR>
|
|
<i>Insulted Merriwig like anything—</i><BR>
|
|
<i>King Merriwig, the dignified and wise,</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>Who saw him flying over with surprise,</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>As did his daughter, Princess Hyacinth.</i> <BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
This was as far as she had got.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She left the table and began to walk round her garden. There is
|
|
nothing like it for assisting thought. However, to-day it was not
|
|
helping much; she went three times round and still couldn't think of a
|
|
rhyme for Hyacinth. "Plinth" was a little difficult to work in;
|
|
"besides," she reminded herself, "I don't quite know what it means."
|
|
Belvane felt as I do about poetry: that however incomprehensible it
|
|
may be to the public, the author should be quite at ease with it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She added up the lines she had written already—seventeen. If she
|
|
stopped there, it would be the only epic that had stopped at the
|
|
seventeenth line.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She sighed, stretched her arms, and looked up at the sky. The weather
|
|
was all against her. It was the ideal largesse morning. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Twenty minutes later she was on her cream-white palfrey. Twenty-one
|
|
minutes later Henrietta Crossbuns had received a bag of gold neatly
|
|
under the eye, as she bobbed to her Ladyship. To this extent only did
|
|
H. Crossbuns leave her mark upon Euralian history; but it was a mark
|
|
which lasted for a full month.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth knew nothing of all this. She did not even know that Belvane
|
|
was entering for the prize poem. She had forgotten her promise to
|
|
encourage literature in the realm.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And why? Ah, ladies, can you not guess why? She was thinking of
|
|
Prince Udo of Araby. What did he look like? Was he dark or fair?
|
|
Did his hair curl naturally or not?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Was he wondering at all what <i>she</i> looked like?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs had already decided that he was to fall in love with her Royal
|
|
Highness and marry her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think," said Wiggs, "that he'll be very tall, and have lovely blue
|
|
eyes and golden hair."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
This is what they were like in all the books she had ever dusted; like
|
|
this were the seven Princes (now pursuing perilous adventures in
|
|
distant countries) to whom the King had promised Hyacinth's
|
|
hand—Prince Hanspatch of Tregong, Prince Ulric, the Duke of
|
|
Highanlow, and all the rest of them. Poor Prince Ulric! In the
|
|
moment of victory he was accidentally fallen upon by the giant whom he
|
|
was engaged in undermining, and lost all appetite for adventure
|
|
thereby. Indeed, in his latter years he was alarmed by anything
|
|
larger than a goldfish, and lived a life of strictest seclusion.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0186"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0186.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: Twenty-one minutes later Henrietta Crossbuns was acknowledging a bag of gold]">
|
|
<img src="images/0187.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: Twenty-one minutes later Henrietta Crossbuns was acknowledging a bag of gold]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>I</i> think he'll be dark," said Hyacinth. Her own hair was
|
|
corn-coloured.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Poor Prince Hanspatch of Tregong; I've just remembered about him—no,
|
|
I haven't, it was the Duke of Highanlow. Poor Duke of Highanlow! A
|
|
misunderstanding with a wizard having caused his head to face the
|
|
wrong way round, he was so often said good-bye to at the very moment
|
|
of arrival, that he gradually lost his enthusiasm for social
|
|
enterprises and confined himself to his own palace, where his
|
|
acrobatic dexterity in supplying himself with soup was a constant
|
|
source of admiration to his servants. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
However, it was Prince Udo of whom they were thinking now. The
|
|
Messenger had returned from Araby; his Royal Highness must be expected
|
|
on the morrow.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I do hope he'll be comfortable in the Purple Room," said Hyacinth.
|
|
"I wonder if it wouldn't have been better to have left him in the Blue
|
|
Room, after all."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They had had him in the Blue Room two days ago, until Hyacinth thought
|
|
that perhaps he would be more comfortable in the Purple Room, after
|
|
all.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The Purple Room has the best view," said Wiggs helpfully.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And it gets the sun. Wiggs, don't forget to put some flowers there.
|
|
And have you given him any books?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I gave him two," said Wiggs. "<i>Quests for Princes</i>, and <i>Wild
|
|
Animals at Home</i>."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, I'm sure he'll like those. Now let's think what we shall do when
|
|
he comes. He'll arrive some time in the afternoon. Naturally he will
|
|
want a little refreshment."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Would he like a picnic in the forest?" asked Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't think any one wants a picnic after a long journey."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I <i>love</i> picnics."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, dear; but, you see, Prince Udo's much older than you, and I
|
|
expect he's had so many picnics that he's tired of them. I suppose
|
|
really I ought to receive him in the Throne Room, but that's
|
|
so—so——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Stuffy," said Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That's just it. We should feel uncomfortable with each other the
|
|
whole time. I think I shall receive him up here; I never feel so
|
|
nervous in the open air."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Will the Countess be here?" asked Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No," said the Princess coldly. "At least," she corrected herself,
|
|
"she will not be invited. Good afternoon, Countess." It was like
|
|
her, thought Hyacinth, to arrive at that very moment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane curtsied low.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good afternoon, your Royal Highness. I am here purely on a matter of
|
|
business. I thought it my duty to inform your Royal Highness of the
|
|
result of the Literature prize." She spoke meekly, and as one who
|
|
forgave Hyacinth for her unkindness towards her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Certainly, Countess. I shall be glad to hear."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess unrolled a parchment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The prize has been won," she said, "by——" she held the parchment a
|
|
little closer to her eyes, "by Charlotte Patacake."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, yes. Who is she?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A most deserving woman, your Royal Highness. If she is the woman I'm
|
|
thinking of, a most deserving person, to whom the money will be more
|
|
than welcome. Her poem shows a sense of values combined
|
|
with—er—breadth, and—er—distance, such as I have seldom seen
|
|
equalled. The—er—technique is only excelled by the—shall I
|
|
say?—tempermentality, the boldness of the colouring, by the—how
|
|
shall I put it?—the firmness of the outline. In short——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"In short," said the Princess, "you like it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your Royal Highness, it is unique. But naturally you will wish to
|
|
hear it for yourself. It is only some twelve hundred lines long. I
|
|
will declaim it to your Royal Highness."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She held the manuscript out at the full length of her left arm, struck
|
|
an attitude with the right arm, and began in her most thrilling voice:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
"<i>King Merriwig the First rode out to war,</i><BR>
|
|
<i>As many other kings——</i>"<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, Countess, but another time. I am busy this afternoon. As you
|
|
know, I think, the Prince Udo of Araby arrives to-morrow, and——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane's lips were still moving, and her right arm swayed up and
|
|
down. "<i>What gladsome cheers assailed the balmy air!</i>" she murmured
|
|
to herself, and her hand when up to heaven. "<i>They come from north,
|
|
from south</i>" (she pointed in the directions mentioned), "<i>from
|
|
everywhere. No wight that stood——</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He will be received privately up here by myself in the first place,
|
|
and afterwards——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Could gaze upon the sight unmoved, I wot</i>," whispered Belvane, and
|
|
placed her hand upon her breast to show that anyhow it had been too
|
|
much for <i>her</i>. "<i>Why do they march so——</i> I beg your Royal
|
|
Highness's pardon. I was so carried away by this wonderful poem. I
|
|
do beg of your Royal Highness to read it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Princess waved the manuscript aside.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am not unmindful of the claims of literature, Countess, and I shall
|
|
certainly read the poem another time. Meanwhile I can, I hope, trust
|
|
you to see that the prize is awarded to the rightful winner. What I
|
|
am telling you now is that the Prince Udo is arriving to-morrow."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane looked innocently puzzled.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Prince Udo—Udo—would that be Prince Udo of Carroway, your Royal
|
|
Highness? A tall man with three legs?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Prince Udo of Araby," said Hyacinth severely. "I think I have
|
|
already mentioned him to your ladyship. He will make a stay of some
|
|
months."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But how <i>delightful</i>, your Royal Highness, to see a man again! We
|
|
were all getting so dull together! We want a man to wake us up a
|
|
little, don't we, Wiggs? I will go and give orders about his room at
|
|
once, your Royal Highness. You will wish him to be in the Purple
|
|
Room, of course?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
That settled it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He will be in the Blue Room," said Hyacinth decidedly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Certainly, your Royal Highness. Fancy, Wiggs, a man again! I will
|
|
go and see about it now, if I may have your Royal Highness's leave to
|
|
withdraw?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
A little mystified by Belvane's manner, Hyacinth inclined her head,
|
|
and the Countess withdrew.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap11"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0197X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Udo as an animal]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XI
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
WATERCRESS SEEMS TO GO WITH THE EARS
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs gave a parting pat to the tablecloth and stood looking at it
|
|
with her head on one side.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Now, then," she said, "have we got everything?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What about sardines?" said Woggs in her common way. (I don't know
|
|
what she's doing in this scene at all, but Roger Scurvilegs insists on
|
|
it.)
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't think a <i>Prince</i> would like <i>sardines</i>," said Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"If <i>I'd</i> been on a long journey, I'd <i>love</i> sardines. It <i>is</i> a very
|
|
long journey from Araby, isn't it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Awful long. Why, it's taken him nearly a week. Perhaps," she added
|
|
hopefully, "he's had something on the way."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Perhaps he took some sandwiches with him," said Woggs, thinking that
|
|
this would be a good thing to do.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What do you think he'll be like, Woggs?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Woggs though for a long time.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Like the King," she said. "Only different," she added, as an
|
|
afterthought.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Up came the Princess for the fifth time that afternoon, all
|
|
excitement.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," she said, "is everything ready?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, your Royal Highness. Except Woggs and me didn't quite know
|
|
about sardines."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Princess laughed happily.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think there will be enough there for him. It all looks very nice."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She turned round and discovered behind her the last person she wanted
|
|
to see just then.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The-last-person-she-wanted-to-see-just-then curtsied effectively.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Forgive me, your Royal Highness," she said profusely, "but I thought
|
|
I had left Charlotte Patacake's priceless manuscript up here. No;
|
|
evidently I was mistaken, your Royal Highness. I will withdraw, your
|
|
Royal Highness, as I know your Royal Highness would naturally wish to
|
|
receive his Royal Highness alone."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Listening to this speech one is impressed with Woggs' method of
|
|
calling everybody "Mum."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not at all, Countess," said Hyacinth coldly. "We would prefer you to
|
|
stay and help us receive his Royal Highness. He is a little late, I
|
|
think."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane looked unspeakably distressed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, I do <i>hope</i> that nothing has happened to him on the way," she
|
|
exclaimed. "I've an uneasy feeling that something may have occurred."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0200"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0200.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Princess Hyacinth gave a shriek and faltered slowly backwards, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0201.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Princess Hyacinth gave a shriek and faltered slowly backwards, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What could have happened to him?" asked Hyacinth, not apparently very
|
|
much alarmed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, your Royal Highness, it's just a sort of silly feeling of mine.
|
|
There may be nothing in it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was a noise of footsteps from below; a man's voice was heard.
|
|
The Princess and the Countess, both extremely nervous, but from
|
|
entirely different reasons, arranged suitable smiles of greeting upon
|
|
their faces; Wiggs and Woggs stood in attitudes of appropriate
|
|
meekness by the table. The Court Painter could have made a beautiful
|
|
picture of it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"His Royal Highness Prince Udo of Araby," announced the voice of an
|
|
attendant.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A nervous moment," said Belvane to herself. "Can the ring have
|
|
failed to act?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo trotted in.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It hasn't," said Belvane.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Princess Hyacinth gave a shriek, and faltered slowly backwards; Wiggs,
|
|
who was familiar with these little accidents in the books which she
|
|
dusted, and Woggs, who had a natural love for any kind of animal,
|
|
stood their ground.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Whatever is it?" murmured Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was as well that Belvane was there.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Allow me to present to your Royal Highness," she said, stepping
|
|
forward, "his Royal Highness Prince Udo of Araby."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Prince <i>Udo?</i>" said Hyacinth, all unwilling to believe it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm afraid so," said Udo gloomily. He had thought over this meeting
|
|
a good deal in the last two or three days, and he realised now that he
|
|
had underestimated the difficulties of it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth remembered that she was a Princess and a woman.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm delighted to welcome your Royal Highness to Euralia," she said.
|
|
"Won't you sit down—I mean up—er, down." (How <i>did</i> rabbits sit?
|
|
Or whatever he was?)
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo decided to sit up.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Thank you. You've no idea how difficult it is to talk on four legs
|
|
to somebody higher up. It strains the neck so."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was an awkward silence. Nobody quite knew what to say.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Except Belvane.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She turned to Udo with her most charming smile. "Did you have a
|
|
pleasant journey?" she asked sweetly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No," said Udo coldly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, do tell us what happened to you?" cried Hyacinth. "Did you meet
|
|
some terrible enchanter on the way? Oh, I am so dreadfully sorry."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
When one is not feeling very well there is a certain type of question
|
|
which is always annoying.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Can't you <i>see</i> what's happened to me?" said Udo crossly. "I don't
|
|
know <i>how</i> it happened. I had come two days' journey from Araby,
|
|
when——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Please, your Royal Highness," said Wiggs, "is this <i>your</i> tail in the
|
|
salt?" She took it out, gave it a shake, and handed it back to him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, thank you, thank you—two days' journey from Araby when I woke up
|
|
one afternoon and found myself like this. I ask you to imagine my
|
|
annoyance. My first thought naturally was to return home and hide
|
|
myself; but I told myself, Princess, that <i>you</i> wanted me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Princess could not help being touched by this, said as it was with
|
|
a graceful movement of the ears and a caressing of the right whisker,
|
|
but she wondered a little what she would do with him now that she had
|
|
got him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Er—what <i>are</i> you?" put in Belvane kindly, knowing how men are
|
|
always glad to talk about themselves.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo had caught sight of a well-covered table, and was looking at it
|
|
with a curious mixture of hope and resignation.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Very, very hungry," he said, speaking with the air of one who knows.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Princess, whose mind had been travelling, woke up suddenly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, I was forgetting my manners," she said with a smile for which the
|
|
greediest would have forgiven her. "Let us sit down and refresh
|
|
ourselves. May I present to your Royal Highness the Countess
|
|
Belvane."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Do I shake hands or pat him?" murmured that mistress of Court
|
|
etiquette, for once at a loss.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo placed a paw over his heart and bowed profoundly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Charmed," he said gallantly, and coming from a cross between a lion,
|
|
a rabbit, and a woolly lamb the merest suggestion of gallantry has a
|
|
most pleasing effect.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They grouped themselves round the repast.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A little sherbet, your Royal Highness?" said Hyacinth, who presided
|
|
over the bowl.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo was evidently longing to say yes, but hesitated.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I wonder if I dare."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's very good sherbet," said Wiggs, to encourage him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm sure it is, my dear. But the question is, Do I like sherbet?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You can't help knowing if you like <i>sherbet</i>."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Don't bother him, Wiggs," said Hyacinth, "a venison sandwich, dear
|
|
Prince?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The question is, Do I like venison sandwiches?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>I</i> do," announced Woggs to any one who was interested.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You see," explained Udo, "I really don't know <i>what</i> I like."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They were all surprised at this, particularly Woggs. Belvane, who was
|
|
enjoying herself too much to wish to do anything but listen, said
|
|
nothing, and it was the Princess who obliged Udo by asking him what he
|
|
meant. It was a subject upon which he was longing to let himself go
|
|
to somebody.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," he said, expanding himself a little, so that Wiggs had to
|
|
remove his tail this time from the custard, "what am I?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Nobody ventured to offer an opinion.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Am I a hare? Then put me next to the red currant jelly, or whatever
|
|
it is that hares like."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The anxious eye of the hostess wandered over the table.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Am I a lion?" went on Udo, developing his theme. "Then pass me
|
|
Wiggs."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, please don't be a lion," said Wiggs gently, as she stroked his
|
|
mane.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But haven't you a feeling for anything?" asked Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have a great feeling of emptiness. I yearn for <i>something</i>, only I
|
|
don't quite know what."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I hope it isn't sardines," whispered Wiggs to Woggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But what have you been eating on the way?" asked the Princess.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, grass and things chiefly. I thought I should be safe with
|
|
grass."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And were you—er—safe?" asked Belvane, with a great show of anxiety.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo coughed and said nothing.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I know it's silly of me," said Hyacinth, "but I still don't quite
|
|
understand. I should have thought that if you were a—a——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Quite so," said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"—then you would have known by instinct what a—a——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Exactly," said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Likes to eat."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, I thought you'd think that. That's just what I thought when
|
|
this—when I began to feel unwell. But I've worked it out since, and
|
|
it's all wrong."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"This <i>is</i> interesting," said Belvane, settling herself more
|
|
comfortably. "<i>Do</i> go on."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, when——" He coughed and looked round at them coyly. "This is
|
|
really rather a delicate subject."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not at all," murmured Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, it's like this. When an enchanter wants to annoy you he
|
|
generally turns you into an animal of some kind."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane achieved her first blush since she was seventeen.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It <i>is</i> a humorous way they have," she said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But suppose you really were an animal altogether, it wouldn't annoy
|
|
you at all. An elephant isn't annoyed at being an elephant; he just
|
|
tries to be a good elephant, and he'd be miserable if he couldn't do
|
|
things with his trunk. The annoying thing is to look like an elephant,
|
|
to have the very complicated—er—inside of an elephant, and yet all
|
|
the time really to be a man."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They were all intensely interested. Woggs thought that it was going
|
|
to lead up to a revelation of what sort of animal Prince Udo really
|
|
was, but in this she was destined to be disappointed. After all there
|
|
were advantages in Udo's present position. As a man he had never been
|
|
listened to so attentively.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Now suppose for a moment I am a lion. I have the—er—delicate
|
|
apparatus of a lion, but the beautiful thoughts and aspirations of a
|
|
Prince. Thus there is one—er—side of me which craves for raw beef,
|
|
but none the less there is a higher side of me" (he brought his paw up
|
|
towards his heart), "which—well, you know how <i>you'd</i> feel about it
|
|
yourself."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Princess shuddered.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I <i>should</i>," she said, with conviction.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane was interested, but thought it all a little crude.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You see the point," went on Udo. "A baby left to itself doesn't know
|
|
what is good for it. Left to itself it would eat anything. Now turn
|
|
a man suddenly into an animal and he is in exactly the same state as
|
|
that baby."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I hadn't thought of it like that," said Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I've <i>had</i> to think of it! Now let us proceed further with the
|
|
matter." Udo was thoroughly enjoying himself. He had not had such a
|
|
time since he had given an address on Beetles to all the leading
|
|
citizens of Araby at his coming-of-age. "Suppose again that I am a
|
|
lion. I know from what I have read or seen that raw meat agrees best
|
|
with the lion's—er—organisation, and however objectionable it might
|
|
look I should be foolish not to turn to it for sustenance. But if you
|
|
don't quite know what animal you're supposed to be, see how difficult
|
|
the problem becomes. It's a question of trying all sorts of horrible
|
|
things in order to find out what agrees with you." His eyes took on a
|
|
faraway look, a look in which the most poignant memories seem to be
|
|
reflected. "I've been experimenting," he said, "for the last three
|
|
days."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They all gazed sadly and sympathetically at him. Except Belvane. She
|
|
of course wouldn't.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What went best?" she asked brightly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oddly enough," said Udo, cheering up a little, "banana fritters.
|
|
Have you ever kept any animal who lived entirely on banana fritters?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Never," smiled the Princess.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, that's the animal I probably am." He sighed and added, "There
|
|
were one or two animals I wasn't." For a little while he seemed to be
|
|
revolving bitter memories, and then went on, "I don't suppose any of
|
|
you here have any idea how very prickly thistles are when they are
|
|
going down. Er—may I try a watercress sandwich? It doesn't suit the
|
|
tail, but it seems to go with the ears." He took a large bite and
|
|
added through the leaves, "I hope I don't bore you, Princess, with my
|
|
little troubles."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth clasped his paw impulsively.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear Prince Udo, I'm only longing to help. We must think of some
|
|
way of getting this horrible enchantment off you. There are so many
|
|
wise books in the library, and my father has composed a spell
|
|
which—oh, I'm sure we shall soon have you all right again."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo took another sandwich.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Very good of you, Princess, to say so. You understand how annoying a
|
|
little indisposition of this kind is to a man of my temperament." He
|
|
beckoned to Wiggs. "How do you make these?" he asked in an undertone.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Gracefully undulating, Belvane rose from her seat.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," she said, "I must go and see that the stable——" she broke
|
|
off in a pretty confusion—"How <i>silly</i> of me, I mean the Royal
|
|
Apartment is prepared. Have I your Royal Highness's leave to
|
|
withdraw?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She had.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And, Wiggs, dear, you too had better run along and see if you can
|
|
help. You may leave the watercress sandwiches," she added, as Wiggs
|
|
hesitated for a moment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
With a grateful look at her Royal Highness Udo helped himself to
|
|
another one.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap12"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0217X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of a child with a very large boot]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XII
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
WE DECIDE TO WRITE TO UDO'S FATHER
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Now, my dear Princess," said Udo, as soon as they were alone. "Let
|
|
me know in what way I can help you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Prince Udo," said Hyacinth earnestly, "it <i>is</i> so good of you to
|
|
have come. I feel that this—this little accident is really my fault
|
|
for having asked you here."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not at all, dear lady. It is the sort of little accident that might
|
|
have happened to anybody, anywhere. If I can still be of assistance
|
|
to you, pray inform me. Though my physical powers may not for the
|
|
moment be quite what they were, I flatter myself that my mental
|
|
capabilities are in no way diminished." He took another bite of his
|
|
sandwich and wagged his head wisely at her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Let's come over here," said Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She moved across to an old stone seat in the wall, Udo following with
|
|
the plate, and made room for him by her side. There is, of course, a
|
|
way of indicating to a gentleman that he may sit next to you on the
|
|
Chesterfield, and tell you what he has been doing in town lately, and
|
|
there is also another way of patting the sofa for Fido to jump up and
|
|
be-a-good-dog-and-lie-down-sir. Hyacinth achieved something very
|
|
tactful in between, and Udo jumped up gracefully.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Now we can talk," said Hyacinth. "You noticed that lady, the
|
|
Countess Belvane, whom I presented to you?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo nodded.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What did you think of her?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo was old enough to know what to say to that.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I hardly looked at her," he said. And he added with a deep bow,
|
|
"Naturally when your Royal Highness—oh, I beg your pardon, are my
|
|
ears in your way?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's all right," said Hyacinth, rearranging her hair. "Well, it was
|
|
because of that woman that I sent for you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But I can't marry her like this, your Royal Highness."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth turned a startled face towards him. Udo perceived that he
|
|
had blundered. To hide his confusion he took another sandwich and ate
|
|
it very quickly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I want your help against her," said Hyacinth, a little distantly;
|
|
"she is plotting against me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, your Royal Highness, now I see," said Udo, and he wagged his head
|
|
as much as to say, "You've come to the right man this time."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0220"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0220.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: "Now we can talk," said Hyacinth, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0221.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: "Now we can talk," said Hyacinth, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't trust her," said Hyacinth impressively.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, now, Princess, I'm not surprised. I'll tell you something
|
|
about that woman."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, what?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, when I was announced just now, what happened? You, yourself,
|
|
Princess, were not unnaturally a little alarmed; those two little
|
|
girls were surprised and excited; but what of this Countess Belvane?
|
|
What did <i>she</i> do?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What <i>did</i> she do?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Nothing," said Udo impressively. "She was neither surprised nor
|
|
alarmed."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why, now I come to think of it, I don't believe she was."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And yet," said Udo half pathetically, half proudly, "Princes don't
|
|
generally look like this. Now, why wasn't she surprised?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth looked bewildered.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Did she know you were sending for me?" Udo went on.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Because you had found out something about her?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then depend upon it, <i>she's</i> done it. <i>What</i> a mind that woman must
|
|
have!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But how could she do it?" exclaimed Hyacinth. "Of course it's just
|
|
the sort of thing she <i>would</i> do if she could."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo didn't answer. He was feeling rather annoyed with Belvane, and
|
|
had got off his seat and was trotting up and down so as not to show
|
|
his feelings before a lady.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How <i>could</i> she do it?" implored Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, she's in with some enchanter or somebody," said Udo impatiently
|
|
as he trotted past.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Suddenly he had an idea. He stopped in front of her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"If only I were <i>sure</i> I was a lion."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He tried to roar, exclaimed hastily that it was only a practice one,
|
|
and roared again. "No, I don't think I'm a lion after all," he
|
|
admitted sadly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," said Hyacinth, "we must think of a plan."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"We must think of a plan," said Udo, and he came and sat meekly beside
|
|
her again. He could conceal it from himself no longer that he was not
|
|
a lion. The fact depressed him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I suppose I have been weak," went on Hyacinth, "but ever since the
|
|
men went away she has been the ruling spirit of the country. I think
|
|
she is plotting against me; I <i>know</i> she is robbing me. I asked you
|
|
here so that you could help me to find her out."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo nodded his head importantly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"We must watch her," he announced.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"We must watch her," agreed Hyacinth. "It may take months——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Did you say months?" said Udo, turning to her excitedly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, why?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, it's——" he gave a deprecating little cough. "I know it's
|
|
very silly of me but—oh, well, let's hope it will be all right."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why, whatever is the matter?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo was decidedly embarrassed. He wriggled. He drew little circles
|
|
with his hind paw on the ground and he shot little coy glances at her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, I"—and he gave a little nervous giggle—"I have a sort of
|
|
uneasy feeling that I may be one of those animals"—he gave another
|
|
conscious little laugh—"that have to go to sleep all through the
|
|
winter. It would be very annoying—if I"—his paw became very busy
|
|
here—"if I had to dig a little hole in the ground, just when the plot
|
|
was thickening."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, but you won't," said Hyacinth, in distress.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They were both silent for a moment, thinking of the awful
|
|
possibilities. Udo's tail had fallen across Hyacinth's lap, and she
|
|
began to play with it absently.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Anyway," she said hopefully, "it's only July now."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ye—es," said Udo. "I suppose I should get—er—busy about November.
|
|
We ought to find out something before then. First of all we'd
|
|
better—— Oh!" He started up in dismay. "I've just had a
|
|
<i>horrible</i> thought. Don't I have to collect a little store of nuts
|
|
and things?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Surely——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I should have to start that pretty soon," said Udo thoughtfully.
|
|
"You know, I shouldn't be very handy at it. Climbing about after
|
|
nuts," he went on dreamily, "what a life for a——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, don't!" pleaded Hyacinth. "Surely only squirrels do that?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes—yes. Now, if I were a squirrel. I should—may I have my tail
|
|
for a moment?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Hyacinth, very much confused as she realised
|
|
the liberty she had been taking, and she handed his tail back to him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not at all," said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He took it firmly in his right hand. "Now then," he said, "we shall
|
|
see. Watch this."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Sitting on his back legs he arched his tail over his head, and letting
|
|
go of it suddenly, began to nibble at a sandwich held in his two front
|
|
paws. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
A pretty picture for an artist.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But a bad model. The tail fell with a thud to the ground.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There!" said Udo triumphantly. "That proves it. I'm <i>not</i> a
|
|
squirrel."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, I'm so glad," said Hyacinth, completely convinced, as any one
|
|
would have been, by this demonstration.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, well, that's all right then. Now we can make our plans. First
|
|
of all we'd better——" He stopped suddenly, and Hyacinth saw that he
|
|
was gazing at his tail.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes?" she said encouragingly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He picked up his tail and held it out in front of him. There was a
|
|
large knot in the middle of it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Now, <i>what</i> have I forgotten?" he said, rubbing his head
|
|
thoughtfully.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Poor Hyacinth!
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, dear Prince Udo, I'm so sorry. I'm afraid I did that without
|
|
thinking."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo, the gallant gentleman, was not found wanting.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A lover's knot," he said, with a graceful incli—no, he stopped in
|
|
time. But really, those ears of his made ordinary politeness quite
|
|
impossible.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Udo," said Hyacinth impulsively, "if only I could help you to get
|
|
back to your proper form again."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, if only," said Udo, becoming practical again; "but how are we
|
|
going to do it? Just one more watercress sandwich," he said
|
|
apologetically; "they go with the ears so well."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I shall threaten the Countess," said Hyacinth excitedly. "I shall
|
|
tell her that unless she makes the enchanter restore you to your
|
|
proper form, I shall put her in prison."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo was not listening. He had gone off into his own thoughts.
|
|
"Banana fritters <i>and</i> watercress sandwiches," he was murmuring to
|
|
himself. "I suppose I must be the only animal of the kind in the
|
|
world."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," went on Hyacinth, half to herself, "she might get the
|
|
people on her side, the ones that she's bribed. And if she did——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That's all right, that's all right," said Udo grandly. "Leave her to
|
|
me. There's something about your watercress that inspires me to do
|
|
terrible deeds. I feel a new—whatever I am."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
One gathers reluctantly from this speech that Udo had partaken too
|
|
freely.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," said Hyacinth, "I could write to my father, who might
|
|
send some of his men back, but I shouldn't like to do that. I
|
|
shouldn't like him to think that I had failed him."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Extraordinary how I take to these things," said Udo, allowing himself
|
|
a little more room on the seat. "Perhaps I am a rabbit after all. I
|
|
wonder what I should look like behind wire netting." He took another
|
|
bite and went on, "I wonder what I should do if I saw a ferret. I
|
|
suppose you haven't got a ferret on you, Princess?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I beg your pardon, Prince? I'm afraid I was thinking of something
|
|
else. What did you say?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Nothing, nothing. One's thoughts run on." He put his hand out for
|
|
the plate, and discovered that it was empty. He settled himself more
|
|
comfortably, and seemed to be about to sink into slumber when his
|
|
attention was attracted suddenly by the knot in his tail. He picked
|
|
it up and began lazily to undo it. "I wish I could lash my tail," he
|
|
murmured; "mine seems to be one of the tails that don't lash." He
|
|
began very gingerly to feel the tip of it. "I wonder if I've got a
|
|
sting anywhere." He closed his eyes, muttering, "Sting Countess neck,
|
|
sting all over neck, sting lots stings," and fell peacefully asleep.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was a disgraceful exhibition. Roger Scurvilegs tries to slur it
|
|
over; talks about the great heat of the sun, and the notorious effect
|
|
of even one or two watercress sandwiches on an empty—on a man who has
|
|
had nothing to eat for several days. This is to palter with the
|
|
facts. The effect of watercress sandwiches upon Udo's arrangements
|
|
(however furnished) we have all just seen for ourselves; but what
|
|
Roger neglects to lay stress upon is the fact that it was the effect
|
|
of twenty-one or twenty-two watercress sandwiches. There is no
|
|
denying that it was a disgraceful exhibition. If I had been there, I
|
|
should certainly have written to his father about it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth looked at him uneasily. Her first feeling was one of
|
|
sympathy. "Poor fellow," she thought, "he's had a hard time lately."
|
|
But it is a strain on the sympathy to gaze too long on a mixture of
|
|
lion, rabbit, and woolly lamb, particularly when the rabbit part has
|
|
its mouth open and is snoring gently.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Besides, what could she do with him? She had two of them on her hands
|
|
now: the Countess and the Prince. Belvane was in an even better
|
|
position than before. She could now employ Udo to help her in her
|
|
plots against the Princess. "Grant to me so and so, or I'll keep the
|
|
enchantment for ever on his Royal Highness." And what could a poor
|
|
girl do?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Well, she would have to come to some decision in the future.
|
|
Meanwhile the difficulties of the moment were enough. The most
|
|
obvious difficulty was his bedroom. Was it quite the sort of room he
|
|
wanted now? Hyacinth realised suddenly that to be hostess to such a
|
|
collection of animals as Udo was would require all the tact she
|
|
possessed. Perhaps he would tell her what he wanted when he woke up.
|
|
Better let him sleep peacefully now.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She looked at him, smiled in spite of herself, and went quickly down
|
|
into the Palace.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap13"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0235X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Belvane with castle in the background]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XIII
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
"PINK" RHYMES WITH "THINK"
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo awoke, slightly refreshed, and decided to take a firm line with
|
|
the Countess at once. He had no difficulty about finding his way down
|
|
to her. The Palace seemed to be full of servants, all apparently busy
|
|
about something which brought them for a moment in sight of the newly
|
|
arrived Prince, and then whisked them off, hand to mouth and shoulders
|
|
shaking. By one of these, with more control over her countenance than
|
|
the others, an annoyed Udo was led into Belvane's garden.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She was walking up and down the flagged walk between her lavender
|
|
hedges, and as he came in she stopped and rested her elbows on her
|
|
sundial, and looked mockingly at him, waiting for him to speak.
|
|
"Between the showers I mark the hours," said the sundial (on the
|
|
suggestion of Belvane one wet afternoon), but for the moment the
|
|
Countess was in the way.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, here we are," said Udo in rather a nasty voice.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Here we are," said Belvane sweetly. "All of us."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Suddenly she began to laugh.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Prince Udo," she said, "you'll be the death of me. Count me as
|
|
one more of your victims."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It is easy to be angry with any one who will laugh at you all the
|
|
time, but difficult to be effective; particularly when—but we need
|
|
not dwell upon Udo's handicap again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't see anything to laugh at," he said stiffly. "To intelligent
|
|
people the outside appearance is not everything."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But it can be very funny, can't it?" said Belvane coaxingly. "I
|
|
wished for something humorous to happen to you, but I never
|
|
thought——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah," said Udo, "now we've got it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He spoke with an air of a clever cross-examiner who has skilfully
|
|
extracted an admission from a reluctant witness. This sort of tone
|
|
goes best with one of those keen legal faces; perhaps that is why
|
|
Belvane laughed again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You practically confess that you did it," went on Udo magnificently.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Did what?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Turned me into a—a——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A rabbit?" said Belvane innocently.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
A foolish observation like this always pained Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What makes you think I'm a rabbit?" he asked.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't mind what you are, but you'll never dare show yourself in the
|
|
country like this."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Be careful, woman; don't drive me too far. Beware lest you rouse the
|
|
lion in me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Where?" asked Belvane, with a child-like air.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
With a gesture full of dignity and good breeding Udo called attention
|
|
to his tail.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That," said the Countess, "is not the part of the lion that I'm
|
|
afraid of."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
For the moment Udo was nonplussed, but he soon recovered himself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Even supposing—just for the sake of argument—that I am a rabbit, I
|
|
still have something up my sleeve; I'll come and eat your young
|
|
carnations."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane adored her garden, but she was sustained by the thought that
|
|
it was only July just now. She pointed this out to him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It needn't necessarily be carnations," he warned her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't want to put my opinion against one who has (forgive me)
|
|
inside knowledge on the subject, but I think I have nothing in my
|
|
garden at this moment that would agree with a rabbit."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't mind if it <i>doesn't</i> agree with me," said Udo heroically.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
This was more serious. Her dear garden in which she composed, ruined
|
|
by the mastications—machinations—what was the word?—of an enemy!
|
|
The thought was unbearable.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You aren't a rabbit," she said hastily; "you aren't really a rabbit.
|
|
Because—because you don't <i>woffle</i> your nose properly."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I could," said Udo simply. "I'm just keeping it back, that's all."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Show me how," cried Belvane, clasping her hands eagerly together.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was not what he had come into the garden for, and it accorded ill
|
|
with the dignity of the Royal House of Araby, but somehow one got led
|
|
on by this wicked woman.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Like this," said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Countess looked at him critically with her head on one side.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No," she said, "that's quite wrong."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Naturally I'm a little out of practice."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm sorry," said Belvane. "I'm afraid I can't pass you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo couldn't think what had happened to the conversation. With a
|
|
great effort he extracted himself from it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Enough of this, Countess," he said sternly. "I have your admission
|
|
that it was you who put this enchantment on me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It was I. I wasn't going to have you here interfering with my
|
|
plans."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your plans to rob the Princess."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane felt that it was useless to explain the principles of
|
|
largesse-throwing to Udo. There will always be men like Udo and Roger
|
|
Scurvilegs who take these narrow matter-of-fact views. One merely
|
|
wastes time in arguing with them.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My plans," she repeated.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Very well. I shall go straight to the Princess, and she will unmask
|
|
you before the people."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane smiled happily. One does not often get such a chance.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And who," she asked sweetly, "will unmask your Royal Highness before
|
|
the people, so that they may see the true Prince Udo underneath?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What do you mean?" said Udo, though he was beginning to guess.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That noble handsome countenance which is so justly the pride of
|
|
Araby—how shall we show that to the people? They'll form such a
|
|
mistaken idea of it if they all see you like this, won't they?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo was quite sure now that he understood. Hyacinth had understood at
|
|
the very beginning.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0242"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0242.jpg" alt="[Illustration: He forgot his manners, and made a jump towards her]">
|
|
<a name="img0243"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0243.jpg" alt="[Illustration: She glided gracefully behind the sundial in a pretty affectation of alarm]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You mean that if the Princess Hyacinth falls in with your plans, you
|
|
will restore me to my proper form, but that otherwise you will leave
|
|
me like this?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"One's actions are very much misunderstood," sighed Belvane. "I've no
|
|
doubt that that is how it will appear to future historians."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
(To Roger, certainly.)
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was too much for Udo. He forgot his manners and made a jump
|
|
towards her. She glided gracefully behind the sundial in a pretty
|
|
affectation of alarm . . . and the next moment Udo decided that the
|
|
contest between them was not to be settled by such rough-and-tumble
|
|
methods as these. The fact that his tail had caught in something
|
|
helped him to decide.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane was up to him in an instant.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There, there!" she said soothingly, "Let <i>me</i> undo it for your Royal
|
|
Highness." She talked pleasantly as she worked at it. "Every little
|
|
accident teaches us something. Now if you'd been a rabbit this
|
|
wouldn't have happened."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No, I'm not even a rabbit," said Udo sadly. "I'm just nothing."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane stood up and made him a deep curtsey.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You are his Royal Highness Prince Udo of Araby. Your Royal
|
|
Highness's straw is prepared. When will your Royal Highness be
|
|
pleased to retire?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was a little unkind, I think. I should not record it of her were
|
|
not Roger so insistent.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Now," said Udo, and lolloped sadly off. It was his one really
|
|
dignified moment in Euralia.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
On his way to his apartment he met Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Wiggs," he said solemnly, "if ever you can do anything to annoy that
|
|
woman, such as making her an apple-pie bed, or <i>anything</i> like that, I
|
|
wish you'd do it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Whereupon he retired for the night. Into the mysteries of his toilet
|
|
we had perhaps better not inquire.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
As the chronicler of these simple happenings many years ago, it is my
|
|
duty to be impartial. "These are the facts," I should say, "and it is
|
|
for your nobilities to judge of them. Thus and thus my characters
|
|
have acted; how say you, my lords and ladies?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I confess that this attitude is beyond me; I have a fondness for all
|
|
my people, and I would not have you misunderstand any of them. But
|
|
with regard to one of them there is no need for me to say anything in
|
|
her defence. About her at any rate we agree.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I mean Wiggs. We take the same view as Hyacinth: she was the best
|
|
little girl in Euralia. It will come then as a shock to you (as it
|
|
did to me on the morning after I had staggered home with Roger's
|
|
seventeen volumes) to learn that on her day Wiggs could be as bad as
|
|
anybody. I mean really bad. To tear your frock, to read books which
|
|
you ought to be dusting, these are accidents which may happen to
|
|
anybody. Far otherwise was Wiggs's fall.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She adopted, in fact, the infamous suggestion of Prince Udo. Three
|
|
nights later, with malice aforethought and to the comfort of the
|
|
King's enemies and the prejudice of the safety of the realm, she made
|
|
an apple-pie bed for the Countess.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was the most perfect apple-pie bed ever made. Cox himself could
|
|
not have improved upon it; Newton has seen nothing like it. It took
|
|
Wiggs a whole morning; and the results, though private (that is the
|
|
worst of an apple-pie bed), were beyond expectation. After wrestling
|
|
for half an hour the Countess spent the night in a garden hammock,
|
|
composing a bitter Ode to Melancholy.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Of course Wiggs caught it in the morning; the Countess suspected what
|
|
she could not prove. Wiggs, now in for a thoroughly bad week,
|
|
realised that it was her turn again. What should she do?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
An inspiration came to her. She had been really bad the day before;
|
|
it was a pity to waste such perfect badness as that. Why not have the
|
|
one bad wish to which the ring entitled her?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She drew the ring out from its hiding-place round her neck.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I wish," she said, holding it up, "I wish that the Countess
|
|
Belvane——" she stopped to think of something that would really annoy
|
|
her—"I wish that the Countess shall never be able to write another
|
|
rhyme again."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She held her breath, expecting a thunderclap or some other outward
|
|
token of the sudden death of Belvane's muse. Instead she was struck by
|
|
the extraordinary silence of the place. She had a horrid feeling that
|
|
everybody else was dead, and realising all at once that she was a very
|
|
wicked little girl, she ran up to her room and gave herself up to
|
|
tears.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
MAY YOU, DEAR SIR OR MADAM, REPENT AS QUICKLY!
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
However, this is not a moral work. An hour later Wiggs came into
|
|
Belvane's garden, eager to discover in what way her inability to rhyme
|
|
would manifest itself. It seemed that she had chosen the exact
|
|
moment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
In the throes of composition Belvane had quite forgotten the apple-pie
|
|
bed, so absorbing is our profession. She welcomed Wiggs eagerly, and
|
|
taking her hand led her towards the roses.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have just been talking to my dear roses," she said. "Listen:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
<i>Whene'er I take my walks about,</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>I like to see the roses out;</i><BR>
|
|
<i>I like them yellow, white, and pink,</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>But crimson are the best, I think.</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>The butterfly——</i>"<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But we shall never know about the butterfly. It may be that Wiggs has
|
|
lost us here a thought on lepidoptera which the world can ill spare;
|
|
for she interrupted breathlessly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"When did you write that?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I was just making it up when you came in, dear child. These thoughts
|
|
often come to me as I walk up and down my beautiful garden. '<i>The
|
|
butterfly——</i>'"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But Wiggs had let go her hand and was running back to the Palace. She
|
|
wanted to be alone to think this out.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
What had happened? That it was truly a magic ring, as the fairy had
|
|
told her, she had no doubt; that her wish was a bad one, that she had
|
|
been bad enough to earn it, she was equally certain. What then had
|
|
happened? There was only one answer to her question. The bad wish
|
|
had been granted to someone else.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
To whom? She had lent the ring to nobody. True, she had told the
|
|
Princess all about it, but——
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Suddenly she remembered. The Countess had had it in her hands for a
|
|
moment. Yes, and she had sent her out of the room, and—
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So many thoughts crowded into Wiggs's mind at this moment that she
|
|
felt she must share them with somebody. She ran off to find the
|
|
Princess.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<img src="images/0253X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Wiggs curtsying]">
|
|
<A NAME="chap14"></A>
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XIV
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
"WHY CAN'T YOU BE LIKE WIGGS?"
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth was with Udo in the library. Udo spent much of his time in
|
|
the library nowadays; for surely in one of those many books was to be
|
|
found some Advice to a Gentleman in Temporary Difficulties suitable to
|
|
a case like his. Hyacinth kept him company sadly. It had been such a
|
|
brilliant idea inviting him to Euralia; how she wished now that she
|
|
had never done it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, Wiggs," she said, with a gentle smile, "what have you been
|
|
doing with yourself all the morning?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo looked up from his mat and nodded to her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I've found out," said Wiggs excitedly; "it was the <i>Countess</i> who did
|
|
it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo surveyed her with amazement.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The Princess Hyacinth," he said, "has golden hair. One discovers
|
|
these things gradually." And he returned to his book.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs looked bewildered.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He means, dear," said Hyacinth, "that it is quite obvious that the
|
|
Countess did it, and we have known about it for days."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo wore, as far as his face would permit, the slightly puffy
|
|
expression of one who has just said something profoundly ironical and
|
|
is feeling self-conscious about it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh—h," said Wiggs in such a disappointed voice that it seemed as if
|
|
she were going to cry.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth, like the dear that she was, made haste to comfort her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"We didn't really <i>know</i>," she said; "we only guessed it. But now
|
|
that you have found out, I shall be able to punish her properly. No,
|
|
don't come with me," she said, as she rose and moved towards the door;
|
|
"stay here and help his Royal Highness. Perhaps you can find the book
|
|
that he wants; you've read more of them than I have, I expect."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Left alone with the Prince, Wiggs was silent for a little, looking at
|
|
him rather anxiously.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Do you know <i>all</i> about the Countess?" she asked at last.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"If there's anything I don't know, it must be <i>very</i> bad."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then you know that it's all my fault that you are like this? Oh,
|
|
dear Prince Udo, I am so dreadfully sorry."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What do you mean—<i>your</i> fault?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Because it was my ring that did it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo scratched his head in a slightly puzzled but quite a nice way.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Tell me all about it from the beginning," he said. "You have found
|
|
out something after all, I believe."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So Wiggs told her story from the beginning. How the fairy had given
|
|
her a ring; how the Countess had taken it from her for five minutes
|
|
and had a bad wish on it; and how Wiggs had found her out that very
|
|
morning.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo was intensely excited by the story. He trotted up and down the
|
|
library, muttering to himself. He stopped in front of Wiggs as soon
|
|
as she had finished.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Is the ring still going?" he asked. "I mean, can you have another
|
|
wish on it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, just one."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then wish her to be turned into a——" He tried to think of
|
|
something that would meet the case. "What about a spider?" he said
|
|
thoughtfully.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But that's a <i>bad</i> wish," said Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, but it's <i>her</i> turn."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, but I'm only allowed a good wish now." She added rapturously,
|
|
"And I know what it's going to be."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So did Udo. At least he thought he did.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, you dear," he said, casting an affectionate look on her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, that's it. That I might be able to dance like a fairy."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo could hardly believe his ears, and they were adequate enough for
|
|
most emergencies.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But how is that going to help <i>me?</i>" he said, tapping his chest with
|
|
his paw.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But it's <i>my</i> ring," said Wiggs. "And so of course I'm going to wish
|
|
that I can dance like a fairy. I've always meant to, as soon as I've
|
|
been good for a day first."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The child was absurdly selfish. Udo saw that he would have to appeal
|
|
to her in another way.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," he began, "I've nothing to say against dancing <i>as</i>
|
|
dancing, but I think you'll get tired of it. Just as I shall get
|
|
tired of—lettuce."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs understood now.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You mean that I might wish you to be a Prince again?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," said Udo casually, "it just occurred to me as an example of
|
|
what might be called the Good Wish."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then I shall never be able to dance like a fairy?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Neither shall I, if it comes to that," said Udo. Really, the child
|
|
was very stupid.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, it's too cruel," said Wiggs, stamping her foot. "I did so want
|
|
to be able to dance."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo glanced gloomily into the future.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"To live for ever behind wire netting," he mused; "to be eternally
|
|
frightened by pink-eyed ferrets; to be offered
|
|
bran-mash—bran-mash—bran-mash wherever one visited week after week,
|
|
month after month, year after year, century after—how long <i>do</i>
|
|
rabbits live?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But Wiggs was not to be moved.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I <i>won't</i> give up my wish," she said passionately.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo got on to his four legs with dignity.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Keep your wish," he said. "There are plenty of other ways of getting
|
|
out of enchantments. I'll learn up a piece of poetry by our Court
|
|
Poet Sacharino, and recite it backwards when the moon is new.
|
|
Something like that. I can do this quite easily by myself. Keep your
|
|
wish."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He went slowly out. His tail (looking more like a bell-rope than
|
|
ever) followed him solemnly. The fluffy part that you pull was for a
|
|
moment left behind; then with a jerk it was gone, and Wiggs was left
|
|
alone.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I won't give up my wish," cried Wiggs again. "I'll wish it now
|
|
before I'm sorry." She held the ring up. "I wish that——" She
|
|
stopped suddenly. "Poor Prince Udo he seems very unhappy. I wonder
|
|
if it <i>is</i> a good wish to wish to dance when people are unhappy." She
|
|
thought this out for a little, and then made her great resolve.
|
|
"Yes," she said, "I'll wish him well again."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Once more she held the ring up in her two hands.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I wish," she said, "that Prince Udo——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I know what you're going to say. It was no good her wishing her good
|
|
wish, because she had been a bad girl the day before—making the
|
|
Countess an apple-pie bed and all—disgraceful! How could she
|
|
possibly suppose——
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She didn't. She remembered just in time.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, bother," said Wiggs, standing in the middle of the room with the
|
|
ring held above her head. "I've got to be good for a day first.
|
|
<i>Bother!</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So the next day was Wiggs's Good Day. The legend of it was handed
|
|
down for years afterwards in Euralia. It got into all the
|
|
Calendars—July 20th it was—marked with a red star; in Roger's
|
|
portentous volumes it had a chapter devoted to it. There was some
|
|
talk about it being made into a public holiday, he tells us, but this
|
|
fell through. Euralian mothers used to scold their naughty children
|
|
with the words, "Why can't you be like Wiggs?" and the children used
|
|
to tell each other that there never was a real Wiggs, and that it was
|
|
only a made-up story for parents. However, you have my word for it
|
|
that it was true.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She began by getting up at five o'clock in the morning, and after
|
|
dressing herself very neatly (and being particularly careful to wring
|
|
out her sponge) she made her own bed and tidied up the room. For a
|
|
moment she thought of waking the grown-ups in the Palace and letting
|
|
them enjoy the beautiful morning too, but a little reflection showed
|
|
her that this would not be at all a kindly act; so, having dusted the
|
|
Throne Room and performed a few simple physical exercises, she went
|
|
outside and attended to the smaller domestic animals.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0262"></a><img src="images/0262.jpg" alt="[Illustration: When anybody of superior station or age came into the
|
|
room she rose and curtsied, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0263.jpg" alt="[Illustration: When anybody of superior station or age came into the
|
|
room she rose and curtsied, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
At breakfast she had three helps of something very nutritious, which
|
|
the Countess said would make her grow, but only one help of everything
|
|
else. She sat up nicely all the time, and never pointed to anything
|
|
or drank with her mouth full. After breakfast she scattered some
|
|
crumbs on the lawn for the robins, and then got to work again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
First she dusted and dusted and dusted; then she swept and swept and
|
|
swept; then she sewed and sewed and sewed. When anybody of superior
|
|
station or age came into the room she rose and curtsied and stood with
|
|
her hands behind her back, while she was being spoken to. When
|
|
anybody said, "I wonder where I put my so-and-so," she jumped up and
|
|
said, "Let <i>me</i> fetch it," even if it was upstairs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
After dinner she made up a basket of provisions and took them to the
|
|
old women who lived near the castle; to some of them she sang or read
|
|
aloud, and when at one cottage she was asked, "Now won't you give me a
|
|
little dance," she smiled bravely and said, "I'm afraid I don't dance
|
|
very well." I think that was rather sweet of her; if I had been the
|
|
fairy I should have let her off the rest of the day.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
When she got back to the Palace she drank two glasses of warm milk,
|
|
with the skin on, and then went and weeded the Countess's lawn; and
|
|
once when she trod by accident on a bed of flowers, she left the
|
|
footprint there instead of scraping it over hastily, and pretending
|
|
that she hadn't been near the place, as you would have done.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And at half-past six she kissed everybody good-night (including Udo)
|
|
and went to bed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So ended July the Twentieth, perhaps the most memorable day in
|
|
Euralian history.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo and Hyacinth spent the great day peacefully in the library. A
|
|
gentleman for all his fur, Udo had not told the Princess about Wiggs's
|
|
refusal to help him. Besides, a man has his dignity. To be turned
|
|
into a mixture of three animals by a woman of thirty, and to be turned
|
|
back again by a girl of ten, is to be too much the plaything of the
|
|
sex. It was time he did something for himself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Now then, how did that bit of Sacharino's go? Let me see." He beat
|
|
time with a paw. "'Blood for something, something, some——'
|
|
Something like that. 'Blood for—er—blood for—er——' No, it's
|
|
gone again. I know there was a bit of blood in it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm sure you'll get it soon," said Hyacinth. "It sounds as thought
|
|
it's going to be just the sort of thing that's wanted."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, I shall get it all right. Some of the words have escaped me for
|
|
the moment, that's all. 'Blood—er—blood.' You must have heard of
|
|
it, Princess: it's about blood for he who something; you must know the
|
|
one I mean.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I know I've heard of it," said the Princess, wrinkling her forehead,
|
|
"only I can't quite think of it for the moment. It's about a—a——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, that's it," said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Then they both looked up at the ceiling with their heads on one side
|
|
and murmured to themselves.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But noon came and still they hadn't thought of it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
After a simple meal they returned to the library.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think I'd better write to Coronel," said Udo, "and ask him about
|
|
it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I thought you said his name was Sacharino."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, this is not the poet, it's just a friend of mine, but he's rather
|
|
good at this sort of thing. The trouble is that it takes such a long
|
|
time for a letter to get there and back."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
At the word "letter," Hyacinth started suddenly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Prince Udo," she cried, "I can never forgive myself. I've just
|
|
remembered the very thing. Father told me in his letter that a little
|
|
couplet he once wrote was being very useful for—er—removing things."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What sort of things?" said Udo, not too hopefully.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, enchantments and things."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo was a little annoyed at the "and things"—as those turning him
|
|
back into a Prince again was as much in the day's work as removing
|
|
rust from a helmet.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It goes like this," said Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
"<i>Bo, boll, bill, bole.</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>Wo, woll, will, wole.</i>"<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It sounds as though it would remove <i>anything</i>," she added, with a
|
|
smile.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo sat up rather eagerly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'll try," he said. "Is there any particular action that goes with
|
|
it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I've never heard of any. I expect you ought to say it as if you
|
|
meant it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo sat up on his back paws, and, gesticulating freely with his right
|
|
paw, declaimed:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
"<i>Bo, boll, bill, bole.</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>Wo, woll, will, wole.</i>"<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He fixed his eyes on his paws, waiting for the transformation.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He waited.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And waited.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Nothing happened.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It must be all right," said Hyacinth anxiously, "because I'm sure
|
|
Father would know. Try saying it more like this."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She repeated the lines in a voice so melting, yet withal so dignified,
|
|
that the very chairs might have been expected to get up and walk out.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo imitated her as well as he could.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
At about the time when Wiggs was just falling asleep, he repeated it
|
|
in his fiftieth different voice.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm sorry," said Hyacinth; "perhaps it isn't so good as Father
|
|
thought it was."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There's just one chance," said Udo. "It's possible it may have to be
|
|
said on an empty stomach. I'll try it to-morrow before breakfast."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Upstairs Wiggs was dreaming of the dancing that she had given up for
|
|
ever.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And what Belvane was doing I really don't know.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap15"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0271X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Wiggs dancing]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XV
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
THERE IS A LOVER WAITING FOR HYACINTH
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So the next morning before breakfast Wiggs went up on to the castle
|
|
walls and wished. She looked over the meadows, and across the
|
|
peaceful stream that wandered through them, to the forest where she
|
|
had met her fairy, and she gave a little sigh. "Good-bye, dancing,"
|
|
she said; and then she held the ring up and went on bravely, "Please I
|
|
was a very good girl all yesterday, and I wish that Prince Udo may be
|
|
well again."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
For a full minute there was silence. Then from the direction of Udo's
|
|
room below there came these remarkable words:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Take the beastly stuff away, and bring me a beefsteak and a flagon
|
|
of sack!</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Between smiles and tears Wiggs murmured, "He <i>sounds</i> all right. I
|
|
<i>am</i> g—glad."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And then she could bear it no longer. She hurried down and out of the
|
|
Palace—away, away from Udo and the Princess and the Countess and all
|
|
their talk, to the cool friendly forest, there to be alone and to
|
|
think over all that she had lost.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was very quiet in the forest. At the foot of her own favourite
|
|
tree, a veteran of many hundred summers who stood sentinel over an
|
|
open glade that dipped to a gurgling brook and climbed gently away
|
|
from it, she sat down. On the soft green yonder she might have
|
|
danced, an enchanted place, and now—never, never, never. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
How long had she sat there? It must have been a long time—because
|
|
the forest had been so quiet, and now it was so full of sound. The
|
|
trees were murmuring something to her, and the birds were singing it,
|
|
and the brook was trying to tell it too, but it would keep chuckling
|
|
over the very idea so that you could hardly hear what it was saying,
|
|
and there were rustlings in the grass—"Get up, get up," everything
|
|
was calling to her; "dance, dance."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She got up, a little frightened. Everything seemed so strangely
|
|
beautiful. She had never felt it like this before. Yes, she would
|
|
dance. She must say, "Thank you," for all this somehow; perhaps they
|
|
would excuse her if it was not very well expressed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"This will just be for 'Thank you'" she said as she got up. "I shall
|
|
never dance again."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0274"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0274.jpg" alt="[Illustration: And then she danced, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0275.jpg" alt="[Illustration: And then she danced, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And then she danced. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<i>Where are you, Hyacinth? There is a lover waiting for you somewhere,
|
|
my dear.</i>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It is the first of Spring. The blackbird opens his yellow beak, and
|
|
whistles cool and clear. There is blue magic in the morning; the sky,
|
|
deep-blue above, melts into white where it meets the hills. The wind
|
|
waits for you up yonder—will you go to meet it? Ah, stay here! The
|
|
hedges have put on their green coats for you; misty green are the tall
|
|
elms from which the rooks are chattering. Along the clean white road,
|
|
between the primrose banks, he comes. Will you be round this
|
|
corner?——or the next? He is looking for you, Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
(She rested, breathless, and then danced again.)
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It is summer afternoon. All the village is at rest save one.
|
|
"Cuck-oo!" comes from the deep dark trees; "Cuck-oo!" he calls again,
|
|
and flies away to send back the answer. The fields, all green and
|
|
gold, sleep undisturbed by the full river which creeps along them.
|
|
The air is heavy with the scent of may. Where are you, Hyacinth? Is
|
|
not this the trysting-place? I have waited for you so long! . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She stopped, and the watcher in the bushes moved silently away, his
|
|
mind aflame with fancies.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs went back to the Palace to tell everybody that she could dance.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Shall we tell her how it happened?" said Udo jauntily. "I just
|
|
recited a couple of lines—poetry, you know—backwards, and—well,
|
|
here I am!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"O——oh!" said Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap16"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0279X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Belvane in an elaborate gown]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XVI
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
BELVANE ENJOYS HERSELF
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The entrance of an attendant into his room that morning to bring him
|
|
his early bran-mash had awakened Udo. As soon as she was gone he
|
|
jumped up, shook the straw from himself, and said in a very passion of
|
|
longing,
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
<i>Bo, boll, bill, bole.</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>Wo, woll, will, wole.</i> <BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He felt it was his last chance. Exhausted by his effort, he fell back
|
|
on the straw and dropped asleep again. It was nearly an hour later
|
|
that he became properly awake.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Into his feelings I shall not enter at any length; I leave that to
|
|
Roger Scurvilegs. Between ourselves Roger is a bit of a snob. The
|
|
degradation to a Prince of Araby to be turned into an animal so
|
|
ludicrous, the delight of a Prince of Araby at regaining his own form,
|
|
it is this that he chiefly dwells upon. Really, I think you or I
|
|
would have been equally delighted. I am sure we can guess how Udo
|
|
felt about it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He strutted about the room, he gazed at himself in every glass, he
|
|
held out his hand to an imaginary Hyacinth with "Ah, dear Princess,
|
|
and how are we this morning?" Never had he felt so handsome and so
|
|
sure of himself. It was in the middle of one of his pirouettings,
|
|
that he caught sight of the unfortunate bran-mash, and uttered the
|
|
remarkable words which I have already recorded.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The actual meeting with Hyacinth was even better than he had expected.
|
|
Hardly able to believe that it was true, she seized his hands
|
|
impulsively and cried:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Prince Udo! oh, my dear, I <i>am</i> so glad!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo twirled his moustache and felt a very gay dog indeed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
At breakfast (where Udo did himself extremely well) they discussed
|
|
plans. The first thing was to summon the Countess into their
|
|
presence. An attendant was sent to fetch her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"If you would like me to conduct the interview," said Udo, "I've no
|
|
doubt that——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think I shall be all right now that you are with me. I shan't feel
|
|
so afraid of her now."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The attendant came in again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Her ladyship is not yet down, your Royal Highness."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Tell her that I wish to see her directly she <i>is</i> down," said the
|
|
Princess.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The attendant withdrew.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You were telling me about this army of hers," said Udo. "One of my
|
|
ideas—I had a good many while I was—er—in retirement—was that she
|
|
could establish the army properly at her own expense, and that she
|
|
herself should be perpetual orderly-sergeant."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Isn't that a nice thing to be?" asked Hyacinth innocently.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's a <i>horrible</i> thing to be. Another of my ideas was that——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The attendant came in again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Her ladyship is a little indisposed, and is staying in bed for the
|
|
present."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh! Did her ladyship say when she thought of getting up?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Her ladyship didn't seem to think of getting up at all to-day. Her
|
|
ladyship told me to say that she didn't seem to know <i>when</i> she'd get
|
|
up again."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The attendant withdrew, and Hyacinth and Udo, standing together in a
|
|
corner, discussed the matter anxiously.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't quite see what we can <i>do</i>," said Hyacinth. "We can't <i>pull</i>
|
|
her out of bed. Besides, she may really be ill. Supposing she stays
|
|
there for ever!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," said Udo. "It would be rather——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You see if we——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"We might possibly——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Good</i> morning, all!" said Belvane, sweeping into the room. She
|
|
dropped a profound curtsey to the Princess. "Your Royal Highness!
|
|
And dear Prince Udo, looking his own charming self again!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She had made a superb toilet. In her flowing gold brocade, cut square
|
|
in front to reveal the whitest of necks, with her black hair falling
|
|
in two braids to her knees and twined with pearls which were caught up
|
|
in loops at her waist, she looked indeed a Queen; while Hyacinth and
|
|
Udo, taken utterly by surprise, seemed to be two conspirators whom she
|
|
had caught in the act of plotting against her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0284"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0284.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: "Good morning," said Belvane, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0285.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: "Good morning," said Belvane, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I—I thought you weren't well, Countess," said Hyacinth, trying to
|
|
recover herself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I not well?" cried Belvane, clasping her hands to her breast. "I
|
|
thought it was his Royal Highness who—— Ah, but he's looking a true
|
|
Prince now."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She turned her eyes upon him, and there was in that look so much of
|
|
admiration, humour, appeal, impudence—I don't know what (and Roger
|
|
cannot tell us, either)—that Udo forgot entirely what he was going to
|
|
say and could only gaze at her in wonder.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Her mere entry dazzled him. There is no knowing with a woman like
|
|
Belvane; and I believe she had purposely kept herself plain during
|
|
these last few days so that she might have the weapon of her beauty to
|
|
fall back upon in case anything went wrong. Things had indeed gone
|
|
wrong; Udo had become a man again; and it was against the man that
|
|
this last weapon was directed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo himself was only too ready. The fact that he was once more
|
|
attractive to women meant as much as anything to him. To have been
|
|
attractive to Hyacinth would have contented most of us, but Udo felt a
|
|
little uncomfortable with her. He could not forget the last few days,
|
|
nor the fact that he had once been an object of pity to her. Now
|
|
Belvane had not pitied him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth had got control of herself by this time.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Enough of this, Countess," she said with dignity. "We have not
|
|
forgotten the treason which you were plotting against the State; we
|
|
have not forgotten your base attack upon our guest, Prince Udo. I
|
|
order you now to remain within the confines of the Palace until we
|
|
shall have decided what to do with you. You may leave us."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane dropped her eyes meekly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am at your Royal Highness's commands. I shall be in my garden when
|
|
your Royal Highness wants me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She raised her eyes, gave one fleeting glance to Prince Udo, and
|
|
withdrew.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A hateful woman," said Hyacinth. "What shall we do with her?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think," said Udo, "that I had better speak to her seriously first.
|
|
I have no doubt that I can drag from her the truth of her conspiracy
|
|
against you. There may be others in it, in which case we shall have
|
|
to proceed with caution; on the other hand, it may be just misplaced
|
|
zeal on her part, in which case——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Was it misplaced zeal which made her turn you into a——?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo held up his hand hastily.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have not forgotten that," he said. "Be sure that I shall exact
|
|
full reparation. Let me see; <i>which</i> is the way to her garden?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth did not know quite what to make of her guest. At the moment
|
|
when she first saw him in his proper form the improvement on his late
|
|
appearance had been so marked that he had seemed almost the handsome
|
|
young Prince of her dreams. Every minute after that had detracted
|
|
from him. His face was too heavy, his manner was too pompous; one of
|
|
these days he would be too fat.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Moreover he was just a little too sure of his position in her house.
|
|
She had wanted his help, but she did not want so much of it as she
|
|
seemed to be likely to get.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo, feeling that it was going to be rather a nice day, went into
|
|
Belvane's garden. He had been there once before; it seemed to him a
|
|
very much prettier garden this morning, and the woman who was again
|
|
awaiting him much more desirable.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane made room for him on the seat next to her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"This is where I sit when I write my poetry," she said. "I don't know
|
|
if your Royal Highness is fond of poetry?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Extremely," said Udo. "I have never actually written any or indeed
|
|
read much, but I have a great admiration for those who—er—admire it.
|
|
But it was not to talk about poetry that I came out here, Countess."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No?" said Belvane. "But your Royal Highness must have read the works
|
|
of Sacharino, the famous bard of Araby?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Sacharino, of course. 'Blood for something, something——He who
|
|
something——' I mean, it's a delightful little thing. Everybody
|
|
knows it. But it was to talk about something very different that
|
|
I——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
"<i>Blood for blood and shoon for shoon,</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>He who runs may read my rune,</i>"<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
quoted Belvane softly. "It is perhaps Sacharino's most perfect gem."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That's it," cried Udo excitedly. "I knew I knew it, if only I
|
|
could——" He broke off suddenly, remembering the circumstances in
|
|
which he had wanted it. He coughed importantly and explained for the
|
|
third time that he had not come to talk to her about poetry.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But of course I think his most noble poem of all," went on Belvane,
|
|
apparently misunderstanding him, "is the ode to your Royal Highness
|
|
upon your coming-of-age. Let me see, how does it begin?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
"<i>Prince Udo, so dashing and bold,</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>Is apparently eighteen years old.</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>It is eighteen years since</i><BR>
|
|
<i>This wonderful Prince</i><BR>
|
|
<i>Was born in the Palace, I'm told.</i>"<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"These Court Poets," said Udo, with an air of unconcern, "flatter one,
|
|
of course."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
If he expected a compliment he was disappointed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There I cannot judge," said Belvane, "until I know your Royal
|
|
Highness better." She looked at him out of the corner of her eyes.
|
|
"Is your Royal Highness very—dashing?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I—er—well—er—one—that is to say." He waded on uncomfortably,
|
|
feeling less dashing every moment. He should have realised at once
|
|
that it was an impossible question to answer.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your Royal Highness," said Belvane modestly, "must not be too dashing
|
|
with us poor Euralians."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
For the fourth time Udo explained that he had come there to speak to
|
|
her severely, and that Belvane seemed to have mistaken his purpose.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, forgive me, Prince Udo," she begged. "I quite thought that you
|
|
had come out to commune soul to soul with a fellow-lover of the
|
|
beautiful."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"N—no," said Udo; "not exactly."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then what is it?" she cried, clasping her hands eagerly together. "I
|
|
know it will be something exciting."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo stood up. He felt that he could be more severe a little farther
|
|
off. He moved a few yards away, and then turned round towards her,
|
|
resting his elbow on the sundial.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Countess," he began sternly, "ten days ago, as I was starting on my
|
|
journey hither, I was suddenly——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Just a moment," said Belvane, whispering eagerly to herself rather
|
|
than to him, and she jumped up with a cushion from the seat where she
|
|
was sitting, and ran across and arranged it under his elbow. "He
|
|
would have been <i>so</i> uncomfortable," she murmured, and she hurried
|
|
back to her seat again and sat down and gazed at him, with her elbows
|
|
on her knees and her chin resting on her hands. "Now go on telling
|
|
me," she said breathlessly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo opened his mouth with the obvious intention of obeying her, but no
|
|
words came. He seemed to have lost the thread of his argument. He
|
|
felt a perfect fool, stuck up there with his elbow on a cushion, just
|
|
as if he were addressing a public meeting. He looked at his elbow as
|
|
if he expected to find a glass of water there ready, and Belvane
|
|
divined his look and made a movement as if she were about to get it
|
|
for him. It would be just like her. He flung the cushion from him
|
|
("Oh, mind my roses," cried Belvane) and came down angrily to her.
|
|
Belvane looked at him with wide, innocent eyes.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You—you—oh, <i>don't</i> look like that!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Like that?" said Belvane, looking like it again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Don't <i>do</i> it," shouted Udo, and he turned and kicked the cushion
|
|
down the flagged path. "Stop it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane stopped it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Do you know," she said, "I'm rather frightened of you when you're
|
|
angry with me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I <i>am</i> angry. Very, very angry. Excessively annoyed."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I thought you were," she sighed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And you know very well why."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She nodded her head at him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's my dreadful temper," she said. "I do such thoughtless things
|
|
when I lose my temper."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She sighed again and looked meekly at the ground.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Er, well, you shouldn't," said Udo weakly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It was the slight to my sex that made me so angry. I couldn't bear
|
|
to think that we women couldn't rule ourselves for such a short time,
|
|
and that a man had to be called in to help us." She looked up at him
|
|
shyly. "Of course I didn't know then what the man was going to be
|
|
like. But now that I know——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Suddenly she held her arms out to him beseechingly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Stay with us, Prince Udo, and help us! Men are so wise, so brave,
|
|
so—so generous. They know nothing of the little petty feelings of
|
|
revenge that women indulge."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Really, Countess, we—er—you—er—— Of course there is a good deal
|
|
in what you say, and I—er——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Won't you sit down again, Prince Udo?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo sat down next to her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And now," said Belvane, "let's talk it over comfortably as friends
|
|
should."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," began Udo, "I quite see your point. You hadn't seen me;
|
|
you didn't know anything about me; to you I might have been just any
|
|
man."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I knew a little about you when you came here. Beneath
|
|
the—er—outward mask I saw how brave and dignified you were. But
|
|
even if I could have got you back into your proper form again, I think
|
|
I should have been afraid to; because I didn't know then how generous,
|
|
how forgiving you were."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It seemed to be quite decided that Udo was forgiving her. When a very
|
|
beautiful woman thanks you humbly for something you have not yet given
|
|
her, there is only one thing for a gentleman to do. Udo patted her
|
|
hand reassuringly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, thank you, your Royal Highness." She gave herself a little shake
|
|
and jumped up. "And now shall I show you my beautiful garden?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A garden with you in it, dear Countess, is always beautiful," he said
|
|
gallantly. And it was not bad, I think, for a man who had been living
|
|
on watercress and bran-mash only the day before.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They wandered round the garden together. Udo was now quite certain it
|
|
was going to be a nice day.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was an hour later when he came into the library. Hyacinth greeted
|
|
him eagerly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well?" she said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo nodded his head wisely.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have spoken to her about her conduct to me," he said. "There will
|
|
be no more trouble in that direction, I fancy. She explained her
|
|
conduct to me very fully, and I have decided to overlook it this
|
|
time."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But her robberies, her plots, her conspiracy against <i>me!</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo looked blankly at her for a moment and then pulled himself
|
|
together.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am speaking to her about that this afternoon," he said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap17"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0299X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of the King of Barodia]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XVII
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
THE KING OF BARODIA DROPS THE WHISKER HABIT
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
King Merriwig sat in his tent, his head held well back, his eyes
|
|
gazing upwards. His rubicund cheeks were for the moment a snowy
|
|
white. A hind of the name of Carlo had him firmly by the nose. Yet
|
|
King Merriwig neither struggled nor protested; he was, in fact, being
|
|
shaved.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Court Barber was in his usual conversational mood. He released
|
|
his Majesty's nose for a moment, and, as he turned to sharpen his
|
|
razor, remarked,
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Terrible war, this."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Terrible," agreed the King.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Don't seem no end to it, like."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, well," said Merriwig, "we shall see."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The barber got to work again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Do you know what I should do to the King of Barodia if I had him
|
|
here?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig did not dare to speak, but he indicated with his right eye
|
|
that he was interested in the conversation.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'd shave his whiskers off," said Carlo firmly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King gave a sudden jerk, and for the moment there were signs of a
|
|
battle upon the snow; then the King leant back again, and in another
|
|
minute or so the operation was over.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It will soon be all right," said Carlo, mopping at his Majesty's
|
|
chin. "Your Majesty shouldn't have moved."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It was my own fault, Carlo; you gave me a sudden idea, that's all."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You're welcome, your Majesty."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
As soon as he was alone the King took out his tablets. On these he
|
|
was accustomed to record any great thoughts which occurred to him
|
|
during the day. He now wrote in them these noble words:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Jewels of wisdom may fall from the meanest of hinds.</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He struck a gong to summon the Chancellor into his presence.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have a great idea," he told the Chancellor.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor hid his surprise and expressed his pleasure.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"To-night I propose to pay a secret visit to his Majesty the King of
|
|
Barodia. Which of the many tents yonder have my spies located as the
|
|
royal one?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The big on in the centre, above which the Royal Arms fly."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I thought as much. Indeed I have often seen his Majesty entering it.
|
|
But one prefers to do these things according to custom. Acting on
|
|
the information given me by my trusty spies, I propose to enter the
|
|
King of Barodia's tent at the dead of night, and——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor shuddered in anticipation.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And shave his whiskers off."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor trembled with delight.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your Majesty," he said in a quavering voice, "forty years, man and
|
|
boy, have I served your Majesty, and your Majesty's late lamented
|
|
father, and never have I heard such a beautiful plan."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig struggled with himself for a moment, but his natural honesty
|
|
was too much for him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It was put into my head by a remark of my Court Barber's," he said
|
|
casually. "But of course the actual working out of it has been mine."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Jewels of wisdom," said the Chancellor sententiously, "may fall from
|
|
the meanest of hinds."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I suppose," said Merriwig, taking up his tablets and absently
|
|
scratching out the words written thereon, "there is nothing in the
|
|
rules against it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"By no means, your Majesty. In the annuals of Euralia there are many
|
|
instances of humour similar to that which your Majesty suggests:
|
|
humour, if I may say so, which, while evidencing to the ignorant only
|
|
the lighter side of war, has its roots in the most fundamental
|
|
strategical considerations."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig regarded him with admiration. This was indeed a Chancellor.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The very words," he answered, "which I said to myself when the idea
|
|
came to me. 'The fact,' I said, 'that this will help us to win the
|
|
war, must not disguise from us the fact that the King of Barodia will
|
|
look extremely funny without his whiskers.' To-night I shall sally
|
|
forth and put my plan into practice."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
At midnight, then, he started out. The Chancellor awaited his return
|
|
with some anxiety. This might well turn out to be the decisive stroke
|
|
(or strokes) of the war. For centuries past the ruling monarchs of
|
|
Barodia had been famous for their ginger whiskers. "As lost as the
|
|
King of Barodia without his whiskers" was indeed a proverb of those
|
|
times. A King without a pair, and at such a crisis in his country's
|
|
fortunes! It was inconceivable. At the least he would have to live
|
|
in retirement until they grew again, and without the leadership of
|
|
their King the Barodian army would become a rabble.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor was not distressed at the thought; he was looking
|
|
forward to his return to Euralia, where he kept a comfortable house.
|
|
It was not that his life in the field was uninteresting; he had as
|
|
much work to do as any man. It was part of his business, for
|
|
instance, to test the pretentions of any new wizard or spell-monger
|
|
who was brought into the camp. Such and such a quack would seek an
|
|
interview on the pretext that for five hundred crowns he could turn
|
|
the King of Barodia into a small black pig. He would be brought
|
|
before the Chancellor.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You say that you can turn a man into a small black pig?" the
|
|
Chancellor would ask.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, your lordship. It came to me from my grandmother."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then turn me," the Chancellor would say simply.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The so-called wizard would try. As soon as the incantation was over,
|
|
the Chancellor surveyed himself in the mirror. Then he nodded to a
|
|
couple of soldiers, and the impostor was tied backwards on to a mule
|
|
and driven with jeers out of the camp. There were many such impostors
|
|
(who at least made a mule out of it), and the Chancellor's life did
|
|
not lack excitement.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But he yearned now for the simple comforts of his home. He liked
|
|
pottering about his garden, when his work at the Palace was finished;
|
|
he liked, over the last meal of the day, to tell his wife all the
|
|
important things he had been doing since he had seen her, and to
|
|
impress her with the fact that he was the holder of many state secrets
|
|
which she must not attempt to drag from him. A woman of less tact
|
|
would have considered the subject closed at this point, but she knew
|
|
that he was only longing to be persuaded. However, as she always
|
|
found the secrets too dull to tell any one else, no great harm was
|
|
done.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Just help me off with this cloak," said a voice in front of him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor felt about until his hands encountered a solid body.
|
|
He undid the cloak and the King stood revealed before him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Thanks. Well, I've done it. It went to my heart to do it at the
|
|
last moment, so beautiful they were, but I nerved myself to it. Poor
|
|
soul, he slept like a lamb through it all. I wonder what he'll say
|
|
when he wakes up."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Did you bring them back with you?" asked the Chancellor excitedly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear Chancellor, what a question!" He produced them from his
|
|
pocket. "In the morning we'll run them up on the flagstaff for all
|
|
Barodia to see."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He won't like that," said the Chancellor, chuckling.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't quite see what he can do about it," said Merriwig.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King of Barodia didn't quite see either.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
A fit of sneezing woke him up that morning, and at the same moment he
|
|
felt a curious draught about his cheeks. He put his hand up and
|
|
immediately knew the worst.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Hullo, there!" he bellowed to the sentry outside the door.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your Majesty," said the sentry, coming in with alacrity.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0308"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0308.jpg" alt="[Illustration: The tent seemed to swim before his eyes, and he knew
|
|
no more, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0309.jpg" alt="[Illustration: The tent seemed to swim before his eyes, and he knew
|
|
no more, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King bobbed down again at once.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Send the Chancellor to me," said an angry voice from under the
|
|
bedclothes.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
When the Chancellor came in it was to see the back only of his august
|
|
monarch.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Chancellor," said the King, "prepare yourself for a shock."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, sir," said the Chancellor, trembling exceedingly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You are about to see something which no man in the history of Barodia
|
|
has ever seen before."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor, not having the least idea what to expect, waited
|
|
nervously. The next moment the tent seemed to swim before his eyes,
|
|
and he knew no more. . . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
When he came to, the King was pouring a jug of water down his neck and
|
|
murmuring rough words of comfort in his ear.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, your Majesty," said the poor Chancellor, "your Majesty! I don't
|
|
know what to say, your Majesty." He mopped at himself as he spoke,
|
|
and the water trickled from him on to the floor.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Pull yourself together," said the King sternly. "We shall want all
|
|
your wisdom, which is notoriously not much, to help us in this
|
|
crisis."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your Majesty, who has dared to do this grievous thing?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You fool, how should I know? Do you think they did it while I was
|
|
awake?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor stiffened a little. He was accustomed to being called
|
|
a fool; but that was by a man with a terrifying pair of ginger
|
|
whiskers. From the rather fat and uninspiring face in front of him he
|
|
was inclined to resent it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What does your Majesty propose to do?" he asked shortly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I propose to do the following. Upon you rests the chief burden."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor did not look surprised.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It will be your part to break the news as gently as possible to my
|
|
people. You will begin by saying that I am busy with a great
|
|
enchanter who has called to see me, and that therefore I am unable to
|
|
show myself to my people this morning. Later on in the day you will
|
|
announce that the enchanter has shown me how to defeat the wicked
|
|
Euralians; you will dwell upon the fact that this victory, as assured
|
|
by him, involves an overwhelming sacrifice on my part, but that for
|
|
the good of my people I am willing to endure it. Then you will
|
|
solemnly announce that the sacrifice I am making, have indeed already
|
|
made, is nothing less than—— What are all those fools cheering for
|
|
out there?" A mighty roar of laughter rose to the sky. "Here, what's
|
|
it all about? Just go and look."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor went to the door of the tent—and saw.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He came back to the King, striving to speak casually.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Just a humorous emblem that the Euralians have raised over their
|
|
camp," he said. "It wouldn't amuse your Majesty."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am hardly in a mood for joking," said the King. "Let us return to
|
|
business. As I was saying, you will announce to the people that the
|
|
enormous sacrifice which their King is prepared to make for them
|
|
consists of— There they go again. I must really see what it is.
|
|
Just pull the door back so that I may see without being seen."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It—it really wouldn't amuse your Majesty."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Are you implying that I have no sense of humour?" said the King
|
|
sternly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, no, sire, but there are certain jokes, jokes in the poorest of
|
|
taste, that would naturally not appeal to so delicate a palate as your
|
|
Majesty's. This—er—strikes me as one of them."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of that I am the best judge," said the King coldly. "Open the door
|
|
at once."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor opened the door; and there before the King's eyes,
|
|
flaunting themselves in the breeze beneath the Royal Standard of
|
|
Euralia, waved his own beloved whiskers.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King of Barodia was not a lovable man, and his daughters were
|
|
decidedly plain, but there are moments when one cannot help admiring
|
|
him. This was one of them.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You may shut the door," he said to the Chancellor. "The instructions
|
|
which I gave to you just now," he went on in the same cold voice, "are
|
|
cancelled. Let me think for a moment." He began to walk up and down
|
|
his apartment. "You may think, too," he added kindly. "If you have
|
|
anything not entirely senseless to suggest, you may suggest it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He continued his pacings. Suddenly he came to a dead stop. He was
|
|
standing in front of a large mirror. For the first time since he was
|
|
seventeen he had seen his face without whiskers. His eyes still fixed
|
|
on his reflection, he beckoned the Chancellor to approach.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Come here," he said, clutching him by the arm. "You see that?" He
|
|
pointed to the reflection. "That is what I look like? The mirror
|
|
hasn't made a mistake of any kind? That is really and truly what I
|
|
look like?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, sire."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
For a little while the King continued to gaze fascinated at his
|
|
reflection, and then he turned on the Chancellor.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You coward!" he said. "You weak-kneed, jelly-souled, paper-livered
|
|
imitation of a man! You cringe to a King who looks like that! Why,
|
|
you ought to <i>kick</i> me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor remembered that he had one kick owing to him. He drew
|
|
back his foot, and then a thought occurred to him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You might kick me back," he pointed out.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I certainly should," said the King.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor hesitated a moment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think," he said, "that these private quarrels in the face of the
|
|
common enemy are to be deplored."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King looked at him, gave a short laugh, and went on walking up and
|
|
down.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That face again," he sighed as he came opposite the mirror. "No,
|
|
it's no good; I can never be King like this. I shall abdicate."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But, your Majesty, this is a very terrible decision. Could not your
|
|
Majesty live in retirement until your Majesty had grown your Majesty's
|
|
whiskers again? Surely this is——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King came to a stand opposite him and looked down on him gravely.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Chancellor," he said, "those whiskers which you have just seen
|
|
fluttering in the breeze have been for more than forty years my curse.
|
|
For more than forty years I have had to live up to those whiskers,
|
|
behaving, not as my temperament, which is a kindly, indeed a genial
|
|
one, bade me to behave, but as those whiskers insisted I should
|
|
behave. Arrogant, hasty-tempered, over-bearing—these are the
|
|
qualities which have been demanded of the owner of those whiskers. I
|
|
played a part which was difficult at first; of late, it has, alas!
|
|
been more easy. Yet it has never been my true nature that you have
|
|
seen."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He paused and looked silently at himself in the glass.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But, your Majesty," said the Chancellor eagerly, "why choose this
|
|
moment to abdicate? Think how your country will welcome this new King
|
|
whom you have just revealed to me. And yet," he added regretfully,
|
|
"it would not be quite the same."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King turned round to him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There spoke a true Barodian," he said. "It would not be the same.
|
|
Barodians have come to expect certain qualities from their rulers, and
|
|
they would be lost without them. A new King might accustom them to
|
|
other ways, but they are used to me, and they would not like me
|
|
different. No, Chancellor, I shall abdicate. Do not wear so sad a
|
|
face for me. I am looking forward to my new life with the greatest of
|
|
joy."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor was not looking sad for him; he was looking sad for
|
|
himself, thinking that perhaps a new King might like changes in
|
|
Chancellors equally with changes in manners or whiskers.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But what will you do?" he asked.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I shall be a simple subject of the new King, earning my living by my
|
|
own toil."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor raised his eyebrows at this.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I suppose you think," said the King haughtily, "that I have not the
|
|
intelligence to earn my own living."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor with a cough remarked that the very distinguished
|
|
qualities which made an excellent King did not always imply the
|
|
corresponding—er—and so on.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That shows how little you know about it. Just to give one example.
|
|
I happen to know that I have in me the makings of an excellent
|
|
swineherd."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A swineherd?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The man who—er—herds the swine. It may surprise you to hear that,
|
|
posing as a swineherd, I have conversed with another of the profession
|
|
upon his own subject, without his suspecting the truth. It is just
|
|
such a busy outdoor life as I should enjoy. One herds and one milks,
|
|
and one milks, and—er—herds, and so it goes on day after day." A
|
|
happy smile, the first the Chancellor had ever seen there, spread
|
|
itself over his features. He clapped the Chancellor playfully on the
|
|
back and added, "I shall simply love it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor was amazed. What a story for his dinner-parties when
|
|
the war was over!
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How will you announce it?" he asked, and his tone struck a happy mean
|
|
between the tones in which you address a monarch and a pig-minder
|
|
respectively.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That will be your duty. Now that I have shaken off the curse of
|
|
those whiskers, I am no longer a proud man, but even a swineherd would
|
|
not care for it to get about that he had been forcibly shaved while
|
|
sleeping. That this should be the last incident recorded of me in
|
|
Barodian history is unbearable. You will announce therefore that I
|
|
have been slain in fair combat, though at the dead of night, by the
|
|
King of Euralia, and that my whiskers fly over his royal tent as a
|
|
symbol of his victory." He winked at the Chancellor and added, "It
|
|
might as well get about that some one had stolen my Magic Sword that
|
|
evening."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor was speechless with admiration and approval of the
|
|
plan. Like his brother of Euralia, he too was longing to get home
|
|
again. The war had arisen over a personal insult to the King. If the
|
|
King was no longer King, why should the war go on?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think," said the future swineherd, "that I shall send a Note over
|
|
to the King of Euralia, telling him my decision. To-night, when it is
|
|
dark, I shall steal away and begin my new life. There seems to be no
|
|
reason why the people should not go back to their homes to-morrow. By
|
|
the way, that guard outside there knows that I wasn't killed last
|
|
night; that's rather awkward."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think," said the Chancellor, who was already picturing his return
|
|
home, and was not going to be done out of it by a common sentry, "I
|
|
think I could persuade him that you <i>were</i> killed last night."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, well, then, that's all right." He drew a ring from his finger.
|
|
"Perhaps this will help him to be persuaded. Now leave me while I
|
|
write to the King of Euralia."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was a letter which Merriwig was decidedly glad to get. It announced
|
|
bluntly that the war was over, and added that the King of Barodia
|
|
proposed to abdicate. His son would rule in his stead, but he was a
|
|
harmless fool, and the King of Euralia need not bother about him. The
|
|
King would be much obliged if he would let it get about that the
|
|
whiskers had been won in a fair fight; this would really be more to
|
|
the credit of both of them. Personally he was glad to be rid of the
|
|
things, but one has one's dignity. He was now retiring into private
|
|
life, and if it were rumoured abroad that he had been killed by the
|
|
King of Euralia matters would be much more easy to arrange.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig slept late after his long night abroad, and he found this
|
|
Note waiting for him when he awoke. He summoned the Chancellor at
|
|
once.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What have you done about those—er—trophies?" he asked.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"They are fluttering from your flagstaff, sire, at this moment."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah! And what do my people say?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"They are roaring with laughter, sire, at the whimsical nature of the
|
|
jest."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, but what do they say?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Some say that your Majesty, with great cunning, ventured privily in
|
|
the night and cut them off while he slept; others, that with great
|
|
bravery you defeated him in mortal combat and carried them away as the
|
|
spoils of the victor."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh! And what did <i>you</i> say?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor looked reproachful.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Naturally, your Majesty, I have not spoken with them."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, well, I have been thinking it over in the night, and I remember
|
|
now that I <i>did</i> kill him. You understand?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your Majesty's skill in sword play will be much appreciated by the
|
|
people."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Quite so," said the King hastily. "Well, that's all—I'm getting up
|
|
now. And we're all going home to-morrow."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The Chancellor went out, rubbing his hands with delight.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="right">
|
|
<img src="images/0323X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Small picture of a thin man carrying a large sack]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap18"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0325X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: A small girl in medieval garb holds a large document">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XVIII
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
THE VETERAN OF THE FOREST ENTERTAINS TWO VERY YOUNG PEOPLE
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Do you remember the day when the Princess Hyacinth and Wiggs sat upon
|
|
the castle walls and talked of Udo's coming? The Princess thought he
|
|
would be dark, and Wiggs thought he would be fair, and he was to have
|
|
the Purple Room—or was it the Blue?—and anyhow he was to put the
|
|
Countess in her place and bring happiness to Euralia. That seemed a
|
|
long time ago to Hyacinth now, as once more she sat on the castle
|
|
walls with Wiggs.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She was very lovely. She longed to get rid of that "outside help in
|
|
our affairs" which she had summoned so recklessly. They were two
|
|
against one now. Belvane actively against her was bad enough; but
|
|
Belvane in the background with Udo as her mouthpiece—Udo specially
|
|
asked in to give the benefit of his counsel—this was ten times worse.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What do you do, Wiggs?" she asked, "when you are very lonely and
|
|
nobody loves you?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Dance," said Wiggs promptly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But if you don't want to dance?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Wiggs tried to remember those dark ages (about a week ago) when she
|
|
couldn't dance.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I used to go into the forest," she said, "and sit under my own tree,
|
|
and by and by everybody loved you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I wonder if they'd love <i>me</i>."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course they would. Shall I show you my special tree?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, but don't come with me; tell me where it is. I want to be
|
|
unhappy alone."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So Wiggs told her how you followed her special path, which went in at
|
|
the corner of the forest, until by and by the trees thinned on either
|
|
side, and it widened into a glade, and you went downhill and crossed
|
|
the brook at the bottom and went up the other side until it was all
|
|
trees again, and the first and the biggest and the oldest and the
|
|
loveliest was hers. And you turned round and sat with your back
|
|
against it, and looked across to where you'd come from, and then you
|
|
<i>knew</i> that everything was all right.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I shall find it," said Hyacinth, as she got up. "Thank you, dear."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She found it, she sat there, and her heart was very bitter at first
|
|
against Udo and against Belvane, and even against her father for going
|
|
away and leaving her; but by and by the peace of the place wrapped
|
|
itself around her, and she felt that she would find a way out of her
|
|
difficulties somehow. Only she wished that her father would come
|
|
back, because he loved her, and she felt that it would be nice to be
|
|
loved again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It is beautiful, isn't it?" said a voice from behind her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She turned suddenly, as a tall young man stepped out from among the
|
|
trees.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, who are you, please?" she asked, amazed at his sudden appearance.
|
|
His dress told her nothing, but his face told her things which she
|
|
was glad to know.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My name," he said, "is Coronel."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It is a pretty name."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, but don't be lead away by it. It belongs to nobody very
|
|
particular. Do you mind if I sit down? I generally sit down here
|
|
about this time."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, do you live in the forest?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have lived here for the last week." He gave her a friendly smile,
|
|
and added, "You're late, aren't you?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Late?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, I've been expecting you for the last seven days."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How did you know there was any me at all?" smiled Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
With a movement of his hand Coronel indicated the scene in front of
|
|
him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There had to be <i>somebody</i> for whom all this was made. It wanted
|
|
somebody to say thank you to it now and then."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Haven't you been doing that all this week?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Me? I wouldn't presume. No, it's your glade, and you've neglected
|
|
it shamefully."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There's a little girl who comes here," said Hyacinth. "I wonder if
|
|
you have seen her?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel turned away. There were secret places in his heart into which
|
|
Hyacinth could not come—yet.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"She danced," he said shortly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was silence between them for a little, but a comfortable
|
|
silence, as if they were already old friends.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You know," said Hyacinth, looking down at him as he lay at her feet,
|
|
"you ought not to be here at all, really."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I wish I could think that," said Coronel. "I had a horrible feeling
|
|
that duty called me here. I love those places where one really
|
|
oughtn't to be at all, don't you?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I love being here," sighed Hyacinth. "Wiggs was quite right."
|
|
Seeing him look up at her she added, "Wiggs is the little girl who
|
|
dances, you know."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"She would be right," said Coronel, looking away from her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth felt strangely rested. It seemed that never again would
|
|
anything trouble her; never again would she have only her own strength
|
|
to depend upon. Who was he? But it did not matter. He might go away
|
|
and she might never see him again, but she was no longer afraid of the
|
|
world.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I thought," she said, "that all the men of Euralia were away
|
|
fighting."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"So did I," said Coronel.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What are you, then? A Prince from a distant country, an enchanter, a
|
|
spy sent from Barodia, a travelling musician?—you see, I give you
|
|
much to choose from."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You leave me nothing to be but what I am—Coronel."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And I am Hyacinth."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He knew, of course, but he made no sign.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Hyacinth," he said, and he held out his hand.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Coronel," she answered as she took it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The brook chuckled to itself as it hurried past below them.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth got up with a little sigh of contentment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, I must be going," she said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Must you really be going?" asked Coronel. "I wasn't saying good-bye,
|
|
you know."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0332"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0332.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: She turned round and went off daintily down the hill, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0333.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: She turned round and went off daintily down the hill, verso]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I really must."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's a surprising thing about the view from here," said Coronel,
|
|
"that it looks just as nice to-morrow. To-morrow about the same
|
|
time."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That's a very extraordinary thing," smiled Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, but it's one of those things that you don't want to take another
|
|
person's word for."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You think I ought to see for myself? Well, perhaps I will."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Give me a whistle if I happen to be passing," said Coronel casually,
|
|
"and tell me what you think. Good-bye, Hyacinth."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Good-bye, Coronel."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She nodded her head confidently at him, and then turned round and went
|
|
off daintily down the hill.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel stared after her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What <i>is</i> Udo doing?" he murmured to himself. "But perhaps she
|
|
doesn't like animals. A whole day to wait. How endless!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
If he had known that Udo, now on two legs again, was at that moment in
|
|
Belvane's garden, trying to tell her, for the fifth time that week,
|
|
about his early life in Araby, he would have been still more
|
|
surprised.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
We left Coronel, if you remember, in Araby. For three or four days he
|
|
remained there, wondering how Udo was getting on, and feeling more and
|
|
more that he ought to do something about it. On the fourth day he got
|
|
on to his horse and rode off again. He simply must see what was
|
|
happening. If Udo wanted to help, then he would be there to give it;
|
|
if Udo was all right again, then he could go comfortably back to
|
|
Araby.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
To tell the truth, Coronel was a little jealous of his friend. A
|
|
certain Prince Perivale, who had stayed at his uncle's court, had once
|
|
been a suitor for Hyacinth's hand; but losing a competition with the
|
|
famous seven-headed bull of Euralia, which Merriwig had arranged for
|
|
him, had made no further headway with his suit. This Prince had had a
|
|
portrait of Hyacinth specially done for him by his own Court Painter,
|
|
a portrait which Coronel had seen. It was for this reason that he had
|
|
at first objected to accompanying Udo to Euralia, and it was for this
|
|
reason that he persuaded himself very readily that the claims of
|
|
friendship called him there now.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
For the last week he had been waiting in the forest. Now that he was
|
|
there, he was not quite sure how to carry out his mission. So far
|
|
there had been no sign of Udo, either on four legs or on two; it
|
|
seemed probable that unless Coronel went to the Palace and asked for
|
|
him, there would be no sign. And if he went to the Palace, and Udo
|
|
was all right, and the Princess Hyacinth was in love with him, then
|
|
the worst would have happened. He would have to stay there and help
|
|
admire Udo—an unsatisfying prospect to a man in love. For he told
|
|
himself by this time that he was in love with Hyacinth, although he
|
|
had never seen her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So he had waited in the forest, hoping for something to turn up; and
|
|
first Wiggs had come . . . and now at last Hyacinth. He was very glad
|
|
that he had waited.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She was there on the morrow.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I knew you'd come," said Coronel. "It looks just as beautiful,
|
|
doesn't it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think it's even more beautiful," said Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You mean those little white clouds? That was my idea putting those
|
|
in. I thought you'd like them."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I wondered what you did all day. Does it keep you very busy?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh," said Coronel, "I have time for singing."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why do you sing?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Because I am young and the forest is beautiful."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have been singing this morning, too."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why?" asked Coronel eagerly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Because the war with Barodia is over."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh!" said Coronel, rather taken aback.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That doesn't interest you. Yet if you were a Euralian——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But it interests me extremely. Let us admire the scene for a moment,
|
|
while I think. Look, there is another of my little clouds."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel wondered what would happen now. If the King were coming back,
|
|
then Udo would be wanted no longer save as a suitor for Hyacinth's
|
|
hand. If, then, he returned, it would show that—— But suppose he
|
|
was still an animal? It was doubtful if he would go back to Araby as
|
|
an animal. And then there was another possibility: perhaps he had
|
|
never come to Euralia at all. Here were a lot of questions to be
|
|
answered, and here next to him was one who could answer them. But he
|
|
must go carefully.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine, a hundred," he said aloud.
|
|
"There, I've finished my thinking and you've finished your looking."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And what have you decided?" smiled Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Decided?" said Coronel, rather startled. "Oh, no, I wasn't deciding
|
|
anything, I was just thinking. I was thinking about animals."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"So was I."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How very curious, and also how wrong of you. You were supposed to be
|
|
admiring my clouds. What sort of animals were you thinking about?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh—all sorts."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I was thinking about rabbits. Do you care for rabbits at all?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not very much."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Neither do I. They're so loppity. Do you like lions?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I think their tails are rather silly," said Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, perhaps they are. Now—a woolly lamb."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am not very fond of woolly lambs just now."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No? Well, they're not very interesting. It's a funny thing," he
|
|
went on casually, trying to steal a glance at her, "that we should be
|
|
talking about those three animals, because I once met somebody who was
|
|
a mixture of all three together at the same time."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"So did I," said Hyacinth gravely.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But he saw her mouth trembling, and suddenly she turned round and
|
|
caught his eye, and then they burst out laughing together.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Poor Udo," said Coronel; "and how is he looking now?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He is all right again now."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"All right again? Then why isn't he—— But I'm very glad he isn't."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I didn't like him," said Hyacinth, blushing a little. And then she
|
|
went on bravely, "But I think he found he didn't like me first."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He wants humouring," said Coronel. "It's my business to humour him,
|
|
it isn't yours."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth looked at him with a new interest.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Now I know who you are," she said. "He talked about you once."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What did he say?" asked Coronel, obviously dying to know.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He said you were good at poetry."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel was a little disappointed. He would have preferred Hyacinth
|
|
to have been told that he was good at dragons. However, they had met
|
|
now and it did not matter.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Princess," he said suddenly, "I expect you wonder what I am doing
|
|
here. I came to see if Prince Udo was in need of help, and also to
|
|
see if you were in need of help. Prince Udo was my friend, but if he
|
|
has not been a friend of yours, then he is no longer a friend of mine.
|
|
Tell me what has been happening here, and then tell me if in any way
|
|
I can help you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You called me Hyacinth yesterday," she said, "and it is still my
|
|
name."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Hyacinth," said Coronel, taking her hand, "tell me if you want me at
|
|
all."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Thank you, Coronel. You see, Coronel, it's like this." And sitting
|
|
beneath Wiggs's veteran of the forest, with Coronel lying at her feet,
|
|
she told him everything.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It seems easy enough," he said when she had finished. "You want Udo
|
|
pushed out and the Countess put in her place. I can do the one while
|
|
you do the other."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, but how do I push Prince Udo out?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That's what <i>I'm</i> going to do."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, but, Coronel dear, if I could put the Countess in her place,
|
|
shouldn't I have done it a long time ago? I don't think you quite
|
|
know the sort of person she is. And I don't quite know what her place
|
|
is either, which makes it rather had to put her into it. You see, I
|
|
don't think I told you that—that Father is rather fond of her."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I thought you said Udo was."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"They both are."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then how simple. We simply kill Udo, and—and—well, anyhow, there's
|
|
one part of it done."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, but what about the other part?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel thought for a moment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Would it be simpler if we did it the other way around?" he said.
|
|
"Killed the Countess and put Udo in his place."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Father wouldn't like that at all, and he's coming back to-morrow."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel didn't quite see the difficulty. If the King was in love with
|
|
the Countess, he would marry her whatever Hyacinth did. And what was
|
|
the good of putting her in her place for one day if her next place was
|
|
to be on the throne.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth guessed what he was thinking.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, don't you see," she cried, "she doesn't know that the King is
|
|
coming back to-morrow. And if I can only just show her—I don't mind
|
|
if it's only for an hour—that I am not afraid of her, and that she
|
|
has got to take her orders from me, then I shan't mind so much all
|
|
that has happened these last weeks. But if she is to have disregarded
|
|
me all the time, if she is to have plotted against me from the very
|
|
moment my father went away, and if nothing is to come to her for it
|
|
but that she marries my father and becomes Queen of Euralia, then I
|
|
can have no pride left, and I will be a Princess no longer."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I must see this Belvane," said Coronel thoughtfully.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Coronel, Coronel," cried Hyacinth, "if <i>you</i> fall in love with
|
|
her, too, I think I shall die of shame!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"With <i>her</i>, Hyacinth?" he said, turning to her in amazement.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, you—I didn't—you never—I——" Her voice trailed away; she
|
|
could not meet his gaze any longer; she dropped her eyes, and the next
|
|
moment his arms were round her, and she knew that she would never be
|
|
alone again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap19"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0347X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of Hyacinth presenting Coronel]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XIX
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
UDO BEHAVES LIKE A GENTLEMAN
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And now," said Coronel, "we'd better decide what to do."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But I don't mind what we do now," said Hyacinth happily. "She may
|
|
have the throne and Father and Udo, and—and anything else she can
|
|
get, and I shan't mind a bit. You see, I have got <i>you</i> now, Coronel,
|
|
and I can never be jealous of anybody again."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That's what makes it so jolly. We can do what we like, and it
|
|
doesn't matter if it doesn't come off. So just for fun let's think of
|
|
something to pay her out."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I feel I don't want to hurt anybody to-day."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"All right, we won't hurt her, we'll humour her. We will be her most
|
|
humble obedient servants. She shall have everything she wants."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Including Prince Udo," smiled Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That's a splendid idea. We'll make her have Udo. It will annoy your
|
|
father, but one can't please everybody. Oh, I can see myself enjoying
|
|
this."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They got up and wandered back along Wiggs's path, hand in hand.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm almost afraid to leave the forest," said Hyacinth, "in case
|
|
something happens."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What should happen?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't know; but all our life together has been in the forest, and
|
|
I'm just a little afraid of the world."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I will be very close to you always, Hyacinth."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Be very close, Coronel," she whispered, and then they walked out
|
|
together.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
If any of the servants at the Palace were surprised to see Coronel,
|
|
they did not show it. After all, that was their business.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Prince Coronel will be staying here," said the Princess. "Prepare a
|
|
room for him and some refreshment for us both." And if they discussed
|
|
those things in the servants' halls of those days (as why should they
|
|
not?), no doubt they told each other that the Princess Hyacinth (bless
|
|
her pretty face!) had found her man at last. Why, you only had to see
|
|
her looking at him. But I get no assistance from Roger at this point;
|
|
he pretends that he has a mind far above the gossip of the lower
|
|
orders.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I say," said Coronel, as they went up the grand staircase, "I am not
|
|
a Prince, you know. Don't say I have deceived you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You are <i>my</i> Prince," said Hyacinth proudly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear, I am a king among men to-day, and you are my queen, but
|
|
that's in our own special country of two."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"If you are so particular," said Hyacinth, with a smile, "Father will
|
|
make you a proper Prince directly he comes back."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Will he? That's what I'm wondering. You see he doesn't know yet
|
|
about our little present to the Countess."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But it is quite time we got back to Belvane; we have left her alone
|
|
too long. It was more than Udo did. Just now he was with her in her
|
|
garden, telling her for the fifth time an extraordinarily dull story
|
|
about an encounter of his with a dragon, apparently in its dotage, to
|
|
which Belvane was listening with an interest which surprised even the
|
|
narrator.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And then," said Udo, "I jumped quickly to the right, and whirling
|
|
my—no, wait a bit, that was later—I jumped quickly to my left—yes,
|
|
I remember it now, it <i>was</i> my left—I jumped quickly to my left, and
|
|
whirling my——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He stopped suddenly at the expression on Belvane's face. She was
|
|
looking over his shoulder at something behind him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why, whoever is this?" she said, getting to her feet.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Before Udo had completely cleared his mind of his dragon, the Princess
|
|
and Coronel were upon them.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, Countess, I thought we should find you together," said Hyacinth
|
|
archly. "Let me present to you my friend, the Duke Coronel. Coronel,
|
|
this is Countess Belvane, a very dear and faithful friend of mine.
|
|
Prince Udo, of course, you know. His Royal Highness and the Countess
|
|
are—well, it isn't generally known at present, so perhaps I oughtn't
|
|
to say anything."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel made a deep bow to the astonished Belvane.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0352"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0352.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: Let me present to you my friend the Duke Coronel, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0353.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: Let me present to you my friend the Duke Coronel, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your humble servant," he said. "You will, I am sure, forgive me if I
|
|
say how glad I am to hear your news. Udo is one of my oldest
|
|
friends"—he turned and clapped that bewildered Highness on the
|
|
back—"aren't you, Udo? and I can think of no one more suitable in
|
|
every way." He bowed again, and turned back to the Prince. "Well,
|
|
Udo, you're looking splendid. A different thing, Countess, from when
|
|
I last saw him. Let me see, that must have been just the day before
|
|
he arrived in Euralia. Ah, what a miracle-worker True Love is!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I think one of the things which made Belvane so remarkable was that
|
|
she was never afraid of remaining silent when she was not quite sure
|
|
what to say. She waited therefore while she considered what all this
|
|
meant; who Coronel was, what he was doing there, even whether a
|
|
marriage with Udo was not after all the best that she could hope for
|
|
now.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Meanwhile Udo, of course, blundered along gaily.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"We aren't exactly, Princess—I mean——What are you doing here,
|
|
Coronel?—I didn't know, Princess, that you—— The Countess and I
|
|
were just having a little—I was just telling her what you said
|
|
about—How did you get here, Coronel?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Shall we tell him?" said Coronel, with a smile at Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth nodded.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I rode," said Coronel. "It's a secret," he added.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But I didn't know that you——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"We find that we have really known each other a very long time,"
|
|
explained Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And hearing that there was to be a wedding," added Coronel——
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane made up her mind. Coronel was evidently a very different man
|
|
from Udo. If he stayed in Euralia as adviser—more than adviser she
|
|
guessed—to Hyacinth, her own position would not be in much doubt.
|
|
And as for the King, it might be months before he came back, and when
|
|
he did come would he remember her? But to be Queen of Araby was no
|
|
mean thing.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"We didn't want it to be known yet," she said shyly, "but you have
|
|
guessed our secret, your Royal Highness." She looked modestly at the
|
|
ground, and, feeling for her reluctant lover's hand, went on, "Udo and
|
|
I"—here she squeezed the hand, and, finding it was Coronel's, took
|
|
Udo's boldly without any more maidenly nonsense—"Udo and I love each
|
|
other."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Say something, Udo," prompted Coronel.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Er—yes," said Udo, very unwillingly, and deciding he would explain
|
|
it all afterwards. Whatever his feelings for the Countess, he was not
|
|
going to be rushed into a marriage.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, I'm so glad," said Hyacinth. "I felt somehow that it must be
|
|
coming, because you've seen so <i>much</i> of each other lately. Wiggs and
|
|
I have often talked about it together."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
("What has happened to the child?" thought Belvane. "She isn't a
|
|
child at all, she's grown up.")
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There's no holding Udo once he begins," volunteered Coronel. "He's
|
|
the most desperate lover in Araby.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My father will be so excited when he hears," said Hyacinth. "You
|
|
know, of course, that his Majesty comes back to-morrow with all his
|
|
army."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She did not swoon or utter a cry. She did not plead the vapours or
|
|
the megrims. She took unflinching what must have been the biggest
|
|
shock in her life.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then perhaps I had better see that everything is ready in the
|
|
Palace," she said, "if your Royal Highness will excuse me." And with
|
|
a curtsey she was gone.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel exchanged a glance with Hyacinth. "I'm enjoying this," he
|
|
seemed to say.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," she announced, "I must be going in, too. There'll be much to
|
|
see about."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel was left alone with the most desperate lover in Araby.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And now," said the Prince, "tell me what you are doing here."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel put his arm in Udo's and walked him up and down the flagged
|
|
path.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your approaching marriage," he said, "is the talk of Araby.
|
|
Naturally I had to come here to see for myself what she was like. My
|
|
dear Udo, she's charming; I congratulate you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Don't be a fool, Coronel. I haven't the slightest intention of
|
|
marrying her."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then why have you told everybody that you are going to?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You know quite well I haven't told anybody. There hasn't been a
|
|
single word about it mentioned until you pushed your way in just now."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, well, perhaps you hadn't heard about it. But the Princess knows,
|
|
the Countess knows, and I know—yes, I think you may take our word for
|
|
it that it's true."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I haven't the slightest intention—what do you keep clinging to my
|
|
arm like this for?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear Udo, I'm so delighted to see you again. Don't turn your back
|
|
on old friendships just because you have found a nobler and a
|
|
truer—— Oh, very well, if you're going to drop all your former
|
|
friends, go on then. But when <i>I'm</i> married, there will always be a
|
|
place for——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Understand once and for all," said Udo angrily, "that I am <i>not</i>
|
|
getting married. No, don't take my arm—we can talk quite well like
|
|
this."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am sorry, Udo," said Coronel meekly; "we seem to have made a
|
|
mistake. But you must admit we found you in a very compromising
|
|
position."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It wasn't in the least compromising," protested Udo indignantly. "As
|
|
a matter of fact I was just telling her about that dragon I killed in
|
|
Araby last year."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, and who would listen to a hopeless story like that, but the woman
|
|
one was going to marry?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Once more, I am not going to marry her."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, you must please yourself, but you have compromised her severely
|
|
with that story. Poor innocent girl. Well, let's forget about it.
|
|
And now tell me, how do you like Euralia?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am returning to Araby this afternoon," said Udo stiffly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, perhaps you're right. I hope that nothing will happen to you
|
|
on the way."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo, who was about to enter the Palace, turned round with a startled
|
|
look.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What do you mean?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, something happened on the way here. By the by, how did that
|
|
happen? You never told me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your precious Countess, whom you expect me to marry."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How very unkind of her. A nasty person to annoy." He was silent for
|
|
a moment, and then added thoughtfully, "I suppose it <i>is</i> rather
|
|
annoying to think you're going to marry somebody whom you love very
|
|
much, and then find you're not going to."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo evidently hadn't thought of this. He tried to show that he was
|
|
not in the least frightened.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"She couldn't do anything. It was only by a lucky chance she did it
|
|
last time."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, but of course the chance might come again. You'd have the thing
|
|
hanging over you always. She's clever, you know; and I should never
|
|
feel quite safe if she were my enemy. . . . Lovely flowers, aren't
|
|
they? What's the name of this one?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo dropped undecidedly into a seat. This wanted thinking out. The
|
|
Countess—what was wrong with her, after all? And she evidently adored
|
|
him. Of course that was not surprising; the question was, was it fair
|
|
to disappoint one who had, perhaps, some little grounds for——?
|
|
After all, he had been no more gallant than was customary from a
|
|
Prince and a gentleman to a beautiful woman. It was her own fault if
|
|
she had mistaken his intentions. Of course he ought to have left
|
|
Euralia long ago. But he had stayed on, and—well, decidedly she was
|
|
beautiful—perhaps he had paid rather too much attention to that. And
|
|
he had certainly neglected the Princess a little. After all, again,
|
|
why not marry the Countess? It was absurd to suppose there was
|
|
anything in Coronel's nonsense, but one never knew. Not that he was
|
|
marrying her out of fear. No; certainly not. It was simply a
|
|
chivalrous whim on his part. The poor woman had misunderstood him,
|
|
and she should not be disappointed.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"She seems fond of flowers," said Coronel. "You ought to make the
|
|
Palace garden look beautiful between you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Now, understand clearly, Coronel, I'm not in the least frightened by
|
|
the Countess."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear Udo, what a speech for a lover! Of course you're not. After
|
|
all, what you bore with such patience and dignity once, you can bear
|
|
again."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That subject is distasteful to me. I must ask you not to refer to
|
|
it. If I marry the Countess——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You'll be a very lucky man," put in Coronel. "I happen to know that
|
|
the King of Euralia—however, she's chosen you, it seems. Personally,
|
|
I can't make out what she sees in you. What is it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I should have thought it was quite obvious," said Udo with dignity.
|
|
"Well, Coronel, I think perhaps you are right and that it's my duty to
|
|
marry her."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel shook him solemnly by the hand.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I congratulate your Royal Highness. I will announce your decision to
|
|
the Princess. She will be much amu—much delighted." And he turned
|
|
into the Palace.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Pity him, you lovers. He had not seen Hyacinth for nearly ten
|
|
minutes.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap20"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0365X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Detail of dark-haired girl in a pastoral scene]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XX
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CORONEL KNOWS A GOOD STORY WHEN HE HEARS IT
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
I quote (with slight alterations) from an epic by Charlotte Patacake,
|
|
a contemporary poet of the country:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
<i>King Merriwig the First rode back from war,</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>As many other Kings had done before;</i><BR>
|
|
<i>Five hundred men behind him were in sight</i><BR>
|
|
<i>(Left-right, left-right, left-right, left-right, left-right).</i> <BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
So far as is known, this was her only work, but she built up some
|
|
reputation on it, and Belvane, who was a good judge, had a high
|
|
opinion of her genius.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
To be exact, there were only four hundred and ninety-nine men. Henry
|
|
Smallnose, a bowman of considerable promise, had been left behind in
|
|
the enemy's country, the one casualty of war. While spying out the
|
|
land in the early days of the invasion, he had been discovered by the
|
|
Chief Armourer of Barodia at full length on the wet grass searching
|
|
for tracks. The Chief Armourer, a kindly man, had invited him to his
|
|
cottage, dried him and given him a warming drink, and had told him
|
|
that, if ever his spying took him that way again, he was not to stand
|
|
on ceremony, but come in and pay him a visit. Henry, having caught a
|
|
glimpse of the Chief Armourer's daughter, had accepted without any
|
|
false pride, and had frequently dropped in to supper thereafter. Now
|
|
that the war was over, he found that he could not tear himself away.
|
|
With King Merriwig's permission he was settling in Barodia, and with
|
|
the Chief Armourer's permission he was starting on his new life as a
|
|
married man.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
As the towers of the castle came in sight, Merriwig drew a deep breath
|
|
of happiness. Home again! The hardships of the war were over; the
|
|
spoils of victory (wrapped up in tissue paper) were in his pocket;
|
|
days of honoured leisure were waiting for him. He gazed at each
|
|
remembered landmark of his own beloved country, his heart overflowing
|
|
with thankfulness. Never again would he leave Euralia!
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
How good to see Hyacinth again! Poor little Hyacinth left all alone;
|
|
but there! she had had the Countess Belvane, a woman of great
|
|
experience, to help her. Belvane! Should he risk it? How much had
|
|
she thought of him while he was away? Hyacinth would be growing up
|
|
and getting married soon. Life would be lonely in Euralia then,
|
|
unless—— Should he risk it?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
What would Hyacinth say?
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She was waiting for him at the gates of the castle. She had wanted
|
|
Coronel to wait with her, but he had refused.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0368"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0368.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: As the towers of the Castle came in sight, Merriwig drew a deep breath of happiness, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0369.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: As the towers of the Castle came in sight, Merriwig drew a deep breath of happiness, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"We must offer the good news to him gradually," he said. "When a man
|
|
has just come back from a successful campaign, he doesn't want to find
|
|
a surprise like this waiting for him. Just think—we don't even know
|
|
why the war is over—he must be longing to tell you that. Oh, he'll
|
|
have a hundred things to tell you first; but then, when he says 'And
|
|
what's been happening here while I've been away? Nothing much, I
|
|
suppose?' then you can say——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then I shall say, 'Nothing much; only Coronel.' And such a clever!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, I have my ideas," said Coronel. "Well, I'll be out of the way
|
|
somewhere. I think I'll go for a walk in the forest. Or shall I stay
|
|
here, in the Countess's garden, and amuse myself with Udo? Anyhow,
|
|
I'll give you an hour alone together first."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The cavalcade drew up in front of the castle. Handkerchiefs fluttered
|
|
to them from the walls; trumpets were blown; hounds bayed. Down the
|
|
steps came Hyacinth, all blue and gold, and flung herself into her
|
|
father's arms.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear child," said Merriwig as he patted her soothingly. "There,
|
|
there! It's your old father come back again. H'r'm. There, there!"
|
|
He patted her again, as though it were she and not himself who was in
|
|
danger of breaking down. "My little Hyacinth! My own little girl!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Father, I <i>am</i> glad to have you back."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There, there, my child. Now I must just say a few words to my men,
|
|
and then we can tell each other all that has been happening."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He took a step forward and addressed his troops.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Men of Euralia (<i>cheers</i>). We have returned from a long and arduous
|
|
conflict (<i>cheers</i>) to the embraces (<i>loud cheers</i>) of our mothers and
|
|
wives and daughters (<i>prolonged cheering</i>)—as the case may be (<i>hear,
|
|
hear</i>). In honour of our great victory I decree that, from now
|
|
onwards, to-morrow shall be observed as a holiday throughout Euralia
|
|
(<i>terrific cheering</i>). I bid you all now return to your homes, and I
|
|
hope that you will find as warm a welcome there as I have found in
|
|
mine." Here he turned and embraced his daughter again; and if his eye
|
|
travelled over her shoulder in the direction of Belvane's garden, it
|
|
is a small matter, and one for which the architect of the castle, no
|
|
doubt, was principally to blame.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There was another storm of cheers, the battle-cry of Euralia, "<i>Ho,
|
|
ho, Merriwig!</i>" was shouted from five hundred throats, and the men
|
|
dispersed happily to their homes. Hyacinth and Merriwig went into the
|
|
Palace.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Now, Father," said Hyacinth later on, when Merriwig had changed his
|
|
clothes and refreshed himself, "you've got to tell me all about it. I
|
|
can hardly believe it's really over."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, yes. It's all over," said Merriwig heartily. "We shan't have
|
|
any trouble in <i>that</i> direction again, I fancy."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Do tell me, did the King of Barodia apologise?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He did better than that, he abdicated."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well," said Merriwig, remembering just in time, "I—er—killed him."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Father, how rough of you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't think it hurt him very much, my dear. It was more a shock to
|
|
his feelings than anything else. See, I have brought these home for
|
|
you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He produced from his pocket a small packet in tissue paper.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, how exciting! Whatever can it be?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig unwrapped the paper, and disclosed a couple of ginger
|
|
whiskers, neatly tied up with blue ribbon.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Father!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He picked out the left one, <i>fons et origo</i> (if he had known any
|
|
Latin) of the war, and held it up for Hyacinth's inspection.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There, you can see the place where Henry Smallnose's arrow bent it.
|
|
By the way," he added, "Henry is marrying and settling down in
|
|
Barodia. It is curious," he went on, "how after a war one's thoughts
|
|
turn to matrimony." He glanced at his daughter to see how she would
|
|
take this, but she was still engrossed with the whiskers.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What am I going to do with them, Father? I can't plant them in the
|
|
garden."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I thought we might run them up the flagstaff, as we did in Barodia."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Isn't that a little unkind now that the poor man's dead?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig looked round him to see that there were no eavesdroppers.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Can you keep a secret?" he asked mysteriously.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," said Hyacinth, deciding at once that it would not matter
|
|
if she only told Coronel.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, then, listen."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He told her of his secret journey to the King of Barodia's tent; he
|
|
told her of the King of Barodia's letter; he told her more fully of
|
|
his early duel with the King; he told her everything that he had said
|
|
and done; and everything that everybody else had said and done to him;
|
|
and his boyish pleasure in it all was so evident and so innocent, that
|
|
even a stranger would have had nothing more reproachful for him than a
|
|
smile. To Hyacinth he seemed the dearest of fathers and the most
|
|
wonderful of kings.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And by and by the moment came of which Coronel had spoken.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And now," said Merriwig, "tell me what you have all been doing with
|
|
yourselves here. Nothing much, I suppose?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He waited nervously, wondering if Hyacinth would realise that "all"
|
|
was meant to include more particularly Belvane.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth drew a stool up to her father's chair and sat down very close
|
|
to him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Father," she said, stroking his hand where it rested on his knee, "I
|
|
<i>have</i> got some news for you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Nothing about the Coun—nothing serious, I hope," said Merriwig, in
|
|
alarm.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's rather serious, but it's rather nice. Father, dear, would you
|
|
mind <i>very</i> much if I got married soon?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear, you shall get married as soon as you like. Let me see,
|
|
there were six or seven Princes who came about it only the other day.
|
|
I sent them off on adventures of some kind, but—dear me, yes, they
|
|
ought to have been back by now. I suppose you haven't heard anything
|
|
of them?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No, Father," said Hyacinth, with a little smile.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, well, no doubt they were unsuccessful. No matter, dear, we can
|
|
easily find you plenty more suitors. Indeed, the subject has been
|
|
very near my thoughts lately. We'll arrange a little competition, and
|
|
let them know in the neighbouring countries; there'll be no lack of
|
|
candidates. Let me see, there's that seven-headed bull; he's getting
|
|
a little old now, but he was good enough for the last one. We
|
|
might——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I don't want a suitor," said Hyacinth softly. "I have one."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig leant forward with eagerness.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear, this is indeed news. Tell me all about it. Upon what quest
|
|
did you send him?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth had felt this coming. Had she lived in modern times she
|
|
would have expected the question, "What is his income?" A man must
|
|
prove his worth in some way.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I haven't sent him away at all yet," she said; "he's only just come.
|
|
He's been very kind to me, and I'm sure you'll love him."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, well, we'll arrange something for him. Perhaps that bull I was
|
|
speaking of—— By the way, who is he?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He comes from Araby, and his name is——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Udo, of course. Why didn't I think of him? An excellent
|
|
arrangement, my dear."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It isn't Udo, I'm afraid, Father. It's Coronel."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"And who might Coronel be?" said the King, rather sternly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He's—he's—well, he's—— Here he is, Father." She ran up to him
|
|
impulsively as he came in at the door. "Oh, Coronel, you're just in
|
|
time; do tell Father who you are."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel bowed profoundly to the King.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Before I explain myself, your Majesty," he said, "may I congratulate
|
|
your Majesty on your wonderful victory over the Barodians? From the
|
|
little I have gathered outside, it is the most remarkable victory that
|
|
has ever occurred. But of course I am longing to hear the full story
|
|
from your Majesty's own lips. Is it a fact that your Majesty made his
|
|
way at dead of night to the King of Barodia's own tent and challenged
|
|
him to mortal combat and slew him?" There was an eagerness, very
|
|
winning, in his eyes as he asked it; he seemed to be envying the King
|
|
such an adventure—an adventure after his own heart.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig was in an awkward position. He wondered for a moment whether
|
|
to order his daughter out of the room. "Leave us, my child," he would
|
|
say. "These are matters for men to discuss." But Hyacinth would know
|
|
quite well why she had been sent out, and would certainly tell Coronel
|
|
the truth of the matter afterwards.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It really looked as if Coronel would have to be let into the secret
|
|
too. He cleared his throat noisily by way of preparation.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There are certain state reasons," he said with dignity, "why that
|
|
story has been allowed to get about."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Pardon, your Majesty. I have no wish to——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But as you know so much, you may as well know all. It happened like
|
|
this." Once more he told the story of his midnight visit, and of the
|
|
King's letter to him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But, your Majesty," cried Coronel, "it is more wonderful than the
|
|
other. Never was such genius of invention, such brilliance and daring
|
|
of execution."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"So you like it," said Merriwig, trying to look modest.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I love it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I knew he'd love it," put in Hyacinth. "It's just the sort of story
|
|
that Coronel would love. Tell him about how you fought the King at
|
|
the beginning of the war, and how you pretended to be a swineherd, and
|
|
how—"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Could any father have resisted? In a little while Hyacinth and
|
|
Coronel were seated eagerly at his feet, and he was telling once more
|
|
the great story of his adventures.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, well," said the King at the end of it, when he had received
|
|
their tribute of admiration. "Those are just a few of the little
|
|
adventures that happen in war time." He turned to Coronel. "And so
|
|
you, I understand, wish to marry my daughter?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Does that surprise your Majesty?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, no, it doesn't. And she, I understand, wishes to marry you."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, please, Father."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That," said Coronel simply, "is much more surprising."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig, however, was not so sure of that. He liked the look of
|
|
Coronel, he liked his manner, and he saw at once that he knew a good
|
|
story—when he heard one.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course," he said, "you'll have to win her."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Anything your Majesty sets me to do. It's as well," he added with a
|
|
disarming smile, "that you cannot ask for the whiskers of the King of
|
|
Barodia. There is only one man who could have got those."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Truly an excellent young man.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, we'll arrange something," said Merriwig, looking pleased.
|
|
"Perhaps your Prince Udo would care to be a competitor too."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth and Coronel interchanged a smile.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Alas, Father," she said, "his Royal Highness is not attracted by my
|
|
poor charms."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Wait till he has seen them, my dear," said Merriwig with a chuckle.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He has seen them, Father."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What? You invited him here? Tell me about this, Hyacinth. He came
|
|
to stay with you and he never——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"His Royal Highness," put in Coronel, "has given his affections to
|
|
another."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Aha! So that's the secret. Now I wonder if I can guess who she is.
|
|
What do you say to the Princess Elvira of Tregong? I know his father
|
|
had hopes in that direction."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth looked round at Coronel as if appealing for his support. He
|
|
took a step towards her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No, it's not the Princess Elvira," said Hyacinth, a little nervously.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King laughed good-humouredly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, well, you must tell me," he said.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth put out her hand, and Coronel pressed it encouragingly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"His Royal Highness Prince Udo," she said, "is marrying the Countess
|
|
Belvane."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap21"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0385X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: A man surrounded by clouds of smoke]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XXI
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
A SERPENT COMING AFTER UDO
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane had now had twenty-four hours in which to think it over.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Whatever her faults, she had a sense of humour. She could not help
|
|
smiling to herself as she thought of that scene in the garden.
|
|
However much she regretted her too hasty engagement, she was sure Udo
|
|
regretted it still more. If she gave him the least opportunity he
|
|
would draw back from it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Then why not give him the opportunity? "My dear Prince Udo, I'm
|
|
afraid I mistook the nature of my feelings"—said, of course, with
|
|
downcast head and a maidenly blush. Exit Udo with haste, enter King
|
|
Merriwig. It would be so easy.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Ah, but then Hyacinth would have won. Hyacinth had forced the
|
|
engagement upon her; even if it only lasted for twenty-four hours, so
|
|
long as it was a forced engagement, Hyacinth would have had the better
|
|
of her for that time. But if she welcomed the engagement, if she
|
|
managed in some way to turn it to account, to make it appear as if she
|
|
had wanted it all the time, then Hyacinth's victory would be no
|
|
victory at all, but a defeat.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Marry Udo, then, as if willingly? Yes, but that was too high a price
|
|
to pay. She was by this time thoroughly weary of him and besides, she
|
|
had every intention of marrying the King of Euralia. To pretend to
|
|
marry him until she brought the King in open conflict with him, and
|
|
then having led the King to her feet to dismiss the rival who had
|
|
served her turn—that was her only wise course.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She did not come to this conclusion without much thought. She composed
|
|
an Ode to Despair, an Elegy to an Unhappy Woman, and a Triolet to
|
|
Interfering Dukes, before her mind was made up. She also considered
|
|
very seriously what she would look like in a little cottage in the
|
|
middle of the forest, dressed in a melancholy grey and holding
|
|
communion only with the birds and trees; a life of retirement away
|
|
from the vain world; a life into which no man came. It had its
|
|
attractions, but she decided that grey did not suit her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She went down to her garden and sent for Prince Udo. At about the
|
|
moment when the King was having the terrible news broken to him, Udo
|
|
was protesting over the sundial that he loved Belvane and Belvane
|
|
only, and that he was looking forward eagerly to the day when she
|
|
would make him the happiest of men. So afraid was he of what might
|
|
happen to him on the way back to Araby.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"The Countess Belvane!" cried Merriwig. "Prince Udo marry the
|
|
Countess Belvane! I never heard such a thing in my life." He glared
|
|
at them one after the other as if it were their fault—as indeed it
|
|
was. "Why didn't you tell me this before, Hyacinth?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It was only just announced, Father."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Who announced it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well—er—Udo did," said Coronel.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life! I won't have
|
|
it!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But, Father, don't you think she'd make a very good Queen?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"She'd make a wonderful—that has nothing to do with it. What I feel
|
|
so strongly about is this. For month after month I am fighting in a
|
|
strange country. After extraordinary scenes of violence and—peril—I
|
|
come back to my own home to enjoy the—er—fruits of victory. No
|
|
sooner do I get inside my door than I have all this thrust upon me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"All what, Father?" said Hyacinth innocently.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"All <i>this</i>," said the King, with a circular movement of his hand.
|
|
"It's too bad; upon my word it is. I won't have it. Now mind,
|
|
Hyacinth, I <i>won't</i> have it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But, Father, how can I help it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig paid no attention to her.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I come home," he went on indignantly, "fresh from the—er—spoils of
|
|
victory to what I thought was my own peaceful—er—home. And what do
|
|
I find? Somebody here wants to marry somebody there, and somebody
|
|
else over there wants to marry somebody else over here; it's
|
|
impossible to mention any person's name, in even the most casual way,
|
|
without being told they are going to get married, or some nonsense of
|
|
that sort. I'm very much upset about it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Father!" said Hyacinth penitently. "Won't you see the Countess
|
|
yourself and talk to her?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"To think that for weeks I have been looking forward to my return home
|
|
and that now I should be met with this! It has quite spoilt my day."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Father!" cried Hyacinth, coming towards him with outstretched hands.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Let me send for her ladyship," began Coronel; "perhaps she——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No, no," said Merriwig, waving them away. "I am very much displeased
|
|
with you both. What I have to do, I can do quite well by myself."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He strode out and slammed the door behind him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Hyacinth and Coronel looked at each other blankly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear," said Coronel, "you never told me he was as fond of her as
|
|
that."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But I had no idea! Coronel, what can we do now about it? Oh, I want
|
|
him to marry her now. He's quite right—she'll make a wonderful
|
|
Queen. Oh, my dear, I feel I want everybody to be as happy as we're
|
|
going to be."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"They can't be that, but we'll do our best for them. I can manage Udo
|
|
all right. I only have to say 'rabbits' to him, and he'll do anything
|
|
for me. Hyacinth, I don't believe I've ever kissed you in this room
|
|
yet, have I? Let's begin now."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig came upon the other pair of lovers in Belvane's garden. They
|
|
were sharing a seat there, and Udo was assuring the Countess that he
|
|
was her own little Udo-Wudo, and that they must never be away from
|
|
each other again. The King put his hand in front of his eyes for a
|
|
moment as if he could hardly bear it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Why, it's his Majesty," said Belvane, jumping up. She gave him a
|
|
deep curtsey and threw in a bewitching smile on the top of it;
|
|
formality or friendliness, he could take his choice. "Prince Udo of
|
|
Araby, your Majesty." She looked shyly at him and added, "Perhaps you
|
|
have heard."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have," said the King gloomingly. "How do you do," he added in a
|
|
melancholy voice.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Udo declared that he was in excellent health at present, and would
|
|
have gone into particulars about it had not the King interrupted.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, Countess," he said, "this is strange news to come back to.
|
|
Shall I disturb you if I sit down with you for little?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, your Majesty, you would honour us. Udo, dear, have you seen the
|
|
heronry lately?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes," said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It looks so sweet just about this time of the afternoon."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It does," said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane gave a little shrug and turned to the King.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'm so longing to hear all your adventures," she murmured
|
|
confidingly. "I got all your messages; it was so good of you to
|
|
remember me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah," said Merriwig reproachfully, "and what do I find when I come
|
|
back? I find——" He broke off, and indicated in pantomime with his
|
|
eyebrows that he could explain better what he had found if Udo were
|
|
absent.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Udo, dear," said Belvane, turning to him, "have you seen the kennels
|
|
lately?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes," said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"They look rather sweet just about this time," said Merriwig.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Don't they?" said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But I am so longing to hear," said Belvane, "how your Majesty
|
|
defeated the King of Barodia. Was it your Majesty's wonderful spell
|
|
which overcame the enemy?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You remember that?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Remember it? Oh, your Majesty! '<i>Bo boll——</i>' Udo, dear, wouldn't
|
|
you like to see the armoury?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No," said Udo.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"There are a lot of new things in it that I brought back from
|
|
Barodia," said Merriwig hopefully.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A lot of new things," explained Belvane.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I'll see them later on," said Udo. "I dare say they'd look better in
|
|
the evening."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then you shall show <i>me</i>, your Majesty," said Belvane. "Udo, dear,
|
|
you can wait for me here."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The two of them moved off down the path together (Udo taken by
|
|
surprise), and as soon as they were out of sight, tiptoed across the
|
|
lawn to another garden seat, Belvane leading the way with her finger
|
|
to her lips, and Merriwig following with an exaggerated caution which
|
|
even Henry Smallnose would have thought overdone.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He is a little slow, isn't he, that young man?" said the King, as
|
|
they sat down together. "I mean he didn't seem to understand—"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"He's such a devoted lover, your Majesty. He can't bear to be out of
|
|
my sight for a moment."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Belvane, this is a sad homecoming. For month after month I have
|
|
been fighting and toiling, and planning and plotting and then—— Oh,
|
|
Belvane, we were all so happy together before the war."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane remembered that once she and the Princess and Wiggs had been
|
|
so happy together, and that Udo's arrival had threatened to upset it
|
|
all. One way and another, Udo had been a disturbing element in
|
|
Euralia. But it would not do to let him go just yet.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Aren't we still happy together?" she asked innocently. "There's her
|
|
Royal Highness with her young Duke, and I have my dear Udo, and your
|
|
Majesty has the—the Lord Chancellor—and all your Majesty's faithful
|
|
subjects."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
His Majesty gave a deep sigh.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0396"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0396.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Belvane leading the way with her finger to her lips]">
|
|
<a name="img0397"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0397.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Merriwig following with an exaggerated caution]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am a very lonely man, Belvane. When Hyacinth leaves me I shall
|
|
have nobody left."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Belvane decided to risk it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your Majesty should marry again," she said gently.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He looked unutterable things at her. He opened his mouth with the
|
|
intention of doing his best to utter some of them, when——
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not before Udo," said Belvane softly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig got up indignantly and scowled at the Prince as the latter
|
|
hurried over the lawn towards them.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, really," said Merriwig, "I never knew such a place. One simply
|
|
can't—— Ah, your Royal Highness, have you seen our armoury? I
|
|
should say," he corrected himself as he caught Belvane's reproachful
|
|
look, "have <i>we</i> seen our armoury? We have. Her ladyship was much
|
|
interested."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have no doubt, your Majesty." He turned to Belvane. "You will be
|
|
interested in our armoury at home, dear."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She gave a quick glance at the King to see that he was looking, and
|
|
then patted Udo's hand tenderly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Home," she said lovingly, "how sweet it sounds!"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King shivered as if in pain, and strode quickly from them.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Your Majesty sent for me," said Coronel.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King stopped his pacings and looked round as Coronel came into the
|
|
library.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, yes, yes," he said quickly. "Now sit down there and make
|
|
yourself comfortable. I want to talk to you about this marriage."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Which one, your Majesty?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Which one? Why, of course, yours—that is to say,
|
|
Belvane's—or—rather——" He came to a stop in front of Coronel and
|
|
looked at him earnestly. "Well, in a way, both."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel nodded.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You want to marry my daughter," Merriwig went on. "Now it is
|
|
customary, as you know, that to the person to whom I give my daughter,
|
|
I give also half my kingdom. Naturally before I make this sacrifice I
|
|
wish to be sure that the man to whom—well, of course, you
|
|
understand."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"That he is worthy of the Princess Hyacinth," said Coronel. "Of
|
|
course he couldn't be," he added with a smile.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>And</i> worthy of half the kingdom," amended Merriwig. "That he should
|
|
prove himself this is also, I think, customary."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Anything that your Majesty suggests——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I am sure of it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He drew up a chair next to Coronel's, and sitting down in it, placed
|
|
his hand upon his knees and explained the nature of the trial which
|
|
was awaiting the successful suitor.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"In the ordinary way," he began, "I should arrange something for you
|
|
with a dragon or what-not in it. The knowledge that some such ordeal
|
|
lies before him often enables a suitor to discover, before it is too
|
|
late, that what he thought was true love is not really the genuine
|
|
emotion. In your case I feel that an ordeal of this sort is not
|
|
necessary."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel inclined his head gracefully.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I do not doubt your valour, and from you therefore I ask a proof of
|
|
your cunning. In these days cunning is perhaps the quality of all
|
|
others demanded of a ruler. We had an excellent example of that," he
|
|
went on carelessly, "in the war with Barodia that is just over, where
|
|
the whole conflict was settled by a little idea which——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A very wonderful idea, your Majesty."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, well," said Merriwig, looking very pleased. "It just happened
|
|
to come off, that's all. But that is what I mean when I say that
|
|
cunning may be of even more importance than valour. In order to win
|
|
the hand of my daughter and half my kingdom, it will be necessary for
|
|
you to show a cunning almost more than human."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He paused, and Coronel did his best in the interval to summon up a
|
|
look of superhuman guile into his very frank and pleasant countenance.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You will prove yourself worthy of what you ask me for," said Merriwig
|
|
solemnly, "by persuading Prince Udo to return to Araby—alone."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Coronel gasped. The thing was so easy that it seemed almost a shame
|
|
to accept it as the condition of his marriage. To persuade Udo to do
|
|
what he was only longing to do, did not call for any superhuman
|
|
qualities of any kind. For a moment he had an impulse to tell the
|
|
King so, but he suppressed it. "After all," he thought, "if the King
|
|
wants cunning, and if I make a great business of doing something
|
|
absurdly easy, then he is getting it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig, simple man, mistook his emotions.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I see," he said, "that you are appalled by the difficulty of the
|
|
ordeal in front of you. You may well be so. You have known his Royal
|
|
Highness longer than I have, but even in our short acquaintance I have
|
|
discovered that he takes a hint with extraordinary slowness. To bring
|
|
it home to him with the right mixture of tact and insistence that
|
|
Araby needs his immediate presence—alone—may well tax the most
|
|
serpentine of minds."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I can but try it," said the serpentine one simply.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King jumped up and shook him warmly by the hand.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You think you can do it?" he said excitedly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"If Prince Udo does not start back to Araby to-morrow——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Alone," said Merriwig.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Alone—then I shall have failed in my task."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
* * * * *<BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear," said the King to his daughter as she kissed him good-night
|
|
that evening, "I believe you are going to marry a very wise young
|
|
man."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course I am, Father."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I only hope you'll be as happy with him as I shall be with—as I was
|
|
with your mother. Though how he's going to bring it off," he added to
|
|
himself, "is more than I can think."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<A NAME="chap22"></A>
|
|
<img src="images/0405X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Same image as for chapter 20]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
CHAPTER XXII
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<H3 ALIGN="center">
|
|
THE SEVENTEEN VOLUMES GO BACK AGAIN
|
|
</H3>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
King Merriwig of Eastern Euralia sat at breakfast on his castle walls.
|
|
He lifted the gold cover from the gold dish in front of him, selected
|
|
a trout, and conveyed it carefully to his gold plate. When you have
|
|
an aunt—— But I need not say that again.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
King Coronel of Western Euralia sat at breakfast on <i>his</i> castle
|
|
walls. He lifted the gold cover from the gold dish in front of him,
|
|
selected a trout, and conveyed it carefully to his gold plate. When
|
|
your wife's father has an aunt——
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Prince Udo of Araby sat at breakfast—— But one must draw the line
|
|
somewhere. I refuse to follow Udo through any more meals. Indeed, I
|
|
think there has been quite enough eating and drinking in this book
|
|
already. Quite enough of everything in fact; but the time has nearly
|
|
come to say good-bye.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Let us speed the Prince of Araby first. His departure from Euralia
|
|
was sudden; five minutes' conversation with Coronel convinced him that
|
|
there had been a mistake about Belvane's feelings for him, and that he
|
|
could leave for Araby in perfect safety.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You must come and see us again," said Merriwig heartily, as he shook
|
|
him by the hand.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes, do," said Hyacinth.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
There are two ways of saying this sort of thing, and theirs was the
|
|
second way. So was Udo's, when he answered that he would be
|
|
delighted.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
It was just a week later that the famous double wedding was celebrated
|
|
in Euralia. As an occasion for speech-making by King Merriwig and
|
|
largesse-throwing by Queen Belvane it demanded and (got) a whole
|
|
chapter to itself in Roger's History. I have Roger on my side at
|
|
last. The virtues he denied to the Countess he cannot but allow to
|
|
the Queen.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Nor could Hyacinth resist her any longer. Belvane upon her palfrey,
|
|
laughter in her eyes and roses in her cheeks, her lips slightly parted
|
|
with eagerness as she flings her silver to the crowd, adorably
|
|
conscious of her childishness and yet glorifying in it, could have no
|
|
enemies that day.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"She is a dear," said Hyacinth to Coronel. "She will make a wonderful
|
|
Queen."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I know a Queen worth two of her," said Coronel.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But you do admire her, don't you?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not particularly."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, Coronel, you must," said Hyacinth, but she felt very happy all
|
|
the same.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They rode off the next day to their kingdom. The Chancellor had had
|
|
an exciting week; for seven successive evenings he had been extremely
|
|
mysterious and reserved to his wife, but now his business was finished
|
|
and King Merriwig reigned over Eastern Euralia and King Coronel over
|
|
the West.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Let us just take a look at Belvane's diary before we move on to the
|
|
last scene.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"<i>Thursday, September 15th</i>," it says. "<i>Became good.</i>"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Now for the last scene.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
King Merriwig sat in Belvane's garden. They had spent the morning
|
|
revising their joint book of poetry for publication. The first set of
|
|
verses was entirely Merriwig's own. It went like this:
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="poem">
|
|
<i>Bo, boll, bill, bole.</i> <BR>
|
|
<i>Wo, woll, will, wole.</i> <BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
A note by the authors called attention to the fact that it could be
|
|
begun from either end. The rest of the poems were mainly by Belvane,
|
|
Merriwig's share in them consisting of a "Capital," or an "I like
|
|
that," when they were read out to him; but an epic commonly attributed
|
|
to Charlotte Patacake had crept in somehow.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A person to see your Majesty," said a flunkey, appearing suddenly.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What sort of person?" asked Merriwig.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"A sort of person, your Majesty."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"See him here, dear," said Belvane, as she got up. "I have things to
|
|
do in the Palace."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
She left him; and by and by the flunkey returned with the stranger.
|
|
He was a pleasant-looking person with a round clean-shaven face;
|
|
something in the agricultural way, to judge from his clothes.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well?" said Merriwig.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I desire to be your Majesty's swineherd," said the other.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What do you know of swineherding?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I have a sort of natural aptitude for it, your Majesty, although I
|
|
have never actually been one."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My own case exactly. Now then, let me see—how would you——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The stranger took out a large red handkerchief and wiped his forehead.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You propose to ask me a few questions, your Majesty?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well, naturally, I——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Let me beg of you not to. By all you hold sacred let me implore you
|
|
not to confuse me with questions." He drew himself up and thumped his
|
|
chest with his fist. "I have a feeling for swineherding; it is
|
|
enough."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig began to like the man; it was just how he felt about the
|
|
thing himself.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I once carried on a long technical conversation with a swineherd," he
|
|
said reminiscently, "and we found we had much in common. It is an
|
|
inspiring life."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It was in just that way," said the stranger, "that I discovered my
|
|
own natural bent towards it."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"How very odd! Do you know, there's something about your face that I
|
|
seem to recognise?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The stranger decided to be frank.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I owe this face to you," he said simply.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig looked startled.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"In short," said the other, "I am the late King of Barodia."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig gripped his hand.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0412"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0412.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: He was a pleasant-looking person, with a round clean-shaven face, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0413.jpg"
|
|
alt="[Illustration: He was a pleasant-looking person, with a round clean-shaven face, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear fellow," he said. "My very dear fellow, of course you are.
|
|
Dear me, how it brings it all back. And—may I say—what an
|
|
improvement. Really, I'm delighted to see you. You must tell me all
|
|
about it. But first some refreshment."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
At the word "refreshment" the late King of Barodia broke down
|
|
altogether, and it was only Merriwig's hummings and hawings and
|
|
thumpings on the back and (later on) the refreshment itself which kept
|
|
him from bursting into tears.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear friend," he said, as he wiped his mouth for the last time,
|
|
"you have saved me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"But what does it all mean?" asked Merriwig in bewilderment.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Listen and I will tell you,"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
He told himself of the great resolution to which he had come on that
|
|
famous morning when he awoke to find himself whiskerless. Barodia had
|
|
no more use for him now as a King, and he on his side was eager to
|
|
carve out for himself a new life as a swineherd.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I had a natural gift," he said plaintively, "an instinctive feeling
|
|
for it. I know I had. Whatever they said about it afterwards—and
|
|
they said many hard things—I was certain that I had that feeling. I
|
|
had proved it, you know; there couldn't be any mistake."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Well?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Ah, but they laughed at me. They asked me confusing questions;
|
|
niggling little questions about the things swine ate and—and things
|
|
like that. The great principles of swineherding, the—what I may call
|
|
the art of herding swine, the whole theory of shepherding pigs in a
|
|
broad-minded way, all this they ignored. They laughed at me and
|
|
turned me out with jeers and blows—to starve."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig patted him sympathetically, and pressed some more food on
|
|
him.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I ranged over the whole of Barodia. Nobody would take me in. It is
|
|
a terrible thing, my dear Merriwig, to begin to lose faith in
|
|
yourself. I had to tell myself at last that perhaps there was
|
|
something about Barodian swine which made them different from those of
|
|
any other country. As a last hope I came to Euralia; if here too I
|
|
was spurned, then I should know that——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Just a moment," said Merriwig, breaking in eagerly. "Who was this
|
|
swineherd that you talked to——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"I talked to so many," said the other sadly. "They all scoffed at
|
|
me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"No, but the first one; the one that showed you that you had a bent
|
|
towards it. Didn't you say that——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Oh, that one. That was at the beginning of our war. Do you remember
|
|
telling me that your swineherd had an invisible cloak? It was he
|
|
that——"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Merriwig looked at him sadly and shook his head.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My poor friend," he said, "it was me."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They gazed at each other earnestly. Each of them was going over in
|
|
his mind the exact details of that famous meeting.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Yes," they murmured together, "it was us."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The King of Barodia's mind raced on through all the bitter months that
|
|
had followed; he shivered as he thought of the things he had said; the
|
|
things that had been said to him seemed of small account now.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Not even a swineherd!" he remarked.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Come, come," said Merriwig, "look on the bright side; you can always
|
|
be a King again."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
The late King of Barodia shook his head.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"It's a come down to a man with any pride," he said. "No, I'll stick
|
|
to my own job. After all, I've been learning these last weeks; at any
|
|
rate I know that what I do know isn't worth knowing, and that's
|
|
something."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Then stay with me," said Merriwig heartily. "My swineherd will teach
|
|
you your work, and when he retires you can take it on."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Do you mean it?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Of course I do. I shall be glad to have you about the place. In the
|
|
evening, when the pigs are asleep, you can come in and have a chat
|
|
with us."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Bless you," said the new apprentice; "bless you, your Majesty."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
They shook hands on it.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"My dear," said Merriwig to Belvane that evening, "you haven't married
|
|
a very clever fellow. I discovered this afternoon that I'm not even
|
|
as clever as I thought I was."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"You don't want cleverness in a King," said Belvane, smiling lovingly
|
|
at him, "or in a husband."
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"What do you want then?"
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
"Just dearness," said Belvane.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
And now my story is done. With a sigh I unload the seventeen volumes
|
|
of Euralian History from my desk, carrying them one by one across the
|
|
library and placing them carefully in the shelf which has been built
|
|
for them. For some months they have stood a rampart between me and
|
|
the world, behind which I have lived in far-off days with Merriwig and
|
|
Hyacinth and my Lady Belvane. The rampart is gone, and in the bright
|
|
light of to-day which streams on to my desk the vision slowly fades.
|
|
Once on a time . .
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
Yet I see one figure clearly still. He is tall and thin, with a white
|
|
peaked face of which the long inquisitive nose is the outstanding
|
|
feature. His hair is lank and uncared for; his russet smock, tied in
|
|
at the waist, wants brushing; his untidy cross-gartered hose shows up
|
|
the meagerness of his legs. No knightly figure this, yet I look upon
|
|
him very tenderly. For it is Roger Scurvilegs on his way to the
|
|
Palace for news.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
To Roger too I must say good-bye. I say it not without remorse, for I
|
|
feel that I have been hard upon the man to whom I owe so much.
|
|
Perhaps it will not be altogether good-bye; in his seventeen volumes
|
|
there are many other tales to be found. Next time (if there be a next
|
|
time) I owe it to Roger to stand aside and let him tell the story more
|
|
in his own way. I think he would like that.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
But it shall not be a story about Belvane. I saw Belvane (or some one
|
|
like her) at a country house in Shropshire last summer, and I know
|
|
that Roger can never do her justice.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<a name="img0420X"></a>
|
|
<img src="images/0420X.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Roger Scurvilegs]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<P class="noindent" align="center">
|
|
<img src="images/0422.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Back endpaper, verso]">
|
|
<img src="images/0423.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Back endpaper, recto]">
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR>
|
|
|
|
<p class="noindent" align="right">
|
|
<img src="images/0424.jpg" alt="[Illustration: Back cover]">
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<BR><BR><BR><BR>
|
|
`
|