Part 41 (2/2)

He hesitated, and a wave of dark colour flooded his face up to the roots of his close-clipped hair.

He paused a moment, and then bent down to open the little gate. His stalwart figure, in the diminutive enclosure, reduced it to the appearance of a doll's garden.

”Step carefully or you will crush the young _menage_,” Hadria advised.

The rosy-cheeked nurse looked with proud expectancy at the face of the strange gentleman, to note the admiration that he could not but feel.

His lips were set.

The Professor evidently knew his duty and proceeded to admire with due energy. Little Martha shrank away a little from the bearded face, and her lower lip worked threateningly, but the perilous moment was staved over by means of the Professor's watch, hastily claimed by Hannah, who dispensed with ceremony in the emergency.

Martha's eyes opened wide, and the little hands came out to grasp the treasure. Hadria stood and laughed at the sight of the gigantic Professor, helplessly tethered by his own chain to the imperious baby, in whose fingers the watch was tightly clasped. The child was in high delight at the loquacious new toy--so superior to foolish fluffy rabbits that could not tick to save their skins. Martha had no notion of relinquis.h.i.+ng her hold, so they need not tug in that feeble way; if they pulled too hard, she would yell!

She evidently meant business, said her captive. So long as they left her the watch, they might do as they pleased; she was perfectly indifferent to the accidental human accompaniments of the new treasure, but on that one point she was firm. She proceeded to stuff the watch into her mouth as far as it would go. The Professor was dismayed.

”It's all right,” Hadria rea.s.sured him. ”You have hold of the chain.”

”Did you entice me into this truly ridiculous position in order to laugh at me?” enquired the prisoner.

”I would not laugh at you for the world.”

”Really this young person has the most astonis.h.i.+ng grip! How long does her fancy generally remain faithful to a new toy?”

”Well--I hope you are not pressed for time,” said Hadria maliciously.

The Professor groaned, and struggled in the toils.

”Come, little one, open the fingers. Oh no, no, we mustn't cry.” Martha kept her features ready for that purpose at a moment's notice, should any nonsense be attempted.

The victim looked round miserably.

”Is there nothing that will set me free from these tender moorings?”

Hadria shook her head and laughed. ”You are chained by the most inflexible of all chains,” she said: ”your own compunction.”

”Oh, you little tyrant!” exclaimed the Professor, shaking his fist in the baby's face, at which she laughed a taunting and triumphant laugh.

Then, once more, the object of dispute went into her mouth. Martha gurgled with joy.

”What _am_ I to do?” cried her victim helplessly.

”Nothing. She has you securely because you fear to hurt her.”

”Little imp! Come now, let me go please. Oh, _please_, Miss Baby--your Majesty: will nothing soften you? She is beginning early to take advantage of the chivalry of the stronger s.e.x, and I doubt not she will know how to pursue her opportunity later on.”

”Oh! is _that_ your parable? Into my head came quite a different one--_a propos_ of what we were talking of yesterday in Griffin-land.”

”Ah, the eternal feminine!” cried the Professor. ”Yes, you were very brilliant, Mrs. Temperley.”

”You now stand for an excellent type of woman, Professor: strong, but chained.”

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