Part 26 (1/2)

The slim equerry shook his head and said in a tone of conviction:

”She would nod coom, Highness.”

Being of a younger generation, he spoke better English than his royal master.

The grand duke shook his head sadly, and said;

”No: she would nod goom. Would she nod goom for mooch money, you zink?”

”I do nod zink she could be persuaded to coom,” said his equerry.

”No: she would nod goom,” said the grand duke. The baron had an inspiration; he said in a stern voice:

”Ze day, 'ighness; ze day will goom soon. Zen you will gommand only; and Bollyooly will obey.”

”Ach, yes: ze day,” said the grand duke, watching the playing children.

”It will goom soon doubtlez. Bud Bollyooly, will she obey? Zeze English blay zere creeket very 'ard.”

”She would be made obey,” said the baron firmly.

The grand duke changed the subject by raising his voice in a splendid, heartening roar at Pollyooly, who was running swiftly around the bases; and for nearly an hour he did his best to burst the welkin. Then he summoned the perspiring prince, shouted and waved good-bye to Pollyooly, and walked to his son's lodgings to take a little unnecessary nourishment before driving to the station.

Pollyooly went on playing till a quarter of five, when the game broke up to let the players go to their tea. She collected the Lump from the Gibson nurse and the eleven sovereigns from Mrs. Gibson, and started down the beach tea-wards. As she went down the beach several earnest enquirers stopped her to ask what the grand duke had said to her and what she had said to the grand duke. They wore the air of being very deeply impressed by the occurrence.

Pollyooly gratified their curiosity. Four of them said that they would have been so confused by being suddenly hurried into the presence of royalty that, not knowing whether they were standing on their heads or their heels, they would not have found a word to say.

Pollyooly said quite truly that she had not suffered from any such confusion. She did not add, as with no less truthfulness she might have done, that what had induced a slight access of confusion in her had been the sudden and unexpected possession of eleven golden sovereigns. But she had a feeling, somewhat obscure, that such a happening should not confuse a red Deeping; therefore she did not say anything about it.

She and the Lump were still at tea when the Honourable John Ruffin returned from his golf and joined them. She told him of the coming of the grand duke, of his thanks for the improvement in Prince Adalbert's health, and of the eleven splendid golden sovereigns.

”And very nice too. I congratulate you,” said the Honourable John Ruffin cheerfully.

”Thank you,” said Pollyooly.

”I always have heard that the grand duke is a very decent sort, as well as being astute; and this proves it,” he said.

”But it does seem such a lot for the little I've done. I could have done a lot more, if I'd known,” said Pollyooly in a tone of discomfort.

”Not a bit of it,” said the Honourable John Ruffin in a confident tone.

”As what you've done goes, eleven golden sovereigns isn't a penny too much for it. I haven't observed the treatment; but I have no doubt that you're making another boy of Prince Adalbert.”

”Well, he does look better and he does get about quicker than he did,”

said Pollyooly slowly, weighing her words.

”Well, that's a good deal,” said the Honourable John Ruffin in an encouraging tone.

”And he is a little brighter too, though he does only grunt; and of course he behaves better; he doesn't knock the other children about like he used to.”

”Well, there you are,” said the Honourable John Ruffin, in the tone of one completely satisfied.