Part 22 (1/2)

”I don't think she would,” said the princess with a faint sigh; and she looked at Erebus with envious eyes. ”But when she starts making a fuss and gets so red and excited, she--she--rather frightens me.”

”It would take a lot more than that to frighten me,” said Erebus with a very cold ferocity.

”I rather like people like that. I think they look so funny when they're really red and excited,” said the Terror gently. ”But what you've got to do is to stand up to her.”

”Stand up to her?” said the princess, puzzled by the idiom.

”Tell her that you don't care what she says,” said the Terror.

”Cheek her,” said Erebus.

”I couldn't. It would be too difficult,” said the princess, shaking her head.

”Of course it isn't easy at first; but you'll be surprised to find how soon you'll get used to shutting her up,” said the Terror. ”But I don't believe in cheeking her unless she gets very noisy. I believe in being quite polite but not giving way.”

”She is very noisy,” said the princess.

”Oh, then you'll have to shout at her. It's the only way. But mind you only have rows when you're in the right about something,” said the Terror. ”Then she'll soon learn to leave you alone. It's no good having a row when you're in the wrong.”

”I think it's best always to have a row,” said Erebus with an air of wide experience.

”Well, it isn't--at least it wouldn't be for the princess--she's not like you,” said the Terror quickly.

”Oh, no: not always--only when one is in the right. I see that,” said the princess. ”But what should I have a row about?”

The Twins puckered their brows as they cudgeled their brains for a pretext for an honest row.

Presently the Terror said: ”Why don't you make them let you have some one to play with? It's silly being as dull as you are. What's the good of being a princess, if you haven't any friends?”

”Oh, yes!” cried the princess; and her cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkled. ”It would be nice! You and Erebus could come to tea with me and sooper and loonch often and again!”

The Twins looked at each other with eyes full of a sudden dismay. It was not in their scheme of things as they should be that they should go to the Grange in the immaculate morning dress of an English boy and girl, and spend stiff hours in the presence of a crimson baroness.

”That wouldn't do at all,” said the Terror quickly. ”You had better not tell them anything at all about us. They wouldn't let us come to the Grange; and they'd stop you coming here. It's ever so much nicer meeting secretly like this.”

”But it would be very nice to meet at the Grange as well as here,” said the princess, who felt strongly that she could not have enough of this good thing.

”It couldn't be done. They wouldn't have us at the Grange,” said Erebus, supporting the Terror.

”But why not?” said the princess in surprise.

”The people about here don't understand us,” said the Terror somewhat sadly. ”They'd think we should be bad for you.”

”But it is not so! You are ever so good to me!” cried the princess hotly.

”It's no good. You couldn't make grown-ups see that--you know what they are. No; you'd much better leave it alone, and sit tight and meet us here,” said the Terror.

The princess sat thoughtful and frowning for a little while; then she sighed and said: ”Well, I will do what you say. You know more about it.”

”That's all right,” said the Terror, greatly relieved.

There was a short silence; then he said thoughtfully: ”I tell you what: it would be a good thing if you were to get some muscle on you.