Part 27 (1/2)

On his words Erebus came flying down the face of the knoll at a breakneck pace, yelling as she came, and flung herself upon the battling pair. As far as the spectators could judge she and the princess were rending Wiggins limb from limb; and they all three yelled their shrillest. Then with a yell the Terror leaped upon them from the cave and they were all four rolling on the ground while the aching welkin rang.

Suddenly the tangle of whirling limbs was dissolved as Erebus and Wiggins tore themselves free, gained their feet and fled. The princess and the Terror sat up, panting, flushed and disheveled. The princess wriggled close to the Terror, snuggled against him, and put an arm round his neck.

”It was splendid!” she cried, and kissed him.

Unaware of the watching eyes, he submitted to the embrace with a very good grace.

”Well, I never!” said Miss Lambart.

”These delicate children,” said Sir Maurice. ”But it's certainly a delightful place for lovers. I'm so glad we've found it.”

He was looking earnestly at Miss Lambart; and she felt that she was flus.h.i.+ng.

”Come along!” she said quickly.

They came out of their clump, about fifteen yards from their quarry.

The quick-eyed Terror saw them first. He did not stir; but a curious, short, sharp cry came from his throat. It seemed to loose a spring in the princess. She shot to her feet and stood prepared to fly, frowning. The Terror rose more slowly.

”Good afternoon, Highness. I've come to take you back to the Grange,”

said Miss Lambart.

”I'm not going,” said the princess firmly.

”I'm afraid you must. Your father is there; and he wants you,” said Miss Lambart.

”No,” said the princess yet more firmly; and she took a step sidewise toward the mouth of the cave.

The Terror nodded amiably to his uncle and put his hands in his pockets; he wore the detached air of a spectator.

”But if you don't come of yourself, we shall have to carry you,” said Miss Lambart sternly.

The Terror intervened; he said in his most agreeable tone: ”I don't see how you can. You can't touch a princess you know. It would be _lese-majeste_. She's told me all about it.”

The perplexity spread from the face of Miss Lambart to the face of Sir Maurice Falconer; he smiled appreciatively. But he said: ”Oh, come; this won't do, Terror, don't you know! Her highness will _have_ to come.”

”I don't see how you're going to get her. The only person who could use force is the prince himself, and I don't think he could be got up to the knoll. He's too heavy. I've seen him. And if you did get him up, I don't really think he'd ever find her in these caves,” said the Terror in the dispa.s.sionate tone of one discussing an entirely impersonal matter.

”Anyhow, I'm not going,” said the princess with even greater firmness.

Miss Lambart and Sir Maurice gazed at each other in an equal perplexity.

”You see, there isn't any real reason why she shouldn't stay here,”

said the Terror. ”She came to England to improve her health; and she's improving it ever so much faster here than she did at the Grange. You can _see_ how improved it is. She eats nearly as much as Erebus.”

”She has certainly changed,” said Miss Lambart in a tart tone which showed exactly how little she found it a change for the better.

”The Twins have a transforming effect on the young,” said Sir Maurice in a tone of resignation.

”I am much better,” said the princess. ”I'm getting quite strong, and I can run ever so fast.”