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valley a ploughman had just harnessed his team； but the village was
hidden from them by the sweep of the hills； and no other being was
in sight。 He helped Malvina out； and leaving her seated on a fallen
branch beneath a walnut tree； proceeded cautiously towards the
house。 He found a little maid in the garden。 She had run out of
the house on hearing the sound of his propeller and was staring up
into the sky； so that she never saw him until he put his hand upon
her shoulder； and then was fortunately too frightened to scream。 He
gave her hasty instructions。 She was to knock at the Professor's
door and tell him that his cousin； Commander Raffleton； was there；
and would he come down at once； by himself； into the orchard。
Commander Raffleton would rather not come in。 Would the Professor
come down at once and speak to Commander Raffleton in the orchard。
She went back into the house； repeating it all to herself； a little
scared。
〃Good God！〃 said Cousin Christopher from beneath the bedclothes。
〃He isn't hurt； is he？〃
The little maid； through the jar of the door； thought not。 Anyhow；
he didn't look it。 But would the Professor kindly come at once？
Commander Raffleton was waiting for himin the orchard。
So Cousin Christopher； in bedroom slippers； without socks； wearing a
mustard…coloured dressing…gown and a black skull cap upon his head
the very picture of a friendly magiciantrotted hastily downstairs
and through the garden； talking to himself about 〃foolhardy boys〃
and 〃knowing it would happen〃； and was much relieved to meet young
Arthur Raffleton coming towards him； evidently sound in wind and
limb。 And then began to wonder why the devil he had been frightened
out of bed at six o'clock in the morning if nothing was the matter。
But something clearly was。 Before speaking Arthur Raffleton looked
carefully about him in a manner suggestive of mystery； if not of
crime； and still without a word； taking Cousin Christopher by the
arm； led the way to the farther end of the orchard。 And there； on a
fallen branch beneath the walnut tree； Cousin Christopher saw
apparently a khaki coat； with nothing in it； which； as they
approached it； rose up。
But it did not rise very high。 The back of the coat was towards
them。 Its collar stood out against the sky line。 But there wasn't
any head。 Standing upright； it turned round； and peeping out of its
folds Cousin Christopher saw a child's face。 And then looking
closer saw that it wasn't a child。 And then wasn't quite sure what
it was； so that coming to a sudden halt in front of it； Cousin
Christopher stared at it with round wide eyes； and then at Flight
Commander Raffleton。
It was to Malvina that Flight Commander Raffleton addressed himself。
〃This；〃 he said； 〃is Professor Littlecherry； my Cousin Christopher；
about whom I told you。〃
It was obvious that Malvina regarded the Professor as a person of
importance。 Evidently her intention was to curtsy； an operation
that； hampered by those trailing yards of clinging khaki； might
proveso it flashed upon the Professornot only difficult but
dangerous。
〃Allow me；〃 said the Professor。
His idea was to help Malvina out of Commander Raffleton's coat； and
Malvina was preparing to assist him。 Commander Raffleton was only
just in time。
〃I don't think；〃 said Commander Raffleton。 〃If you don't mind I
think we'd better leave that for Mrs。 Muldoon。〃
The Professor let go the coat。 Malvina appeared a shade
disappointed。 One opines that not unreasonably she may have thought
to make a better impression without it。 But a smiling acquiescence
in all arrangements made for her welfare seems to have been one of
her charms。
〃Perhaps；〃 suggested Commander Raffleton to Malvina while
refastening a few of the more important buttons； 〃if you wouldn't
mind explaining yourself to my Cousin Christopher just exactly who
and what you areyou'd do it so much better than I should。〃 （What
Commander Raffleton was saying to himself was： 〃If I tell the dear
old Johnny； he'll think I'm pulling his leg。 It will sound
altogether different the way she will put it。〃） 〃You're sure you
don't mind？〃
Malvina hadn't the slightest objection。 She accomplished her
curtsyor rather it looked as if the coat were curtsyingquite
gracefully； and with a dignity one would not have expected from it。
〃I am the fairy Malvina；〃 she explained to the Professor。 〃You may
have heard of me。 I was the favourite of Harbundia； Queen of the
White Ladies of Brittany。 But that was long ago。〃
The friendly magician was staring at her with a pair of round eyes
that in spite of their amazement looked kindly and understanding。
They probably encouraged Malvina to complete the confession of her
sad brief history。
〃It was when King Heremon ruled over Ireland；〃 she continued。 〃I
did a very foolish and a wicked thing； and was punished for it by
being cast out from the companionship of my fellows。 Since
then〃the coat made the slightest of pathetic gestures〃I have
wandered alone。〃
It ought to have sounded so ridiculous to them both； told on English
soil in the year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fourteen to a smart
young officer of Engineers and an elderly Oxford Professor。 Across
the road the doctor's odd man was opening garage doors； a noisy milk
cart was clattering through the village a little late for the London
train； a faint odour of eggs and bacon came wafted through the
garden； mingled with the scent of lavender and pinks。 For Commander
Raffleton； maybe； there was excuse。 This story； so far as it has
gone； has tried to make that clear。 But the Professor！ He ought to
have exploded in a burst of Homeric laughter； or else to have shaken
his head at her and warned her where little girls go to who do this
sort of thing。
Instead of which he stared from Commander Raffleton to Malvina； and
from Malvina back to Commander Raffleton with eyes so astonishingly
round that they might have been drawn with a compass。
〃God bless my soul！〃 said the Professor。 〃But this is most
extraordinary！〃
〃Was there a King Heremon of Ireland？〃 asked Commander Raffleton。
The Professor was a well…known authority on these matters。
〃Of course there was a King Heremon of Ireland；〃 answered the
Professor quite petulantlyas if the Commander had wanted to know
if there had ever been a Julius Caesar or a Napoleon。 〃And so there
was a Queen Harbundia。 Malvina is always spoken of in connection
with her。〃
〃What did she do？〃 inquired Commander Raffleton。 They both of them
seemed to be oblivious of Malvina's presence。
〃I forget for the moment；〃 confessed the professor。 〃I must look it
up。 Something； if I remember rightly； in connection with the
daughter of King Dancrat。 He founded the Norman dynasty。 William
the Conqueror and all that lot。 Good Lord！〃
〃Would you mind her staying with you for a time until I can make
arrangements；〃 suggested Commander Raffleton。 〃I'd be awfully
obliged if you would。〃
What the Professor's answer might have been had he been allowed to
exercise such stock of wits as he possessed； it is impossible to
say。 Of course he was interestedexcited； if you will。 Folklore；
legend； tradition； these had been his lifelong hobbies。 Apart from
anything else； here at least was a kindred spirit。 Seemed to know a
thing or two。 Where had she learned it？ Might not there be sources
unknown to the Professor？
But to take her in！ To establish her in the only spare bedroom。 To
introduce heras what？ to English village society。 To the new
people at the Manor House。 To the member of Parliament with his
innocent young wife who had taken the vicarage for the summer。 To
Dawson； R。A。； and the Calthorpes！
He might； had he thought it worth his while； have found some
respectable French family and boarded her out。 There was a man he
had known for years at Oxford； a cabinetmaker； the wife a most
worthy woman。 He could have gone over there from time to time； his
notebook in his pocket； and have interviewed her。
Left to himself； he might have behaved as a sane and rational
citizen； or he might not。 There are records favouring the latter
possibility。 The thing is not certain。 But as regards this
particular incident in his career he must be held exonerated。 The
decision was taken out of his hands。
To Malvina； on first landing in England； Commander Raffleton had
stated his intention of leaving her temporarily in the care of the
wise and learned Christopher。 To Malvina； regarding the Commander
as a gift from the gods； that had settled the matter。 The wise and
learned Christopher； of course； knew of this coming。 In all
probability it was heunder the guidance of the godswho had
arranged the whole sequence of events。 There remained only to
tender him her gratitude。 She did not wait for the Professor's
reply。 The coat a little hindered her but； on the other hand； added
perhaps an appealing touch of its own。 Taking the wise and learned
Christopher's hand in both her own； she knelt and kissed it。
And in that quaint archaic French of hers； that long study of the
Chronicles of Froissart enabled the Professor to understand：
〃I thank you；〃 she sa