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so far as she could help it； no breath of suspicion that Malvina was
other than what in Drusilla's holiday frock she would appear to be
should escape into the village。 It was quite a pleasant little
frock of a summery character； with short sleeves and loose about the
neck； and fitted Malvina； in every sense； much better than the most
elaborate confection would have done。 The boots were not so
successful。 Malvina solved the problem by leaving them behind her；
together with the stockings； whenever she went out。 That she knew
this was wrong is proved by the fact that invariably she tried to
hide them。 They would be found in the most unlikely places； hidden
behind books in the Professor's study； crammed into empty tea
canisters in Mrs。 Muldoon's storeroom。 Mrs。 Muldoon was not to be
persuaded even to abstract them。 The canister with its contents
would be placed in silence upon the Professor's table。 Malvina on
returning would be confronted by a pair of stern； unsympathetic
boots。 The corners of the fairy mouth would droop in lines
suggestive of penitence and contrition。
Had the Professor been firm she would have yielded。 But from the
black accusing boots the Professor could not keep his eyes from
wandering to the guilty white feet； and at once in his heart
becoming 〃counsel for the defence。〃 Must get a pair of sandals next
time he went to Oxford。 Anyhow； something more dainty than those
grim； uncompromising boots。
Besides； it was not often that Malvina ventured beyond the orchard。
At least not during the day timeperhaps one ought to say not
during that part of the day time when the village was astir。 For
Malvina appears to have been an early riser。 Somewhere about the
middle of the night； as any Christian body would have timed it； Mrs。
Muldoonwaking and sleeping during this period in a state of high
nervous tensionwould hear the sound of a softly opened door；
peeping from a raised corner of the blind； would catch a glimpse of
fluttering garments that seemed to melt into the dawn； would hear
coming fainter and fainter from the uplands an unknown song；
mingling with the answering voices of the birds。
It was on the uplands between dawn and sunrise that Malvina made the
acquaintance of the Arlington twins。
They ought； of course； to have been in bedall three of them； for
the matter of that。 The excuse for the twins was their Uncle
George。 He had been telling them all about the Uffington spectre
and Wayland Smith's cave； and had given them 〃Puck〃 as a birthday
present。 They were always given their birthday presents between
them； because otherwise they did not care for them。 They had
retired to their respective bedrooms at ten o'clock and taken it in
turns to lie awake。 At the first streak of dawn Victoria； who had
been watching by her window； woke Victor； as arranged。 Victor was
for giving it up and going to sleep again； but Victoria reminding
him of the 〃oath；〃 they dressed themselves quite simply； and let
themselves down by the ivy。
They came across Malvina close to the tail of the White Horse。 They
knew she was a fairy the moment they saw her。 But they were not
frightenedat least not very much。 It was Victor who spoke first。
Taking off his hat and going down on one knee； he wished Malvina
good morning and hoped she was quite well。 Malvina； who seemed
pleased to see them； made answer； and here it was that Victoria took
charge of the affair。 The Arlington twins until they were nine had
shared a French nurse between them； and then Victor； going to
school； had gradually forgotten； while Victoria； remaining at home；
had continued her conversations with 〃madame。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Victoria。 〃Then you must be a French fairy。〃
Now the Professor had impressed upon Malvina that for reasons
needless to be explainedanyhow； he never had explained themshe
was not to mention that she was a fairy。 But he had not told her to
deny it。 Indeed how could she？ The most that could be expected
from her was that she should maintain silence on the point。 So in
answer to Victoria she explained that her name was Malvina； and that
she had flown across from Brittany in company with 〃Sir Arthur；〃
adding that she had often heard of England and had wished to see it。
〃How do you like it？〃 demanded Victoria。
Malvina confessed herself charmed with it。 Nowhere had she ever met
so many birds。 Malvina raised her hand and they all three stood in
silence； listening。 The sky was ablaze and the air seemed filled
with their music。 The twins were sure that there were millions of
them。 They must have come from miles and miles and miles； to sing
to Malvina。
Also the people。 They were so good and kind and round。 Malvina for
the present was staying withaccepting the protection； was how she
put it； of the wise and learned Christopher。 The 〃habitation〃 could
be seen from where they stood； its chimneys peeping from among the
trees。 The twins exchanged a meaning glance。 Had they not all
along suspected the Professor！ His black skull cap； and his big
hooked nose； and the yellow…leaved； worm…eaten booksof magic： all
doubts were now removedthat for hours he would sit poring over
through owlish gold…rimmed spectacles！
Victor's French was coming back to him。 He was anxious to know if
Malvina had ever met Sir Launcelot〃to talk to。〃
A little cloud gathered upon Malvina's face。 Yes； she had known
them all： King Uthur and Igraine and Sir Ulfias of the Isles。
Talked with them； walked with them in the fair lands of France。 （It
ought to have been England； but Malvina shook her head。 Maybe they
had travelled。） It was she who had saved Sir Tristram from the
wiles of Morgan le Fay。 〃Though that； of course；〃 explained
Malvina； 〃was never known。〃
The twins were curious why it should have been 〃of course；〃 but did
not like to interrupt again。 There were others before and after。
Most of them the twins had never heard of until they came to
Charlemagne； beyond which Malvina's reminiscences appeared to fade。
They had all of them been very courteous to her； and some of them
indeed quite charming。 But 。 。 。
One gathers they had never been to Malvina more than mere
acquaintances； such as one passes the time with while waitingand
longing。
〃But you liked Sir Launcelot；〃 urged Victor。 He was wishful that
Malvina should admire Sir Launcelot； feeling how much there was in
common between that early lamented knight and himself。 That little
affair with Sir Bedivere。 It was just how he would have behaved
himself。
Ah！ yes； admitted Malvina。 She had 〃liked〃 him。 He was always so
so 〃excellent。〃
〃But he was notnone of them were my own people； my own dear
companions。〃 The little cloud had settled down again。
It was Bruno who recalled the three of them to the period of
contemporary history。
Polley the cowman's first duty in the morning was to let Bruno loose
for a run。 He arrived panting and breathless； and evidently
offended at not having been included in the escapade。 He could have
given them both away quite easily if he had not been the most
forgiving of black…and…tan collies。 As it was； he had been worrying
himself crazy for the last half…hour； feeling sure they had
forgotten the time。 〃Don't you know it's nearly six o'clock？ That
in less than half an hour Jane will be knocking at your doors with
glasses of hot milk； and will probably drop them and scream when she
finds your beds empty and the window wide open。〃 That is what he
had intended should be his first words； but on scenting Malvina they
went from him entirely。 He gave her one look and flopped down flat；
wriggling towards her； whining and wagging his tail at the same
time。 Malvina acknowledged his homage by laughing and patting his
head with her foot； and that sent him into the seventh heaven of
delight。 They all four descended the hill together and parted at
the orchard gate。 The twins expressed a polite but quite sincere
hope that they would have the pleasure of seeing Malvina again； but
Malvina； seized maybe with sudden doubts as to whether she had
behaved with discretion； appears to have replied evasively。 Ten
minutes later she was lying asleep； the golden head pillowed on the
round white arm； as Mrs。 Muldoon on her way down to the kitchen saw
for herself。 And the twins； fortunate enough to find a side door
open； slipped into the house unnoticed and scrambled back into their
beds。
It was quarter past nine when Mrs。 Arlington came in herself and
woke them up。 She was short…tempered with them both and had
evidently been crying。 They had their breakfast in the kitchen。
During lunch hardly a word was spoken。 And there was no pudding。
Mr。 Arlington； a stout； florid gentleman； had no time for pudding。
The rest might sit and enjoy it at their leisure； but not so Mr。
Arlington。 Somebody had to see to thingsthat is； if they were not
to be allowed to go to rack and ruin。 If other people could not be
relied upon to do their duty； so that everything inside the house
and out of it was thrown upon one pair of shoulders； then it
followed as a natural consequence that that pair of shoulders could
not spare the necessary time to pr