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enough to summon Dame Commonsense to one's aid when Malvina was not
present。 Before those strange eyes the good lady had a habit of
sneaking away。 Supposeof course the idea was ridiculous； but
supposesomething did happen！ As a psychological experiment was
not one justified？ What was the beginning of all science but
applied curiosity？ Malvina might be ableand willingto explain
how it was done。 That is； if anything did happen； which； of course；
it wouldn't； and so much the better。 This thing had got to be
ended。
〃It would be using a gift not for one's own purposes； but to help
others；〃 urged the Professor。
〃You see；〃 urged Victor； 〃mamma really wants to be changed。〃
〃And papa wants it too；〃 urged Victoria。
〃It seems to me； if I may so express it；〃 added the Professor； 〃that
really it would be in the nature of making amends forwell； for…
…for our youthful follies；〃 concluded the Professor a little
nervously。
Malvina's eyes were fixed on the Professor。 In the dim light of the
low…ceilinged room； those eyes seemed all of her that was visible。
〃You wish it？〃 said Malvina。
It was not at all fair； as the Professor told himself afterwards；
her laying the responsibility on him。 If she really was the
original Malvina； lady…in…waiting to Queen Harbundia； then she was
quite old enough to have decided for herself。 From the Professor's
calculations she must now be about three thousand eight hundred。
The Professor himself was not yet sixty； in comparison a mere babe！
But Malvina's eyes were compelling。
〃Well； it can't do any harm；〃 said the Professor。 And Malvina seems
to have accepted that as her authority。
〃Let her come to the Cross Stones at sundown；〃 directed Malvina。
The Professor saw the twins to the door。 For some reason the
Professor could not have explained； they all three walked out on
tiptoe。 Old Mr。 Brent； the postman； was passing； and the twins ran
after him and each took a hand。 Malvina was still standing where
the Professor had left her。 It was very absurd； but the Professor
felt frightened。 He went into the kitchen； where it was light and
cheerful； and started Mrs。 Muldoon on Home Rule。 When he returned
to the parlour Malvina was gone。
The twins did not talk that night； and decided next morning not to
say a word； but just to ask their mother to come for an evening walk
with them。 The fear was that she might demand reasons。 But； quite
oddly； she consented without question。 It seemed to the twins that
it was Mrs。 Arlington herself who took the pathway leading past the
cave； and when they reached the Cross Stones she sat down and
apparently had forgotten their existence。 They stole away without
her noticing them； but did not quite know what to do with
themselves。 They ran for half a mile till they came to the wood；
there they remained awhile； careful not to venture within； and then
they crept back。 They found their mother sitting just as they had
left her。 They thought she was asleep； but her eyes were wide open。
They were tremendously relieved； though what they had feared they
never knew。 They sat down； one on each side of her； and each took a
hand； but in spite of her eyes being open； it was quite a time
before she seemed conscious of their return。 She rose and slowly
looked about her； and as she did so the church clock struck nine。
She could not at first believe it was so late。 Convinced by looking
at her watchthere was just light enough for her to see itshe
became all at once more angry than the twins had ever known her； and
for the first time in their lives they both experienced the
sensation of having their ears boxed。 Nine o'clock was the proper
time for supper and they were half an hour from home； and it was all
their fault。 It did not take them half an hour。 It took them
twenty minutes； Mrs。 Arlington striding ahead and the twins panting
breathless behind her。 Mr。 Arlington had not yet returned。 He came
in five minutes afterwards； and Mrs。 Arlington told him what she
thought of him。 It was the shortest supper within the twins'
recollection。 They found themselves in bed ten minutes in advance
of the record。 They could hear their mother's voice from the
kitchen。 A jug of milk had been overlooked and had gone sour。 She
had given Jane a week's notice before the clock struck ten。
It was from Mr。 Arlington that the Professor heard the news。 Mr。
Arlington could not stop an instant； dinner being at twelve sharp
and it wanting but ten minutes to； but seems to have yielded to
temptation。 The breakfast hour at the Manor Farm was now six a。m。；
had been so since Thursday； the whole family fully dressed and Mrs。
Arlington presiding。 If the Professor did not believe it he could
come round any morning and see for himself。 The Professor appears
to have taken Mr。 Arlington's word for it。 By six…thirty everybody
at their job and Mrs。 Arlington at hers； consisting chiefly of
seeing to it for the rest of the day that everybody was。 Lights out
at ten and everybody in bed； most of them only too glad to be there。
〃Quite right； keeps us all up to the mark；〃 was Mr。 Arlington's
opinion （this was on Saturday）。 Just what was wanted。 Not perhaps
for a permanency； and； of course； there were drawbacks。 The
strenuous lifeseeing to it that everybody else leads the strenuous
life； it does not go with unmixed amiability。 Particularly in the
beginning。 New…born zeal： must expect it to outrun discretion。
Does not do to discourage it。 Modifications to be suggested later。
Taken all round； Mr。 Arlington's view was that the thing must be
regarded almost as the answer to a prayer。 Mr。 Arlington's eyes on
their way to higher levels； appear to have been arrested by the
church clock。 It decided Mr。 Arlington to resume his homeward way
without further loss of time。 At the bend of the lane the
Professor； looking back； observed that Mr。 Arlington had broken into
a trot。
This seems to have been the end of the Professor； regarded as a sane
and intelligent member of modern society。 He had not been sure at
the time； but it was now revealed to him that when he had urged
Malvina to test her strength； so to express it； on the unfortunate
Mrs。 Arlington； it was with the conviction that the result would
restore him to his mental equilibrium。 That Malvina with a wave of
her wandor whatever the hocus…pocus may have beenwould be able
to transform the hitherto incorrigibly indolent and easy…going Mrs。
Arlington into a sort of feminine Lloyd George； had not really
entered into his calculations。
Forgetting his lunch； he must have wandered aimlessly about； not
returning home until late in the afternoon。 During dinner he
appears to have been rather restless and nervous〃jumpy；〃 according
to the evidence of the little serving maid。 Once he sprang out of
his chair as if shot when the little serving maid accidentally let
fall a table…spoon； and twice he upset the salt。 It was at mealtime
that； as a rule； the Professor found his attitude towards Malvina
most sceptical。 A fairy who could put away quite a respectable cut
from the joint； followed by two helpings of pie； does take a bit of
believing in。 To…night the Professor found no difficulty。 The
White Ladies had never been averse to accepting mortal hospitality。
There must always have been a certain adaptability。 Malvina； since
that fateful night of her banishment； had； one supposes； passed
through varied experiences。 For present purposes she had assumed
the form of a jeune fille of the twentieth century （anno Domini）。
An appreciation of Mrs。 Muldoon's excellent cooking； together with a
glass of light sound claret； would naturally go with it。
One takes it that he could not for a moment get Mrs。 Arlington out
of his mind。 More than once； stealing a covert glance across the
table； it seemed to him that Malvina was regarding him with a
mocking smile。 Some impish spirit it must have been that had
prompted him。 For thousands of years Malvina had ledat all events
so far as was knowna reformed and blameless existence； had subdued
and put behind her that fatal passion of hers for change： in other
people。 What madness to have revived it！ And no Queen Harbundia
handy now to keep her in check。 The Professor had a distinct
sensation； while peeling a pear； that he was being turned into a
guinea…piga curious feeling of shrinking about the legs。 So vivid
was the impression； that involuntarily the Professor jumped off his
chair and ran to look at himself in the mirror over the sideboard。
He was not fully relieved even then。 It may have been the mirror。
It was very old； one of those things with little gilt balls all
round it； and it looked to the Professor as if his nose was growing
straight out of his face。 Malvina； trusting he had not been taken
suddenly ill； asked if there was anything she could do for him。 He
seems to have earnestly begged her not to think of it。
The Professor had taught Malvina cribbage； and usually of an evening
they played a hand or two。 But to…night the Professor was not in
the mood； and Malvina had contented herself with a book。 She was
particularly fond of the old chroniclers。 The Profes