Penrod

elot mantled to the heels. "Do you know that you have kept an audience of five hundred peo

followed her toward the buzzing stage

n Guinevere were disclosed upon thrones, with the Child Elaine and many other celebrities in attendance; while about fifteen Child Knights were seated at a dining-room table round, which was covere

nts and palms have seldom been more lavis

ht" from the rear of the hall; and the c

tion came from the decorous and delighte

of the T

ights and

oy-siz al

hope and

ded his sceptre with the decisive

l knight an

e deeds

ld-world of

w small his

vance and t

s each to kni

nced without loathing. Georgie Bassett, a really angelic boy, had been selected for the role of Mordred. His perfect conduct had earned for him the sardonic sobriquet, "The Little Gentlem

ordred the Chi

elfishest ev

ness. Thought

is Mordred, a

emed to have assumed the title already. He made a plotter's exit. Whereupon Maurice Levy rose,

purest o

indest thoug

riches t

in the Ma

, and he bade Maurice "stand forth" and come near the thron

s chair, the table between him and the audien

Lancelot du L

rted, meek

I'm but a

rtud, meek

e though but

a Rewbush was heard from the wings, prompting i

though but-th

knight Si

den to join Sir Galahad at the throne. As he cross

fixed it to cover his whole costume. Aft

forward suddenly, narrowing her eyes to see better. "What is that thing hanging about his

d Mrs. Schofi

mble. Don't you see? It looks-it

tered in the human garment of a man. His stage-fright had passed, for the audience was but an indistinguishable blur of darkness beyond the dazzling lights. His most repulsive speech (that in which he proclaimed himsel

huldrun of th

indness al

d deeds striving

ul efforts e

hearts we

, faith, hope,

ened, and, uttering an irrepressible shriek of anguish, gave a brief exhibi

hirsty. Penrod released his victim; and the Child King Arthur, somewhat disconce

friends of th

love and ki

t, you have

, too, as c

doff your

knighted th

d doffed

both of dismay and incredulous joy, and by two dismal shrieks. Altogether it was an extraordinary sound, a sound never to be forgotten by any one who heard it. It was almost as unforgettable as the sight which

lost within their blue gulfs and vast saggings; and the left leg, too hastily rolled up, had descended with a di

at History in the Making. A supreme act is recognizable at sight: it bears the birthmark of immortality. But Pen

Child Sir La

eer to knig

here before

ow

reath, but had lost self-control, and there ensued something

maternal intentions; and these were profoundly impressed: they regarded him with the grisly admiration of young and ambitious criminals for a jail-mate about to be distinguished by hanging. But

n and brave girls in the audience went out into the lobby, shrieking and clinging to one another. Others remained, rocking in their seats, helpless and spent. The neighbourhood of Mrs. Schofield and Margaret became, tactfully, a desert. Friends of the

ed her