The Terrible Twins

ce the cost of a visit to the sea was more than their mother could afford. They were allowed to encamp for ten days, if the weather we

ey could. She was so deeply grieved to learn that she was no longer going to enjoy their society that, in spite of the fact that she had been made well aware that they despised and abhorred tears, she was

loring bitterly the fact that she would not see them on

eagerly. "A week of it would buck you up more than a month at t

ened at the splendid thought. Then it fell;

p away and come with us. We've kept our knowing you so dark

afternoons she spent with the Twins in the wood; whole days with them would be beyond the delight of dreams. But to her unadventured soul the

e got to go down every day for milk and things, and they're sure to ask me if I've seen anything of you. Of cours

drawback,"

Terror's brow; and he said: "If only you weren't a princess they wouldn't make h

the camp incognita, of c

moment; then his face cleared in

hy, you'd be some one else and not the princess at all! W

aid Erebus, perceiving the

ess von Zwettel when I tr

have a title. But I think an English one would be best here: Lady Rowington now. No

would wish an English title

ng them think that she'd been stolen by gip

considering. Then he added, "I tell you what though: Nihilists would-at

id the princess. "There ar

do," said the T

mp, to give them time to have everything in order. Then they discussed her needs. She could not bring away w

incess, thrusting her hand into her

in it, and handed it to the Terror. He and Erebus examined

anyhow. There's a pool just under the knoll," sa

pounds and be on the

the door of the peach-garden at nine o'clock, or thereabouts at night. He would wait half an hour that she might not have to hurry

shirts, a blue jersey against the evening chill, a cap, sandals, stockings, underclothing and a bathing-dress. They carried the parc

at his ingenious device for throwing

Skull and Cross

ed. A Despara

much pleased wi

dred yards of path to it was very narrow so that they transported their belongings to the

, would be restful and pleasant. She was sure that they might quite safely be trusted to encamp by themselves on Deeping Knoll. Not only were they of approved readiness and resource; but buried in the heart of that wood, they were as safe fro

a heap as they brought them up, in their proper caves. With a break of an hour for a bath this occupied them till tea-time. After tea they bathed again and then set about collecting fuel from th

ht o'clock the Terror set out to keep his tryst with the princess. He took with him the Socialist manifesto and pinned it to the post of a wicket gate opening from the gardens into t

her warmly; and as they went up the screen of trees she told him how she had bidden the baroness and Miss Lambart good night, gone to her bedroom, ruf

unding; and in the dimness strange terrifying shapes seemed to move. The Terror was not long discovering her fear, and forthwith put his arm round her wai

ess was no longer frightened; she still thrilled to the eeriness of the woods, but she felt quite safe with the Terror. When they rested she snuggled up against him, stared before her into the dark, and thought of all the heroes

he was almost so

the foot of

r a while in a row before the glowing fire, talking of the Hartz Mountains, which the princess had visited. But soon the

terrified reluctance to sleep in it alone, that her couch of bracken and her blankets were moved into

did not like it (she had had no experience of cold baths) but under the eye of Erebus she could not shrink; and in she went. She came out shi

gan directly after breakfast with dish-washing; after that she was breathless for an hour in two excited games both of which meant running through the caves and round and over the knoll as hard as you could run and at short interva

, to dry and dress, a full half-hour before he and Erebus left it. After dinner the princess was so sleepy that she could hardly keep her eyes open; and the Terror insisted that she

hat the princess had become Lady Rowington, he would be able with sufficient truthfulness to profess an entire ignor

uite of the princess were content with the socialist explanation of her disappearance; and three counties round were being searched by active policemen on bicycles for some o

he routes by which the Socialists might have carried her off, and the towns in which the lair to which they had taken her might b

surprise; and the T

nd then he said reproachfully: "You migh

soon as you heard she was mi

known you knew her

dy knows," said E

traveling name of Lady Rowington; and she's not the princess at all. So i

go!" said Wiggins cheerful

her," said the Terror. "So I'm going to block the path with thorn-bushes; and any one who comes up

ey won't. I didn'

lead it at the required speed. Never in the history of the courts of Europe has a princess been so hauled, shoved, dragged, jerked, towed and lugged over rough ground. On the

st violent and thrilling moments his care for her never relaxed. He rubbed the ache out of her bruises; he plastered her scratches. He saw to it that she came out of the pool the moment that she looked chill. He picked out for her the tidbits at their meals. He even brushed out her hair, for the thick golden ma

k. Heaven knows that the princess was not a demonstrative child; indeed, she had never had the chance. But he had just finished his task and

are nice!

to the winds. He flushed and gazed round the wood wit

and said in a tone of distress: "

rror in his throat, and said, faint

he princess simply, sn

Terror swept the woods; t

w," said the princess in a

at last worked. He rose to

be getting t

ess rose

ike them. But he strictly enjoined discretion on her; it would never do for Erebus to learn that she kissed him. The princess had no desire that Erebus, or any

and he never dreamed that he was letting an uncommonly awkward cat out

rincess, kissing her like that. I think it

arm and cried fierc

er eyes were flashing. He had seen her angry often enough, but never so ang

issed him," he

t her!" cried

didn't," said

d!" cried Erebus

uite easy to make a mistake about

om his reluctant lips the story of the surprised idyl. He had seen t

e line of the least resistance, sought the princess. S

er and cried fiercely: "Princess or no

made a face in her life; it is not improbable, seeing how sheltered a life she had led, that she

sha

you!" cried Erebus; a

racious provision of nature even the timidest female will fight in the mat

nd if you do he'll s

; and the Queensberry rules only permit you to strike any one standing up. Erebus forgot them, stooped to strike

d strengthening the barrie

ng the princess! I never hea

himself sensible to the emotions of his sister; b

harm is th

what mollycoddles do

n turned brazen; he s

sh at all! She's asked me to marry her; and