XII

edonthisadventurethewholeraceofrogueshasbecometheobjectofmysincerestadmiration.Whatwits,whatquickness,whatgifts—sovariedandsodeftlyused—whatskillindeception,whatresourcefulnessindanger,whatself-command—" "YesbutFritziwhatarewetodo?" "Do,ma'am?Aboutyourroyalsisters?WouldtoheavenIhadbeenbornarogue!" "Yes,butasyouwerenot—oughtItogobackandsaythey'reonlyhalf-sisters?Orstep-sisters?Orsistersinlaw?Wouldn'tthatdo?" "Withwhomwereyouspeaking?" "Mr.Morrison." "Ma'am,letmebegyoutobemoreprudentwiththatyouththanwithanyone.OuryoungfriendC?sarAugustusisIbelieveharmlessnessitselfcomparedwithhim.Beonyourguard,ma'am.Curbthatfatalfeminineappendage,yourtongue.Ihaveremarkedthathewatchesus.ButashorttimesinceIsawhimeagerlyconversingwithyourGrandDucalHighness'smaid.FormehehasalreadylaidseveraltrapsthatIhaveonlyjustescapedfallingintobyanextraordinarypresenceofmindandanimblenessindialecticalmostworthyofabornrogue." "OhFritzi,"saidthefrightenedPriscilla,layingherhandonhissleeve,"dogoandtellhimIdidn'tmeanwhatIsaid." Fritzingwipedhisbrowagain."Ifailtounderstand,"hesaid,lookingatPriscillawithworriedeyes,"whatthereisaboutusthatcanpossiblyattractanyone'sattention." "Why,thereisn'tanything,"saidPriscilla,withconviction."We'vebeenmostcarefulandclever.Butjustnow—Idon'tknowwhy—Ibegantothinkaloud." "Thinkaloud?"exclaimedFritzing,horrified."Ohma'amletmebeseechyouneveragaintodothat.Betterathousandtimesnottothinkatall.WhatwasitthatyourGrandDucalHighnessthoughtaloud?" AndPriscilla,shamefaced,toldhimaswellasshecouldremember. "Iwillendeavourtoremedyit,"saidpoorFritzing,runninganagitatedhandthroughhishair. Priscillasighed,andstooddroopingandpenitentbythedresserwhilehewentdowntheroomtowhereRobinstillleanedagainstthewall. "Sir,"saidFritzing—henevercalledRobinyoungman,ashedidTussie—"myniecetellsmeyouareunabletodistinguishtruthfromparable." "What?"saidRobinstaring. "Youarenot,sir,tosupposethatwhenmyniecedescribedhersistersasdeadthattheyarenotreallyso." "Allrightsir,"saidRobin,hiseyesbeginningtotwinkle. "Theonlyportionofthestoryinwhichmynieceusedallegorywaswhenshedescribedthemashavingbeensmothered.Theseyoungladies,sir,diedintheordinaryway,intheirbeds." "Featherbeds,sir?"askedRobinbriskly. "Sir,Ihavenotinquiredintothenatureofthebeds,"saidFritzingwithseverity. "Isitnotratherunusual,"askedRobin,"fortwoyoungladiesinonefamilytodieatonce?Weretheyunhealthyyoungladies?" "Sir,theydidnotdieatonce,norweretheyunhealthy.Theywereperfectlyhealthyuntilthey—untiltheybegantodie." "Indeed,"saidRobin,withaninterestproperlytingedwithregret."Atleast,sir,"headdedpolitely,afterapauseinwhichheandFritzingstaredveryhardateachother,"ItrustImaybepermittedtoexpressmysympathy." "Sir,youmay."AndbowingstifflyFritzingreturnedtoPriscilla,andwithasighofreliefinformedherthathehadmadethingsrightagain. "DearFritzi,"saidPriscillalookingathimwithloveandadmiration,"howcleveryouare."