erest:

"Go on, Uncle Porges,--what about the dragons? Oh, please go
on!--there's always dragons in 'chanted castles, you know, to guard the
lovely Princess,--aren't you going to have any dragons that hiss, you
know, an' spit out smoke, an' flames? Oh!--do please have a dragon." And
Small Porges appeared from the other side of the hay-mow, flushed,
and eager.

"Certainly, my Porges," nodded Bellew, drawing the small figure down
beside him, "I was forgetting the dragons, but there they are, with
scaly backs, and iron claws, spitting out sparks and flames, just as
self-respecting dragons should, and roaring away like thunder."

"Ah!" exclaimed Small Porges, nestling closer to Bellew, and reaching
out a hand to Auntie Anthea, "that's fine! let's have plenty
of dragons."

"Do you think a--er--dozen would be enough, my Porges?"

"Oh yes! But s'pose the beautiful Princess didn't open the door,--what
would you do if you were really a wandering knight who was waiting
patiently for it to open,--what would you do then?"

"Shin up a tree, my Porges."

"Oh but that wouldn't be a bit right--would it, Auntie?"

"Of course not!" laughed Anthea, "it would be most un-knight-like, and
very undignified."

"'Sides," added Small Porges, "you couldn't climb up a tree in your
armour, you know."

"Then I'd make an awful' good try at it!" nodded Bellew.

"No," said Small Porges, shaking his head, "shall I tell you what you
ought to do? Well then, you'd draw your two-edged sword, an' dress your
shield,--like Gareth, the Kitchen Knave did,--he was always dressing his
shield, an' so was Lancelot,--an' you'd fight all those dragons, an'
kill them, an' cut their heads off."

"And then what would happen?" enquired Bellew.

"Why then the lovely Princess would open the gate, an' marry you of
course, an' live happy ever after, an' all would be revelry an' joy."

"Ah!" sighed Bellew, "if she'd do that, I think I'd fight all the
dragons that ever roared,--and kill them too. But supposing
she--er--wouldn't open the gate."

"Why then," said Small Porges, wrinkling his brow, "why then--you'd have
to storm the castle, of course, an' break open the gate an' run off with
the Princess on your charger,--if she was very beautiful, you know."

"A most excellent idea, my Porges! If I should happen to find myself in
like circumstances, I'll surely take your advice."

Now, as he spoke, Bellew glanced at Anthea, and she at him. And
straightway she