e is run--How
does it go on, Clarice? I forget the rest of it."

"It is a pity you didn't forget the whole of it. I would if I were you,
and quickly, lest you horrify some one else with it. You are too big to
pose as a flowret, Bob."

"Polestar of my faith, see here. I'll have to be around with Hartman,
smoking and so on, nights, after you and the rest have turned in, and
often in the daylight. You and Jane can't attend to his case in person
all the time, you know, and I'm his host. What shall I say about you?"

"Anything you like. Praise me to the skies, of course. That will be in
keeping with your part as my cavalier; and he will see how things are
between us--on your side, I mean. Tell him about my few faults, if you
can bring yourself to mention them. Yes, you must; they will set off my
many virtues. Be perfectly natural about it: you have known and
cherished me from infancy, and so forth. Not a word, of course, about
our compact, and these rehearsals, and my coaching you--O you great
booby, were you capable of blurting that out? If you do, you'll spoil
all, and I'll never forgive you. Remember now: you profess to dread my
anger, and you have reason; you've felt it before. If you want me ever
to trust you again, keep to yourself what is between us; regard it as
sacred. O, I know you profess to look at all that belongs to me in that
light; but show your faith by your works. Swear it to me now."

I swore. That is a ceremony which has to be gone through rather
frequently with the Princess, and somehow I don't mind it. But how the
deuce is one to remember all these rules and regulations? I'll have to
get Clarice to write them out for me, by chapter and verse, with big
headings; then I'll get the thing printed, and carry it about with me,
and study it nights and mornings. But Mabel might find it in my clothes:
she is welcome to my secrets, but this is not mine. I might have it
printed in cipher; but then I should be sure to lose the key. O,
confound it all, I'll have to chance it: I'll be sure to slip up
somewhere, and then there'll be a row. Well, why borrow trouble? Let's
gather the flowers while we may: only there are none just here, and it
is too dark to find them. Then a thought suddenly struck me: why not
head off the difficulty by improving my position beforehand? "Princess
dearest, do you like me better than you used to, or is this only part
of the play, the excitement of practicing for a newcomer? Tell me,
p