gift not for one's own purposes, but to help
others," urged the Professor.

"You see," urged Victor, "mamma really wants to be changed."

"And papa wants it too," urged Victoria.

"It seems to me, if I may so express it," added the Professor, "that
really it would be in the nature of making amends for--well, for--for
our youthful follies," concluded the Professor a little nervously.

Malvina's eyes were fixed on the Professor. In the dim light of the
low-ceilinged room, those eyes seemed all of her that was visible.

"You wish it?" said Malvina.

It was not at all fair, as the Professor told himself afterwards, her
laying the responsibility on him. If she really was the original
Malvina, lady-in-waiting to Queen Harbundia, then she was quite old
enough to have decided for herself. From the Professor's calculations
she must now be about three thousand eight hundred. The Professor
himself was not yet sixty; in comparison a mere babe! But Malvina's
eyes were compelling.

"Well, it can't do any harm," said the Professor. And Malvina seems to
have accepted that as her authority.

"Let her come to the Cross Stones at sundown," directed Malvina.

The Professor saw the twins to the door. For some reason the Professor
could not have explained, they all three walked out on tiptoe. Old Mr.
Brent, the postman, was passing, and the twins ran after him and each
took a hand. Malvina was still standing where the Professor had left
her. It was very absurd, but the Professor felt frightened. He went
into the kitchen, where it was light and cheerful, and started Mrs.
Muldoon on Home Rule. When he returned to the parlour Malvina was gone.

The twins did not talk that night, and decided next morning not to say
a word, but just to ask their mother to come for an evening walk with
them. The fear was that she might demand reasons. But, quite oddly,
she consented without question. It seemed to the twins that it was
Mrs. Arlington herself who took the pathway leading past the cave, and
when they reached the Cross Stones she sat down and apparently had
forgotten their existence. They stole away without her noticing them,
but did not quite know what to do with themselves. They ran for half a
mile till they came to the wood; there they remained awhile, careful
not to venture within; and then they crept back. They found their
mother sitting just as they had left her. They thought she was asleep,
but her eyes were wide o