etend you are not at the
bottom of it, for I am old enough to know better. No," as he shrugged his
shoulders and spread out his hands, "it's not a bit of good doing that.
It doesn't deceive me in the least. I know you did it, and you're a
perfect dear, and it was sweet of you to think of it. It's the best
picnic I ever went to. And you even thought of tea," catching sight of a
small spirit-kettle that sang in a sheltered corner. "Let's have some at
once, shall we? I'm so thirsty."

He had forgotten nothing. From a basket he produced cups, saucers,
plates, knives, and arranged them on his improvised table.

Chris surveyed the cake with frank satisfaction. "What a mercy the gulls
didn't seize it while your back was turned! Do cut it, quick!"

"No, no! You will perform that ceremony," smiled Bertrand.

"Shall I? Oh, very well. I expect I shall do it very badly. What lovely
sweets! Did they come out of the Magic Cave? I hope they won't vanish
before we come to eat them."

"I thought that my bird of Paradise would like them," he said softly.

"Your bird of Paradise loves them," promptly returned Chris. "In fact, if
you ask me, I think she is inclined to be rather greedy. Please take the
kettle off. It's spluttering. You must make the tea if I'm to cut the
cake. And let's be quick, shall we? I believe it's going to rain!"

They were not very quick, however, for, as Chris herself presently
remarked, one couldn't scramble over such a cake as that. And the rain
came down in a sharp shower before they had finished, and drove them into
the Magic Cave for shelter.

The girl's young laughter echoed weirdly along the rocky walls as she
entered, and she turned with a slightly startled expression to make sure
that her companion was close to her.

He had paused to rescue the remains of the feast. "Quick!" she called to
him. "You will be drenched."

"_Je viens vite--vite_," he called back, and in a few seconds was at her
side.

"_Comment_!" he said. "You are afraid, no?"

"No," said Chris, colouring under his look of inquiry. "But it's horribly
eerie. Where is Cinders?"

A muffled bark from the depths of the cave answered her. Cinders was
obviously exploring on his own account, and believed himself to be on the
track of some quarry.

"Light the lantern--quick!" commanded Chris, her misgivings diverted into
another channel. "We mustn't lose him. Isn't it cold!"

She shivered in her light dress, but turned inwards resolut