. Hurst? Kit is there too!'

'You must really excuse me,' said the Doctor, stiffly, as he took up his
hat and stick; 'but, really----'

'Oh, Dr. Hurst, _do_ come,' begged the child, her little black eyes
bright with entreaty. In spite of her temporary disloyalty during the
period of 'quorranteen' to the prince who had once been a beast, she
still considered him worthy to stay in her kingdom with the magician
and other privileged folk; and it really hurt her to feel that he did not
appreciate Jill and Kit, and that Jill and Kit on their side did not know
he had been disenchanted quite six weeks ago. Surely, she thought, if
they were all properly brought together, they could not fail to like one
another.

The Doctor hesitated, and Barbara waited anxiously. He thought he only
had to decide whether he should leave at once, or whether he should stay
and be laughed at by the other schoolgirl outside--the one who had made
him feel so stupid at Mrs. Crofton's dinner-party. But to Barbara his
decision meant much more than that, for it was going to determine whether
a certain beast was a prince, or whether a certain prince was a beast.

So she waited with a look of thrilling expectancy on her face; and the
other two, who had never seen her look like that before, began to feel
a little doubtful about the way she was behaving.

'I say, Babe, don't!' whispered Jean, tugging at her.

The little movement roused the Doctor, and recalled him to the absurdity
of his position. He bowed, and walked with sudden determination to the
door.

'Good afternoon,' he said curtly; and the disappointment on Barbara's face
haunted him in the most tiresome manner for the rest of the day.

Babs stood motionless for nearly a minute after he had gone. Then she
smiled a little wistfully to herself.

'After all, he must have found it rather lonely without a princess, and I
can't find a princess,' she reflected out loud.

'What _are_ you talking about?' asked Jean.

'Hadn't we better go back to Jill?' added Angela, impatiently.

Barbara gave a start. 'What a silly duffer I am!' she cried joyfully. 'Of
course, there's Jill; and she's been there all the time!'

'Yes, she has,' said Jean, bluntly, 'and it's time you remembered it, for
she must be tired of waiting for us by this----'

Barbara interrupted her with another remark--rather a mournful one this
time.

'It never comes right,' she sighed. 'Now, I've got a princess without a
prince!'