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upon her。 No sense of time。 Too easy…going。 No idea of keeping
people up to the mark。〃 So Mr。 Arlington； over the nuts and wine。
〃It's pure laziness。 Oh； yes； it is。 My friends say I'm so
'restful'； but that's the proper explanation of itborn laziness。
And yet I try。 You have no idea； Professor Littlecherry； how much I
try。〃 So Mrs。 Arlington； laughingly； while admiring the Professor's
roses。
Besides； how absurd to believe that Malvina could possibly change
anybody！ Way back； when the human brain was yet in process of
evolution； such things may have been possible。 Hypnotic suggestion；
mesmeric influence； dormant brain cells quickened into activity by
magnetic vibration。 All that had been lost。 These were the days of
George the Fifth； not of King Heremon。 What the Professor was
really after was： How would Malvina receive the proposal？ Of
course she would try to get out of it。 A dear little thing。 But
could any sane man； professor of mathematics 。 。 。
Malvina was standing beside him。 No one had remarked her entrance。
The eyes of the twins had been glued upon the wise and learned
Christopher。 The Professor； when he was thinking； never saw
anything。 Still； it was rather startling。
〃We should never change what the good God has once fashioned；〃 said
Malvina。 She spoke very gravely。 The childishness seemed to have
fallen from her。
〃You didn't always think so；〃 said the Professor。 It nettled the
Professor that all idea of this being a good joke had departed with
the sound of Malvina's voice。 She had that way with her。
She made a little gesture。 It conveyed to the Professor that his
remark had not been altogether in good taste。
〃I speak as one who has learned；〃 said Malvina。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said the Professor。 〃I ought not to have said
that。〃
Malvina accepted the Professor's apology with a bow。
〃But this is something very different；〃 continued the Professor。
Quite another interest had taken hold of the Professor。 It was easy
enough to summon Dame Commonsense to one's aid when Malvina was not
present。 Before those strange eyes the good lady had a habit of
sneaking away。 Supposeof course the idea was ridiculous； but
supposesomething did happen！ As a psychological experiment was
not one justified？ What was the beginning of all science but
applied curiosity？ Malvina might be ableand willingto explain
how it was done。 That is； if anything did happen； which； of course；
it wouldn't； and so much the better。 This thing had got to be
ended。
〃It would be using a 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 forwell； 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 open。
They were tremendously relieved； though what they had feared they
never knew。 They sat down； one on each side of her； and each took a
hand； but in spite of her eyes being open； it was quite a time
before she seemed conscious of their return。 She rose and slowly
looked about her； and as she did so the church clock struck nine。
She could not at first believe it was so late。 Convinced by looking
at her watchthere was just light enough for her to see itshe
became all at once more angry than the twins had ever known her； and
for the first time in their lives they both experienced the
sensation of having their ears boxed。 Nine o'clock was the proper
time for supper and they were half an hour from home； and it was all
their fault。 It did not take them half an hour。 It took them
twenty minutes； Mrs。 Arlington striding ahead and the twins panting
breathless behind her。 Mr。 Arlington had not yet returned。 He came
in five minutes afterwards； and Mrs。 Arlington told him what she
thought of him。 It was the shortest supper within the twins'
recollection。 They found themselves in bed ten minutes in advance
of the record。 They could hear their mother's voice from the
kitchen。 A jug of milk had been overlooked and had gone sour。 She
had given Jane a week's notice before the clock struck ten。
It was from Mr。 Arlington that the Professor heard the news。 Mr。
Arlington could not stop an instant； dinner being at twelve sharp
and it wanting but ten minutes to； but seems to have yielded to
temptation。 The breakfast hour at the Manor Farm was now six a。m。；
had been so since Thursday； the whole family fully dressed and Mrs。
Arlington presiding。 If the Professor did not believe it he could
come round any morning and see for himself。 The Professor appears
to have taken Mr。 Arlington's word for it。 By six…thirty everybody
at their job and Mrs。 Arlington at hers； consisting chiefly of
seeing to it for the rest of the day that everybody was。 Lights out
at ten and everybody in bed； most of them only too glad to be there。
〃Quite right； keeps us all up to the mark；〃 was Mr。 Arlington's
opinion （this was on Saturda