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friendly magician。 He himself would have to go away for a little
while； but would return。
It did not seem to matter to Malvina； these minor details。 It was
evidentthe idea in her mindthat he had been appointed to her。
Whether as master or servant it was less easy to conjecture：
probably a mixture of both； with preference towards the latter。
He mentioned again that he would not be away for longer than he
could help。 There was no necessity for this repetition。 She wasn't
doubting it。
Weymouth with its bathing machines and its gasometer faded away。
King Rufus was out a…hunting as they passed over the New Forest； and
from Salisbury Plain； as they looked down； the pixies waved their
hands and laughed。 Later； they heard the clang of the anvil；
telling them they were in the neighbourhood of Wayland Smith's cave；
and so planed down sweetly and without a jar just beyond Cousin
Christopher's orchard gate。
A shepherd's boy was whistling somewhere upon the Downs； and in the
valley a ploughman had just harnessed his team； but the village was
hidden from them by the sweep of the hills； and no other being was
in sight。 He helped Malvina out； and leaving her seated on a fallen
branch beneath a walnut tree； proceeded cautiously towards the
house。 He found a little maid in the garden。 She had run out of
the house on hearing the sound of his propeller and was staring up
into the sky； so that she never saw him until he put his hand upon
her shoulder； and then was fortunately too frightened to scream。 He
gave her hasty instructions。 She was to knock at the Professor's
door and tell him that his cousin； Commander Raffleton； was there；
and would he come down at once； by himself； into the orchard。
Commander Raffleton would rather not come in。 Would the Professor
come down at once and speak to Commander Raffleton in the orchard。
She went back into the house； repeating it all to herself； a little
scared。
〃Good God！〃 said Cousin Christopher from beneath the bedclothes。
〃He isn't hurt； is he？〃
The little maid； through the jar of the door； thought not。 Anyhow；
he didn't look it。 But would the Professor kindly come at once？
Commander Raffleton was waiting for himin the orchard。
So Cousin Christopher； in bedroom slippers； without socks； wearing a
mustard…coloured dressing…gown and a black skull cap upon his head
the very picture of a friendly magiciantrotted hastily downstairs
and through the garden； talking to himself about 〃foolhardy boys〃
and 〃knowing it would happen〃； and was much relieved to meet young
Arthur Raffleton coming towards him； evidently sound in wind and
limb。 And then began to wonder why the devil he had been frightened
out of bed at six o'clock in the morning if nothing was the matter。
But something clearly was。 Before speaking Arthur Raffleton looked
carefully about him in a manner suggestive of mystery； if not of
crime； and still without a word； taking Cousin Christopher by the
arm； led the way to the farther end of the orchard。 And there； on a
fallen branch beneath the walnut tree； Cousin Christopher saw
apparently a khaki coat； with nothing in it； which； as they
approached it； rose up。
But it did not rise very high。 The back of the coat was towards
them。 Its collar stood out against the sky line。 But there wasn't
any head。 Standing upright； it turned round； and peeping out of its
folds Cousin Christopher saw a child's face。 And then looking
closer saw that it wasn't a child。 And then wasn't quite sure what
it was； so that coming to a sudden halt in front of it； Cousin
Christopher stared at it with round wide eyes； and then at Flight
Commander Raffleton。
It was to Malvina that Flight Commander Raffleton addressed himself。
〃This；〃 he said； 〃is Professor Littlecherry； my Cousin Christopher；
about whom I told you。〃
It was obvious that Malvina regarded the Professor as a person of
importance。 Evidently her intention was to curtsy； an operation
that； hampered by those trailing yards of clinging khaki； might
proveso it flashed upon the Professornot only difficult but
dangerous。
〃Allow me；〃 said the Professor。
His idea was to help Malvina out of Commander Raffleton's coat； and
Malvina was preparing to assist him。 Commander Raffleton was only
just in time。
〃I don't think；〃 said Commander Raffleton。 〃If you don't mind I
think we'd better leave that for Mrs。 Muldoon。〃
The Professor let go the coat。 Malvina appeared a shade
disappointed。 One opines that not unreasonably she may have thought
to make a better impression without it。 But a smiling acquiescence
in all arrangements made for her welfare seems to have been one of
her charms。
〃Perhaps；〃 suggested Commander Raffleton to Malvina while
refastening a few of the more important buttons； 〃if you wouldn't
mind explaining yourself to my Cousin Christopher just exactly who
and what you areyou'd do it so much better than I should。〃 （What
Commander Raffleton was saying to himself was： 〃If I tell the dear
old Johnny； he'll think I'm pulling his leg。 It will sound
altogether different the way she will put it。〃） 〃You're sure you
don't mind？〃
Malvina hadn't the slightest objection。 She accomplished her
curtsyor rather it looked as if the coat were curtsyingquite
gracefully； and with a dignity one would not have expected from it。
〃I am the fairy Malvina；〃 she explained to the Professor。 〃You may
have heard of me。 I was the favourite of Harbundia； Queen of the
White Ladies of Brittany。 But that was long ago。〃
The friendly magician was staring at her with a pair of round eyes
that in spite of their amazement looked kindly and understanding。
They probably encouraged Malvina to complete the confession of her
sad brief history。
〃It was when King Heremon ruled over Ireland；〃 she continued。 〃I
did a very foolish and a wicked thing； and was punished for it by
being cast out from the companionship of my fellows。 Since
then〃the coat made the slightest of pathetic gestures〃I have
wandered alone。〃
It ought to have sounded so ridiculous to them both； told on English
soil in the year One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fourteen to a smart
young officer of Engineers and an elderly Oxford Professor。 Across
the road the doctor's odd man was opening garage doors； a noisy milk
cart was clattering through the village a little late for the London
train； a faint odour of eggs and bacon came wafted through the
garden； mingled with the scent of lavender and pinks。 For Commander
Raffleton； maybe； there was excuse。 This story； so far as it has
gone； has tried to make that clear。 But the Professor！ He ought to
have exploded in a burst of Homeric laughter； or else to have shaken
his head at her and warned her where little girls go to who do this
sort of thing。
Instead of which he stared from Commander Raffleton to Malvina； and
from Malvina back to Commander Raffleton with eyes so astonishingly
round that they might have been drawn with a compass。
〃God bless my soul！〃 said the Professor。 〃But this is most
extraordinary！〃
〃Was there a King Heremon of Ireland？〃 asked Commander Raffleton。
The Professor was a well…known authority on th