Princess Polly, in the meantime, had awakened and missed Sprite. She dressed hastily.
As she passed the window a soft voice talking to Sir Mortimer made her pause and look out. She leaned from the window.
"Oh, there you are!" she cried. "I missed you, and I couldn't guess where you were. I'll come right down to the garden." She flew down the stairs, and out into the sunlight.
Sprite ran to meet her, and with their arms about each other, they paced up and down the broad piazza.
Sir Mortimer blinked at them as he sat in the sunlight, as if he approved of their merry chatter. Possibly he thought it fine that there were to be two little girls at Sherwood Hall to pet him.
"The garden is so lovely," Sprite said, as they paused to look out across the lawn.
"Come!" cried Polly. "I'll show you all the prettiest places."
The big cat followed them, trotting along the gravel walk, pausing whenever they did, as if all that Polly was showing was new to him.
And when they had admired the rippling brook that ran through the garden, the tall white lilies standing in queenly grace beside the stone wall, the terraces crowned with rose bushes, and the gorgeous beds of geraniums, they ran back to the piazza, and seated themselves in the hammock that swung in the breeze.
"Do you remember any of the pretty songs you used to sing last Summer when we were out on the beach, or sitting on the ledge?" Polly asked.