It was at that moment that Madge slipped out on the houseboat deck to see if Tania were all right. To her surprise she saw that Philip Holt was talking to the little girl. She had not thought that Philip Holt cared enough for children to waste a minute’s time with them. She therefore wondered at his sudden interest in Tania. Madge walked quietly off the houseboat. She was wearing tennis shoes and her softly-shod feet made no sound. She caught one glimpse of Tania’s mute, white face and stopped short in time to hear Philip say:
“Even if you do tell that old Sal is my mother, Tania, no one will believe you. She herself will deny it and help me to have you shut up,” declared Philip Holt menacingly.
Madge caught each word as though it had been addressed to her. For Tania’s sake, and because she knew that for many reasons it was wiser, she held her peace for the time being.
“How do you do, Mr. Holt?” she asked innocently. “I just saw you from the deck of the houseboat.”
Philip Holt leaped to his feet. But Madge’s eyes were so clear and serene, her face so calm, that it was utterly impossible she could have overheard him.
Philip delivered Mrs. Curtis’s message and then left the two girls together. Madge dropped down on the sands by Tania and put her arm about her. “You need never tell me who Mr. Holt is, nor why you are afraid of him, Tania,” she whispered; “I overheard what he said, and you need not be afraid. I will take care of you!”
“He is the Wicked Genii,” faltered Tania, “who hated the Princess and wanted to drive her away from her kingdom in Fairyland.”
“But he can’t harm you, Tania, dear,” comforted Madge. “He dare not try to take you away from us. I am going to tell Mrs. Curtis all about this Wicked Genii and if I’m not mistaken it will be he, not you who is sent away.”