There they were, only ten minutes in the room, and Mr. Dudgeon, who had never seen Mabel or Jean before, was hearing all about the Story Books.
And Adelaide Maud, who had begun to imagine she knew the Leightons, heard this great fable for the first time in her life.
"Uncle," she said, "uncle, isn't this sweet, isn't this fame?"
"It is," said he.
"Do you wonder that I don't go to the ball?" she asked. "And you've done this ever since you were children?" she asked. "Made fairies of us! And I'm 'Adelaide Maud,' am I? Who once called me Adelaide?" She looked puzzled. "Dear me, if only we had known. And not even Miss Grace to tell me!"
"Oh, we bound them over," said Mabel, "and no one else ever heard of it."
"She doesn't tell you all," said wicked Jean. "She doesn't tell you that we sat behind you once at a concert, and Mabel saw, properly you know, how your blue dress was made."
"Oh, Jean, Jean," said Mabel.
"Yes, and had hers made just like it," said Jean. She spread her hands a little.
"Rucked down the front, you remember."