"Take the ring off," said Kathleen, suddenly practical.
Another silence.
"I can't!" cried the Princess. "It won't come off. But it can't be the ring; rings don't make you invisible."
"You said this one did," said Kathleen, "and it has."
"But it can't," said the Princess. "I was only playing at magic. I just hid in the secret cupboard it was only a game. Oh, whatever shall I do?"
"A game?" said Gerald slowly; "but you can do magic the invisible jewels, and you made them come visible."
"Oh, it's only a secret spring and the panelling slides up. Oh, what am I to do?"
Kathleen moved towards the voice and gropingly got her arms round a pink-silk waist that she couldn't see. Invisible arms clasped her, a hot invisible cheek was laid against hers, and warm invisible tears lay wet between the two faces.
"Don't cry, dear," said Kathleen; "let me go and tell the King and
Queen."
"The ?"