She found him examining and strengthening the barrier of thorns; and she cried:
“I know all about your kissing the princess! I never heard of such silly babyishness!”
It was very seldom, indeed, that the Terror showed himself sensible to the emotions of his sister; but on this occasion he blushed faintly as he said:
“Well, what harm is there in it?”
“It’s babyish! It’s what mollycoddles do! It’s girlish! It’s—”
The Terror of a sudden turned brazen; he said loudly and firmly:
“You mind your own business! It isn’t babyish at all! She’s asked me to marry her; and when we’re grown up I’m going to—so there!”
CHAPTER XI
AND THE UNREST CURE
Erebus knew her brother well; she perceived that she was confronted by what she called his obstinacy; and though his brazen-faced admission had raised her to the very height of amazement and horror, she uttered no protest. She knew that protest would be vain, that against his obstinacy she was helpless. She wrung her hands and turned aside into the wood, overwhelmed by his defection from one of their loftiest ideals.
Then followed a period of strain. She assumed an attitude of very haughty contempt toward the errant pair, devoted herself to Wiggins, and let them coldly alone. From this attitude Wiggins was the chief sufferer: the Terror had the princess and the princess had the Terror; Erebus enjoyed her display of haughty contempt, but Wiggins missed the strenuous life, the rushing games, in which you yelled so heartily. As often as he could he stole away from the haughty Erebus and joined the errant pair. It is to be feared that the princess found the kisses sweeter for the ban Erebus had laid on them.