“Oh, that’s nothing—at least not for me. But you?” said Miss Lambart, who had an utterly erroneous belief that Sir Maurice was something of a weakling.
“I can manage it. Your companionship will stimulate my flagging limbs,” said Sir Maurice. “Indeed, a real country walk on a warm and pleasant afternoon will be an experience I haven’t enjoyed for years.”
Miss Lambart was not long getting ready; and they set out across the park toward the knoll which rose, a rounded green lump, above the surface of the distant wood. Sir Maurice had once walked to it with the Twins; and he thought that his memory of the walk helped by a few inquiries of people they met would take him to it on a fairly straight course. It was certainly very pleasant to be walking with such a charming companion through such a charming country.
As soon as they were free of the gardens Miss Lambart said eagerly: “Where are we going to? Where do you think the princess is?”
“You’ve been here a month. Haven’t you heard of the Dangerfield twins?” said Sir Maurice.
“Oh, yes; we were trying to find children to play with the princess; and Doctor Arbuthnot mentioned them. But he said that they were not the kind of children for her, though they were the only high and well-born ones the baroness was clamoring for, in the neighborhood. He seemed to think that they would make her rebellious.”
“Then the princess didn’t know them?” said Sir Maurice quickly.
“No.”
“I wonder,” said Sir Maurice skeptically.
“We found a little boy called Rupert Carrington to play with her—a very nice little boy,” said Miss Lambart.