"Let's go over to Woodland avenue and steal a lamp post."
Outside a gentle wind rustled the ivy vines clinging patiently to the Castle wall. Not another sound disturbed the stillness of the country night. Overcome by the silence I drifted away in the arms of sleep well content with my first hours in the Kingdom of Bharbazonia.
The next day we met Solonika.
CHAPTER VI
SOLONIKA'S SUMMER-HOUSE
And when a lady's in the case,
You know, all other things give place.
—Gay: Fables.
The General's was one of those angelic, choleric dispositions that frequently blow up under pressure of sudden anger, but emerge smiling from the havoc of the explosion, bearing no malice. When we met him at the breakfast table the next morning, the only reference he made to the boyish escapade of the night before was concealed in his pleasant greeting.
"Good morning, children."
"Good morning, sir," we unisoned like a Greek chorus.
"What new deviltry are you two planning this morning?"