“I’ve heard my grandfather tell of it. But he always finished by saying there were none who ever solved the mystery of the voice that was stilled.”
“No, no one ever did,” said the Lady. “Yet, like so many things that are thought to be mysteries, it was really simple enough.”
“Then, for goodness’ sake, tell us the secret!” cried Monkey, “for I’m just bursting to know.”
“Why, it was like this: Long before Vargu—”
“The Watch! The Watch! The Petal Watch!” broke in Diggeldy Dan. “A thousand pardons, Pretty Lady, but it’s almost closed!”
“So it is,” cried she, jumping to her feet. “We’ve not a moment to lose.
“Back to your places, every one of you,” she added, as she bounded to her seat on the White-White Horse, “until half after twilight to-morrow, when I’ll come to tell you the rest.”
And with a hurried “Sleep tight” and a last silvery laugh, she sped away toward her home in the west.
CHAPTER X
IN WHICH THE PRETTY LADY TELLS OF MYSTERIES AND SPANGLES
“Well,” said Tiger, as he folded his paws in a most complacent manner, “I’m ready.”