She spoke with an air of haste and fear which alarmed him.
"Oh, Prin, what is the matter? What is frightening you?" he asked. "Where are you going? You forget that room does not belong to us now."
"Oh!" She shrank back with panting breath, and eyes big with consternation. "Where can we go, then? Think, Bert. Find some place for me."
Bert was appalled by the utter strangeness of the situation. That the Princess, who had always taken the lead and given him his orders, should now appeal to him in this helpless way, seemed past belief. Surely she must be ill, or something terrible had happened to her. But Bert rose to the occasion.
"The room is empty," he said. "I daresay Mrs. Brown would let us have it, if I asked her. I've saved pennies enough to pay for it for one week."
"Oh, I've money," said Prin quickly. "Here, take some, and pay for it in advance."
She gave him two shillings, and Bert hurried away. When she saw the money in his hand, Mrs. Brown readily agreed to let him have the room. She was much astonished to hear that his sister had come back, and she asked various questions, which Bert would not stay to answer, when once he had obtained possession of the key. He ran back to Prin, opened the door, and they entered the room.
The place smelt close and musty from having been shut up so long. Dust lay thickly everywhere. Bert felt that it was a poor place for Prin to stay in; but she uttered no complaint, only sank on to the nearest chair, heedless of the dust that covered it, and breathed a sigh of utter weariness.
"Ah, you're very tired, Prin, and it's a poor room for you after the lovely houses you've been in; but wait a moment, and I'll open the window and put the place to rights a bit."
Prin made no reply, and Bert hastened to do as he said. He opened the window, then ran off to beg a piece of candle from Mrs. Brown, for it was almost dark in the little room. When he had lighted the candle, he turned to look at Prin. She sat staring blankly before her with such a hopeless, miserable expression, that Bert felt a fresh pang of fear.