An emotion that is new to me happened. It was as if my heart beat in my throat.
"We are dawdling by this fountain," I said. "Where are the woods?"
After that we were gay. He told me of many things. I seemed to see a clear picture of the world as he talked—a light and pleasant world, where no one was so foolish as to care for anything seriously.
One felt a donkey, to worry or grieve when the sun shone and the birds sang!
How I enjoyed myself!
"Has Babykins chirped at you yet?" he asked, presently. "She is very dangerous when she chirps."
"I do not like her," I said.
"Oh, you will presently. We all love Babykins. She acts as a sort of moral mosquito in a big party. She flies around stinging every one, and then we compare our bites and tear and scratch the irritated places together. You will meet her everywhere—she is the only person Tilchester takes a serious interest in."
"Are you staying here," I asked, "or did you only drive over?"
"I sent for my servant to bring my things, and I shall stay now I find you. You always seem to forget we are cousins, and that people ought to take an interest in their relations!"