The tailor-made lady rose to the occasion with an intuition which only could be feminine and a self-possession which only could be English. She bowed to the Pope, saying "Your Holiness will pardon the intrusion. The children escaped us at the fork in the path——"
"But it is a pleasure," Hadrian hypocritically put in: "it is a pleasure," He repeated, seeing that she was about to withdraw her charges; "and it would be a greater pleasure to know the names of these little ones."
"The Prince Filiberto, the Princess Yolanda, and the Princess Mafalda," the lady replied: "the Queen is giving a children's picnic in Lady Demochede's woods; and we took the liberty of trespassing here in search of wild-flowers. Of course we had no idea——"
"Missy," said the boy again, "I wish to speak to this white father." He was standing with his exquisite fair little legs wide-apart, his little body splendidly poised; and his glance was the glance of a young lion.
"Is it permitted?" Hadrian inquired of the governess.
"Oh surely;" she assented with perfection of manner.
"I wish to ask this white father whether he can speak English words like me;" the youngster proclaimed, keeping at a distance until he had reconnoitred the position.
"Don't be silly 'Berto, of course he can. This is Papa Inglese, I think;" said the Princess Yolanda with the daintiest air of regality. She was a very stately little person, and quite aware of herself; and her great black eyes were wonderful. Her younger sister sucked a silent thumb.
"Then I wish to know whether I may kiss that ring—the big one. I always kiss rings when fathers wear them," her brother continued. He quite ingenuously offered his little token of regard, giving reasons for the same in the manner of one who is too noble to take advantage of ignorance or even of blind good-nature. Hadrian had not the faintest notion of what to say. He never in His life had spoken to a Royal Highness; and the childhood of the child had tied His tongue. He would not have hesitated for one moment to converse with an angel: indeed He would have been rather more than garrulous. But with a human baby boy! He extended His right hand.
The princelet took it: looked at it: looked from the great gold Little-Peter-in-a-Boat to the great amethyst; and pondered them. "I think I will kiss them both;" he said at length. The full soft rose-leaf of his lips flitted from the pontifical to the episcopal ring. He lifted his bright head; and boldly looked into the Pope's eyes, with a smile disclosing the most wonderful little teeth—with a gaze which told of a pact of friendship sealed.