The little chambermaid stared at him.
“I don’t want it. I don’t like it,” he said, glowering at the girl’s face. It was like a flower, like a star; it was beautiful. Ultimus could not take his eyes off it. Her eyes smiled back at his amazed curiosity. He stood and reeled and said:
“I love you.”
“Yes, sir,” replied the little chambermaid.
“My father said the Fattish were false. I asked them to send me the most beautiful woman in the land and they sent me a hideous old creature.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ah! Why did they not send you? We could have gone away at once, away, away, where there are no old women, no battleships, no beds.”
The little chambermaid by this time was fascinated, and she stayed with Ultimus all night, while he talked and told her how he had desired to see a woman and was now satisfied and never wished to see another, and how when he had seen the war he and she would retire to the island.
“Oh, sir,” said the little chambermaid. “And shall I be a Queen? And won’t the Fatters ever be able to get near the island? They all say the Fatters do awful things to women.”
Ultimus took her to his breast and they were joined in the mystical union of a kiss; and for many hours no word passed between them.