"I shall have to grow up a bit first, I suppose," said the prospective Galahad regretfully. "But I don't want to go back to Uncle Joseph till then."
"Why should you?" urged the small temptress at his side. "He won't require you now that his Lady has come back to him. You are free to be anything you like."
"The difficult part," remarked the practical Philip, "will be to make a start at being anything. To begin with, I don't know where to go."
"Come to us," said Miss Falconer promptly.
Swiftly she sketched out her plans to her mesmerised companion.
"I will take you up to the house now," she said. "I will put you into the studio: Dad is never there after dark. You can stay all night—"
She paused, and turned to Philip enquiringly.
"You won't be frightened?" she enquired, half-apologetically.
"Knights are never frightened," replied Philip axiomatically.
"You can sleep on the model-throne," continued Peggy, taking all obstacles in her stride. "I will bring you in some supper, and no one will know. Then, when Mother comes to see me in bed, I shall tell her about you, and we will settle what to do next. But you mustn't—not on any account—let Dad see you, or he would have one of his tempers. Come on!"