"That's better," she said; "now we can begin."
In a moment she was up on the bed and had darted behind the curtains which she immediately drew closely till she was well hidden.
Montagu and Edmund looked at one another. What in the world did this portend?
Presently the curtains were parted a little, and a round, rosy face appeared in the aperture.
The boys stood at the end of the bed looking awkward and sheepish.
"Go on," she said impatiently; and she stamped her foot. "You must say it now."
"But we don't know what to say. Is it a game like proverbs, or what?" asked Edmund.
Herrick sighed, and stepped out from behind the curtains. "I suppose I must esplain," she said, "but I thought everybody knowed that game; it's my most favourite play. This," she said, waving her hand dramatically, "is a gloomy wood"—mere printers' ink can never depict the darkness and density of that wood as portrayed in Herrick's voice—"and you are a wandering prince."
"Which of us?" asked Edmund; "or are we both princes?"
"No, there can't be two, there can only be one. You'd better be him," she said, pointing to Montagu, "you're the biggest, and the littler one can be his servant."