“I should think so!” said Honor. “Why, I never saw anything so lovely. What are the flowers?”
“Edelweiss and alpenrosen; they are my flowers. But now let mademoiselle eat, lest her breakfast cool! I return shortly.”
Honor ate her breakfast with right good will, enjoying every mouthful as a healthy girl should. Between bites and sups, she exchanged morning greetings with the mountains, which showed as friendly a face as the night before, though no rosy veil softened their morning splendor of white and green.
“Did you bring me the tisane last night, Royal Highness?” said Honor. “Or was it really Gretli? She looked quite as big, you know! Are any of your mountain ladies as handsome as she is? Wouldn’t they look funny in blue skirts and black bodices? How many yards do you suppose it would take—”
A light cloud-shadow drifted over the shining face of the Dent du Midi; it was as if he said, “Don’t talk nonsense, child!”
Honor accepted the rebuke, and devoted herself to her honey and rolls.
By and by came Gretli again to inspect the ankle. It was better, but still swollen and painful. After examining it carefully, the good giantess vanished, and presently reappeared, carrying carefully a glass bowl in which were two black objects about two inches long. At first sight Honor thought they were stones or bits of black wood: but looking carefully at them, she saw one move.
“Gretli!” she cried. “They are alive! What hideous, horrible creatures! Take them away, please!”
“In truth they are alive!” Gretli nodded contentedly. “Have no fear of them, Mademoiselle. They are good creatures, and understand their business well. See how your ankle is swollen, is it not? I apply my good little sangsue (leech), and in a few moments—but mademoiselle will see!” and without more ado she clapped first one leech and then the other on the offending ankle.
Honor shrieked aloud at the touch of the cold, clammy creatures; shrieked louder still when they applied themselves, in a quiet but efficient way, to the work in hand. The two shrieks rent the air; startled the browsing goats outside, brought Zitli to his feet in the outer room, to see what was the matter. Looking up, in the act of opening her mouth for a third, Honor saw Gretli’s face of demure amazement, and stopped short.