“And oh,” continued Ruby, “your frock is just the same, and your ribbons and all. How nice you look, Mavis! Is the princess here? I should so like her to see us.”
“She’s not here to-day,” said Mavis. “She’s away somewhere—I’m not sure,” she added in a lower voice, “but that it’s about Bertrand.”
Ruby gave a sort of shiver.
“Oh Mavis!” she said, “he was so cruel and so heartless, and I was so miserable. I do hope the princess will make him go quite away.”
“Or—if he was to be quite changed,” said Mavis.
“No, no. I don’t want him. I only want you, my darling little Mavis, and we shall be so happy—much, much happier than we have ever been. Kiss me, Mavis, and tell me you quite forgive me, and if ever I am naughty or horrid again, I hope the princess will punish me.”
“She won’t let you forget her any way,” said Mavis. “I think that is how she punishes.”
Ruby looked rather puzzled; but before she could ask more they heard Winfried’s whistle, and in a moment he appeared. His face was all one smile—all Ruby’s fears and misgivings faded away before it.
“Grandfather is waiting for you,” he said. “There are some cakes, Miss Ruby, that you will find even better than those others. For everything is better here, you see.”
“How lovely it must all be,” said Ruby, with a little sigh. “Aren’t you sorry, Winfried, that you can’t stay here altogether? Mavis says you have to go away to work.”