“I believe I could run,” she said. “Perhaps the bone in my ankle got out of its place and now has got into it again. Come on, Mavis.”
They started running together, for in spite of her boasting Ruby had had a lesson and would not let go of Mavis. They got on famously; the ground seemed elastic; as they ran, each step grew at once firmer and yet lighter.
“It isn’t a bit slippery now, is it?” said Mavis, glowing with the pleasant exercise. “And oh, Ruby, do look up at the sky—isn’t it lovely? And isn’t that the evening star coming out—that blue light up there; no, it’s too early. See—no, it’s gone. What could it be? Why, here we are, at the gate of the low terrace!”
They had suddenly, as they ran, come out from the path, walled in, as it were, among the broken rocky fragments, on to a more open space, which at the first moment they scarcely recognised as one of the fields at the south side of the castle.
Ruby too gazed about her with surprise.
“It is a quick way home, certainly,” she allowed, “but I don’t see any star or blue light, Mavis. It must be your fancy.”
Mavis looked up at the sky. The sunset colours were just beginning to fade; a soft pearly grey veil was slowly drawing over them, though they were still brilliant. Mavis seemed perplexed.
“It is gone,” she said, “but I did see it.”
“It must have been the dazzle of the light in your eyes,” said Ruby. “I am seeing lots of little suns all over—red ones and yellow ones.”
“No, it wasn’t like that,” said Mavis; “it was more like—”