He stood smiling down at her, and she very deftly wound the cord up and down, over and over his body, until its whole length lay comfortably upon him.
“Now, your breast-plate, quick!”
She helped him put his armour on again; and, as they were engaged at that, singing voices came up the stairs from the distant dining-hall.
“The Grace,” she exclaimed; “they will be here in a moment.”
Geoffrey took a last kiss, and bolted into his cage. She, with the keys, made great haste to push the crocodile and other objects once more into their hiding-place. Cups and flagons and all rattled back without regard to order, as they had already been flung not two hours before. The closet-door shut, and Elaine hung the keys from the lock as she had found them.
“Half-past eleven,” she said to Geoffrey, as she ran by his cage towards the stairs.
“One more, darling,—please, one! through the bars!” he besought her, in a voice so tender, that for my part I do not see how she had the heart to refuse him. But she continued her way, and swiftly descending the stairs was found by the company, as they came from the hall, busily engaged in making passes with Sir Godfrey’s sword, which he had left leaning near the door.
“A warlike daughter, Sir Godfrey!” said Father Anselm.
“Ah, if I were a man to go on a Crusade!” sighed Miss Elaine.
“Hast thou, my daughter,” said Father Anselm, “thought better of thy rash intentions concerning this Dragon?”