“They––they forgot, perhaps.”
“I don’t think that was very nice of them,” Bettina pouted.
Victor was more cheerful. “Perhaps they did; perhaps they kissed us while we was asleep––were asleep.”
Bettina accepted with delight.
“Seems to me I ’member somebody kissin’ me. Yes, I ’member now.”
Victor was skeptical. “Maybe you only had a dream about it.”
“What else is there?” said Mr. Verrinder, rising and patting Victor on the shoulder. “You’d better run along to your tubs now.”
They recognized the authority in his voice and obeyed.
The children took their beauty with them, but left their destiny to be arranged by higher powers, the gods of Eld.
“What is to become of them,” Louise groaned again, “when I go to prison?”