“Yes; there must be some nice things about belonging to the people,” Her Majesty replied, smiling; “but then, you know that poor little Isabel's history was very unusual, and that many little princes and princesses have grown up near their mothers, as you and Albert have, and have been just regular little children for ever so many years.”
“Dat's good,” said Albert, apparently immensely relieved to have his fears as to the general fate of princes and princesses removed.
Meantime, Miss Belmore had brought their hats, and after a most friendly parting with their kindly hostess and her lady-in-waiting, the children were conducted to another doorway from the one by which they had entered. There one of the court carriages, with a gallant outrider, stood in waiting, and the footman, after receiving directions as to the whereabouts of the Little Castle, sprang to his place, and they were off.
“To think, Albert,” said Marie-Celeste, turning on Albert the moment the door was closed, and seizing his little wrist by way of emphasis, “we are in one of the Queen's own carriages, and we've been spending the day—spending the day, Albert, in Windsor Castle.”
“Nes,” said Albert complacently; “we must do aden.”
There was time for scarcely more than this before the carriage wheeled up at Canon Allyn's, and Albert was safely landed at his own door, and another three minutes brought it to the Little Castle.
Harold, conjecturing that the children might be sent home in this courtly fashion, was on hand on the steps to receive the favored recipients of royal hospitality.