“Do we know her?”
“No, but you will and you will like her,” said Flip. “Her name is Jane.”
“I wish an hour was not so long,” said Martha Mary.
“Perhaps,” said John, “if you told us a story, Philip, it wouldn’t seem so long.”
“Perhaps,” said Flip. Then because it was a birthday and Martha Mary was queen, he told a queen story with Kings and Knights and Ladies. This was it:
CHAPTER IX
IN WHICH IS TOLD THE STORY OF ALFRED OF THE
LOW COUNTRY, AND JANICE, WHO LOVED THE
QUEEN’S PAGE
“In the days of the good and splendid King Arthur there was an old letter-writer named Baudin. He lived in a small garden below the Castle wall, and the loveliest hollyhocks and jasmine grew about the door of the cottage. He had everything he desired and that was not a great deal. His business was to write letters; love letters and business letters for the Knights and Ladies who had never been to school and could not write for themselves. His daughter was a very pretty little sunshiny girl who kept his house in order and cooked his meals. She sang as she worked and was always happy.”
“Please, what was her name?” asked Martha Mary.
“Her name? Why, I have really forgotten.”