CHAPTER XIII
At the sight of the dear old lady in a pannier gown, Alice could not help uttering a little cry of delight.
"Do let me introduce you," she said to the Red Knight, and she ran forward, pulling his steed along by the rein. "The Red Knight, Mrs. Malaprop," she said, and beamed upon both of them.
"Not the Mrs. Malaprop," said the Red Knight, holding out one hand and clinging to the saddle with the other.
"The same," said the old lady; "may I facilitate you upon the results in Illinois and Pennsylvania?"
"I thank you," said the Red Knight. "I have often heard you spoken of as one of our leading simplified spellers. If I am not mistaken, your grandfather was Col. Lapsus Linguæ of Faux Pas."
"He was," said the old lady. "And on my mother's side I am related to the Bulls of Ireland and the Hiatuses of Prattling Common. If an old woman's good wishes count for anything—"
"Madam," said the Red Knight, "after California, I freely recognize the extraordinary mental and moral qualities of our women voters."
"I have long wished to tell you," said the old woman, "how I admire the victorious career of one whom I regard as the most Perkinacious of all our candidates."