“Why do people frighten children with stories of ogres and wicked fairies and all the rest of it, when the real world they live in is so beautiful?”
“Pure cussedness,” answered John, unable otherwise to give a satisfactory explanation.
“Cussedness is silly,” said Stellamaris.
There was a little pause. Then she put both her hands on his and pressed it.
“Oh, it's lovely to have you here again, Great High Belovedest; and I have n't thanked you for your letter. It's the most heavenly one you've ever written to me.”
It might well have been. He had taken two hours to write it.
CHAPTER IV
THE most heavenly of all letters,” Stellamaris repeated, as Risca made no reply. “I loved it because it showed me you were very happy.”