Hazel stood looking at him.

‘Suppose he had not put his hand there, Reo?’ she said.

’Then it would have been under me, Miss Wych—­that’s all the difference,’ said Reo, quietly.  ’Only I should never have seen my little lady again in this life.’

‘Well, you have got to see her a great many times,’ said the girl, speaking fast because it was not easy to speak at all.  ’I am coming to sing to you, and read to you, and to do all sorts of things.’  And with a smile like a stray sunbeam she left the room, and after a minute with Mrs. Reo which straightway made her over, ‘as good as two,’ Hazel flitted away up the hill again, as far as to Mr. Falkirk’s cottage; walking in through the Summer-open doors upon his tea and toast, without the slightest warning.  There she was all right.  It was delightful to get the whip hand for once!  And so, privately enjoying Gotham’s dismay at her unannounced entrance, Wych Hazel stood by her guardian’s side with a face of grave reprehension.

‘Mr. Falkirk, I am really very much surprised at you!’

’H’m!—­Not more than I am at myself, Miss Hazel.  You are not ahead of me there.’

’Considering how much there is to do, sir; considering the unsettled state of the neighbourhood, and my extremely unprotected condition; that you should go dancing round among loose branches without a partner, passes all my small wits.’

Mr. Falkirk glanced up at her, a glance of momentary fun and recognition, though he was by no means in a sportive mood; that was easy to see.

’Will you sit down, Miss Hazel?  You must play guardian now.  Can your wits accomplish that?’

’Yes, sir, I thank you.  Will you order me a cup and saucer, Mr. Falkirk?  I have had no dinner, and could eat no lunch.  And I know Gotham would see me starve before I had even a crust without your permission.’

’I’m sure, Miss ’Azel!—­Mr. Falkirk knows’—­began Gotham.

’What have you got, Gotham?—­anything in the house?  Be off, and get all there is—­and be quick about it.’

’O, I do not want much, sir—­just a slight supplement to the pleasure of seeing you,’ said Hazel, with her gay laugh.  ’Mr. Falkirk, don’t you think it would be very nice to have Mrs. Saddler dust up that little bit of a brown corner room for me?  And then I could stay here with you all the time, and we would take splendid care of each other.’

‘There’s nothing there but a little brown room, my dear.’

’I do not care, sir.  Mrs. Saddler must have a spare blanker among her stores.  And I would leave word up yonder that I had unexpectedly gone away for a time.—­And it would be fun,’ said Miss Hazel, decidedly.  ‘Besides the other advantages.’

’What will happen to all the princes who are coming after the princess?’

‘They will learn—­self-control,’ said Miss Hazel.  ’I have been told lately that it is a good thing.’