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The Reluctant Dragon
Andyet—maynotthiswilybeasthavemisledyouastohisrealcharacter,inorderthatyourgoodreportofhimmayserveasacloakforhisevildeeds?Nay,maytherenotbe,atthisverymoment,somehaplessPrincessimmuredwithinyondergloomycavern?”
Themomenthehadspoken,St.Georgewassorryforwhathehadsaid,theBoylookedsogenuinelydistressed.
“Iassureyou,St.George,”hesaidearnestly,“there’snothingofthesortinthecaveatall.Thedragon’sarealgentleman,everyinchofhim,andImaysaythatnoonewouldbemoreshockedandgrievedthanhewould,athearingyoutalkinthat—thatLOOSEwayaboutmattersonwhichhehasverystrongviews!”
“Well,perhapsI’vebeenover-credulous,”saidSt.George.“PerhapsI’vemisjudgedtheanimal.Butwhatarewetodo?HerearethedragonandI,almostfacetoface,eachsupposedtobethirstingforeachother’sblood.Idon’tseeanywayoutofit,exactly.Whatdoyousuggest?Can’tyouarrangethings,somehow?”
“That’sjustwhatthedragonsaid,”repliedtheBoy,rathernettled.“Really,thewayyoutwoseemtoleaveeverythingtome—Isupposeyoucouldn’tbepersuadedtogoawayquietly,couldyou?”
“Impossible,Ifear,”saidtheSaint.“Quiteagainsttherules.YOUknowthataswellasIdo.”
“Well,then,lookhere,”saidtheBoy,“it’searlyyet—wouldyoumindstrollingupwithmeandseeingthedragonandtalkingitover?It’snotfar,andanyfriendofminewillbemostwelcome.”
“Well,it’sIRREGULAR,”saidSt.
