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XXI. Sweet Miss Lavendar
nothingbuthillsandvalleyscoveredwithfeatheryyoungfirs.
“IwonderwhatsortofapersonMissLewisis,”speculatedDianaastheyopenedthegateintothegarden.“Theysaysheisverypeculiar.”
“She’llbeinterestingthen,”saidAnnedecidedly.“Peculiarpeoplearealwaysthatatleast,whateverelsetheyareorarenot.Didn’tItellyouwewouldcometoanenchantedpalace?Iknewtheelveshadn’twovenmagicoverthatlanefornothing.”
“ButMissLavendarLewisishardlyaspellboundprincess,”laughedDiana.“She’sanoldmaid...she’sforty-fiveandquitegray,I’veheard.”
“Oh,that’sonlypartofthespell,”assertedAnneconfidently.“Atheartshe’syoungandbeautifulstill...andifweonlyknewhowtounloosethespellshewouldstepforthradiantandfairagain.Butwedon’tknowhow...it’salwaysandonlytheprincewhoknowsthat...andMissLavendar’sprincehasn’tcomeyet.Perhapssomefatalmischancehasbefallenhim...thoughTHAT’Sagainstthelawofallfairytales.”
“I’mafraidhecamelongagoandwentawayagain,”saidDiana.“TheysaysheusedtobeengagedtoStephanIrving...Paul’sfather...whentheywereyoung.Buttheyquarreledandparted.”
“Hush,”warnedAnne.“Thedoorisopen.”
Thegirlspausedintheporchunderthetendrilsofivyandknockedattheopendoor.Therewasapatterofstepsinsideandaratheroddlittlepersonagepresentedherself...
