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XXVIII. The Prince Comes Back to the Enchanted Palace
Hecamelongago,butinafoolishmomentwentawayandwanderedafarandforgotthesecretofthemagicpathwaytotheenchantedcastle,wheretheprincesswasweepingherfaithfulheartoutforhim.Butatlastheremembereditagainandtheprincessiswaitingstill...becausenobodybutherowndearprincecouldcarryheroff.”
“Oh,MissShirley,ma’am,whatisthatinprose?”gaspedthemystifiedCharlotta.
Annelaughed.
“Inprose,anoldfriendofMissLavendar’siscomingtoseehertonight.”
“Doyoumeananoldbeauofhers?”demandedtheliteralCharlotta.
“ThatisprobablywhatIdomean...inprose,”answeredAnnegravely.“ItisPaul’sfather...StephenIrving.Andgoodnessknowswhatwillcomeofit,butletushopeforthebest,Charlotta.”
“Ihopethathe’llmarryMissLavendar,”wasCharlotta’sunequivocalresponse.“Somewomen’sintendedfromthestarttobeoldmaids,andI’mafraidI’moneofthem,MissShirley,ma’am,becauseI’veawfullittlepatiencewiththemen.ButMissLavendarneverwas.AndI’vebeenawfulworried,thinkingwhatonearthshe’ddowhenIgotsobigI’dHAVEtogotoBoston.Thereain’tanymoregirlsinourfamilyanddearknowswhatshe’ddoifshegotsomestrangerthatmightlaughatherpretendingsandleavethingslyingroundoutoftheirplaceandnotbewillingtobecalledCharlottatheFifth.Shemightgetsomeonewhowouldn’tbeasunluckyasmeinbreakingdishesbutshe’dnevergetanyonewho’dloveherbetter.”
Andthefaithfullittlehandmaidendashedtotheovendoorwithasniff.
