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XXVIII. The Prince Comes Back to the Enchanted Palace
TheywentthroughtheformofhavingteaasusualthatnightatEchoLodge;butnobodyreallyateanything.AfterteaMissLavendarwenttoherroomandputonhernewforget-me-notorgandy,whileAnnedidherhairforher.Bothweredreadfullyexcited;butMissLavendarpretendedtobeverycalmandindifferent.
“Imustreallymendthatrentinthecurtaintomorrow,”shesaidanxiously,inspectingitasifitweretheonlythingofanyimportancejustthen.“Thosecurtainshavenotwornaswellastheyshould,consideringthepriceIpaid.Dearme,CharlottahasforgottentodustthestairrailingAGAIN.IreallyMUSTspeaktoheraboutit.”
AnnewassittingontheporchstepswhenStephenIrvingcamedownthelaneandacrossthegarden.
“Thisistheoneplacewheretimestandsstill,”hesaid,lookingaroundhimwithdelightedeyes.“ThereisnothingchangedaboutthishouseorgardensinceIwasheretwenty-fiveyearsago.Itmakesmefeelyoungagain.”
“Youknowtimealwaysdoesstandstillinanenchantedpalace,”saidAnneseriously.“Itisonlywhentheprincecomesthatthingsbegintohappen.”
Mr.Irvingsmiledalittlesadlyintoherupliftedface,allastarwithitsyouthandpromise.
“Sometimestheprincecomestoolate,”hesaid.HedidnotaskAnnetotranslateherremarkintoprose.Likeallkindredspiritshe“understood.”
“Oh,no,notifheistherealprincecomingtothetrueprincess,”saidAnne,shakingherredheaddecidedly,assheopenedtheparlordoor.
