The Children of the Castle

by Mrs. Molesworth

herself,gradually to remember that once, long ago, there had been a little girlcalled Ruby, somewhere, somehow, and that some one dear, most dear toher, had been in awful danger from which she had tried to rescue her.And through all the long mist, through all the dream wanderings of herspirit, in which may be it had been learning lessons, the fruit of whichremained, though the teachings themselves were forgotten,--for whoknows, who can limit what we _do_ learn in these mysterious ways?--Ruby's guardian angel must have rejoiced to see that the thought of hersister, not herself, was uppermost.

  "Mavis," was the first word she whispered; "Mavis, are you alive? Areyou not drowned, darling? But it was such a _very_ long time ago.Perhaps the world is finished. But Mavis--I thought Mavis was dead;and, oh! who are you?" she ended with a thrill which seemed to make herquite alive and awake.

  "Are you the fairy in the turret? And what are you doing to my eyes?"

  She sat up and rubbed them. There was the strangest feeling in them--not pain now; indeed it was, though strange, a beautiful feeling. Theyfelt drawn upwards, upwards to something or some one, and a new lightand strength seemed to fill them, light and strength and colour such asRuby had never before even _imagined_. And the some one--yes, it wasthe lovely gracious figure, with the exquisite never-, once seen,to-be-forgotten eyes, of Winfried's princess. Ruby saw her at last!

  A smile overspread the sweet face; the blue eyes shone with gladness.

  "How often I have hoped for this," she murmured. "No, Ruby, you willnever know how often. Darling, shut your eyes, you must not strainthem; shut your eyes and think of Mavis, and trust yourself to me."

  Ruby obeyed; she had not even looked round to see where she was; sheonly felt that she was lying on something soft and warm and _dry_; oh,how nice it was to feel dry again. For now the distant, long-agosensation began to fade, and she remembered everything clearly as if ithad happened, say, yesterday or the day before at farthest. The naughtymischief she and Bertrand had been planning, the strange little boat,the deserted cottage, the hurricane, and the misery about Mavis, theplunge in search of her into the sea, even to the loss of theforget-me-nots, which had been her only comfort, all came back; and withit a wonderful delightful feeling of hope and peace and trust, such asshe had never known before. She gave herself up to the kind strong armsthat clasped her round! "She will take me to Mavis," she thought; "andoh, I _will_ try never, never to be selfish and unkind and naughtyagain."

  Then, still wrapped in the soft warm mantle or rug she had felt herselflying upon, she was lifted upwards, upwards still, she knew not andcared not whither, for Ruby's eyes were closed and she was fast asleep,and this time her sleep was dreamless.

  "Ruby, my own little Ruby," were the first words she heard. They awokeher as nothing else would have done.

  "Mavis," she whispered.

  Yes, it was Mavis. She was leaning over the couch on which Ruby lay.Never had Ruby seen her so bright and sweet and happy-looking.

  "Mavis," Ruby repeated. "And you weren't drowned, darling? At least;"and as she raised herself a little she looked round her doubtfully, "atleast, not unless this is heaven? It looks like it--only," with a deepsigh, "it can't be, for if it were, _I_ shouldn't be in it."

  "No, darling, it isn't heaven, but it's a beautiful place, and I _think_it must be a little on the way there. It's one of the homes of ourprincess; she won't tell me the name, but I call it Forget-me-not Land.Isn't that a good name? Look all about, Ruby."

  They were in a little arbour, in one corner of what one would havecalled a garden, except that gardens are usually enclosed. They don'tstretch as far as the eyes can see, which was the case here. A softclear yet not dazzling or glaring light was over everything, yet therewas no sun visible in the sky. And as Ruby gazed and gazed she began tofeel that there were differences between this garden and any others shehad ever seen. One of these Mavis pointed out to her.

  "Do you see, Ruby," she said, "that all the flowers in this garden areour wild flowers, though they are such beauties?" She stooped to gatherone or two blossoms growing close beside her as she spoke.

  "See, here are the same kind of forget-me-nots that were at the oldcottage, and that we found so strangely on the castle terrace. And hereare violets and primroses and snowdrops, all the spring flowers; and thesummer ones too, honeysuckle and dog-roses; and even the tiny commonones, buttercups and daisies, and celandine and pimpernel, andeye-bright and shepherd's-purse, and--and--"

  "But you're mixing them all up together," said Ruby. "They don't allcome at the same time of year."

  "Yes, they do _here_," said Mavis. "That's the wonder. I found it outfor myself almost immediately, and the princess was so pleased I did. Ithink this garden is a sort of nursery for wild flowers; you see upwhere we live there are no gardens or gardeners for them."

  "Up!" said Ruby, "are we down below the world? Are we out of theworld?"

  Mavis smiled.

  "I don't know," she said. "It may be up or it may be down. It doesn'tmatter. The princess says we may call it fairyland if we like. Andfancy, Ruby, old Adam is the gardener here."

  A shadow passed over Ruby's face.

  "Don't be frightened, dear. He knew you were coming, and he's as kindas kind. We're to have supper at his cottage before we go home."

  "Oh," said Ruby disappointed, "then we are to go home?"

  "Oh yes," Mavis explained, "it wouldn't do for us to stay always here.But I _think_ we may come back again sometimes. Adam has been oftenhere, ever since he was a boy, he told me. And now he's going to stayalways, till it's time for him to go somewhere else, he says. It wastoo cold and rough for him up by the sea now he is so old."

  "And--about Winfried?" asked Ruby, growing very red.

  Mavis laughed joyously.

  "Winfried," she cried, "why, he was here already when I came; the boatwent down, down with me, Ruby, when the great waves rolled over it andme. I _was_ frightened, just for a minute, and then it was all right,and the princess and Winfried lifted me out."

  "How many days ago was it?" asked Ruby.

  Mavis shook her head.

  "I don't know that either; perhaps it's not days at all here. I'venever thought about it. But cousin Hortensia won't be frightened. Theprincess told me that. Winfried will take us home. He can't stay hereeither; he's got work to do somewhere, and he can only come backsometimes. There, Ruby--look--there he comes; do you see him coming upthat little hill? He'll be here in a few minutes."

  CHAPTER ELEVEN.

  DOWN THE WELL.

  "Blue-bells the news are spreading, Ring-a-ting, ting, ting, ting! All the flowers have voices, Lovely the songs that they sing; _How_ the blue-bell rejoices, Ting-a-ring, ting, ting, ting!"

  Ruby shrank back a little.

  "I don't want to see Winfried," she said, "after all we did. And, ohMavis, I must be in such a mess--my clothes were all soaked in the sea."

  "No, they weren't," said Mavis, laughing; "at least if they were they'vecome right again. Stand up, Ruby, and shake yourself, and look atyourself. There now, did you ever look neater or nicer in your life?"

  Ruby stood up and looked at herself as Mavis advised her.

  "Is this my own frock?" she said. "No, it can't be. See, Mavis, it'sall beautifully embroidered with forget-me-nots! And what lovely blueribbon my hair is tied with; and my hands are so white and clean Mavis,did the princess dress me while I was asleep?"

  Mavis nodded her head sagely.

  "Something like it," she said.

  "And oh," continued Ruby, "your frock is just the same, and your ribbonsand all. _How_ nice you look, Mavis! Is the princess here? I shouldso like her to see us."

  "She's not here to-day," said Mavis. "She's away somewhere--I'm notsure," she added in a lower voice, "but that it's about Bertrand."

  Ruby gave a sort of shiver.

  "Oh Mavis!" she said, "he was so cruel and so heartless, and I was somiserable. I do hope the princess will make him go qui
te away."

  "Or--if he was to be quite changed," said Mavis.

  "No, no. I don't want him. I only want you, my darling little Mavis,and we shall be so happy--much, much happier than we have ever been.Kiss me, Mavis, and tell me you quite forgive me, and if ever I amnaughty or horrid again, I hope the princess will punish me."

  "She won't let you forget her any way," said Mavis. "I think that ishow she punishes."

  Ruby looked rather puzzled; but before she