The Keepers of the People

988She was, too, a link between Prince Ralph and Lady Lisdor; and for long after their coming to Varandaleel they talked often of her. Then, as the time passed, and their Varandaleel life came more and more between them and England, they talked less often of her; but she was always to each the pleasantest, and most abiding memory of England.

989The mutes, that silent people of guards and servants and craftsmen, who went their noiseless way about the palace, keeping its secrets, inspired into Althea a very lively curiosity; and she set herself to learn patiently from her maids their strange language. She was not long about it; and they grew very slaves to her. For the warders who kept the doors between the parts of the palace, and the gates between the gardens, she cared nothing; pushed aside their spears with an assured air of indifference; and went whithersoever the whim led her; only walls, or barred doors stayed her steps. After a while, indeed, the barred doors were no longer a barrier to her; for she learned and used the secret taps at which they opened to the mutes; and the palace was as free to her as to the Princes themselves. The wing of the Princesses alone she never entered; for Prince Ralph, desiring to keep her from the influence of women, which would but weaken or warp her fine spirit, had taken a promise from her that she would not go thither. As she grew to know the mutes better, she would sometimes entertain him with stories of their unvoiced loves and hates; and talking with him about them, she learned yet more of life.

990She was a fearless child, and learned to ride the sooner for it. But one day, as Prince Ralph came from the council-chamber, he heard a roaring on a very savage note from the tiger-garden, where he kept the tigers who fought to amuse him, and went into it to learn the reason. There on the grass sat Althea, playing with a cub she had lured from its cage, while the furious tigress was dashing herself against the weakening bars. Between her and the cage stood a dozen guards with ready spears, and anxious faces that lightened at his coming. He bade her come, and talk with him; and as they came out of the garden, she said, “I don’t think the bars of that cage are very strong. I could only play with the cub a little while yesterday; there were no guards there — but it was very exciting.”