The Keepers of the People

1213Ruth looked at herself in the mirror, at first pleased; then a faint distress came into her face, and she said, “But the stockings?”

1214Althea laughed and said, “We wear no stockings in Varandaleel. But your pretty ankles are dim enough through the robe.”

1215Althea went to her own room and came back dressed in the same fashion, but wearing her golden serpent round her waist over her tunic and under the robe.

1216“Oh! You have no girdle! And I haven’t one to lend you!” she said.

1217“Yes; it does look better; but wait a moment,” said Ruth; and slipping through the curtain into her room, she came back presently wearing the girdle of falcon’s claws which Prince Ralph had given her at Quivern.

1218Althea looked at it, fell thoughtful, and said, “Ruth, you have been wearing that girdle next your flesh. How it must have cut you!”

1219Ruth flushed, and with a look almost appealing, said, “Althea, you still know too much.”

1220They found Lord Lisdor awaiting them below. He looked at Althea carefully, and said with his wonted abrupt frankness, “Althea, you have grown more beautiful than ever. You look exactly like one of those Valkyrie, a Brunhild, don’t you know?”

1221Althea smiled, and led the way to the great hall. She presented them to the old Prince and Princess, who bade them welcome to Varandaleel with cordial courtesy; but the Princess Agnes, feeling herself for the first time truly a Princess, now that English friends saw her in her state, greeted them with a very cold haughtiness. She had heard from the old Princess of their coming and was wearing a splendid English court dress, which looked stiff and ungraceful, indeed, beside the robes of Althea and Ruth. Lord Lisdor’s eyes brightened at the sight of the beauty of Vashti; her dumbness stirred his interest; and he began to consider her with a careful attention.

1222At dinner they talked of the journey of Lord and Lady Lisdor; and Lord Lisdor told them, his eyes turning often to Vashti, how Ruth for ever urged him on, and would have him stay neither for blazing sun, nor roaring storm; how here they had been famished, and there parched with thirst; how they had missed, times and again, landmarks which were to show them the road, and had to travel back to find them; how twice, near Varandaleel, the girdle of falcon’s claws had saved them from robbery, and likely death, and procured them hospitality and guides; how they had been captured, and escaped from the Russians; and all the time of his tale Prince Raleigh watched Ruth with thoughtful, admiring eyes: while Princess Agnes, her face set in its common sullenness, watched her with a growing jealousy.