The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-15
PAGE 4

the sun and the wind and the djinn of his terra-c, too, have taken the hump Per hsps you'll kindly explain what you've got to hump yourself about, Evadne P.?"
 An odd expression curved her mouth. Be- ing in the shade, she laid aside her hat be- fore beginning to pour out tea.
 Perhaps that is why, because am Evadnc F.; perhaps I want to be Evadne R."
 "Well, why not? And king who had once set eyes on you would decline to have any other queen, unless he were a congcnital idiot! What about this merchant who's coming hcrc?' Ra absorbed all his tutors slang, as a sponge absorbs water. ''rhs.1- bald. He may be king one day, probably will. You'd better give him look over."
 Evadne began to laugh.
 'Ra! You're incorrigible! Much more like your godfather the Swashbuckler than your own papa!'
 Stepan here laid upon the table a fine crayfish, whose joints reposed upon bed of. endive mayonnaise, with discs of golden egg.
 The princess could not have said what impulse led her, as she shot a glance at the mans impassive face, to demand abrupt ly-"You speak English?"
 NO, MdudEle Ia SouteSSe, was thC grave reply, as he stood at her side waiting to carry bit of the tempting plate to the prince.
 .Ra, you must carve that animal. l can't pour out tea anl serve portions at the same time, though this idiot appears to expect it," she said contemptuously.
 Give me the dish," sharply said Ra to the waiter in Kilistrian. The man started, nurmured an apology, and moved round the table.
 Evadne's eyes followed him with look of annoyance. She pushed back her chair abruptly.
 "You can go," she said, i've do not re- quire you. I will ring if you should be wanted"
 The Pole bowed in silence, and moved conveniently to her side another table upon which were ranged spare plates, spoons, and so on for the strawberries. He then retired to a trestle buffet little way off, where he was busy folding napkins and polishing spoons.
 "I' don't quite understand said Ra presently, when his hunger and thirst were more or less satisfied, "why you have got your knife into Nordenreich. Whats Nor dernreieh done to you, anyway"
 Her mouth curved up until one could just see the glint of white teeth within the lips.
 "f you want to know, it IS because of Nordenreich that I am still Evadne F., her reply. The vigilant Pole was able to intercept an indication, n1omentary, only, of something far more fundamental than girlish temper in the spirited glance.
 The princess wished her words recalled the moment she had spoken. She knew that it was imprudent to say so mucht Ra; and went on speaking to hide her blunder.
 "Oh, Ra, I ought not to talk like this. Don't take too much notice of it. Many people hold that your father did a brilliant stroke of policy when he made an early bid for the-the friendship of Nordenreich.
 Ra looked away, over the lake, and when he turned to her again, his color had mounted.
 Eva" he said softly. 'Ive so often wanted to know-wouldIt hurt you to talk to me of-that time when you were so near ly queen?"
 "There's only very little to tell. Only one thing indeed that would interest you. have often meant to tell you, because YOU are so understanding and dear But l don't feel quite able,. now l think I'll wait until I've seen Theobald-- Will you go down to the water, and see if Mistitch has come for us?"
 As if to assist her change the subject, there suddenly appeared above the steps which led down from the terrace to the land ing stage the head and shoulders of typi- cal KiliStrian peasant with wild ruSset