The banks were still
brown, but they were patched with great beds of rose-pink primula, blue
gentian, and yellow dog pansies. And on a perfect carpet of these sat
three dark figures! Never in his life was Roy so overjoyed. He forgot
his fatigue, and ran on until he could plainly see Princess Bakshee Bani
Begum making cowslip balls out of the pink primulas, the Heir-to-Empire
contentedly munching a cold hearth cake, and giving bits of it to Tumbu,
who, with his head cocked on one side, had evidently heard Roy's distant
step. The next instant a furious barking showed that he was on the alert
to defend his young charges, and Roy had to call to him again and again
before he was satisfied that the newcomer was a friend.
"Why, what a long time you've been coming," said the Heir-to-Empire
calmly. "We've had our breakfast, 'cos we couldn't wait any longer. You
can't have come as fast as you could. No more would Tumbu, only we made
him not be lazy, 'cos Head-nurse says--what is it she says, Bija?"
The little girl looked solemn. "She says every one should do everything
as quick as ever they can. So we shouted at Tumbu and pulled his tail
just a liddly-wee bit like the bullock drivers do. And then we had the
loveliest ride, and Tumbu wasn't a bit cross; but he wouldn't go down
the rocks and growled. So we had to get out and walk. And then we came
here, and first of all we picked flowers; then I had hearth cakes and
popcorn in my veil, and so we ate our breakfast, and then you came--and
that's all, thank you!" She had just finished a lovely soft ball and she
flung it full at the Heir-to-Empire.
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