Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/431

XXIV] hobbled out of the Saloon, watched by the pitying eyes of the two children. "He'll be better soon!" the Elfin-King said cheerily. "Brother!" turning to the Emperor, "I have some business to arrange with you to-night. The Empress will take care of the children." And the two Brothers went away together, arm-in-arm. The Empress found the children rather sad company. They could talk of nothing but "the dear Professor," and "what a pity he's so ill!", till at last she made the welcome proposal "Let's go and see him!" The children eagerly grasped the hands she offered them: and we went off to the Professor's study, and found him lying on the sofa, covered up with blankets, and reading a little manuscript-book. "Notes on Vol. Three!" he murmured, looking up at us. And there, on a table near him, lay the book he was seeking when first I saw him. "And how are you now, Professor?" the Empress asked, bending over the invalid. The Professor looked up, and smiled feebly. "As devoted to your Imperial Highness as