Page:Rewards and Fairies (Kipling, 1910).djvu/70

 unless'—she turned more quickly—'unless he intends to work his destruction from the Americas? Did he say De Avila only to put her off her guard, or, for this once, has his black pen betrayed his black heart? We'—she raised herself to her full height—'England must forestall Master Philip. But not openly,' she sank again—'we cannot fight Spain openly—not yet—not yet.' She stepped three paces as though she were pegging down some snare with her twinkling shoe-buckles. 'The Queen's mad gentlemen may fight Philip's poor admirals where they find 'em, but England, Gloriana, Harry's daughter, must keep the peace. Perhaps, after all, Philip loves her—as many men and boys do. That may help England. Oh, what shall help England?'

She raised her head—the masked head that seemed to have nothing to do with the busy feet—and stared straight at the children.

'I think this is rather creepy,' said Una with a shiver. 'I wish she'd stop.'

The lady held out her jewelled hand as though she were taking some one else's hand in the Grand Chain.

'Can a ship go down to the Gascons' Graveyard and wait there?' she asked into the air, and passed on rustling.

'She's pretending to ask one of the cousins, isn't she?' said Dan, and Puck nodded.

Back she came in the silent, swaying, ghostly dance. They saw she was smiling beneath the mas, and they could hear her breathing hard.