Page:Wet Magic - Nesbit.djvu/160

Wet Magic "And won't it ever stop?" asked Bernard.

"Not till we apologize, which, of course, we can't until they find out why the war began and that it wasn't our fault."

"How awful!" said Mavis; "then it's all really about nothing."

"Quite so," said the Keeper, "what are your wars about? The other question I shouldn't answer only I know you'll forget it when the oblivion-cup begins to work. Ulfin tells me it hasn't begun yet. Our King and Queen are imported. We used to be a Republic, but Presidents were so uppish and so grasping, and all their friends and relations too; so we decided to be a Monarchy, and that all jealousies might be taken away we imported the two handsomest Land Folk we could find. They've been a great success, and as they have no relations we find it much less expensive."

When the Keeper had thus kindly gratified the curiosity of the prisoners the Princess said suddenly:

"Couldn't we learn Conchology?"

And the Keeper said kindly, "Why not? It's the Professor's day tomorrow."

"Couldn't we go there today?" asked the Princess, "just to arrange about times and terms and all that?"

"If my Uncle says I may take you there," said Ulfin, "I will, for I have never known any pleasure so great as doing anything that you wish will give me."

The Uncle looked a little anxious, but he said he thought there could be no harm in calling on the Professor. So they went. The way was long for people who were not seals by nature and were not yet compelled to walk after the manner of those charming and intelligent animals. The Mer Princess alone was at her ease. But when they passed a building, as long as from here to the end of the Mile End Road, which Ulfin told them was the Cavalry Barracks, a young Under-man leaned out of a window and said: 150