Page:Wet Magic - Nesbit.djvu/178

Wet Magic often is that we once had a child and lost it—and that it was a child like us—"

"Fido," said the King in a low voice, "is like us." And he, too, stroked the head of Cathay, who had forgotten everything except that she was Fido and bore the Queen's name on her collar. "But if you remember that we had a child it cannot be true—if we drank of the oblivion-cup, that is, because, of course, that would make us forget everything."

"It could not make a mother forget her child," said the Queen, and with the word caught up Fido-which-was-Cathay and kissed her.

"Nice Queen," purred Cathay-which-was-Fido, "I do love you." "I am sure we had a child once," said the Queen, hugging her, "and that we have been made to forget."

Even as she spoke the hangings of cloth of gold, pieced together from the spoil of lost galleons, rustled at the touch of someone outside. The Queen dried her eyes, which needed it, and said, "Come in."

The arras was lifted and a tall figure entered.

"Bless my soul," said the King of the Under Folk, "it's the Professor of Conchology."

"No," said the figure, advancing, "it is the King of the Mer-people. My brother King, my sister Queen, I greet you."

"This is most irregular," said the King.

"Never mind, dear," said the Queen, "let us hear what his Majesty has to say."

"I say—Let there be peace between our people," said the Mer King. "For countless ages these wars have been waged, for countless ages your people and mine have suffered. Even the origin of the war is lost in the mists of antiquity. Now I come to you, I, your 168