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It did occur to the Professor to ask Commander Raffleton where he had found Malvina–that is, if he remembered. Also what he was going to do about her–that is, if he happened to know. Commander Raffleton, regretting his great need of haste, explained that he had found Malvina asleep beside a menhir not far from Huelgoat, in Brittany, and was afraid that he had woke her up. For further particulars, would the Professor kindly apply to Malvina? For himself, he would never, he felt sure, be able to thank the professor sufficiently.

In conclusion, and without giving further opportunity for discussion, the Commander seems to have shaken his Cousin Christopher by the hand with much enthusiasm; and then to have turned to Malvina. She did not move, but her eyes were fixed on him. And he came to her slowly. And without a word he kissed her full upon the lips.

“That is twice you have kissed me,” said Malvina–and a curious little smile played round her mouth. “The third time I shall become a woman.”

IV. HOW IT WAS KEPT FROM MRS. ARLINGTON.

What surprised the Professor himself, when he came to think of it, was that, left alone with Malvina, and in spite of all the circumstances, he felt neither embarrassment nor perplexity. It was as if, so far as they two were concerned, the whole thing was quite simple–almost humorous. It would be the other people who would have to worry.

The little serving maid was hovering about the garden. She was evidently curious and trying to get a peep. Mrs. Muldoon’s voice could be heard calling to her from the kitchen. There was this question of clothes.

“You haven’t brought anything with you?” asked the Professor. “I mean, in the way of a frock of any sort.”

Malvina, with a smile, gave a little gesture. It implied that all there was of her and hers stood before him.

“We shall have to find you something,” said the Professor. “Something in which you can go about–“

The Professor had intended to say “our world,” but hesitated, not feeling positive at the moment to which he himself belonged; Malvina’s or Mrs. Muldoon’s. So he made it “the” world instead. Another gesture conveyed to him that Malvina was entirely in his hands.

“What really have you got on?” asked the Professor. “I mean underneath. Is it anything possible–for a day or two?”

Now Commander Raffleton, for some reason of his own not at all clear to Malvina, had forbidden the taking off of the coat. But had said nothing about undoing it. So by way of response Malvina undid it.

Upon which the Professor, to Malvina’s surprise, acted precisely as Commander Raffleton had done. That is to say, he hastily re-closed the coat, returning the buttons to their buttonholes.

The fear may have come to Malvina that she was doomed never to be rid of Commander Raffleton’s coat.

“I wonder,” mused the Professor, “if anyone in the village–” The little serving maid flittering among the gooseberry bushes–she was pretending to be gathering goose-berries–caught the Professor’s eye.

“We will consult my chatelaine, Mrs. Muldoon,” suggested the Professor. “I think we shall be able to manage.”

The Professor tendered Malvina his arm. With her other hand she gathered up the skirts of the Commander’s coat.

“I think,” said the Professor with a sudden inspiration as they passed through the garden, “I think I shall explain to Mrs. Muldoon that you have just come straight from a fancy-dress ball.”

They found Mrs. Muldoon in the kitchen. A less convincing story than that by which the Professor sought to account to Mrs. Muldoon for the how and the why of Malvina it would be impossible to imagine. Mrs. Muldoon out of sheer kindness appears to have cut him short.

“I’ll not be asking ye any questions,” said Mrs. Muldoon, “so there’ll be no need for ye to imperil your immortal soul. If ye’ll just give a thought to your own appearance and leave the colleen to me and Drusilla, we’ll make her maybe a bit dacent.