Дом ста дорог

[673] After the housemaid came a small boy, quite the most angelic child Charmain had ever seen. He had a mass of blond curls that clustered around his angelic pink and white face. His eyes were big and blue and bashful. His exquisite little chin rested on a frill of white, white lace, and the rest of his graceful little body was clothed in a pale blue velvet suit with big silver buttons. His pink rosebud mouth spread into a shy smile as he came in, showing a charming dimple in his delicate little cheek. Charmain could not think why Mrs. Pendragon was staring at him in such horror. He was surely a truly enchanting child. And what long, curly eyelashes!

[674] "—with my husband and his fire demon," Mrs. Pendragon finished. Her face had gone fiery red, and she glared at the little boy across the toddler's head.

[ 675 ] Chapter Eight IN WHICH PETER HAS TROUBLE WITH THE PLUMBING

[676] "Oh, ma'am, Sire!" the housemaid gasped. "I had to let them in. The little one was so upset!"

[677] She said this into a room full of confusion. Everyone stood up and someone dropped a teacup. Sim plunged to rescue the cup and the King dived past him to pick up the plate of crumpets. Mrs. Pendragon stood up with Morgan in her arms, still looking daggers at the small boy, while the blue teardrop creature bobbed in front of her face. "It's not my fault, Sophie!" it kept saying, in an agitated crackling voice. "I swear it's not my fault! We couldn't stop Morgan crying for you."

[678] Princess Hilda rose quellingly to her feet. "You may go," she said to the housemaid. "There is no need for anyone to be upset. Sophie, dear, I had no idea that you didn't employ a nursemaid."

[679] "No, I don't. And I was hoping for a break," Mrs. Pendragon said. "You would think," she added, glowering at the angelic little boy, "that a wizard and a fire demon could manage one small toddler between them."

[680] "Men!" said the Princess. "I have no opinion of men's ability to manage anything. Of course Morgan and the other little boy must be our guests too, now that they're here. What sort of accommodation does a fire demon require?" she asked the colorless gentleman.

[681] He looked completely blank.

[682] "I'd appreciate a good log fire," the fire demon crackled. "I see you have a nice one in this room. That's all I need. I'm Calcifer, by the way, ma'am."

[683] The Princess and the colorless gentleman both looked relieved. The Princess said, "Yes, of course. I believe we met briefly in Ingary, two years ago."

[684] "And who is this other little fellow?" the King asked genially.

[685] "Thophie'th my auntie," the small boy answered in a sweet lisping voice, raising his angelic face and big blue eyes to the King's.

[686] Mrs. Pendragon looked outraged.

[687] "Pleased to meet you," the King said. "And what's your name, my little man?"

[688] "Twinkle," the little boy whispered, coyly ducking his curly blond head.

[689] "Have a crumpet, Twinkle," the King said heartily, holding the plate out.

[690] "Fank you," Twinkle said devoutly, taking a crumpet.

[691] At this, Morgan held out a fat, imperious hand and boomed, "Me, me, me!" until the King gave him a crumpet too.

Mrs. Pendragon sat Morgan on a sofa to eat it. Sim looked around and resourcefully fetched a cloth from the trolley. It became soaked in butter almost at once. Morgan beamed up at Sim, the Princess, the lady-in-waiting, and the Chancellor, with his face all shiny. "Dumpet," he said. "Dood dumpet."

[692] While this was going on, Charmain became aware that Mrs. Pendragon had somehow trapped little Twinkle behind the sofa she was sitting on. She could not help but overhear Mrs. Pendragon demanding, "What do you think you're doing, Howl?" She sounded so fierce that Waif jumped into Charmain's lap and cowered there.

[693] "They forgot to invite me," Twinkle's sweet little voice replied. "That'th thilly. You can't thort out thith meth on your own, Thophie. You need me."

[694] "No I do not!" Sophie retorted. "And do you have to lisp like that?"

[695] "Yeth," said Twinkle.

[696] "Doh!" said Sophie. "It's not funny, Howl. And you've dragged Morgan here—"

[697] "I tell you," Twinkle interrupted her, "Morgan did not thtop crying from the moment you left. Athk Calthifer if you don't believe me!"

[698] "Calcifer's as bad as you are!" Sophie said passionately. "I don't believe either of you so much as tried to stop him.

Did you? You were just looking for an excuse to launch this—this masquerade on poor Princess Hilda!"

[699] "She needth uth, Thophie," Twinkle said earnestly.