nervous tension--would hear the sound of a softly opened door;
peeping from a raised corner of the blind, would catch a glimpse of
fluttering garments that seemed to melt into the dawn; would hear
coming fainter and fainter from the uplands an unknown song,
mingling with the answering voices of the birds.

It was on the uplands between dawn and sunrise that Malvina made the
acquaintance of the Arlington twins.


They ought, of course, to have been in bed--all three of them, for
the matter of that. The excuse for the twins was their Uncle
George. He had been telling them all about the Uffington spectre
and Wayland Smith's cave, and had given them "Puck" as a birthday
present. They were always given their birthday presents between
them, because otherwise they did not care for them. They had
retired to their respective bedrooms at ten o'clock and taken it in
turns to lie awake. At the first streak of dawn Victoria, who had
been watching by her window, woke Victor, as arranged. Victor was
for giving it up and going to sleep again, but Victoria reminding
him of the "oath," they dressed themselves quite simply, and let
themselves down by the ivy.

They came across Malvina close to the tail of the White Horse. They
knew she was a fairy the moment they saw her. But they were not
frightened--at least not very much. It was Victor who spoke first.
Taking off his hat and going down on one knee, he wished Malvina
good morning and hoped she was quite well. Malvina, who seemed
pleased to see them, made answer, and here it was that Victoria took
charge of the affair. The Arlington twins until they were nine had