Out of Harm’s Way 309
take it easy. I'll tell them to get some refreshments
ready and send some one down to bring you along.”
He waved his hand and strode up the hill with the
steady swinging step of the practised mountaineer.
Lou’s hand crept into mine. We were alone with
nature. A new feeling had been born in us. The sense
of personality had somehow faded out. I drew her
gently into my arms; and we exchanged a long kiss
such as we had never done before. We were not kissing
each other. We were parts of the picture, whose natural
expression it was to kiss.
“‘ Hadn’t we better go on ? ” said Lou after a while,
releasing herself.
But at this moment we found ourselves confronted
by a very extraordinary person indeed. It was a fair-
haired boy of five years old, bare-footed but dressed in
a short robe of rich blue with wide sleeves and a hood ;
the lining was of scarlet. He had a very serious face,
and accosted us with a military salute :—
“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law,”
said the little fellow stoutly, and held out his hand.
“I’ve come to take you up to the Abbey.”
Even Lou realised that it was quite impossible to
pick up such an important little person and kiss him.
We entered into the solemnity of the occasion with
proper dignity, and got up and shook hands.
Then, running down behind him, came an even
smaller boy.
“‘ Love law, love will,” he said. It was obviously a
point of politeness.
“ They don’t know what to say,”’ explained the elder
boy in a lenient tone. ‘‘ My name is Hermes,” he said
to Lou, “and this is my friend Dionysus.”
We broke into a fit of uncontrollable laughter which
Hermes evidently thought highly improper. But
Dionysus said to Lou, “I'll dive you a bid tiss.”
She caught up the astonishing brat, and returned his
salute with interest. When she put him down, he gave
each of us one of his hands while Hermes led the way