1] THE LOST PRINCE. 59

 

upon her personal chastisement then and there. But
Malvina stood forward with her queenly air and
waved the little man backwards.

‘How dare you use such words to a lady?’ said
she. ‘Remember that J have not called you by your
name, and I will not have harm done to my sister.’

At this the Dwarf recoiled for a moment, but
having recovered himself, he accosted the Giant in
these words:

‘Great and Royal Pattle-perry, you have seen
how these two she-foxes have deceived you. By so
doing they have certainly given you every right to
consider them as your slaves, and as such I certainly
advise you to treat them. They may talk big and
think great things of themselves if they please, but
so long as you do not lay violent hands on them, they
will find their magic word of little value against my
magic arts. I would confine them in separate
dungeons and keep them there until they make
humble submission to you and consent to do what-
ever you require of them.’

The poor sisters were so oppressed by the de-
parture of their friend, and so overwhelmed by the
words of the Dwarf, who appeared to know so much,
that they knew not what to do, and when the Giant,
evidently enraged at the deception practised upon
him by Rindelgrover, gave the orders suggested by
the Dwarf, they suffered themselves to be led away
without a murmur or remonstrance. It was not,
however, to a dungeon they were taken, but to two
small rooms in a high tower, in one of the wings of
the Giant’s palace. This was called the ‘turret