There was only one check to the royal progress. The sand-castle on which Pollyooly and Kathleen had worked so hard stood directly in the line of it. Kathleen and Mary fled to their nurse at the approach of the prince, calling wildly to Pollyooly to follow. Pollyooly leaving the Lump in the castle, stepped out of it, and spade in hand calmly awaited the coming of the prince. When he was three yards from her she said quietly but very distinctly: "You keep away." [Illustration: "You keep away"] The prince advanced two steps and stopped. There was that in Pollyooly's deep blue eyes which gave him pause. He advanced another step, and stopped again. Then he called her "pig-dog," in his native tongue, turned aside, and pursued his way. As he went he kept looking back at her, scowling malevolently. Pollyooly gazed after him with unchanging face. She would have liked to put her tongue a long way out at him; but she felt that red Deepings did not do so. The nurse came down to the castle with Kathleen and Mary, and said in a tone of respectful awe: "However you dare, miss! And him a prince too!" "I don't care a pin for him," said Pollyooly calmly. She stepped back to the castle and continued the work of construction. CHAPTER XII WHAT THE PRINCE ASKED FOR The royal progress was the event of the morning and afternoon for several days before it occurred to Pollyooly to tell the Honourable John Ruffin about it. Then one evening, on their way to bathe, she told him. The Honourable John Ruffin stood still on the edge of the sea, looked at her thoughtfully, and said: "This is interesting indeed. I had no idea that German aggression had extended to this retired spot." "And he's such an ugly little boy," said Pollyooly. "And he is all alone?" "Oh, no: there's a baron with him to look after him--with a large moustache. He's very ugly too," said Pollyooly frankly. "This grows more interesting still. I think I should enjoy looking into this matter. Prussian barons always need a firm hand. But I'm too full up with golf to deal with it for the next day or two. I must bear it in mind." Plainly he did bear it in mind, for on the afternoon of the third day, to Pollyooly's delight, he joined them on the sands. She introduced him to Mrs. Gibson; and he thanked her for having had his two little cousins to tea, and chatted to her in his cheerful and engaging fashion till Prince Adalbert of Lippe-Schweidnitz came slouching along on his devastating course. The Honourable John Ruffin observed him with every appearance of the liveliest interest; but the Baron von Habelschwert seemed to afford him even greater pleasure than did his young charge; and upon him he gazed with a fascinated, loving eye. "I have rarely seen a more perfect pair," he said to Mrs. Gibson in a tone of deep content. "Detestable creatures!" said Mrs. Gibson with some heat.