"I want to ask you a lot more questions, Martin." "Off you go!" cried he. And let the swing fly. Back it came. "Martin! why didn't--" "Jump when you're clear!" called Martin. But back it came. "Why didn't the young Squire in the story--" "Jump this time!" And back it came. "--come to fetch her himself, Martin?" "Jump!" shouted Martin; and shut his eyes and put his hands over his ears. But it was no use; again and again he felt the rush of air, and questions falling through it like shooting-stars about his head. "Martin! what was the name on the eighth floret of grass?" "Martin! what was the letter you threw with the Lady-peel?" "Martin! why is my silver ring all chased with little apples?" "Martin! do you--do you--do you--?" "Shall I never be rid of this swing?" cried Martin. "Jump, you nuisance, jump when I tell you!" And she jumped, and was caught and kissed among the shadows. "Gillian!" "Gillian!" "Gillian!" "Gillian!" "Gillian!" "Dear Gillian!" And then like a golden wave and she the foam, they bore her over the moonlit grass to the green wicket, and they threw it open, and she went like a skipping stone across the duckpond and over the fields to Adversane. When she had vanished Martin slid down the roof, walked across to the coping, put one leg over, and stepped out of the Well-House. PART IV The six milkmaids were waiting for him in the apple-tree--no; Joscelyn was in the swing. "And so," said Martin, sitting down on the bough, "on the sixth night the sixth Gorgon also became a maiden as lovely as her fellows, and gave the Wanderer the sixth key to the Tower. And they let out the Princess and set her in The Golden Truant, and she sailed away to her Squire a thousand leagues over the water. And everybody lived happily ever after." "What a beautiful story!" said Jane. And they all thought so too. "I knew from the first," said Joscelyn, "that it would have a happy ending." "And so did I," said Joyce. "And I," said Jennifer, "And I," said Jessica, "And I," said Jane and "And I," said little Joan. "The verdict is passed," said Martin. "And look! over our heads hangs the moon, as round and beautiful as a penny balloon, with an eye as wide awake as a child's at six in the morning. If she will not go to sleep in heaven to-night, why on earth should we? Let's have a party!" The girls looked at one another in amazement and delight. "A party? Oh!" cried they. "But who will give it?" "I will," said Martin. "And who will come to it?" "Whoever luck sends us," said Martin. "But we'll begin with ourselves. Joan and Joyce and Jennifer and Jessica and Jane and Joscelyn, will you come to my party in the Apple-Orchard?"