“The Professor teached me how,” said Bruno. “First oo takes a lot of air——” “Oh, _Bruno_!” Sylvie interposed. “The Professor said you weren’t to tell!” “But who did her _voice_?” I asked. “Indeed it’s troubling you too much, Sir! She can walk very well on the flat.” Bruno laughed merrily as I turned hastily from side to side, looking in all directions for the speaker. “That were _me_!” he gleefully proclaimed, in his own voice. “She can indeed walk very well on the flat,” I said. “And I think _I_ was the Flat.” By this time we were near the Hall. “This is where my friends live,” I said. “Will you come in and have some tea with them?” Bruno gave a little jump of joy: and Sylvie said “Yes, please. You’d like some tea, Bruno, wouldn’t you? He hasn’t tasted _tea_,” she explained to me, “since we left Outland.” “And _that_ weren’t _good_ tea!” said Bruno. “It were so _welly_ weak!” CHAPTER XX. LIGHT COME, LIGHT GO. Lady Muriel’s smile of welcome could not _quite_ conceal the look of surprise with which she regarded my new companions. I presented them in due form. “This is _Sylvie_, Lady Muriel. And this is _Bruno_.” “Any surname?” she enquired, her eyes twinkling with fun. “No,” I said gravely. “No surname.” She laughed, evidently thinking I said it in fun; and stooped to kiss the children—a salute to which _Bruno_ submitted with reluctance: _Sylvie_ returned it with interest. While she and Arthur (who had arrived before me) supplied the children with tea and cake, I tried to engage the Earl in conversation: but he was restless and _distrait_, and we made little progress. At last, by a sudden question, he betrayed the cause of his disquiet. “_Would_ you let me look at those flowers you have in your hand?” “Willingly!” I said, handing him the bouquet. Botany was, I knew, a favourite study of his: and these flowers were to me so entirely new and mysterious, that I was really curious to see what a botanist would say of them.