Lady Fulda had been firm about sending the children home under escort, and they found a steady old groom waiting ready to mount a spirited horse when they went down to the courtyard to get on their ponies. They had discovered a box of croquet mallets on their way downstairs, and borrowed one each. As they descended the steep hill leading from the castle, at a walk, they began to discuss recent events, as their habit was. "What did you do when the chime went, and you hung your head?" said Angelica. "I hoped there'd be hot cakes for tea; bat I didn't mean it for a prayer," Diavolo answered, as if the matter admitted of a doubt. "I'm glad we decided to go secondly to the palace; I didn't think much of grandpapa's tea," Angelica observed. "It was all china, and no cakes--to speak of; no crisp ones, you know." "Well, you see his teeth are bad," said Diavolo indulgently. "He has enough of them, then!" Angelica answered. "Yes, but they aren't much good, they're so loose, you know; every now and again you can see them waggle," said Diavolo. "I'd like to see him bite a fig!" said Angelica, chuckling. "They'd stick, I suppose," said Diavolo meditatively. "I expect there will be great improvements in those matters by the time we want to be patched." The groom, who had been riding at a respectful distance behind, suddenly perceived that he had lost sight of the children altogether. The descent was steep just there, and winding; and, knowing with whom he had to deal, the man urged his horse on, straining his eyes at every turn to catch a glimpse of the twins, but vainly, till he reached the bottom of the hill, when they bounced out on him suddenly from among the trees on either side of the road, whooping and flourishing their mallets wildly. The horse, which was very fresh, gave one great bound and bolted, and the Heavenly Twins, shrieking with delight, hunted him hard into Morningquest. When they arrived at the palace, Angelica asked with the utmost confidence if the bishop were at home; and, being informed by an obsequious footman that he was, the twins marched into the hall, and were ushered into the presence of Mrs. Beale and her daughter Edith. "Tell his lordship we are here," Angelica said to the servant authoritatively, before she performed her salutations. When these were over, the twins sat down opposite to Edith and inspected her. "We've just been seeing Aunt Fulda," Diavolo remarked. Angelica caught the connection: "Your hair is about the same colour as hers, but your face is smoother," she observed. "It looks like porcelain. Hers has little stipples, you know, about the nose, when you go close. They seem to come as you get older." "Uncle Dawne calls you Saxon Edith," said Diavolo. "Don't you wonder he doesn't want to marry you? _I_ do. When I'm old enough I'm going to propose to you; do you think you will have me?"