"But, Lal," pleaded Ridgwell, "you will take me to Balham, won't you? I do not know how I should get home if you didn't take me there." "Yes," said the Lion, "of course, I shall take you home, but you mustn't come to see me too often, you know, it's outside the four-mile radius. However," concluded the Lion, "I shall follow the tram lines. Jump up," once more commanded the Lion, "and hang on, because you know I go at a good pace when once started." Whereupon Ridgwell clambered upon the Pleasant-Faced Lion's back, and convulsively hugging him half round his great neck, buried his head in the Lion's mane and shut his eyes, whilst the Lion took a bold jump from off his pedestal, and started in a brisk trot for Balham. When they had arrived at their destination outside Ridgwell's home, the Lion stood in the road and wagged his tail contentedly. "Thank you for bringing me home, Lal," said Ridgwell as he clambered off the Lion's back. "Good-night," whispered the Lion hoarsely, for after his long run he was almost out of breath. "Mind you close the hall door safely after you." The Pleasant-Faced Lion, who appeared to be pleased at having brought his little charge home, stood in the road and purred quite loudly for some time. But none of the neighbours, who heard the deep sound echoing through the quiet road, thought of looking out of the window. They merely believed the sound proceeded from some powerful motor car which had stopped in the vicinity. Then the Pleasant-Faced Lion jogged home to his pedestal in Trafalgar Square, well pleased with his night's work. CHAPTER II BY ORDER OF THE LION "Hullo, Lal!" said Ridgwell, as he looked up at the Lion the following evening. "Hullo!" rejoined the Lion huskily. "Who is that you have brought with you?" "This is Christine," said Ridgwell. "How do you do?" said the Pleasant-Faced Lion, and he seemed to look even more pleasant than usual. The Lion stretched himself, descended from his pedestal, and held out his paw to shake hands with Christine: Christine responded to these greetings shyly. Ridgwell really thought the Lion was one of the most amiable creatures he had ever met. "If you do not mind," the Lion observed to Christine, "you might walk upon the other side of Ridgwell and not next to me." "Oh, Lal, why?" asked Christine. "Who asked Christine to call me Lal?" inquired the Lion, as he lifted his head up with an intensely comical air of self-importance. "I did," said Ridgwell; "you told me always to call you Lal." "Quite right," replied the Lion. "But do you always do exactly alike, you two?" "Yes, always," said Ridgwell. "Humph!" grunted the Lion. "Suppose there is only one apple and you both want it, what happens?" "We exactly divide it," said Ridgwell. "Mathematically correct," said the Lion. "Good." "But please why can't I walk next to you, _Mister_ Lion?" "Ha!" shrieked the Lion, "there she goes, Mister Lion. You taught her that too, I suppose."