sank down in order to enable the two children
to get on his back. "Home now!"

Both the children looked back many times, of course. They saw the
golden bungalow palace for the last time in all its changing lights.
Noticed that Queen Boadicea stood majestically upon the topmost step
with King Richard upon one side of her and King Charles upon the other.
St. George stood with his armour flashing a few steps below. The four
merry dogs were gathered around him, whilst Carry-on-Merry was resting
his laughing head in one of St. George's hands.

The coloured lights grew paler, a mist danced before their eyes, then
twinkled and disappeared.

"It is gone," said Ridgwell, "and oh! how dark the streets look now!"

"But _what_ a party," said Christine.

"And what a feast," added Ridgwell.

"Yes," replied the Lion philosophically, "it is really remarkable how
times have changed. In the olden days, long, long ago, everything was
reversed. For instance, it was the Lions who were then provided with
the feast, and the children who were eaten."

"Horrid!" shivered Ridgwell. "You mean, Lal, those wicked Roman
Emperors who let the poor Christians be eaten?"

"My child," announced the Lion gravely, "free meals have invariably
been productive of much unpleasant discussion and inquiries afterwards.
But see now," he added coaxingly, "the perfect state of perfection the
world has arrived at. The Pleasant Lions give the banquet themselves
now. Every single thing to-night was provided by Lions. I gave the
party--I, the Pleasant-Faced Lion. The four laughing lions from
Westminster helped. Richard Coeur-de-Lion presided, and Messrs. Lyons
provided all the refreshments."

"Any rate, Lal," observed Ridgwell, "although Christine and I both love
you, of course--lions must have been very cruel and savage once,
otherwise they wouldn't have _thought_ of eating anybody, would they?"

"Ah, my little boy," replied the Pleasant-Faced Lion softly, "if you
were kept without food for days and days I wonder what you would do."

"Tuck in like mad the first chance I got," announced Ridgwell with
conviction.

"Perhaps the lions did the same thing," observed Lal gently. "However,
I feel I cannot offer any excuse for their past conduct; yet,"
continued the Pleasant-Faced Lion wisely, as he jogged contentedly on,
homewards towards Balham, "I have a fair proposition to make to you,
although it may seem somewhat in the nature of a riddle to you