was a fairy. But he had not told her to deny it.
Indeed how could she? The most that could be expected from her was
that she should maintain silence on the point. So in answer to
Victoria she explained that her name was Malvina, and that she had
flown across from Brittany in company with "Sir Arthur," adding that
she had often heard of England and had wished to see it.

"How do you like it?" demanded Victoria.

Malvina confessed herself charmed with it. Nowhere had she ever met so
many birds. Malvina raised her hand and they all three stood in
silence, listening. The sky was ablaze and the air seemed filled with
their music. The twins were sure that there were millions of them.
They must have come from miles and miles and miles, to sing to Malvina.

Also the people. They were so good and kind and round. Malvina for the
present was staying with--accepting the protection, was how she put it,
of the wise and learned Christopher. The "habitation" could be seen
from where they stood, its chimneys peeping from among the trees. The
twins exchanged a meaning glance. Had they not all along suspected the
Professor! His black skull cap, and his big hooked nose, and the
yellow-leaved, worm-eaten books--of magic: all doubts were now
removed--that for hours he would sit poring over through owlish
gold-rimmed spectacles!

Victor's French was coming back to him. He was anxious to know if
Malvina had ever met Sir Launcelot--"to talk to."

A little cloud gathered upon Malvina's face. Yes, she had known them
all: King Uthur and Igraine and Sir Ulfias of the Isles. Talked with
them, walked with them in the fair lands of France. (It ought to have
been England, but Malvina shook her head. Maybe they had travelled.)
It was she who had saved Sir Tristram from the wiles of Morgan le Fay.
"Though that, of course," explained Malvina, "was never known."

The twins were curious why it should have been "of course," but did not
like to interrupt again. There were others before and after. Most of
them the twins had never heard of until they came to Charlemagne,
beyond which Malvina's reminiscences appeared to fade.

They had all of them been very courteous to her, and some of them
indeed quite charming. But...

One gathers they had never been to Malvina more than mere
acquaintances, such as one passes the time with while waiting--and
longing.

"But you liked Sir Launcelot," urged Victor. He was wishful that
Malvina shou