hemselves down on the extreme edge of the sofa.

"I hope we do not disturb you," said Victor. "We wanted to see
Mademoiselle Malvina."

"Why do you want to see Mademoiselle Malvina?" inquired the Professor.

"It is something very private," said Victor.

"We wanted to ask her a great favour," said Victoria.

"I'm sorry," said the Professor, "but she isn't in. At least, I don't
think so." (The Professor never was quite sure. "She slips in and out
making no more noise than a wind-driven rose leaf," was Mrs. Muldoon's
explanation.) "Hadn't you better tell me? Leave me to put it to her."

They looked at one another. It would never do to offend the wise and
learned Christopher. Besides, a magician, it is to be assumed, has
more ways than one of learning what people are thinking.

"It is about mamma," explained Victoria. "We wondered if Malvina would
mind changing her."

The Professor had been reading up Malvina. It flashed across him that
this had always been her speciality: Changing people. How had the
Arlington twins discovered it? And why did they want their mother
changed? And what did they want her changed into? It was shocking
when you come to think of it! The Professor became suddenly so stern,
that if the twins could have seen his expression--which, owing to the
fading light, they couldn't--they would have been too frightened to
answer.

"Why do you want your mother changed?" demanded the Professor. Even as
it was his voice alarmed them.

"It's for her own good," faltered Victoria.

"Of course we don't mean into anything," explained Victor.

"Only her inside," added Victoria.

"We thought that Malvina might be able to improve her," completed
Victor.

It was still very disgraceful. What were we coming to when children
went about clamouring for their mothers to be "improved"! The
atmosphere was charged with indignation. The twins felt it.

"She wants to be," persisted Victoria. "She wants to be energetic and
to get up early in the morning and do things."

"You see," added Victor, "she was never properly brought up."

The Professor maintains stoutly that his only intention was a joke. It
was not even as if anything objectionable had been suggested. The
Professor himself had on occasions been made the confidant of both.

"Best woman that ever lived, if only one could graft a little energy
upon her. No sense of time. Too easy-going. No idea of keeping
people up to the mark."