"
"O Hanky, Hanky! you will wreck the whole thing if you ever allow
yourself to talk in that way."
"You are more likely to wreck it yourself, Panky, by never doing so.
People like being deceived, but they like also to have an inkling of
their own deception, and you never inkle them."
"The Queen," said Panky, returning to the statues, "sticks to it that . .
. "
"Here comes another bird," interrupted Hanky; "never mind about the
Queen."
The bird was soon eaten, whereon Panky again took up his parable about
the Queen.
"The Queen says they are connected with the cult of the ancient Goddess
Kiss-me-quick."
"What if they are? But the Queen sees Kiss-me-quick in everything.
Another quail, if you please, Mr. Ranger."
My father brought up another bird almost directly. Silence while it was
being eaten.
"Talking of the Sunchild," said Panky; "did you ever see him?"
"Never set eyes on him, and hope I never shall."
And so on till the last bird was eaten.
"Fellow," said Panky, "fetch some more wood; the fire is nearly dead."
"I can find no more, sir," said my father, who was afraid lest some
genuine ranger might be attracted by the light, and was determined to let
it go out as soon as he had done cooking.
"Never mind," said Hanky, "the moon will be up soon."
"And now, Hanky," said Panky, "tell me what you propose to say on Sunday.
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