"One moment, Mr. von Prell," she said. "I warned you of the danger you were in, because I thought I owed it to our former friendship. But now that I have told you, we have nothing more to do with each other. My time is up. Good evening, Mr. von Prell."
With that she hurried on ahead along the obscure wood path, and gave no look around. Suddenly she felt something soft and warm and living slip between her feet. She screamed and turned about for Von Prell's help. At the same instant a chain wound itself about her ankle, and held her fast.
Since she and Von Prell had turned back, the dog in his eagerness to get home, had been straining on the chain with all his might, and had taken her hastening off as a signal to break away, thus entangling himself in her dress. The more he tugged the more painfully the chain cut into her flesh.
Von Prell had to kneel and hold down the unruly little animal, while he unwound the chain from her ankle.
"Tommy, Tommy, what have we done? We have grievously hurt our noble mistress. We can't be blamed for pulling at our chains, but if in doing so we get under people's skirts, we give great offence. Shame on you, you rascal."
He planted a kiss on the dog's pointed little snout.
"Doesn't he ever bite?" asked Lilly with interest.
"He has had the benefit of a rigorous military training, as a result of which he has grown accustomed to kisses."
Another burst of gaiety. Von Prell held the struggling little ball of wool up to Lilly, and asked whether she would like to try a kiss, too.
Laughing she declined, and, laughing, she went home with him.
Still laughing aloud, she entered the lighted hall of the castle, where Miss von Schwertfeger met her with great reproachful eyes.
"Where have you been, my dear?" she asked, evidently prepared to meet the grave situation in a mild spirit, while subjecting Lilly, none the less, to a keen cross-examination.
"He's so funny!" Lilly sang out, hiding her face red with laughter on Miss von Schwertfeger's shoulder.
"Of course I did. Do you suppose I'd leave such a delightful, jolly old friend of mine in the lurch?"
Miss von Schwertfeger's face became rigid.
Lilly gave herself a little shake and uttered a joyous gurgle. Then she ran off to her room, undressed, and burying her head in the pillows laughed herself to sleep.