"And how is the Princess Aralia?" asked the Witch. "As pretty as ever, I
suppose, and with no prospect of a husband, thanks to her grandmother
and the silly tasks she sets for the suitors."
"That brings us to the business of our young friend here," said the
Knight of the Dusty Thoroughfare. "He wishes to present himself at
court, and is in great need of a horse and wardrobe."
"You've come to the wrong shop for horses and fine feathers," said the
Witch. "Those things are quite out of my line."
The Boy looked his disappointment.
"The best I can do," said Aunt Jo kindly, "is to give you a letter to a
Mr. Burbank, an excellent wizard of my acquaintance. He has recently
invented a skinless grape and a watermelon that is all heart, and is
quite the cleverest man in the business. Such a trifle as changing a pig
into a horse will give him no trouble whatever. Have you seen my garden,
Henry?"
"No, but I should like to," said the Knight rising.
"Meanwhile," said the Witch, "I will start the supper if our young
friend will fetch the wood."
The Boy responded with such cheerful readiness that Aunt Jo patted him
on the cheek and said: "You're the lad for the Princess Aralia, and have
her you shall if Aunt Jo can bring it about. And now go out in the
garden and pick me a hatful of Brussels sprouts."
It was impossible to imagine a more appetizing supper than that which
the three sat down to. Everything was prepared to a nicety, and the
Knight could not say enough in praise of the raised biscuits and home
made currant jell. As for the doughnuts, "Such doughnuts can't be made
without witchcraft, Jo," he declared.
"Nonsense!" said the old lady. "I don't put a thing into them that any
good cook doesn't use. Making doughnuts always was an art by itself. You
must both take some with you when you go."
After supper the Knight wiped the dishes while the Witch washed them,
Aunt Jo declaring it a shame that a man so domestically inclined should
be compelled to wander from one end of the rainbow to the other just
because of a foolish tender-heartedness in days gone by. While the pair
discussed this fruitful topic the Boy dipped into the fascinating
chapters of the "Complete Wizard."
"Time for bed," announced the Knight an hour later; and he added for the
Boy's ear: "We must make an early start in the morning."
"I for one shall sleep soundly," Aunt Jo declared. "I've run my legs off
to-day, as I never use a broomstick on my holiday."
She conducted her guests to a tiny bedchamber above stairs. "I will
leave a bag of doughnuts on the table, Henry," said she, "as I suppose
you will be off before I am up. Good-night!"
When she had gone below the Knight said: "We must be moving with the
first streak of day. Aunt Jo's holiday ends with sun-up, and you would
find her a vastly different old party, I can tell you."