Ere the Shadow could reply, the tip of the moon’s crescent horn peeped up from behind an icy pinnacle, and one slender ray fell on the lake. It shone upon no Shadows. Ere the eye of the king could again seek the earth after beholding the first brightness of the moon’s resurrection, they had vanished; and the surface of the lake glittered gold and blue in the pale moonlight.
There the king lay, alone in the midst of the frozen lake, with the moon staring at him. But at length he heard from somewhere a voice that he knew.
“Will you take another cup of tea, dear?” said Mrs. Rinkelmann.
And Ralph, coming slowly to himself, found that he was lying in his own bed.
“Yes, I will,” he answered; “and rather a large piece of toast, if you please; for I have been a long journey since I saw you last.”
“He has not come to himself quite,” said Mrs. Rinkelmann, between her and herself.
“You would be rather surprised,” continued Ralph, “if I told you where I had been.”
“I dare say I should,” responded his wife.
“Then I will tell you,” rejoined Ralph.
But at that moment, a great Shadow bounced out of the fire with a single huge leap, and covered the whole room. Then it settled in one corner, and Ralph saw it shaking its fist at him from the end of a preposterous arm. So he took the hint, and held his peace. And it was as well for him. For I happen to know something about the Shadows too; and I know that if he had told his wife all about it just then, they would not have sent for him the following evening.