Schofield, in alarm.
"His left foot. It makes him stumble. Don't you see? It looks--it looks
like an elephant's foot!"
The Child Sir Lancelot and the Child Sir Galahad clasped hands before
their Child King. Penrod was conscious of a great uplift; in a moment he
would have to throw aside his mantle, but even so he was protected and
sheltered in the human garment of a man. His stage-fright had passed,
for the audience was but an indistinguishable blur of darkness beyond
the dazzling lights. His most repulsive speech (that in which he
proclaimed himself a "tot") was over and done with; and now at last the
small, moist hand of the Child Sir Galahad lay within his own. Craftily
his brown fingers stole from Maurice's palm to the wrist. The two boys
declaimed in concert:
"We are two chuldrun of the Tabul Round
Strewing kindness all a-round.
With love and good deeds striving ever for the best,
May our littul efforts e'er be blest.
Two littul hearts we offer. See
United in love, faith, hope, and char--OW!"
The conclusion of the duet was marred. The Child Sir Galahad suddenly
stiffened, and, uttering an irrepressible shriek of anguish, gave a
brief exhibition of the contortionist's art. ("HE'S TWISTIN' MY WRIST!
DERN YOU, LEGGO!")
The voice of Mrs. Lora Rewbush was again heard from the wings; it
sounded bloodthirsty. Penrod released his victim; and the Child King
Arthur, somewhat disconcerted, extended his sceptre and, with the
assistance of the enraged prompter, said:
"Sweet child-friends of the Tabul Round,
In brotherly love and kindness abound,
Sir Lancelot, you have spoken well,
Sir Galahad, too, as clear as bell.
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