Some, putting
on Don Quixote's eyes for the occasion, saw helmets in milk-pails,
dungeons in cellars, battle-axes in bill-hooks, and shields in
pewter-plates, called the baby in its cradle the sleeping Princess,
agreed that the shield must have been reversed by order of the
palmer, and that one of the cows was the mischievous knight's cream-
coloured donkey; so that laughter happily supplied the place of
learned lore.
On the way home the party were not quite so merry, although Helen was
unusually agreeable, and enjoyed a very pleasant conversation with
Rupert and Anne, who, she was pleased to find, really thought her
worth talking to. Elizabeth was occupied with Dora, who was tired,
and wanted to be cheered and amused. She did not however forget her
bulrushes, and when they came in sight of them, she ran forwards to
claim Rupert's promise of gathering some for her and her little
brother and sister. This was a service of difficulty, for some of
the bulrushes grew in the water, and others on deceitful ground,
where a pool appeared wherever Rupert set his foot.
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