I,
too, began talking against time, for the beating of my heart began
again at the thought of what I was going to say and do. 'Hat!' I
said; 'do _you_ wear hats, Winifred? I should as soon have thought of
hearing the Queen of the Tylwyth Teg ask for her hat as you, after
such goings-on as those I have just been witnessing. You see I have
not forgotten the Welsh you taught me.'
'Oh, but my hat--where is it?' cried she, vexed and sorely ashamed.
So different from the unblenching child who loved to stand hatless
and feel the rain-drops on her bare head!
'Well, Winifred, I've found a hat on the sand,' I said; 'here it is.'
'Thank you, sir,' said she, and stretched out her hand for it.
'No,' said I, 'I don't for one moment believe in its belonging to
you, any more than it belongs to the Queen of the "Fair People." But
if you'll let me put it on your head I'll give you the hat I've
found,' and with a rapid movement I advanced and put it on her head.
I had meant to seize that moment for saying what I had to say, but
was obliged to wait.
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