The Red Axe - 1898 Author:Samuel R. Crockett Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV THE PRINCESS HELENE ' What devil's work is this ?' he said, frowning at her severely. And I confess that I trembled ; but not so the little m... more »aid. ' Do not be afraid, mannie,' she said, laying down the axe on the stock of the couch, against which its broad red blade and glass-clear cutting edge made an irregular patch of light. ' Come and sit down beside me on your bed. I shall not hurt you indeed, mannie, and I want to talk to you. There is nothing but a little boy downstairs. And I like best to talk with well-grown men.' ' I declare it is the dead man's brat I saved last night for Hugo's sake !' I heard my father mutter, ' the maid with the girdle of golden letters.' Presently a smile of amusement struggled about his mouth at her bairnly imperiousness, but he came obediently enough and sat down. Nevertheless he took away the heavy axe from her and said, ' Put this down, then, or give it to me. It is not a pretty plaything for little girls !' The small figure in white put up a tiny fat hand, and solemnly withdrew the red patch of mask from before the wide-open baby eyes. ' I am not a little girl, remember, mannie,' she said, ' I am a Princess and a great lady.' My father bowed without rising. ' I shall not forget,' he answered. ' You should stand up and bow when I tell you that,' said she. ' I declare you have no more manners than the little boy in the brown blanket downstairs.' ' Princess,' said my father gravely, ' during my life I have met a great many distinguished people of your rank ; and, do you know, not one of them has ever complained of my manners before ?' ' Ah,' cried the little maid, ' then you have never met my father, the Prince. He is terribly particular. You must go so' (she imitated the mincing walk of a court cha...« less