The Lonesomest Doll (1928)/Chapter 4
IV
The Bunch of Keys
It was about two o’clock and everything was very quiet in the village, for most of the people were taking their after-dinner nap. Mother Marie was dozing on the bench beside the cottage door, Nichette imagined. Probably the folk in the Queen’s palace were asleep, too; for most of them were elderly persons whose chief exercise was snoring after dinner,—and a musical exercise it was, to say truth!
It was Nichette’s great chance,—of that she was sure. After waiting for it so long it might never come again. She did not think it could be so very wrong to do what she had in mind; for she only wanted to be kind to Mignon. She for got that by meddling with what did not belong to her she might get her father into trouble: and she never suspected what strange things would happen,—things which came near to upsetting the whole kingdom.
Nichette took the bunch of keys and tiptoed up to the gate in the wall behind the rosebush.
She thrust the largest key into the lock and twisted hard with both hands. It was a rusty turn; but at last with a hoarse “screek!” the gate swung open, and Nichette stood on the threshold looking for the first time into the wonderful world beyond.
There was the moat and the drawbridge lowered for any one to pass; there was the green trim lawn, and, beyond, the gray towers of the palace where lived the proud little Queen and her beautiful lonesome doll. How big the palace seemed; how many windows it had peering down upon one like watchful eyes! How wide a space it was from this wicket to the little door of the southwest turret which Nichette must reach!
For a moment her courage faltered, and she was almost ready to run back to her own children and leave the Queen’s doll to herself. Then she thought again of poor Mignon and this great chance to see her which might never come again. And she screwed her courage into place again.
With one last glance behind to make sure that no one was following, Nichette stepped through the gateway upon the velvet lawn. The gate swung to behind her with a clang, and her heart gave a great thump. But she did not think of retreating.
She felt as though she were living in a fairy tale. There in front of her lay the enchanted castle, with the fair Princess waiting to be wakened from her long loneliness. And Nichette herself was the Prince, who must wake her with a kiss.
Forward, Prince! You have passed the hedge, and now it would be cowardly to turn back.