Womanlike, she had forgotten all about her first question, and now asked
another, "Will you come to supper with me, stranger? 'Tis nearly ready,
I think."

"To be able to say no to such an invitation, lady, is the first thing
a young man should learn," I answered lightly; but then, seeing there
was nothing save the most innocent friendliness in those hazel eyes,
I went on, "but that stern rule may admit of variance. Only, as it
chances, I have just supped at the public expense. If, instead, you
would be a sailor's sweetheart for an hour, and take me to this show of
yours--your princess's benefit, or whatever it is--I shall be obliged;
my previous guide is hull down over the horizon, and I am clean out of
my reckoning in this crowd."

By way of reply, the little lady, light as an elf, took me by the
fingertips, and, gleefully skipping forward, piloted me through the
mazes of her city until we came out into the great square fronting on the
palace, which rose beyond it like a white chalk cliff in the dull light.
Not a taper showed anywhere round its circumference, but a mysterious
kind of radiance like sea phosphorescence beamed from the palace porch.
All was in such deathlike silence that the nails in my "ammunition" boots
made an unpleasant clanking as they struck on the marble pavement; yet,
by the uncertain starlight, I saw, to my surprise, the whole square was
thronged with Martians, all facing towards the porch, as still, graven
images, and as voiceless, for once, as though they had indeed been marble.
It was strange to see them sitting there in the twilight, waiting for
I knew not what, and my friend's voice at my elbow almost startled me
as she said, in a whisper, "The princess knows you are in the crowd,
and desires you to go up upon the steps near where she will be."