“This is too precious a blade,” she said, “to belong to any human. Would you take it back into the custody of the Little People? Keeping it until there’s need of it again.”
Snoopy carefully wiped his hands, held them out to take the sword. Tears stood in his eyes.
“You know, then, milady, who it once belonged to?”
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“Willingly, then,” said Snoopy, “we will take it back. We will guard it well and reverence it. Someday it may be there’ll be another hand that is worthy to hold it. But no one ever more than yours, milady.”
“You will tell the Little People,” said Diane, “how much they honored me.”
“It was because we trusted you,” said Snoopy. “You were not unknown to us. You’ll be found at Standish House?”
“Yes,” said Diane. “We’re leaving in the morning.”
“Someday we’ll come and visit you,” said Snoopy.
“We’ll be waiting for you,” said Diane. “There’ll be cakes and ale. There’ll be dancing on the green.”
She turned away and went back to Duncan. She took him by the arm. “And now,” she said, “I’m ready for tomorrow.”