Fogleplug, that during all those ages the bed
can never have been properly aired. I should have thought it would have
been _your_ business to see to that."

"Then you would be entirely mistaken, my dear, for it is not. And, as I
notice that you find a difficulty in pronouncing my name correctly, I
may suggest that it would be simpler in future to call me by my proper
title, which is, 'High Court Godmother,' or 'Court Godmother,' if you
prefer it."

"And while we are on the subject of titles," said Queen Selina, "_I_ may
mention that it is customary to address a Queen as 'Your Majesty,' and
not as 'my dear.'"

"It has always been my habit with Sovereigns, and I have never heard it
objected to till now."

"Well, _I_ object to it. But--and this is what I sent for you
about--there are other matters I object to even more. I intend to
regulate my household on a thoroughly modern and English system, and I
cannot have any member of it careering about in the air in outlandish
cars drawn by birds. If you _must_ have a conveyance you must be content
with a brougham or a victoria, for I shall insist on your putting down
both those bird-cars."

"You seem to forget that, but for one of them, you would never have come
into your Kingdom!"

"That may or may not be. At any rate there is no further necessity for
them, and--well, it just comes to this, Madam, either they go or you
do."

The old Fairy's eyes smouldered with anger, and her nut-cracker mouth
and chin champed for a few seconds before she replied.

"I have occupied rooms in this Palace--when not at the Palace of
Clairdelune--for over a century and a half, and I have no intention of
giving them up. I shall also continue to use the vehicles which I find
most convenient."

"Oh?" said the Queen, "will you? We shall _see_ about that!"

"We shall," the Court Godmother retorted. "I don't think you quite
realise yet whom you have to deal with. I may be getting on in years,
but both here and at Clairdelune I am accustomed to being treated with
more deference and respect than you seem disposed to pay me. You see,
they know that, although I have not used the full powers I possess as a
Fairy for many years past, I have not lost them altogether. I might see
fit to employ them once more--on any person who was rash enough to incur
my displeasure. And ingratitude and pride are the failings which I
always made it my particular business to correct. You would find it more
to your ad