tract attention. But, perhaps from
unwillingness to get Xuriel into trouble, neither of them made any
mention of these purchases.

Clarence should have been satisfied, for his feats in the saddle and his
daring in the forest, where he slew every wild beast he encountered, had
rendered him a hero in the eyes of the populace, and even of the Court.
And yet he was very far from being satisfied--for what was the good of
his glory if it brought him no nearer Daphne? He hoped it was making an
impression, but he could not be certain, because he never succeeded in
getting a moment alone with her. When she was not in attendance on his
Mother she was either with Ruby or the ladies-in-waiting, or, worse
still, surrounded by courtiers who had not the tact to withdraw on his
appearance. And although she did not seem to show a preference for any
one in particular, that did not prevent him from being furiously jealous
of them all.

One afternoon Daphne received a message by one of the pages that she was
wanted at once in the Hall of Audience by Princess Edna. But when she
obeyed the summons the only person she found in the hall was the Crown
Prince in hunting costume, with high boots and a plumed hat.

"It's all right," he called out as she hesitated, "Edna will be here
directly.... You look as if you didn't believe me."

"I'm afraid I don't, your Royal Highness," said Daphne.

"Don't you? Well, you're right. It was not Edna that sent for you. It
was me."

"You might have sent for me in your own name, Prince Clarence."

"I daresay! And then you'd have got out of coming! I've something I
particularly want to say to you. And I say--_do_ sit down. It's like
this," he proceeded, after Daphne had sat down on one of the benches, "I
never seem to see anything of you now--what with all those Courtier
chaps always hanging about you. I wonder you let 'em. You wouldn't if
you knew as much about 'em as _I_ do. Why, that fellow Hansmeinigel's
ancestor was half a hedgehog--a beastly common ordinary hedgehog, by
Gad!--and as for young Bohnenranken----"

"Your Royal Highness may spare yourself the trouble of going on," said
Daphne. "I know all about their descent already--from themselves.
They're not in the least ashamed of their ancestors--indeed they're very
proud of them."

"More than I should be if they were mine. Anyhow, there isn't one of 'em
that's fit for you to make a pal of."

"You would have more right to say that, Prince Clare