e doesn't happen to come up to his ideal
of beauty!"

"Dear me," said the Queen, concealing a yawn, "you don't say so, Court
Godmother!"

"My dear," said the Fairy irritably, "it's nonsense to tell me I don't
say what I've just said! And, as I was about to tell you, his conduct
caused the greatest disappointment and annoyance to his father, who is
naturally anxious that his line should not die out. So he begged me to
use _my_ influence. Well, I saw, of course, that the only way was to
appeal to _another_ of the ideals I had given him--his ideal of Duty. I
put it to him that he owed it not only to his father, but his country,
to choose a bride without any further shilly-shallying."

"And what did he say?" asked the Queen, with more interest, as she had
begun to see what was coming.

"Don't be in such a hurry," said the Fairy; "I haven't finished what _I_
said yet. I told him that personal beauty was of very little consequence
in a bride, and that what he needed was a sensible girl who would be
clever enough to keep him from having too high an opinion of
himself--which, I may say, has always been one of his failings. I added
that your Edna was just the very person for him."

"How kind of you to put in a word for her!" said Queen Selina. "And--was
it any _good_?"

"So much so that, to his father's great joy, he recognised that it was
his imperative duty to seek the hand of such a paragon of wisdom and
learning. And I am empowered by him to prepare you for his arrival in
the course of a day or two, in the character of the Princess Royal's
suitor. So you see," she concluded, "I haven't been at Clairdelune all
this time for nothing."

"Indeed you have not, dear Court Godmother; and I'm most grateful, I'm
sure, for all the trouble you must have taken. Fancy our Edna the Queen
of Clairdelune some day! Not that she isn't fitted for any position. How
pleased she will be when she hears of this, dear thing! So will his
Majesty--and Clarence too! He and dear Prince Mirliflor will be able to
go out hunting together. For--I forgot to tell you--since you have
deserted us, Clarence has learnt to ride most beautifully!"

"Has he indeed?" said the Fairy. "Then I was right after all. I thought
it just possible that, if you could persuade him to wear that jewel----"

"Do you mean that pendant of mine? He _does_ wear it, but that has
nothing whatever to do with his riding. He'd taught himself to ride long
before I gave it to him.