ll have the devil of a way to look up, if he goes on growing much
longer. He's shot up lately like a bally beanstalk!"

"You are jealous because he makes you feel so small. I glory in his
being so big. He is just my idea of a superman!"

"Strike out 'man' and substitute 'swine'!" said Clarence, "and I'm with
you!"

"There's no need to descend to vulgarity, Clarence. And it seems a pity
you should be so prejudiced against him when he is only anxious to prove
the affection he feels for _you_!"

"Oh, _is_ he? Well, if he comes pawing me about, he'll find out what
_my_ sentiments are!"

"I should advise you to be civil to him--for your own sake," said Edna
coldly, "because he's rather a powerful person."

Queen Selina had no option but to inform the Court of the engagement
without delay, and the general consternation it caused could only find
expression in chilling silence.

To the Court Godmother she tried to present the matter as favourably as
possible. "I don't pretend," she said, "that it is quite all we could
desire from a mere worldly point of view. But in a case of true love on
both sides such as this, his Majesty and I both feel that it would not
be _right_ to interfere. And you know what dear Edna can be when she's
once set her mind on anything. Besides," she concluded, "we've insisted
on their being engaged for a year--a good deal may happen before then."

"It may," agreed the Fairy; "and I shall be very much surprised if it
doesn't. But, so far as I am concerned, Princess Edna may bestow her
hand as she pleases. I shall never go out of my way to find her a suitor
again, I can assure you!"

It had already occurred to her that the Royal Family might very shortly
find Maerchenland too hot to hold them, which would relieve her of all
responsibility for them. So she saw no reason for interfering with any
of their proceedings.

Ruby rushed excitedly up to Daphne's chamber, where she had been hurting
her pretty fingers by laboriously unpicking the innumerable jewels from
one of the Queen's robes and sewing them on to another. "Oh, Miss
Heritage, dear," she began, "it's such _ages_ since I've seen you, and
I've such lots to tell you about. Just fancy! Edna's engaged!... No,
not Prince Mirliflor! She sent _him_ away the day before yesterday. I
can't think why--when he was so perfectly ripping. It's Count
Rubenfresser."

"Oh, Ruby!" cried Daphne in dismay. "Not to _him_! How _can_ she?"

"I don't know--but s