"I never expected to find myself in Fairyland," the Duchess remarked.
"Tell me--are you the Queen of this country? You look as if you might
be."

"Oh no," replied Daphne, with a little laugh. "I'm only one of her
ladies-in-waiting. She hasn't long been Queen. We were all carried here
from England in a big car drawn by flying storks--the one that brought
_you_, I expect. I don't know, of course," she added dubiously, "but
you may have met Queen Selina when she lived at Gablehurst--her former
name was Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson."

"Wibberley-Stimpson?" repeated the Duchess thoughtfully. "No, I can't
say I remember anyone of that name."

"Nor I," said Lady Muscombe languidly. "Don't know _any_ one at
Gablehurst."

"But if she is half as charming as you, my dear," added the Duchess
graciously, "it will give me much pleasure to make her acquaintance,
though I am curious to know why she seems to have taken so much trouble
to cultivate mine."

At this moment Queen Selina herself arrived, very much out of breath.
"Your Grace!" she began, "My lady Marchioness!"

"Ah, here is the housekeeper!" said the Duchess, before Daphne could
enlighten her. "Can you tell us, my good woman, when and where her
Majesty will receive us?"

"I--I _am_ her Majesty!" said Queen Selina, wishing she had devoted more
pains to her morning toilet.

"Oh, to be sure," said the Duchess. "You must forgive my blunder, Ma'am,
but my sight is not what it was."

"It is of no consequence, my dear Duchess--pray don't mention it. Miss
Heritage, I find I _shall_ require that skirt after all. You will be
good enough to see to it at once, and not come down till it is
finished," said the Queen sharply, feeling it more imperative than ever
to prevent any account of this meeting from being communicated to the
Court.... "No, Baron, I shall not require _you_," she went on, as he
appeared at the entrance. "You have done quite enough." And Daphne and
the Baron withdrew accordingly.

"I'm so distressed, your Grace, by this unfortunate--er--_contretemps_,"
said Queen Selina, as soon as she had her guests to herself. "I really
hardly know how to apologise. I'm afraid my old Court Chamberlain has
taken a most unpardonable liberty."

"Well, Ma'am," said the Duchess, "there's no doubt he kidnapped both
myself and this lady here. On false pretences, too! I don't know yet
whether he was acting on _your_ instructions?"

"Most decidedly not! Indeed I should never have v