f the royal robe.

"Why, how's this?" exclaimed she. "At work! When they will be sitting
down to table directly! The Prince and our two noble guests have asked
me to come and see what is keeping you."

"This," said Daphne, touching the skirt on her knee. "Her Majesty has
sent me up to finish it, and forbidden me to come down till it's done."

"Then," said the Fairy, "she ought to be ashamed of herself!"

"Oh, I don't mind a bit, Court Godmother. They'll bring me something to
eat presently, and I'd much rather be here than have to meet that odious
Count Ruprecht! Court Godmother," she added, with a little anxious line
on her forehead, "I'd better tell you, though I dare say you'll think it
silly--but I'm rather worried by a conversation I overheard just now
between two pigeons on the roof."

"You shouldn't pay any attention to anything pigeons say--it's generally
love-talk; and very foolish at that."

"They weren't making love. They were talking about the Count. The first
pigeon said, 'The Count has come here again. I have just seen his big
coach in the courtyard,' and the second pigeon said, 'There is nothing
in that.'"

"Well, _one_ of them had some sense, anyway!" remarked the Fairy.

"Ah, but wait. 'Indeed there is something,' said the other bird. 'There
is a big sack in the coach, and I know what is _inside_ the sack, too.'
'And what may that be?' the second one asked. 'All I can tell you,' said
the first, 'is that, if the Princess only knew as much about it as I do,
there wouldn't be any marriage!' They flew away after that, but I've
been wondering ever since whether he mayn't have murdered somebody."

"If he had," said the Fairy, "he wouldn't be very likely to bring the
body out to lunch with him. You shouldn't be so uncharitable, my child.
And, as for birds, I should have thought you knew what busy-bodies they
are, and what scandals they make out of nothing at all."

"Then you think it's all right?" said Daphne, relieved. "But all the
same, I can't trust the Count."

"Nobody asks you to. I don't trust him myself, if it comes to that. But,
whatever he may or may not be is no affair of yours or mine. Princess
Edna will find out in time what a mistake she has made."

"If only she doesn't find it out too late!" said Daphne.

"She'll have herself to thank, whatever happens. _I_ shan't interfere
again. I'm tired of trying to help anyone. I never get anything but
ingratitude for it."

CHAPTER XIV