e went slowly and by unfrequented
paths through the gardens and thence to the Pavilion. Daphne, who had
been anxiously expecting her, saw her from the Pavilion and came to meet
her, feeling and looking rather guilty.

"Have you heard?" she asked. "But I can see you have.... _Well_, Court
Godmother?"

"Well," said the Fairy, bent on prolonging the test to the last moment,
"this is a pretty thing you have done, upon my word! _You_ to fall in
love with a penniless student! If you had only had the patience to
wait," she continued, as she led her towards the yew walk, "I'd have
found a handsome young Prince for you. It's not too late, even now."

"I used to think I would only marry a Prince, I don't now," said Daphne.
"I wouldn't change Girofle for any Prince in the world. And what am _I_,
after all? Just a Governess!"

"And when you have married your student, what do you suppose you are
going to live on?"

"Oh, we shall manage somehow," said Daphne tranquilly. "We shall be
poor, of course, but what does that matter so long as we're together?"

"Ah," said the Fairy, "but I can't understand what a beautiful girl like
you can see in such an ugly young fellow!"

"He _isn't_ ugly!" Daphne declared. "And I shouldn't mind a bit if he
_was_! He'd still be Girofle!"

"All the same," pursued the Fairy, "you wouldn't object to his being
handsomer?"

"I don't know," replied Daphne, contracting her pretty brows, "I can't
imagine him any different." And then she laughed. "It's not a bit of use
trying to put me out of conceit with him, Court Godmother--so you may as
well give it up!"

The Fairy was satisfied at last; Daphne had stood the test triumphantly,
and the time had come for her to be told of the reward that awaited her.
"I am far from wishing to lower him in your eyes, my child," she said.
"On the contrary, I may now tell you that he possesses advantages you
little dream of. And though true love may be inspired without the aid of
wealth, rank, or good looks, there was never a maiden yet who--but I
perceive," she broke off with offended dignity, "that I am not so
fortunate as to have secured your attention!"

They had left the yew walk by this time and entered an avenue of ilexes,
beyond which lay the valley and distant hills. "I'm so sorry, Court
Godmother," said Daphne, whose eyes were fixed on the view, "but--but
doesn't Drachenstolz lie over there?"

"It does," said the Fairy drily, "though I fail to see why that