he Baron showed so
little desire to receive his property in public that the Prince decided
to keep it until a better opportunity presented itself. And then he
forgot all about it, for which, as things turned out, both had reason to
be thankful afterwards.

CHAPTER XVIII

A PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENT

"Well, my dear Court Godmother," began the Queen, as she sank on an
ivory and cloth-of-gold settee in her private Cabinet, and cooled her
somewhat heated face with a jewelled ostrich-feathered fan, "I had
better tell you frankly that I think both you and that designing little
adventuress have behaved in a very underhand way in this business--a way
that I naturally resent. Mirliflor, as you very well know, came here on
darling Edna's account, and you deliberately threw that Miss Heritage in
his way--I haven't the least doubt you told her who he really was!"

"That," said the Fairy, "is just what I did _not_ do. It was part of the
test I put to her. She still has no idea that he is more than a
student."

"Well, you egged her on to set her cap at him, and if he cares for her
at all it can be no more than a passing fancy. I cannot be a party to
letting the poor, dear young fellow be entrapped into a _mesalliance_ to
please you, and I shall see that she is sent back to England at once,
as, but for you, she would have been long before this."

"I don't want to lose my temper with you if I can help it," said the
Fairy, with an ominous flush on her peaked old nose, "because I've been
through a good deal as it is this morning, and I'm feeling very far
from well in consequence. But you had better understand that Lady Daphne
is not going to be sent back to England--she is going with Mirliflor and
me to Clairdelune, and we shall start immediately."

"_You_ are at liberty to go where you please, but Miss Heritage will
certainly not leave the Palace except to return to her own country."

"And I tell you I intend to take her to Clairdelune with me, and you are
powerless to prevent it."

"Indeed?" said the Queen, in high wrath. "Answer me this: Am I Queen of
Maerchenland, or am I not?"

"You are _not_!" retorted the Fairy, before she could prevent herself,
for the opening was really too tempting. She had not meant to go so far,
but, having started, she proceeded to enlighten the Queen as to her
title, and the very slender evidence on which it was based.

"I don't believe a single word of it!" declared Queen Selina, as
defiant