om him stating that he approves, all will be well. I'm sure you
must quite understand that that is really as far as I _can_ go under the
circumstances. And, if you start at once, you will be back here again in
a very few days, bringing, I hope, a favourable answer. We shall be most
pleased to lend you any horse you like in the Royal Stables."

She was so plausible that poor Mirliflor, who, like most Fairy princes,
was not very deeply versed in feminine wiles, was quite taken in. He
thought her lacking in distinction for a Queen, but well meaning. And it
was so like his Godmother to impose one more test on him.

"I will set forth, then," he said, "as soon as I have seen my Daphne and
assured her of my speedy return."

"I'm afraid, my dear Mirliflor," said Queen Selina, "I'm _afraid_ you
can't see her before you go."

"And why not?" he asked.

"Well, you see, the dear Court Godmother--mistakenly, _I_ think--has
told her what a great person you really are, and Miss Heritage feels
that she has not the right to see you again unless and until she can
hear that she will be welcomed at your Father's Court. I said all I
could to show her that she need not be so over scrupulous as that, but
she is such an extremely sensitive girl, and feels her social
inferiority so acutely that nothing would persuade her to alter her
resolution. You will only be distressing her by attempting it."

He pleaded and argued as long as he could, but eventually he was
convinced that it was in vain. And so, as he knew that Daphne would be
safe under the Fairy's protection, he took his leave, and, choosing the
best horse in the Royal stud, set out on his journey to Clairdelune. By
so doing, he was only--little as he suspected it--giving his hostess
time to consider how she could best deal with the girl who, she no
longer doubted, was the rightful possessor of the throne. But then Miss
Heritage was not aware of her birthright, which seemed to suggest more
than one way of coping with the situation.

After Queen Selina and her Royal Consort, with the Crown Prince and the
Princess Edna and Ruby, had waved their last adieus to the departing
Mirliflor, the Marshal approached Clarence. "Allow me, Sire," he said,
"to restore this jewel, which was picked up close to the spot where your
Royal Highness's steed became so suddenly and unaccountably
unmanageable."

Clarence reddened--for there was a covert sneer in the ex-Regent's tone
which he did not like,