own again, and you had better put on yours,
and--yes, I should certainly take your sceptre too."

She kept them waiting as long as her own dignity demanded, and then
sailed into the Council Chamber, the King and Crown Prince following in
her wake. The whole Council rose and remained standing until the Royal
Family had taken their seats under a canopy.

The President then informed them that the Councillors had resolved to
use every means to prevent a union which, if contracted, would
infallibly cover the entire Kingdom with contempt.

"Oh, very _well_, gentlemen," said the Queen. "_I_ should have thought
even that was better than having it covered with water--but if you in
your wisdom think otherwise, we bow to your superior judgment." And she
explained the situation much as she had done to the mob at the gates,
though with less effect, for the President's answer was that, if such
were the alternatives, their Majesties would best show their anxiety for
their subjects' welfare by abdicating immediately.

"I don't see that at all," she retorted. "Why in the world _should_ we?"

"Because," was the reply, "when this so-called King of the Crystal Lake
learns that your son is no longer a Prince, he will cease to desire him
for his daughter."

"And may I ask, supposing we did abdicate, whom do you propose to put in
our place?" inquired the Queen.

"We should appoint Marshal Federhelm as Regent once more--or even elect
him Sovereign."

"A very pretty plan!" replied Queen Selina, "only there's one objection
to it, as you would know if you hadn't shut yourselves up here all day.
You will be sorry to hear that the poor Marshal was killed this very
afternoon while hunting. So you can't get _him_. And, as there's no one
else available, and as my husband and I feel that it would be very wrong
to desert our dear people when they've just assured us of their perfect
loyalty and affection--(_another_ fact you seem to be ignorant of!)--I'm
afraid, gentlemen, that, whether you like it or not, you will have to
put up with us."

"It is true, O Queen!" the President admitted with a deep groan. "We can
do naught except pray that Heaven may yet save this most unhappy Country
from so deep a degradation!" And all the other Members of the Council
groaned too, while several beat their breasts or tore their long white
beards in senile wrath and despair.

"They _are_ a cheery complimentary lot of old devils!" commented
Clarence. "If I were