rest friend!"

But her remarks were lost on Daphne, for just then, to Mrs. Stimpson's
surprise and secret dismay, the entrance was formally announced of the
Court Godmother, whom she had imagined to be at least moribund, if not
dead. She came in, looking frail and feeble, but still with much of the
energy and vitality that had seemed to have departed for ever.

"Really," thought the disgusted Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson, "Mother
Hubbard's dog is a fool to her!"

Daphne had already gone to greet her and lead her to a seat. "I'm much
better, my child--in fact almost as well as ever. A day or two ago I
thought I was dying--but a little rest and the good news of your return
have quite set me up again. I begin to think I shall see my second
century out yet!"

"It is indeed a marvellous recovery, my dear Court Godmother!" chimed in
Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson. "We've all been _so_ anxious! We should have
sent to inquire, only we couldn't--because--well, you'll hardly
_believe_ it, but we've been imprisoned (and very nearly _executed_,
too!) on a ridiculous charge of having made away with our dear young
Queen here! When, as _you_ know, I had actually gone out of my way to
have her sent to Clairdelune as soon as I found you were too ill to see
to it yourself."

"And well for you that you did so!" said the grim old Fairy, "for if you
had played--or even sought to play--her false, I would have seen to
it--old and ailing as I am--that such treason did not go unpunished!"

Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson shivered inwardly under the implacable old eyes;
she knew well that she could expect no mercy if the Fairy discovered
that these secret orders had ever been handed to the Baron. Only, as
the Baron had never received them, he could tell her nothing, and as the
Council now believed them to be a forgery of the Marshal's, Mrs.
Stimpson felt herself fairly safe.

"Yes, dear Court Godmother," she said sweetly; "but you see, I
haven't--so we needn't discuss that _now_, need we? When you came in
just now, I was just telling her Majesty that we had no desire to stay
on at the Palace longer than is unavoidable, but that, naturally, we
were anxious to know where accommodation would be found for us--nothing
grand, of course, _any_ fairly large _chateau_ would suit us."

"I'm sorry," said Daphne, after stooping to kiss Ruby, "but that is
quite impossible."

"Impossible?" cried Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson. "I can't believe that your
Majesty would turn us