out of our own Palace, without a home to go to!"

"You have 'Inglegarth,'" said Daphne, "and as soon as the Baron returns
with the car he shall take you there."

"I am much obliged to your Majesty," returned Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson,
her complexion deepening to a rich purple, "very much obliged for such
truly generous treatment! Some people might think that, considering that
you wouldn't be Queen at all but for our kindness in taking you with us,
when we were brought here--by no seeking of _ours_--to reign over this
ridiculous country--I say, _some_ people might call this rather shabby
and ungrateful. Especially when we gave way the moment we were told
there had been a mistake--sooner than make any fuss or trouble--as few
Sovereigns in our position would have done! And now it seems we're to be
rewarded by being bundled back to a suburban residence which, whatever
else may be said for it, is absurdly inadequate for any retired
Royalties! But you will find we are not to be got rid of quite so
easily. I absolutely decline to go back to Gablehurst to be an ordinary
nobody after what I have been. Nothing in the world shall induce me to!"

"My love," said her husband, "we can't stay here if we're not wanted."

"No, Mater," said Clarence, "we've got to clear."

"I shall be thankful to get away myself," added Edna. "What is
Maerchenland, after all?--just a petty little Kingdom that nobody even
knows is in existence!"

"_You_ may go if you please," Mrs. Stimpson declared. "_I_ shall
stay--if I have to sit and starve to death at the Palace Gates! And a
pretty scandal _that_ will be!"

"If you were allowed to starve," said the Fairy Vogelflug--"which you
wouldn't be, you'd get food enough--but no sympathy. So I should advise
you myself to return to your own Country, where you are probably held in
more esteem than you are here. And now," she added to Daphne, "I must
ask your Majesty's leave to withdraw to my own apartments. I shall be
obliged if you would send the Baron to me as soon as he arrives from
Clairdelune." And with this, and a stiff but stately curtesy to the
young Queen, she hobbled out of the Throne Room.

"I shall maintain to my dying breath," declared Mrs. Stimpson
vehemently, "that, after governing this Country as we have done, we have
earned the right to stay in it. I consider we are not only entitled to
that, but to a suitable establishment and pension. Your Majesty can
surely spare us something out of all