we have given up!"

Daphne intimated that she wished to reply to Mrs. Stimpson in private,
whereupon the others withdrew out of hearing and left them together.

"I hate having to say it," she began in a low voice, "but you really
can't stay here on any terms, Mrs. Stimpson--I think I needn't tell you
why."

"Your Majesty surely doesn't suspect me of any----?"

"I don't suspect," said Daphne, "I _know_ how you tried to part me from
Prince Mirliflor for ever--and how nearly you succeeded. _He_ knows,
too.... Oh, you are in no danger from us--_we_ shall say nothing. But
there is someone else who _might_."

"Not--not the Baron?" cried Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson, so thrown off her
guard that she failed to see how completely the question gave her away.

"Yes," said Daphne gravely, "the Baron. You heard what the Court
Godmother said about seeing him as soon as he returns? We have forbidden
him to speak--but it's quite possible that she will get the truth out of
him--and that might be rather disagreeable for you, mightn't it?"

"Very," agreed the trembling Mrs. Stimpson. "She'd have no mercy on
me--on any of us!"

"I'm afraid not," said Daphne, "and she might not listen even to me.
So--don't you think it would be wiser to change your mind about staying
and go back to Gablehurst before she _does_ see him?"

"Much," said Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson in a half-choked voice--"much!
if--if it can be arranged."

"I think it can. The journey to Clairdelune and back won't tire the
storks--they will be quite able to take you over to England as soon as
you are ready to start."

"We'll go and get ready at once," said Mrs. Stimpson, "so as not to keep
the car waiting."

"You have plenty of time. It can't be here for some hours yet."

"Oh, I hope the Baron will make haste--and--and if your Majesty _could_
only prevent him from seeing the Court Godmother till after we are
gone!"

"She will probably be asleep," said Daphne, "but in any case he shall
have instructions to take you home the very moment he arrives at the
Palace. I think," she added, "that is all we had to say to one another."

"Except," said Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson, "that your Majesty really must
allow me to express my deep sense of the very handsome----"

"No, _please_!" said Daphne, turning away, for she felt that she had had
as much of Mrs. Stimpson as she could stand just then.

That good lady, having partially recovered her equanimity, retreated to
her husband a