irliflor,
that I took to you from the start, and--as I can't be the lucky man
myself, I'm jolly glad it's to be _you_!"

"Thank you," said Mirliflor, who was less given to florid phrases than
the average Fairy Prince. "So am I."

"I dare say," Clarence went on, as he realised the contrast between his
own clothes and the magnificent costume that the old Fairy had provided
for her royal godson, "I dare say you're thinking we're not looking very
smart?"

Mirliflor was honestly able to disclaim having any impressions on the
subject.

"Well, these togs must seem a bit rummy to _you_--but I can assure you
that, for informal occasions like the present, they're quite the right
thing in England." (He had a momentary impulse to except his father's
white tie, but, after all, why should he say anything about that when
Mirliflor knew no better? So he decided to pass it), "Worn by the very
best Society."

Mirliflor politely accepted this information, and then made his
farewells. Edna's good wishes were couched in a spirit of frigid
magnanimity. She had too much self-respect to let him perceive that she
resented his fickleness.

They were now alone in the antechamber. From time to time Mrs.
Wibberley-Stimpson would rise impatiently and peer out into the vast
hall, now only lit by one or two flickering cressets, to see if the
stork-car had arrived--but the attendants in waiting always assured her
that it had not, and, after some fussing and fretting, she lay down on a
divan and fell into an uneasy slumber.

Her husband was snoring placidly; Ruby had cried herself to sleep long
before; Edna had brought down her lecture-notes, and was conscientiously
employing the time in polishing up her knowledge of English Literature.

Her notes on Nietzsche's philosophy had been torn out after the rupture
with the Count. Somehow the Nietzschean theories did not seem to work
quite well when carried into practice. But, after deciphering a very few
Literature notes, Edna found herself too drowsy to continue.

Clarence remained awake longest. He had wandered restlessly out into the
hall just to look at the great Staircase half lost in the gloom. Daphne
had ascended it a little while since. To-morrow she would come down,
fresh and radiant, to meet Mirliflor. Before long they would be married
and crowned, and live happy ever after in the good old Maerchenland way.
Well, he wouldn't have to look on and see them doing it, which was some
consolati