than in ours. I did
not stay to hear more from the Baron than that he had succeeded in
finding our Queen, and, to be quite plain with you, I was unprepared to
find you so mature."

Then, thought Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson confusedly, she _had_ been brought
here for the Pageant after all. But what very odd people seemed to be
getting it up!

"Baron--whatever his name is, appeared to be quite satisfied that I was
suited to the part," she said coldly. "Of course, if you require someone
younger----"

"There can be no manner of doubt, my dear, that you are the Queen we
have been seeking, so the mere fact that you are rather older than some
of us expected is of no importance whatever."

"Thank you," said Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson. "I do not consider myself
more than middle-aged, and have generally been taken for younger than I
am, Mrs. ----, I haven't the pleasure of knowing your name."

"Here they call me the Fairy Vogelflug; in the neighbouring Kingdom of
Clairdelune my name is Voldoiseau. I have officiated as Court Godmother
to the reigning Royal families in both countries for many generations."

"I _thought_ you were a Fairy Godmother!" cried Ruby; "and I'm sure
you're a _good_ Fairy, and can do all sorts of wonderful things."

"I used to, my child, in my younger days, but my powers are not what
they were, and I seldom exercise them now, because it exhausts me too
severely to do so. Once there were several of us Court Godmothers, but I
am the only one left, and my health is so poor that I can do little for
my God-children but give them moral teaching and wise counsel. However,
such good offices as I can still render shall be entirely at your
service."

"You are very kind," said Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson, resenting the other's
air of patronage, "but all my children are already provided with
God-parents. As you tell me you are a Fairy," she continued, "I suppose
I must accept your word for it--but it will take a great deal more than
that to make me believe that we are in Fairyland."

"I thought," said the Fairy, "you already knew that the name of this
country is Maerchenland."

It should be said here once for all that the Wibberley-Stimpsons found
no difficulty in understanding, or making themselves perfectly
intelligible to any Maerchenlanders, although they always had a curious
feeling that they were conversing in a foreign language.

"Whatever the country is called," said Mrs. Wibberley-Stimpson
aggressively, "I s