."

"Oh, Lal, don't ask me to be useful," shuddered the Griffin. "It is
such a dreadful word, and _anybody_ can be useful."

"You think so," said the Lion, as he smiled his wisest smile.

"I must be something far better than that," remonstrated the Griffin,
"and it has just struck me that I had better go round and find out from
everybody what they would like me to do," and the Griffin moved off
eagerly to gather the opinions of everybody present as to this most
interesting point which concerned him so closely.

"Always dying to show off," grunted the Lion. "You can see in the
Griffin the absolute type of one who being weak in the head and totally
unable to do anything, is nevertheless always longing to show off
before others, who are cleverer than himself."

"Perhaps he will find somebody who wants him to do something,"
suggested Ridgwell, hopefully; "but why didn't he want to be useful?"

"Because the poor Griffin believes himself to be extremely ornamental,
and therefore, like all conceited people, he will never be able to see
himself as he is in reality. He wishes to lead before he has been able
to learn."

Carry-on-Merry, Gamble, Grin, and Grub had by this time fixed up a
strangely decorated Maypole; it was nothing less than St. George's
Pillar, but so bedecked with hanging flowers and brilliant silken
corded ribbons that the children had some difficulty in recognising it
again.

Then the four laughing lions could be seen racing along with a most
wonderful piano-organ, into which Gamble, Grin, and Grub were
harnessed, whilst Carry-on-Merry turned the handle.

It must at once be admitted that this particular musical instrument
differed very considerably from any piano-organ ever heard in the
streets, and it could never have come anywhere from the neighbourhood
of Saffron Hill.

It discoursed the sweetest music in the nature of a dance tune that was
irresistible, and the feet of all the children present started in time
to it simultaneously.

"Now, Ridgwell," said the Lion, "take Christine and dance with her. Or
would you sooner stay here and look on at the sight?"

"I shall do both," asserted Ridgwell, "dance first and look on
afterwards."

"Good," assented the Lion; "an able definition of eating your cake and
having it at the same time. Off you go then."

"Won't the Kings, Boadicea, and St. George dance too?" asked Christine.

"No, George doesn't dance," said the Lion, "neither do the Royalty;