by mistake.

"Poor young man!" Rebecca exclaimed, in a low voice of contrition. "Why,
he must hev took me fer a lunatic!"

Then she suddenly recollected her young attendants, and turned so as to
bring them on one hand and Droop on the other.

"Young ladies," she said, primly, "this here's Mr. Copernicus Droop,
from America."

With one accord the six girls dropped their eyes and courtesied low.

"Mr. Droop," Rebecca continued, as she indicated one of the girls after
the other with her forefinger, "make you acquainted with Miss Clarissa,
Miss Margaret, Miss Maria, Miss Gertrude, Miss Evelina, and Miss
Dorothy. They've got sech tangled-up last names, I declare I can't keep
'em in my head. Mr. Droop's the same rank I am," she concluded,
addressing the girls.

Droop fidgeted and bowed six awkward bows with eyes riveted to the
ground. He had never been a ladies' man, and this unexpected
presentation was a doubly trying ordeal.

There was a murmur of "your Highness" from the courtesying young women
which convinced the abashed Yankee that he was being mocked, and this
impression was deepened by the ill-suppressed giggles occasioned by the
sight of his sadly rumpled hose. His confusion was complete.

"Now, tell me," said Rebecca, curiously, "whatever brought you up here?
Hev ye some errand with the Queen?"

"Yes," said Droop. "My friend and me came up here to get a patent. Say,"
he exclaimed, brightening up with startling suddenness, "praps you know
the racket--got the inside track, eh?"

"Inside track!"

"Yes. Don't you know the Patent Examiner--or Commissioner, or Lord High
Thingummy that runs the Patent Office here? I hate to bother the Queen
about sech things! Goodness knows, I'd never ha' thought o' troublin'
President McKinley about patents!"

Rebecca shook her head.

"I'm blest ef I know the fust thing about it," she declared. "Ef you
take my advice, you'll not bother Miss Elizabeth 'bout your old
patents."

At this moment the page returned.

"Her Majesty awaits your Royal Highness within," he said, bowing deeply.

Droop's jaws fell apart and his eyes opened wide.

"Royal Highness!" he murmured.

"Well, I've got to go now," said Rebecca, smiling at her friend's
astonishment. "But don't you go 'way fer a while yet. I'll try an' get
the Queen to let you in soon. I want to talk with you 'bout lots of
things."

In a moment she was gone, leaving Copernicus rooted to the floor and
dumb with amazement.