"Just one or two little schemes to submit to your Majesty," said the
Countess. "How silly of me--I mean, your Royal Highness. Of course
your Royal Highness may not like them at all, but in case your Royal
Highness did, I just--well, I just wrote them out."

She unfolded, one by one, a series of ornamental parchments.

"They are beautifully written," said the Princess.

Belvane blushed at the compliment. She had a passion for coloured
inks and rulers. In her diary the day of the week was always
underlined in red, the important words in the day's doings being
frequently picked out in gold. On taking up the diary you saw at once
that you were in the presence of somebody.

The first parchment was headed:

SCHEME FOR ECONOMY IN REALM

"Economy" caught the eye in pale pink. The next parchment was headed:

SCHEME FOR SAFETY OF REALM

"Safety" clamoured to you in blue.

The third parchment was headed:

SCHEME FOR ENCOURAGEMENT OF LITERATURE IN REALM

"Encouragement of Literature" had got rather cramped in the small
quarters available for it. A heading, Belvane felt, should be in one
line; she had started in letters too big for it, and the fact that the
green ink was giving out made it impossible to start afresh.

There were ten parchments altogether.

By the end of the third one, the Princess began to feel uncomfortable.

By the end of the fifth one she knew that it was a mistake her ever
having come into the Royal Family at all.

By the end of the seventh she decided that if the Countess would
forgive her this time she would never be naughty again.

By the end of the ninth one she was just going to cry.

The tenth one was in a very loud orange and was headed:

SCHEME FOR ASSISTING CALISTHENICS IN REALM

"Yes," said the Princess faintly; "I think it would be a good idea."

"I thought if your Royal Highness approved," said Belvane, "we might
just----"

Hyacinth felt herself blushing guiltily--she couldn't think why.

"I leave it to you, Countess," she murmured. "I am sure you know
best."

It was a remark which she would never have made to her Father.

CHAPTER V

BELVANE INDULGES HER HOBBY

In a glade in the forest the Countess Belvane was sitting: her throne,
a fallen log, her courtiers, that imaginary audience which was always
with her. For once in her life she was nervous; she had an anxious
morning in front of her.

I can tell you the reason at once. Her Royal Highness was g