found silence, and the oldest and the
youngest, each taking the Princess by the hand, led her up the steps to
the throne, and seated her upon it. Then the Prime Minister took the
crown from its velvet cushion, and placed it on her head, and, turning
to the people, said in a voice which sounded in the stillness to all
parts of the vast building, "Behold your Queen!"

Then, as one man, that great multitude gave such a sudden, wild,
tremendous shout, that it took the roof right off the top of the house,
and the wood that fell in every direction outside, was enough to keep
the poor people in kindling-wood all winter.

The Giant, whirling his iron helmet around his head, now led off, with a
thundering "Hip, hip, hurra!" in three cheers for the Queen. And three
_such_ cheers!

The dense crowd outside took them up, and shook the very foundations of
the city with their shouts; and the country people, and those at a great
distance, heard the joyful sounds, and before many minutes the whole
country, for miles around, reverberated with cheers for the new-made
Queen.

[Illustration]

As for the palace, it shook and trembled with the thunders of applause,
still led by the Giant, who couldn't be stopped. The people about him
were all struck deaf in the ear nearest him, but the ear-doctors cured
them all for nothing, when they got outside, so full of charity was
every one. At last, when every one, the Giant and all, were hoarse with
shouting, the Prime Minister offered his hand to the Queen, and led her
down from the throne. Then she motioned to the Prince to give her his
arm; and at the head of the procession, he led her to the royal
apartments, at the door of which he left her. The multitude then
dispersed, and they spent the rest of that day in putting right the
wrongs they had committed, and in making provision for future virtue.
When the Queen had taken some refreshment, she put on an every-day
crown, and repaired to the audience chamber to receive the visits of the
various dignitaries of the kingdom, who came before her, and brought her
their keys, and papers, and account-books. Giving each one back his
keys, and ordering the papers and accounts to be deposited in a great
pile on one side, where she might look over them at her leisure, she
reappointed every man to the office he held before, and sent them away
rejoicing. Then she called for writing materials and slaves, and
commenced writing notes to the Prince. She would w