al.

"Don't you?" rejoined the queen, tartly. "Then you needn't."

Amanda was on the point of making an equally tart reply, when
fortunately the king appeared at the door, and so interrupted the
threatened dispute. He also wore his crown and train, and, moreover, he
carried the ball and sceptre in his hand; for this little monarch was
not disposed to part with any of the insignia of royalty, and thought he
might as well not be a king if he did not wear the grand trappings
belonging to his office.

Then the whole party went down into the hall to be marshalled into
proper order by Alphonse, who always took upon himself to be master of
the ceremonies whenever he could get a chance. This was not effected
without a vast deal of chattering and confusion; and report says that
one or two sounds like "Shan't!" "Shall!" were distinctly heard,
followed by what sounded like, and probably was, a slap.

The little train-bearers were especially difficult to manage, owing to
their constantly wanting to speak to one or other of their companions in
the rear, which inclination occasioned their majesties several
unmajestic jerks from behind, and, of course, called forth a sharp
reprimand from the majesty so pulled; the only effect of which was a
vast deal of giggling amongst the little girls, and the making of droll
faces by the little boys.

"Please, queen, Edmund's making a face!" cried a little lady-in-waiting,
looking at the culprit and speaking to the queen.

"Oh, you story-teller!" cried Edmund, indignantly. "I ain't."

"I'll box your ears if you do so again, you rude boy," said the queen,
turning sharp round on the guilty Edmund. At this threat the urchin made
a queer grimace, and then pretended to cry, sobbing out, "Oh, please,
queen, don't!"

[Illustration]

At length all were got into their proper places, and the procession set
out. The king and queen, with their train-bearers, marched first, then
strode consequential Master Alphonse, and the rest of the party
followed, two and two, all singing a jingling rhyme as they marched, and
swinging their nets to the tune. This is what they sang:--

"Bring your nets and make haste;
Come away to the butterfly chase,
Up the meadow and through the dell,
By the path we know so well;
Shout loud, jump high,
And haste to catch the butterfly."

When they came to the dell where most butterflies were to be found they
all separated and got their nets ready, wh