I must say they didn't sound to me quite decent."

Charlotte was quite ready to repeat it.

"Oh, don't quote poetry to me!" begged the King. "I don't understand
it."

"And I try not to," said the Queen. So Charlotte's quotation was ruled
out of the discussion.

"Don't you think, my dear," persuaded her father, "that meeting him
here, as it just so happens, will seem sufficiently accidental?"

"Not after we've waited for him all this time; not after I climbed up
that spire and threw my cap at him without knowing it," said the
Princess. "Oh, you don't know what that paper has been saying!" And she
pointed to the bits.

The King stooped and began gathering them up.

"It's all nonsense, John," said the Queen. "Don't indulge her by paying
any attention."

And at that renewed proof of her mother's imperviousness of mind
Princess Charlotte ran out of the room.

"Leave her alone!" remarked the Queen, sure of her own sagacity, "she'll
calm down. My belief is that she really likes him. _I_ saw her looking
at his photograph; it wasn't only once, either."

IV

Three days later the King and Queen of Jingalo were at home by special
appointment to receive a call of ceremony. The streets of Bad-as-Bad
were hung with flags--here and there of the two nationalities, side by
side, their corners (delicate symbol!) tied together by a knot of white
ribbon.

Grooms of the Chamber had donned full Court dress for the occasion, and
a complete staff of servants, equerries, attaches, and ministers in
attendance lined the route from the portico of the converted hotel which
served as the King's villa to the large private apartment where the
actual meeting took place.

"His Royal Highness, Grand Duke and Hereditary Prince of
Schnapps-Wasser," pronounced the Master of Ceremonies in that awestruck
tone which is exclusively reserved for the introduction of crowned heads
or territorial princes; and a youthful giant, six feet four in height,
entered the room, struck his heels together with military precision, and
bowed low.

He wore his own clothes--one of his own uniforms, that is to say--and
the King of Jingalo wore one of his, for they had not hitherto exchanged
regiments in token of peace and amity--a matter to be put right on a
future occasion.

The Prince wore sky-blue trimmed with sable, and brightened with silver
facings; tunic and trousers of an extremely tight fit set off a muscular
frame. From his shoulders, presumably in