wed her grief; but
presently their charms so gained upon her that she forgot her
melancholy in providing them with nursery-maids, cradle-rockers, and
ladies-in-waiting, and in sending hither and thither for swings and
dolls and tops, and bushels of the finest sweetmeats.

Oddly enough, every baby had upon its throat a tiny pink rose. The Queen
found it so difficult to decide on suitable names for all of them,
that until she could settle the matter she chose a special colour for
everyone, by which it was known, so that when they were all together
they looked like nothing so much as a nosegay of gay flowers. As they
grew older it became evident that though they were all remarkably
intelligent, and profited equally by the education they received, yet
they differed one from another in disposition, so much so that they
gradually ceased to be known as 'Pearl,' or 'Primrose,' or whatever
might have been their colour, and the Queen instead would say:

'Where is my Sweet?' or 'my Beautiful,' or 'my Gay.'

Of course, with all these charms they had lovers by the dozen. Not only
in their own court, but princes from afar, who were constantly arriving,
attracted by the reports which were spread abroad; but these lovely
girls, the first Maids of Honour, were as discreet as they were
beautiful, and favoured no one.

But let us return to Surcantine. She had fixed upon the son of a king
who was cousin to Bardondon, to bring up as her fickle Prince. She had
before, at his christening, given him all the graces of mind and body
that a prince could possibly require; but now she redoubled her efforts,
and spared no pains in adding every imaginable charm and fascination.
So that whether he happened to be cross or amiable, splendidly or simply
attired, serious or frivolous, he was always perfectly irresistible! In
truth, he was a charming young fellow, since the Fairy had given him the
best heart in the world as well as the best head, and had left nothing
to be desired but--constancy. For it cannot be denied that Prince
Mirliflor was a desperate flirt, and as fickle as the wind; so much so,
that by the time he arrived at his eighteenth birthday there was not a
heart left for him to conquer in his father's kingdom--they were all his
own, and he was tired of everyone! Things were in this state when he was
invited to visit the court of his father's cousin, King Bardondon.

Imagine his feelings when he arrived and was presented at once to twelv