ing
but beautiful without her fine hair and lovely complexion, and her
small green eyes flew around the room as if looking for a means of
escape. I could see that everybody was shocked at sight of her.

"The Prime Minister came immediately to the point. He told the Queen
that reports were circulating to the effect that her beautiful hair was
not real. At this she flew into a perfect rage and stamped her foot at
him, crying that it was real.

"'Well, well, then,' said the Prime Minister, 'kindly remove your lace
scarf and let us see for ourselves.'

"This of course she refused to do, whereupon the Prime Minister held
out his hand for a bag which Princess Amy's father was carrying, and
drew out first the complexion dye and then the wig, which he passed
around for inspection. When he laid the Queen's beautiful hair on the
table everybody jumped up with an exclamation of amazement and looked
at Bethel, who gave a scream and tried to snatch it, but her mother
drew her back.

"'What is it made of?' was the question they all asked. I knew, I had
guessed it for quite a long time, but had not felt certain until I had
it in my hands.

"'It is made of spun looking-glass, colored a delicate yellow,' I said,
'and was made by Princess Bethel's father, who, as you all know, is
very clever. See, here is a doll's wig that he made for Princess Amy
several years ago. You will note that it is not colored, that it is
made of clear glass, and is coarser, but the idea is the same. If you
need any further proof I have three witnesses whose testimony I think
you will be willing to accept.'

"'Wonderful, wonderful,' they all exclaimed, as they still examined the
wig.

"'Who told you anything about it?' screamed the Queen. 'What do you
mean prying into my affairs? I'll pay you well for this, Aunt Sophie.'

"But nobody paid any attention to her. The Prime Minister was asking
what should be done with her, and various things were suggested. One
old Baroness would keep calling out, 'Have her beheaded, have her
beheaded,' and several members of Parliament felt that she ought to be
imprisoned for life, and also her father and mother.

"No doubt they would have been imprisoned for at least a number of
years had not Amy's father risen and said that his daughter asked that
for her sake they would not punish either Bethel or her parents, but
let them go home, as she thought the shame of all this exposure would
certainly be punishmen