and led him up the steps between
them. Then they drew back the purple curtains, and displayed a grand
throne on which was seated a little girl in a snow-white dress. On her
head she wore a little gold crown, from which hung a long transparent
veil. She was resting her head on her hand, and did not look up till
Peter and the Parsnip-men were quite close to her. Then she gave a cry
of joy.

"So you've come at last, Peter!" she cried, her eyes brightening with
delight; and as she took his hand, he saw that she was no other than his
favourite playfellow and neighbour, little Mary.

There was a second seat beside her, and to this she drew Peter. Then she
beckoned to the Parsnip-men, and said, "You have got everything ready,
have you not?" The Parsnip-men bowed low, and hurried away.

In a minute or two they returned, followed by about thirty mannikins
like themselves, who bore a magnificent dress which they deposited
before Peter. There was a coat of blue silk, turned up with fur, and
trimmed with precious stones. Besides this there were knee-breeches of
the same material, slashed with white and fringed with gold, white silk
stockings, and smart shoes with gold buckles. To complete the whole,
there lay on the top a cap, with a heron's plume fastened by an aigrette
of gold.

But Peter's attention all this time had been fixed upon Mary. He fancied
she looked bigger than usual and unfamiliar in some way.

"Take the clothes into that room," said she to the little men; "and you,
Peter," she added, "go with them and dress. Then we will go to supper."

"But--er--does your mamma know you're here?" asked Peter. He could not
get over his amazement at the style and tone in which little Mary
issued her orders in this strange place.

"I should think not!" laughed the little girl. "But never mind, Peter:
we shall soon be at home again. What you've got to do just now is to put
on your things."

As if in a dream, Peter went into the room into which the clothes had
been taken, and where the little men helped him to take off his things
and dress himself in his new-finery. Some of them then brought a long
mirror, in which Peter could see himself from head to foot, and he
fairly laughed with delight at his fine appearance in his new clothes.

Then the little men led him back to the Queen, who looked him well over,
and she also smiled complacently.

"Did you bring your doll, Mary?" said Peter presently.

"That's not very likely," re