<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</SPAN></span></p>
<h2>CHAPTER II</h2>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i016.png" width-obs="200" height-obs="274" alt="N" title="N" /></div>
<p class="st">TITANIA COMES TO REIGN<br/>
OVER THE FAIRIES</p>
<p class="cap"><span class="upper">Now</span> in another part of the same
country there was a race of
fairies who never grew old and
always remained beautiful.</p>
<p>Their loveliness of face and
form was beyond all description.</p>
<p>Just try to think of the prettiest
young girl you ever saw.
Well, even the plainest of these
fairies were ever so much prettier.
That is to say, all were
very beautiful with one exception.
In her case the fairy charm was an utter failure.</p>
<p>She was little and old, with a queer, wrinkled face like a
dried-up crab-apple. But, because no one else looked like her,
she was firmly convinced she was the most beautiful of them
all. They wore clinging gowns made of the texture of roses,<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</SPAN></span>
lilies, and other flowers. She who wore fragrant rose-petals
called herself Rose, she who called herself Lily one of lilies, and
so on. There were Violet, Daffodil, Bluebell, Daisy, Jassamine,
Hyacinth, and ever so many others. You could
find the names of all the rest in a seed-catalogue—that is,
all but the little old wrinkled one who was known as Dame
Drusilda. The fairies had a republic. Because they were
all so very
much alike,
and equally
beautiful,
gifted, and
clever, it
would have
been an extremely
awkward
matter
to select a
queen from among them. If any one had been chosen, all the
others would have felt greatly slighted. Dame Drusilda believed
she should be the queen, simply because no one else looked
like her, but she was quite alone in her opinion.</p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i017.png" width-obs="341" height-obs="209" alt="Fairy on horse" title="" /></div>
<p>They were very up-to-date, and they had a palace of great
magnificence that had every modern convenience, with sanitary
plumbing. There was a very gorgeous throne-room, wisely
arranged in the event that they might some day have a
queen, with a portcullis at the entrance that could be raised or
lowered at will. This, of course, was to keep out unwelcome
visitors.</p>
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<p>The republic was most beautifully situated where a river<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</SPAN></span>
joined the sea, and upon a cliff one day the fairies beheld a most
unusual sight. While they were smiling and nodding a greeting
to some lovely mermaids who were down among the rocks
combing their long tresses with the
aid of hand-mirrors, a golden shallop
heaped with flowers came drifting down
the placid stream. The fairies signalled
to the mermaids who, when their
attention was attracted to the shallop,
swam to it,
and guided
it to the
shore. As
it drew near
all grew very
much excited
when they
observed a
most exquisite
little creature
nestling
asleep
in the fragrant
bed
of flowers.
When the shallop grounded gently on the pebbly beach her
eyes opened, and she gazed up at them with the most enchanting
smile imaginable. “I am Queen Titania,” she announced,
as they bent over her, “and I have come to reign
over you!”<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>With tender hands they raised her from her couch, and knelt
before her in silent adoration.</p>
</div>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i019.png" width-obs="389" height-obs="223" alt="In the boat" title="" /></div>
<p>Never before had they seen anyone so beautiful, as she stood
before them in her long trailing gown, with a gem-crusted
crown upon her brow, and in her hand a slender wand from
whose tip shone the scintillating rays of a diamond.</p>
<p>“Your Majesty,” said queer little Dame Drusilda, “we
are all your loyal subjects. Let us conduct you to the palace,
where affairs of state await you.”</p>
<p>Amid great rejoicing they conducted Queen Titania to the
palace. Wee-winged Cupids bore her long train. The portcullis
was raised, and in triumph they entered.</p>
<p>The new queen was conducted with much pomp to the throne-room.
When she was placed upon the throne, two dogs, two
frogs, and an ostrich were brought before her.</p>
<p>“What have they done?” asked Queen Titania.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</SPAN></span></p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i020.png" width-obs="449" height-obs="342" alt="On the beach" title="" /></div>
<p>“Your Majesty,” said the fairy named Hyacinth, “these two
dogs were fighting, and one bit off a piece of the other’s ear.”</p>
<p>“Which was the one who did it?”</p>
<p>“Why, this one!”</p>
<p>“Bind him over to keep the peace!” said Queen Titania
promptly.</p>
<p>The fairies all nodded their approval as the dogs were led
away.</p>
<p>“Your Majesty,” then spoke up one of the frogs, “will you be
kind enough to listen to the complaint of one who has always
tried to conduct himself like a perfect gentleman? I am a confirmed
bachelor-frog. This young lady-frog is continually pestering<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</SPAN></span>
me with her attentions. She keeps on proposing marriage,
although it is not leap-year.”</p>
<p>“With frogs every year is leap-year,” said Queen Titania.</p>
<p>The ostrich looked very guilty as a fairy named Eglantine
explained:</p>
<p>“Your Majesty, he deliberately swallowed a half-dozen of the
palace spoons.”</p>
<p>“Why did you do it?” asked Queen Titania of the culprit.</p>
<p>“I don’t know,” he said shamefacedly.</p>
<p>“But I do,” said Queen Titania. “You did it to stir up
things. Have you a sweetheart?”</p>
<p>“Yes, I’ve got a bird!”</p>
<p>“Well, now you can go and spoon with her!”</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i021.png" width-obs="278" height-obs="224" alt="Conversation" title="" /></div>
<p>All were quite delighted with the wisdom shown by their tiny
sovereign in dispensing
justice. But before
other important
matters could be disposed
of a fairy messenger
named Pink
with her petalled attire
all flecked with
dust dashed in great
excitement into the
throne-room. She had
ridden many leagues
upon a winged steed,
and in its terrific speed which was far greater than that of the
swiftest aeroplane it had used both wings and feet.</p>
<p>Pink ran toward the throne to impart the news that had<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</SPAN></span>
brought her in such hot haste, but the unexpected sight of Queen
Titania stilled the words upon her frightened lips, and caused
them to part instead with wonder and surprise.</p>
<p>“This is Queen Titania,” hastily explained Dame Drusilda,
“who henceforth is to reign over us.”</p>
<p>Pink knelt low before Titania and kissed her royal robe.</p>
<p>“Your Majesty,” she said, “I am the bearer of bad news.
Dragonfel the wicked enchanter across the sea has declared his
intention of making trouble for the fairies.”</p>
<p>“Who told you this?” asked Queen Titania.</p>
<p>“A little bird,” was Pink’s reply.</p>
<div class="figleft"> <ANTIMG src="images/i022.png" width-obs="333" height-obs="252" alt="Conversation" title="" /></div>
<p>“This is very serious,” said Queen Titania gravely, “for
little birds never tell fibs.” There was a clamor of dismayed,
excited voices,
but the queen
raised her
wand for silence,
and
continued:</p>
<p>“Though it
may only be an
idle threat, I
will still appeal
to Euphrosyne.
Should we ever
need her help
right gladly she
will give it.” Her hearers all looked puzzled, and Dame Drusilda
made bold to ask: “Who is Euphrosyne of whom you
speak?” “Have you not heard of her?” Queen Titania asked,<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</SPAN></span>
with much surprise. “She is the Goddess of Mirth, who tries to
make the whole world happy—a most gigantic task. Come
with me, and I
will send her an invisible
summons.”
With the Cupids
bearing her train
she passed with
the fairies out to
the palace courtyard
where fountains
played and
flowers bloomed.
There she raised
her wand, and told
them to look up.
And doing so they beheld a most marvelous sight—a radiant,
smiling-faced, gloriously beautiful young woman in classical
white robes, with her sandalled feet resting ever so lightly upon
one of the pearl-tinged clouds.</p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i023.png" width-obs="306" height-obs="236" alt="Conversation" title="" /></div>
<p>Around her circled snowy doves, cooing, fluttering, and settling
on her head, bare shoulders and arms.</p>
<p>While Titania waved her wand, she suddenly gazed downward,
as though something by means of an electric current had
been transmitted to her through the air. She stroked a dove
that had found its way trustingly to her hand, and as the others
flew from her she herself seemed plumed for flight.</p>
<p>The fairies watched her with a suspense that was almost
painful, but to their great disappointment the passing clouds
blotted her from sight.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</SPAN></span></p>
<p>But even the fairies who all the time are witnessing the most
wonderful things were quite astounded when Euphrosyne in
what seemed to be the very next moment appeared with the
dove right in their very midst.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i024.png" width-obs="394" height-obs="411" alt="Warning" title="" /></div>
<p>“What is your wish?” she said to Queen Titania.</p>
<p>“Oh, beautiful Euphrosyne,” said the little queen, “we are
much concerned over the wicked Dragonfel.”<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</SPAN></span></p>
<div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i025a.png" width-obs="302" height-obs="248" alt="Conversation" title="" /></div>
<p>“The enchanter
across the sea?”
said Euphrosyne.</p>
<p>“And what about
him?”</p>
<p>“He threatens
harm to the fairies.”</p>
<p>“Do not borrow
trouble,” said Euphrosyne.</p>
<p>“Sometimes people
make foolish
threats, and when others heed them they have a good deal of
needless worry.” All looked very much relieved, and Queen<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</SPAN></span>
Titania said: “Your encouraging words comfort us greatly.”</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i025b.png" width-obs="447" height-obs="298" alt="Chasing a bird" title="" /></div>
<p>“If I were you,” advised Euphrosyne, “I’d always keep the
portcullis down, and be very careful about admitting strangers.
Don’t let anyone in without a first-class reference. If Dragonfel
annoys you, let me know.”</p>
<p>“But how?” asked Queen Titania.</p>
<p>“You can send this magic dove to me!”</p>
<p>They looked at her, but she was gone, and no one knew
whither. She seemed to have just melted away. Where her
hand had been there was a dove, and, as it started to flutter off,
with some difficulty they caught it.</p>
<p>Though she was very much encouraged by all Euphrosyne
had said, Queen Titania still thought it prudent to post on one
of the palace walls a warning placard so that those who ran
might read.</p>
<p>And, it proved a task that was sufficient to interest some of
the fairies the rest of the afternoon, and, by the time they got
through, they were able to make some show at hitting the nail
on the head.</p>
<div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i026.png" width-obs="326" height-obs="218" alt="Placard" title="" /></div>
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