WHAT HAPPENED IN THE THRONE-ROOM
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Led by Queen Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil, the strange
guests, who had come to the wedding without an invitation, mounted the
spacious marble steps and passed into the palace.
In spite of a meek, respectful demeanor that it was very hard for them
to assume, they could not conceal the gloating satisfaction that was on
their faces.
In the meantime the Brownies and fairies were already beginning to enjoy
themselves in different parts of the palace grounds.
Introductions are hardly necessary when sprites meet, and many found
ways of getting acquainted, and were warm friends on their first
meeting.
Having no suspicion of what was in the evil minds of those she was
preparing so hospitably to entertain, Titania with her companions
ushered them into the magnificent banquet-room.
There upon one of the long tables were spread many delicacies to make
one's mouth water, and, even before an invitation to partake of them
could be extended, the four red imps seated themselves before it, and,
smacking their lips, began to tuck napkins under their chins.
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Titania had thought that the guests would leave the presents they had
brought out in the hall when they came in, but they still held on to
them with a grip so tenacious that she wondered if they really meant to
give them up, after all.
Nevertheless in a free-hearted way she urged the visitors to refresh
themselves. The imps were already engaged in trying to stuff whole plum
puddings into their mouths at once, a greedy proceeding that Dame
Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil watched with considerable disgust.
All but the leader started quickly to seat themselves, but he stamped
his foot imperiously, and they came to an instant stop.
Then he threw back the hood of his scarlet cloak, disclosing a wicked
face, and transfixed Titania with his malicious gaze.
"I am Dragonfel the enchanter, my fine little lady," he said, in
fiendish tones, "and I have come to take you away with me!"
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Titania was so frightened that she could neither scream nor run away,
and she allowed him to gather her up in his arms and hold her just as
a little girl does a doll, making light of load.
There she lay passive and trembling, with the realization that it would
be useless to make any effort to escape.
Almost immediately afterward Grouthead seized the biting, scratching,
and clawing Dame Drusilda, whom he dumped in spite of fierce resistance
into the baby's crib, and when Mandrake and Wolfinger put Violet and
Daffodil in after her it was very plain why this particular gift had
been selected.
"Yes, and you're not going to get these presents, either," sneered
Dragonfel to Titania, who said never a word. "You may call me an
Injun-giver, if you like, but I mean to take them back, just the same!"
With Titania helpless in his arms he started toward a rear door, while
after him came Grouthead and Wolfinger bearing the crib in which Dame
Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil rattled about like dried peas in a pod.
The others followed slowly and reluctantly in their wake, casting
longing glances backward at the tempting-looking desserts on the table.
The imps, however, did not budge, but continued eating. When Dragonfel
called out to them in angry tones they sprang up and attempted at the
same time to jam charlotte russe into their gaping mouths.
In their frantic haste they smeared the charlotte or russe, whichever
the white part is, all over their faces, so that as they hurried after
the others with occasional frisky somersaults they looked as though they
had just been lathered by a barber.
Out by the rear all passed into the deserted back-garden where there was
a small iron door locked and bolted from the inside, and with the key,
fortunately for their nefarious plans, in the lock.
Through this door Dragonfel and his followers effected their escape with
their captives, and ran with all possible speed toward the sea-shore.
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The galleon tossed upon the lazy swell, not a great distance out, and in
a small boat with Snoutpimple and Boundingbore at the oars they rowed to
it, and soon were on board.
Then the anchor was weighed, and with all sails filling they set their
course for Dragonfel's enchanted country, which they reached without
mishap of any kind.
When they got to their journey's end, and all stood safe upon the shore,
the full malignity of Dragonfel was shown.
Realizing that the indomitable Brownies would not relinquish Titania
without a struggle, but would follow as quickly as they could to wrest
her if possible from him, he ordered Vulcan's imps to call upon their
master to impede them with a storm.
The imps thereupon cast balls of fire into the air, and, even as
all bent their steps toward the palace, the enchanter noted with
considerable satisfaction quite a change in the temperature. Clouds were
already beginning to form on the horizon, and there came the distant
rumble of continuous thunder.
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While they stood just outside the massive doors they heard the sounds of
what appeared to be a violent altercation from within. In an agitated
manner, as though he feared the worst, Dragonfel quickly threw them
open, and was greatly relieved to see the Demon Usher and Red Spirit
engaged in a friendly game of checkers.
"You cheated!" the Red Spirit accused hotly. "You jumped three of my men
when you should have only jumped two!"
"Stop it!" snarled Dragonfel at them. "You don't know how to play
checkers, anyhow!"
They sprang in consternation to their feet, upsetting the board, and
causing the checkers to roll all over the floor.
While the Red Spirit stood gloating over the success of a venture in
which he had played a modest part, the Demon Usher half skipped, half
flew, to the throne, and with a display of much enthusiasm began dusting
off the seat with a cloth.
With swaggering stride Dragonfel went to the throne, and threw himself
in it, while Queen Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil all came
running toward him.
"Oh, sir," cried Dame Drusilda, very much distressed, "why have you
brought us poor, defenseless girls here?"
"Us, my venerable fairy!" said Dragonfel, most insultingly.
"Venerable!" repeated Dame Drusilda. "Oh, you nasty man!"
"How do you keep your age?" he sneered.
"Easy enough," she replied indignantly. "I never give it away."
As she spoke she made for him as though she meant to scratch his eyes
out, but Queen Titania pulled her back.
"Don't touch him, Dame Drusilda!" she cried, and then turned pleadingly
to Dragonfel. "Why have you made me a prisoner, and carried me away
from home in this way?"
"To prevent your marriage to the Brownie prince," he said coldly.
"But we love each other, and would be so happy," she said, while tears
filled her pretty eyes. "Why do you oppose the marriage?"
"Because if this marriage were to take place," he said, with an ugly
frown, "it would make you all so powerful as to result in my undoing."
"You fear," she said reprovingly, "that we will frustrate all your
wicked plans."
"It must not, shall not be!" was his decided response. "The Brownies and
fairies have long been my enemies."
"If you did good," she reminded, gently, "we would be your friends. Tell
me, must I stay here always?"
"Yes, always!" he snapped out. "The sooner you forget your Brownie
prince the better. You shall never see him again."
Then Titania showed her spirit.
"Oh, yes, I shall!" she contradicted. "The Brownies will rescue us!"
"Bah!" he said contemptuously. "Those poor, weak creatures of the night?
They could not do it."
"The Brownies can do anything," she said, with perfect trust and
confidence.
"My pretty pet," said Dame Drusilda, "you waste words with him. Let us
ask some of these other creatures to help us. Maybe they are not as bad
as their master."
So she coquettishly sidled up to Grouthead, Boundingbore, Mandrake,
Wolfinger, and Snoutpimple who stood near by in a highly interested
group. But before she could say even a word Grouthead gathered her up in
his arms, and held her out in the air, while in her fright she kept
kicking the turned-in toes of her tiny shoes together.
"Don't be alarmed, my dear," he croaked, in tones that were meant to be
reassuring. "There's a heart here that beats for you, and you alone!"
"Where's the heart?" she gasped.
"In this troubled breast," he roared. "I've half a mind to marry you."
"Put me down!" she screamed. "I wouldn't marry anyone with half a mind!"
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Dragonfel rose, and stamped his foot angrily, at which silent rebuke
Grouthead set Dame Drusilda hastily down. She gave a sigh of great
relief, and, gathering up her skirts, flew toward the enchanter.
"Oh, sir," she implored, "can nothing move you?"
"Yes," he said, in sneering tones, "a ton of dynamite! You are a pippin,
but you withered on the stem!"
"You villain!" she screamed, shaking a tiny clenched fist at him. "I
could annihilate you for that; you deserve worse!"
And she made for him again, but the tactful Violet and Daffodil grasped
each of her arms, and held her back.
Dragonfel grinned most provokingly, and his myrmidons fairly shook with
glee, while the Demon Usher cackled his exultation, and poked the Red
Spirit on his elastic ribs.
Titania took a little spider-web affair of a handkerchief from her
bodice, for her eyes threatened to fill again.
Noting the coming tears, the wicked enchanter hastened to say, in tones
that were meant to be particularly comforting:
"No harm shall befall you. When you have a wish you have but to name
it."
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"I have one now," spoke up Titania quickly.
"So have I," added Dame Drusilda.
"I'll hear yours later," said Dragonfel to the latter gruffly, and then
turned to Titania with what he thought was a most winning smile. "What
is yours?"
"I want my Brownie prince!"
"Didn't I tell you you were never going to see him again?" said the
enchanter, in disgust. "Ask me something else, and make it as hard as
you can."
But Titania had no other wish, and Dame Drusilda was given no
opportunity to make hers known.
The days dragged slowly by, and, though Dragonfel was not actually rough
in the treatment of his captives, he still was most unkind in depriving
them of the liberty for which they continually sighed. They were watched
and spied upon continually, so there was little or no chance for escape.
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He endeavored to provide amusements for which they had no heart, and was
a sorry host at best. In his crude efforts to entertain them he welcomed
all ideas for sports and diversions, so when on one occasion they were
all together, and his prisoners seemed unusually depressed, he sat upon
his throne knitting his brows in trying to think of something that might
cheer them up a bit.
In the midst of his unsuccessful cogitations the Demon Usher half
skipped, half flew, to him, and prostrated himself at his feet.
"Kind master!" he cried, in a flutter of excitement.
"What is it?" asked Dragonfel.
"A band of wandering minstrels outside humbly crave permission to play
before you."
"What, another?" said Dragonfel. "Show them in!"
The words he used were hospitable enough, but the tone of his voice
boded little good for the daring musicians.
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