The next evening, after supper was over, some of the doves brought
forward a very plain-looking old dove, who wore suspended around her
neck on a thin chain a little gold key.
They all begged her to tell Daimur her story, and after some hesitation
she began:
"I am not a Queen," she said, "I am only the Duchess of Rose Petals,
but through my misfortune I am causing a great deal of misery to my
dear, dear niece, Queen Amy of the Island of Roses." Here she shed a
few tears, then shaking her feathers, she continued her story.
"When my cousin, the late King Richard, died he left no heir. In his
will, however, he named his successor. He said that whichever of his
nieces (his two brothers each had one daughter) should grow up more
beautiful and more clever than the other should be crowned Queen on her
eighteenth birthday, and that until then the Prime Minister should
manage the affairs of the country.
"As the girls were both in their sixteenth year at the time there were
two years to wait.
"We all thought it a silly plan, and that it would have been much
better to name one of the girls as Queen and be done with it, but of
course the King's wishes had to be observed, and the people settled
down to wait.
"The two Princesses after that were very seldom seen, each being kept
busy by her respective parents learning all manner of things which she
would need to know if she became Queen, and at the same time building
up her beauty.
"Princess Amy was always my favorite niece. She was a dear
good-hearted little thing with pretty golden hair, a fine
pink-and-white complexion, and the kindest blue eyes in the world.
"Princess Bethel was neither good-looking nor sweet-tempered, and no
one thought she had any chance of being chosen Queen, especially as she
was known to be rather stupid. I really felt sorry for her, as I knew
she could not manage to change her looks altogether in two years, but
she had a surprise in store for us.
"Her father was a studious man, fond of making scientific experiments,
and I used to hear that she spent a great deal of her time in the
laboratory watching the making of strange mixtures, but I did not pay
much attention to this, as it was nothing new.
"Nobody ever saw her excepting heavily veiled, and her mother said that
they were trying a new treatment for her complexion and that the sun
must not touch her skin.
"The two years passed away, and at last a day was named in May when the
choice of Queen should be made.
"For days the roads were full of people traveling towards the Palace
gates, and when the great day dawned bright and clear the square in
front of the Palace looked as though a large army had encamped there.
Flags were flying everywhere, and inside, the Palace all preparations
had been made to crown the chosen Queen and have a great feast.
"The first thing the two Princesses had to do was to appear at nine
o'clock in the morning before seven of the greatest college professors
in the kingdom and write examinations on seven different subjects, the
result of which would be announced before the assembled multitude.
"At seven o'clock it was given out that Princess Amy had made very high
marks in all subjects and had come away ahead of Princess Bethel. At
this loud cheers were heard for Princess Amy, and it was murmured about
that she would be Queen.
"At midday all the Court were assembled, and the two Princesses, each
with her parents, walked slowly into the great ballroom.
"A murmur of admiration arose, for indeed they both looked exceedingly
beautiful in their white satin dresses, richly trimmed with lace.
"I noted with pride that Princess Amy's golden hair and blue eyes were
brighter than ever, her complexion more delicately pink and white, but
what was my surprise on turning my eyes towards Princess Bethel to see
that her complexion was a great deal finer, and her hair most wonderful.
"In place of the straggly brown locks she used to possess she now had
the most beautiful masses of shining hair, falling to the floor in
waves and ringlets. It was of a very pale yellow, but the charm of it
lay in the way it seemed to change color, sparkling with every
beautiful shade around it as she walked. It was most fascinating.
"We were all amazed, and after the first glance nobody saw Princess Amy
at all. The two girls walked down the hall, and every eye was fixed on
Princess Bethel and her wonderful glistening hair.
"It was only a few moments before it was announced from the Palace to
the people assembled outside that the beautiful Princess Bethel had
been chosen Queen,--everybody had forgotten about the examination for
cleverness,--and the crowning immediately took place, after which the
new Queen and Princess Amy appeared on the balcony and bowed to the
people, who were waiting to see them, and who professed themselves
completely satisfied with the choice of Princess Bethel as Queen.
"The news quickly spread throughout the kingdom, and many people
traveled from the other side of the island just to get a look at the
new Queen and her wonderful hair.
"I was sorry for Princess Amy; not that she seemed to mind not being
chosen--she was too sweet-tempered to be jealous--but she certainly had
not been treated fairly. I felt too that there was something peculiar
about the Queen's hair, and after considerable thought and a number of
quiet inquiries I determined to see for myself if she really had such
hair, and such a fine complexion.
"Queen Bethel's mother spent a great deal of her time at the Palace
with her daughter, and I became very friendly with her and used to
visit her there a great deal. I had to wait my chance, but at last it
came.
"One afternoon I drove to the Palace alone, and was told that the Queen
was taking a nap and must not be disturbed, and that her mother was
taking an airing, but would be back in an hour.
"I said I would wait in the Queen's private drawing room until her
mother came in, and was shown upstairs, but the moment I was alone I
hurried swiftly and softly to the Queen's apartments. Just as I
thought, the door was locked. I went to a linen closet a short
distance down the hall where I knew I could get a small step-ladder,
and mounting this I got into the room through the transom.
"I let myself down by stepping on the door handle, and found I was in
the Queen's boudoir. I could hear someone snoring in the next room
quite loudly, so after making sure that nobody was about I tiptoed
gently to the door.
"On the bed, looking very pale and homely, lay the Queen, and there
upon the dresser was her beautiful hair. Beside the hair was a queer
looking pot marked
PERFECT COMPLEXION DYE
One Application warranted to stand
two washings.
"I could have laughed for joy, but I had no time to waste, and quickly
putting both the complexion dye and the hair into my large pocket I
crept back to the boudoir.
"Here of course I had no difficulty in unlocking the door and getting
out into the hall, and after pushing the key under the door, closing
the transom and carefully putting the stepladder back into the linen
closet, I left the Palace, saying that I could not wait any longer.
"I flew home and sent for Princess Amy's mother and father. I showed
them the wig and the dye. They were speechless with indignation and
surprise at the way their daughter had been imposed upon. At my
request they agreed to take possession of the articles until we could
have arrangements made for settling the matter.
"We then called upon the Prime Minister and told him the whole story,
and he called a special meeting for twelve o'clock next day, at which
all members of Government were ordered to attend, and it was added that
they might bring their wives with them. Somehow or other the news went
around that the meeting was to be over the new Queen, and at twelve
o'clock next day the long table which ran the whole length of the great
assembly room was crowded, and most of the ladies had to sit in groups
about the room.
"'Call the Queen,' said the Prime Minister.
"The Queen's mother hurried in in a terrible flutter, and said that the
Queen had a frightful headache and begged to be excused.
"The Prime Minister replied that he was sorry, but if she was not able
to come down we would have to go upstairs to her and hold the meeting.
"That settled it. In a few moments the Queen appeared, very pale
indeed, and with her head tied up in a lace scarf. She looked anything
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 punishment enough. Most of the ladies thought so too, and
finally it was agreed to do as Amy had asked.
"So Princess Bethel was ordered to leave the palace at once, and it was
said that her father and mother had a dreadful time trying to live with
her for many a long day afterwards, but we all agreed that it served
them right.
"That very day Princess Amy was crowned Queen, and nobody was more
happy than I, for I knew that she would rule wisely and well.
"I was not mistaken, for she soon began to make new laws and change the
old ones for the good of her subjects.
"I was one day with her in the cellars under the Palace looking through
some old chests of books, when we came upon one very large chest made
of solid steel, which stood in a small room alone. The key, a tiny
golden one, was in the lock and we opened it. The chest was lined with
gold, but had nothing in it but one gold coin in the bottom.
"'Why, what a splendid bank this would make,' said Queen Amy, 'I
believe I shall start one.'
"That very day she began saving gold in the big chest, and continued
putting by as much as she could spare to use it in a time when the
crops might be poor, or war threatened.
"There were very few banks in the kingdom, and it was not long before
poor people were bringing their savings to the Palace to be put in the
chest. She had a great number of little glass boxes made, which fitted
into trays, and each box bore the name of the depositor. The key of
the chest she carried on a fine strong chain about her neck night and
day.
"One evening word came that the Princess Bethel's mother was very ill
and wished to see her niece. The Queen instantly called for her
carriage, and ordered a company of guards to accompany her, then as she
had to drive through a wood and was a little afraid of highwaymen she
took the gold key from her neck and fastened the chain around mine,
telling me not to remove it until she returned.
"I watched her drive away, and then went for a walk over the lawn
towards the water. I reached the little pier and stood for a few
moments looking at a small row boat which was tied there, wondering
whether I should go out for a few minutes on the bay, but as the night
was rather chilly I turned to go back for a wrap.
"I had not taken six steps before I was seized in a kind of whirlwind
which sprang up from the water and almost choked me. In my hurry to
get away I turned in the wrong direction and stepped off the pier into
the boat, striking my head.
"I can remember clutching the key as I fell, and after that I knew
nothing until I awoke and found myself lying on the sands of this
island. Here I have been for two years, and in that time who knows
what may have happened to my poor Amy, for without this key she cannot
open the treasure chest."
Here the dove stopped and heaved a great sigh. "Fear not," said
Daimur, "you shall go back in a very short time to your beloved niece
if all goes as well as we hope."
Then as it was very late they all settled themselves for the night and
were soon fast asleep.