With a haughty but gracious bend of her head the Queen accepts the
courtesy; crosses the puddle, THUS, waves her sceptre, THUS, and
saying, "You shall hear from me by return mail, me Lud," she vanishes
within the castle. The next morning she makes Sir Walter British
Minister to Florida. He departs at once with a cargo of tobacco,
which he exchanges for sweet potatoes, and everybody is happy ever
after.'
The girls were convulsed with mirth at this historical romance, and,
as Mrs. Winship wiped the tears of merriment from her eyes, Polly
seized the golden opportunity and dropped on her knees beside her.
'Please, Aunt Truth, we can't get the white mosquito-netting because
Dr. Winship has the key of the storehouse in his pocket, and so--may-
-I--blow the horn?'
Mrs. Winship gave her consent in despair, and Polly went to the oak-
tree where the horn hung and blew all the strength of her lungs into
blast after blast for five minutes.
'That's all I needed,' she said, on returning; 'that was an escape-
valve, and I shall be lady-like and well-behaved the rest of the
day.'
CHAPTER VI: QUEEN ELSIE VISITS THE COURT
'An hour and friend with friend will meet,
Lip cling to lip and hand clasp hand.'
'Now, Laura,' asked Bell, when quiet was restored, 'advise us about
Elsie's tent. We want it to be perfectly lovely; and you have such
good taste!'
'Let me think,' said Laura. 'Oh, if she were only a brunette instead
of a blonde, we could festoon the tent with that yellow tarlatan I
brought for the play!'
'What difference does it make whether she is dark or light?' asked
Bell, obtusely.
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