| THE LOST PRINCE. 17

 

hastily to her feet, she exclaimed in an indignant
tone, ‘Sir, I know not who or what you are, but no
one with the feelings of a gentleman would treat a
lady thus, and no one who was worthy of the name of
man would thus deal with an unhappy mother,’ and
so saying, she burst into tears again.

“Suet pudding,’ calmly observed the Dwarf, ‘is
improved by treacle; game should always be dressed
with its own gravy ; and you will do well to have the
chill taken off your claret before drinking it’

The Queen now became more angry than ever.
“What do you mean?’ she cried in louder tones.
‘What right have you to come and talk nonsense here
in such a heartless manner? What is your name, and
wherefore do you come without leave or licence into
these gardens ?’

As Her Majesty spoke, she took a step forward
towards the rockwork, as if determined to bring the
intruder to account forthwith. But the Dwarf now
rose from his seat, and bowed to the Royal lady with
the utmost gravity. ‘Madam,’ he said, in a voice
which was quite deferential in its tone, ‘I am really
grieved to have been the cause of so much excite-
ment; I might almost say irritation, in your Majesty.
My name is Rindelgrover ; my abode is in the forest ;
my profession that of a dwarf and philosopher ; and
my intentions are of the very best description.’

‘But, sir,’ rejoined the Queen, scarcely mollified
by the statement to which she had just listened, ‘if
this be so, why pretend to have news of my beloved
son, and then answer my earnest inquiries with irre-
levant and impertinent remarks ?’

Cc