20 WHAISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [.

 

consulting their husbands, and husbands their wives,
even upon matters of the greatest importance.

She found His Majesty in the library, where he
was deeply engaged in writing an essay upon
‘ Poverty, its causes and remedies,’ which he was quite
justified in doing, as he probably knew less upon the
subject than any other man in his kingdom, which,
as lookers-on see the best of the game, was perhaps
the best qualification for giving an opinion upon it.

The King readily left his employment when in-
formed of the Queen’s errand, and only regretted
that he had not been with her during the interesting
interview which had just taken place. He was not
long in deciding that his daughters had far better do
as the Dwarf had directed. He could not believe, he
said, that so great a misfortune would be permitted
to fall upon a crowned head as that he should lose
all his children, and he felt the greatest hope that
some good might be in store for their house from the
visit of the Dwarf.

The Queen entirely agreed in this view of the
case ; and upon the matter being stated to the persons
principally concerned, the two Princesses vied with
each other in the readiness with which they declared
that they would run far greater risks than those
entailed by a walk in the forest if they could only
be the means of recovering their dear brother, and
restoring peace and happiness to their beloved parents.
The King, however, being an eminently just man, and
unwilling to take advantage of the first ebullition of
sisterly affection, desired the young ladies to go to
bed and think over the matter before finally deciding,