42 WHISPERS FROM FAIRYLAND. [I.

 

by emotions of mingled love and gratitude, consented
to share the fortunes of their royal suitors. Accord-
ingly, the weddings were celebrated upon the grandest
scale which you can imagine. The Giant Pattle-perry
was present, having received his pardon from the
King and Queen, and solemnly vowed himself the
vassal of the Kingdom of the Flowery Meads for ever
and a day.

You may well believe that Rindelgrover was not
absent from the ceremony, nor indeed from the ban-
quet afterwards. Upon that occasion many interesting
speeches were delivered, and more ale and wine con-
sumed than had ever been the case before in that
country. Everybody enjoyed themselves thoroughly,
and everything passed off remarkably well. Of course
Prince Merry was the hero of the evening. His
health was drunk with ‘nine times nine and one cheer
more,’ and in return he made a speech which delighted
everybody, though, for the matter of that, as every-
body was determined beforehand to be delighted, it
did not much signify what he said.,

It is needless to relate anything further of the
history of these good people. The King and Queen
passed the remainder of their days in great and un-
interrupted happiness. The worthy Rindelgrover was
always a welcome guest at Court, and much amused
the royal family by his eccentric observations and
curious ways. Sometimes Prince Merry wandered
' with him in the forest, over the animals of which he
held such authority. At the particular request of the
Prince he was induced to allow them to abandon the
somewhat monotonous chorus of ‘ Well done, Rindel-