The Dove Chain Recovered. 149

her health in amber honey, which was served in beech-nut
cups. Although he was still dressed in mourning (a sable
moth’s cloak), as a token of respect for the departed queen,
he had not sipped all of the honey before he made Skimp an
offer of marriage. |

“The honey sweetened her temper wonderfully—that or pros-
perity—and she began to feel ashamed of her naughtiness.

“Snowdrop made her presence known, for the little people
were so much absorbed in their own affairs that they had
not noticed her.

“The king invited her to be seated on the soft moss, as his
chair was too small for a mortal; and you have no idea how
big and clumsy she appeared among the Fairies, quite as great
a contrast as Giant Drubb was to herself.

“*Dear, good Fairies, I have been all over the earth to find
my mother’s dove chain, and I need your assistance.’

“*T should be ashamed of my subjects if they did not help
you, replied the king. ‘Every fairykin must hold up a hand
in token of willingness to aid Snowdrop.’

“Each one held up a tiny fist, and Queen Skimp raised
hers with the rest. Why not? She was willing to restore the
chain since she had been sweetened with the honey.

“«Let by-gones be by-gones, she said. ‘If I was not the
fourth wife, I am the fifth.’

“She flew away on her gauze wings, and returned in a trice,
carrying the chain, which she gave to Snowdrop, and kissed
her in the bargain.

“ Snowdrop left the Fairies in the midst of wedding gayeties,
thankful that Skimp’s ambition had been at last gratified, since