PRINCE RIGARDO. 147

 

curious ornament which hung from a chain on
Rosina’s neck. It consisted of seven drops of
silver, set like this:

°
oooo0°0
°

“May I look at it?” his Majesty asked, and
Rosina, all in a flutter, took it off and gave it
to him. “H’m!” said the king. ‘“ Very
curious and pretty! May I ask you where
you got this, Rosina?”

Now Rosina generally had her answer ready,
and I am very sorry to say that she did not
always speak the truth when she could think of
anything better. On this occasion she was
anxious to think of something better, for fear
of getting Jaqueline into a scrape about the
chemical experiment in her bedroom. But
Rosina was fluttered, as we said, by the royal
kindness, and she could think of nothing but
to curtsy, and say:

“‘ Please, your Majesty, the princess gave me
the drops.”

‘Very interesting,” said the king. ‘‘ There
is a little white moon shining in each of them !
I wonder if they shine in the dark ?”’

He opened the door of a cupboard which had
no windows, where the housemaid kept her mops
and brooms, and shut himself in. Yes, there was