Within a garden glorious, beside the Magic Well, There stands a Palace Beautiful, wherein a Prince doth dwell! And he, his dreamings over,—finding all but one come true, In fancy gazes forward, to a World of roseate hue! And there beside him standing, in her royal robes of state, In visions truly splendid, sees his soul’s most beauteous mate! And all her gentle charm of mind, and all her dainty grace, But match the matchless beauty of her sweet and lovely face. And he, enraptured at the sight, upheld by Princely pride, Prepares to wed, in fitting state, his own appointed bride! In concluding the story of the Prince’s Palace a reference was made to the Prince’s marriage, and a promise made that some day you should be told all about that happy event, and of all that happened in connection with it. Well, listen! As you will remember, when the Palace was finished, the Prince pronounced it perfect save in one particular; it lacked a Mistress! To remedy that defect he had made up his mind to marry Princess Wattle Blossom; and in order that there might be no delay, he immediately set out in his famous flying carriage to visit King Acacia—the head of the Wattle Fairies—and ask for his eldest daughter’s hand in marriage. On his arrival, the King, as always, very graciously received him, for he liked him greatly, and, when he had heard his request, very willingly consented to give his daughter to the Prince provided she herself were agreeable. This condition the Prince very properly accepted; and as he felt that in the course of his previous visits he had already made a favourable impression, he had little doubt but that the lovely Princess Wattle Blossom would agree to marry him. None the less, before presenting himself with the object of putting the question to her, he very carefully saw to it that in every detail of his clothing and personal appearance, he should look his very, very best. That, for Prince Waratah, was not a difficult matter, for he was really uncommonly handsome. His short, curly, red hair, fine face, and graceful figure would have made him a striking personality anywhere; but when clothed in his dark green coat, rose pink vest, and white silk knee breeches, he looked exactly what he was—a great and noble Prince. As for the Princess Wattle Blossom, surely someone must have given her a hint of the Prince’s coming and of the question he was likely to ask, for never before had she looked so lovely and sweet! Dressed in a trailing gown of grey-green silk, embroidered and adorned with golden traceries in front, she modestly stood waiting his arrival, her beautiful face suffused in blushes and smiles, whilst her golden hair, seeming to have escaped its bounds, went sunning over her shoulders in a perfect cascade of shimmering curls!