As for the Philosopher, who should have been one of the chief persons of interest on that important occasion, no one even thought of him, unless the Princess did. But she looked too well pleased for any one to suppose she missed him--which was fortunate, for he was never heard of any more. When the eventful day was past, the Mermaids and the Sea-gulls covered the shore once again, talking it over, and the Mer-babies and the little Sea-gulls stood around listening. Presently the Mer-mothers said: "No more holidays. Lessons to-morrow!" and the Mer-babies sighed, and the little Sea-gulls looked gloomy. One of the Mer-babies stepped forward, holding something. "Please take care of our pretty ball for us," she said, "until holidays come again." As she was speaking the Mermaids sprang up, and they and all the grown-up Sea-gulls cried with one accord: "The Philosopher's Stone!" And, sure enough, it was. It lay in the Mermaid's hand, all glowing with its magic blue, pale and dark by turns, its wonderful veins panting as if it were a living thing, its threads of gold moving and twining underneath, round the red heart burning deep in the midst of it. "That!" cried every one of the Mer-babies and every one of the little Sea-gulls. "Why, we have had _that_ all the time! We found it on the sand, and we have played with it every day since!" Then the Sea-gulls remembered what the Albatross had said, and the Mermaids remembered what the Sea-serpent had said, and the Mer-babies remembered what the Wise White Bear had said, and they all looked at one another. Now arose the question, What should be done with the Stone? It needed no long discussion to settle. Every one agreed that it should be given to the Youngest Lady-in-Waiting; for she had done for the Princess what no one else had thought of doing, in carrying her letter to her true love so that he might be in time to win her. The happy day just past was entirely owing to her devotion. The Stone was duly presented to her, and, accordingly, she became the richest and most beautiful woman in the land, as she was already the kindest, while the Sea-folks generally, and the Mer-babies in particular, gained great fame and distinction; for had they not found the Magic Stone when it was lost, and given it to the nation's favorite? And they do say that the Favorite Lady-in-Waiting married a charming Prince almost (but not quite!) as captivating as the husband of the Princess. [Illustration: "IT WAS ONE MINUTE PAST MIDNIGHT, AND THE MORNING OF HER WEDDING DAY!"] [Illustration: THE BAD TEMPER OF THE PRINCESS] By Marian Burton 1