"Then let us forgive each other," she said with a smile. "A new year is beginning, Robert!" He took her in his arms. "Listen," he said. In the distance the bells began to ring in the New Year. A message of hope to all weary travellers on life's highway. It was New Year's Day! (~Editor.~ _I thought Christmas Day had started on the Embankment. This would be Boxing Day._ ~Author.~ _I'm sorry, but it must end like that. I must have my bells._ ~Editor.~ _That's all very well. I have a good deal to explain as it is. Some of your story doesn't fit the pictures at all, and it is too late now to get new ones done._ ~Author.~ _I am afraid I cannot work to order._ ~Editor.~ _Yes, I know. The artist said the same thing. Well, I must manage somehow, I suppose. Good-bye. Rotten weather for August, isn't it?_) XX. A MATTER-OF-FACT FAIRY TALE Once upon a time there was a King who had three sons. The two eldest were lazy good-for-nothing young men, but the third son, whose name was Charming, was a delightful youth, who was loved by everybody (outside his family) who knew him. Whenever he rode through the town the people used to stop whatever work they were engaged upon and wave their caps and cry, "Hurrah for Prince Charming!"--and even after he had passed they would continue to stop work, in case he might be coming back the same way, when they would wave their caps and cry, "Hurrah for Prince Charming!" again. It was wonderful how fond of him they were. But alas! his father the King was not so fond. He preferred his eldest son; which was funny of him, because he must have known that only the third and youngest son is ever any good in a family. Indeed, the King himself had been a third son, so he had really no excuse for ignorance on the point. I am afraid the truth was that he was jealous of Charming, because the latter was so popular outside his family. Now there lived in the Palace an old woman called Countess Caramel, who had been governess to Charming when he was young. When the Queen lay dying, the Countess had promised her that she would look after her youngest boy for her, and Charming had often confided in Caramel since. One morning, when his family had been particularly rude to him at breakfast, Charming said to her: "Countess, I have made up my mind, and I am going into the world to seek my fortune." "I have been waiting for this," said the Countess. "Here is a magic ring. Wear it always on your little finger, and whenever you want help, turn it round once and help will come." Charming thanked her and put the ring on his finger. Then he turned it round once just to make sure that it worked. Immediately the oddest little dwarf appeared in front of him. "Speak and I will obey," said the dwarf. Now Charming didn't want anything at all just then, so after thinking for a moment, he said, "Go away!" The dwarf, a little surprised, disappeared. "This is splendid," thought Charming, and he started on his travels with a light heart.