"Then it's very stupid of them," said the Wymp King, very drowsily. "However, if that's all, the gift can be passed on to you instead. Now go away; I am going to sleep again." He was already sound asleep, and not another word could be got out of him. Lady Daffany tried not to cry, and turned away. "I suppose every one will dislike _me_ now," she said, sorrowfully; "but of course that is better than their disliking the Prince." "Nonsense," said the Wymp, as he led her to the back of the sun; "that would be too good a joke for the King to make. You wait and see. Good-by." And away she went through the sun again, and came out on the bright side once more, for the sunbeam had moved on since the morning, and then she ran in-doors to find her shoes. "That's all right," said the Count, putting away the state documents with a great show of relief; "you're just in time for tea. Where have you been all day?" "I've been for a walk, at least a fly--no, I mean a ride," stammered Lady Daffany. "I'm not quite sure which it was." "Never mind," chuckled the Count; "I expect you were with the Prince, and didn't notice, eh? Then of course you have heard the wonderful news of the Prince's recovery." "Then the Wymp _did_ speak the truth!" cried Lady Daffany, clapping her hands for joy. "What Wymp?" asked the Count. "_This_ has nothing to do with the Wymps. It was a strange physician who came from a far land, and he touched the Prince's tongue, and made him every bit as polite as he used to be. So you can be married at last, and the Prince can go into society again." "A strange physician?" said his daughter. "I wonder where he has gone now?" "That's just it," said the Count, pouring out his sixth cup of tea; "he didn't go anywhere. He turned three somersaults down the palace steps, and when they ran to pick him up there wasn't anybody to pick up." "Then it must have been a Wymp," thought Lady Daffany, and she wandered out into the garden to think it all over. "I wonder if I have really got the Wymps' gift instead of the Prince," she said to herself. Just then the Prince himself came through the bushes to find her. He no longer looked grave and unhappy, and there was a radiant look on his face. "Don't you think I have been a very disagreeable Prince lately?" he whispered, as he stooped to kiss her. "I think you are the dearest Prince in all the world," she answered, softly. "All the same, the Royal Professor of Geography _is_ an old bore, isn't he?" said the Prince. "Oh no, I don't think so. He is only clever," answered Lady Daffany. "But the Queen-Mother's hair _is_ turning gray. Haven't you noticed it?" persisted the Prince. "I really think you are mistaken, dearest," said Lady Daffany. And she never found out whether she really had the Wymps' gift or not. But the Prince and the people loved her to the end of her days. CANAL LOCKS FOR OCEAN STEAMERS.