"That's exactly what I expected from you!" she said. "By the way, what has become of the lovely person who was with the Duchess and me when we first woke up? I think your mother called her Hermitage. I don't see her anywhere here." "Heritage--Lady Daphne, as we call her now. She used to be my kiddie-sister's governess." "Oh? Well, she's quite the sweetest thing I've seen--don't you think she is, yourself?" "Not since _you_ came!" was his gallant reply. "It's lucky Muscombe can't hear you paying me compliments of that sort," she said. "If he did he'd want your blood. And why isn't that Lady Daphne here? I'm dying to see her again. Duchess," she added, as the elder lady, having escaped from her hostess, came towards them, "I've been asking the Prince why that charming little Heritage creature isn't here. You would like to see her, wouldn't you?" "Certainly," said the Duchess. "Where is she?" "We'll ask the Court Godmother," said Clarence (it had already struck him that it might give Daphne a higher opinion of him if she could see the terms he was on with a real English Marchioness). "She'll know." But the Fairy could only say that she supposed Lady Daphne was remaining in her own rooms for some reason. "I wish you'd get her to come down, Court Godmother," said Clarence. "These ladies would like to see her." "I will go and fetch her myself," said the Fairy, who was pleased, in spite of herself, that her unacknowledged god-daughter should be in such request. She found Daphne engaged in sewing the great pierced jewels in an intricate pattern on the skirt of the royal robe. "Why, how's this?" exclaimed she. "At work! When they will be sitting down to table directly! The Prince and our two noble guests have asked me to come and see what is keeping you." "This," said Daphne, touching the skirt on her knee. "Her Majesty has sent me up to finish it, and forbidden me to come down till it's done." "Then," said the Fairy, "she ought to be ashamed of herself!" "Oh, I don't mind a bit, Court Godmother. They'll bring me something to eat presently, and I'd much rather be here than have to meet that odious Count Ruprecht! Court Godmother," she added, with a little anxious line on her forehead, "I'd better tell you, though I dare say you'll think it silly--but I'm rather worried by a conversation I overheard just now between two pigeons on the roof." "You shouldn't pay any attention to anything pigeons say--it's generally love-talk; and very foolish at that." "They weren't making love. They were talking about the Count. The first pigeon said, 'The Count has come here again. I have just seen his big coach in the courtyard,' and the second pigeon said, 'There is nothing in that.'" "Well, _one_ of them had some sense, anyway!" remarked the Fairy.