"It would have been more so, Sidney," said the Queen, "if you hadn't kept on dropping your sceptre and tripping over your train. I don't wonder the Bishop got flustered. But I do wish we could have had it properly done by the dear Archbishop of Canterbury!" "Bit out of his diocese, Maerchenland, what?" said the Crown Prince. "I'm aware of that, Clarence; and, of course, we're legally crowned, whoever did it.... Sidney, it's only just struck me, but I'm sure we ought to be bowing. Bow, children, all of you--take the time from me. Sidney, why aren't _you_ bowing?" "I can't, my love. It's difficult enough to keep my crown on as it is!" "You can hold it on with one hand, can't you? You simply _must_ bow if you don't want to be unpopular! So must _you_, children. Keep _on_ with it!" "Give us a rest, Mater," said Prince Clarence, after they had been nodding like Chinese mandarins for some minutes. "My neck's beginning to wilt already!" Queen Selina herself was not sorry to stop. "It's certainly very fatiguing at first," she admitted; "we must practise it together in private.... Was that old Mrs. Fogleplug's dove-chariot that passed us just now? I'm afraid I shall have to put her in her place. She's rather inclined to forget herself--not only addressed me as 'my dear,' but actually attempted to kiss me after the Coronation!" "So she did _me_!" said the Princess Royal, "but I hope I showed that I thought she was taking a liberty." "She's a very worthy, well-meaning old creature, no doubt," remarked the Queen; "still, a Fairy Godmother in these days is really _rather_--I shall have to get her to retire--on a pension." "She'll stick on," said Prince Clarence, "you see if she don't. Means to boss the whole show." "I shall soon let her see that I intend to be mistress in my own Kingdom," said the Queen. "I could wish, I must say, that it was just a little more up to date! Everything so dreadfully behind the times! I haven't seen a shop yet with a plate-glass front, and not a single pillar-box!" "Poor sort of place for Suffragettes, what?" observed Clarence. "Frivolity apart, Clarence," remarked the Queen, "I can see already that there is much to be done here before the country can be called really civilised. We must set ourselves to raise the standard by introducing modern ideas--enlighten people's minds, and all the rest of it. And you must do _your_ share, Sidney, as I shall do mine." "Certainly," said the King; "I'm agreeable. All for progress myself. Always have been.... I fancy that must be our Palace up there. A truly palatial residence--replete, I've no doubt, with every convenience we can require."