"A little more for dress would now be advisable," said the Queen. "She has lately begun to open Church bazaars: I thought they would do for her to begin upon. And the other day she laid the foundation-stone of a dogs' orphanage--very nicely, I'm told." "Of course," said the King, "she's old enough, and it is quite time I asked for a definite grant from Parliament. But if one did that now they would probably not raise it afterwards. Very much better to wait, I think, till we have made a really brilliant match for her; then, for the sake of its financial prestige, the nation will do the thing handsomely." "She has got an idea she doesn't like foreigners," said the Queen reflectively. "She will have to like some foreigner!" said the King. "As the only daughter of a reigning monarch she must marry royalty, and we haven't any one left among ourselves who is eligible. Charlotte must get to like foreigners. Max has no objection to foreigners, I hope?" The Queen gave her husband a curious look. "From what I hear," she murmured, "I should say none: but it is not for me to make any inquiries." "Dear me! is that so?" said the King. "Well, well! When did you hear about it?" "Only yesterday; but it has been going on a long time." "I suppose," sighed his Majesty, "I suppose one couldn't expect it to be otherwise. Well, I must speak to him, then; and we shall really have to get him married to somebody. The religious difficulty, of course, narrows our choice most unfortunately; and when we happen to be on bad terms both with Germany and England, through trying to be friendly to both, why, really there is hardly anybody left." "I hear," remarked the Queen, "that the Hereditary Prince of Schnapps-Wasser is returning from his three years' exploration of central South America this autumn. Wouldn't he be worth thinking about?" "You mean for Charlotte? But I expect he will be wanted at the Prussian Court." The Queen shook her head. "Oh, no! He is out of favor there. They have never forgiven him his description of the Kaiser's oratorio as 'Moses Among the Crocodiles.' That is why I thought he might not be averse to looking in our direction. He used to be a nice boy; he is handsome according to his portraits, and Charlotte is not without her taste for adventure." "That doesn't solve the problem about Max," said his Majesty discontentedly. "And, by the way, where is Charlotte?" "She has gone to stay with Lady--oh, I have forgotten her name--the one who had a fancy for history and took a diploma in it. They are opening that new college for women, with a Greek play all about the Trojans, and Charlotte particularly wanted to go." "H'm?" queried the King; "rather an advanced set for Charlotte to consort with--just now, I mean,--don't you think? There might be some of those Women Chartists among them." "Oh, no!" replied her Majesty; "they are all quite respectable,--ladies every one of them. I took care to make inquiries about that."