"But there are good Fairies, aren't there? I met one once." "You, child? Where?" I don't know if it would have made any difference to Euralian history if Wiggs had been allowed to tell about her Fairy then; as it was, she didn't tell the story till later on, when Belvane happened to be near. I regret to say that Belvane listened. It was the sort of story that _always_ got overheard, she explained afterwards, as if that were any excuse. On this occasion she was just too early to overhear, but in time to prevent the story being told without her. "The Countess Belvane," said an attendant, and her ladyship made a superb entry. "Good morning, Countess," said Hyacinth. "Good morning, your Royal Highness. Ah, Wiggs, sweet child," she added carelessly, putting out a hand to pat the sweet child's head, but missing it. "Wiggs was just telling me a story," said the Princess. "Sweet child," said Belvane, feeling vaguely for her with the other hand. "_Could_ I interrupt the story with a little business, your Royal Highness?" At a nod from the Princess, Wiggs withdrew. "Well?" said Hyacinth nervously. Belvane had always a curious effect on the Princess when they were alone together. There was something about her large manner which made Hyacinth feel like a schoolgirl who has been behaving badly: alarmed and apologetic. I feel like this myself when I have an interview with my publishers, and Roger Scurvilegs (upon the same subject) drags in a certain uncle of his before whom (so he says) he always appears at his worst. It is a common experience. "Just one or two little schemes to submit to your Majesty," said the Countess. "How silly of me--I mean, your Royal Highness. Of course your Royal Highness may not like them at all, but in case your Royal Highness did, I just--well, I just wrote them out." She unfolded, one by one, a series of ornamental parchments. "They are beautifully written," said the Princess. Belvane blushed at the compliment. She had a passion for coloured inks and rulers. In her diary the day of the week was always underlined in red, the important words in the day's doings being frequently picked out in gold. On taking up the diary you saw at once that you were in the presence of somebody. The first parchment was headed: SCHEME FOR ECONOMY IN REALM "Economy" caught the eye in pale pink. The next parchment was headed: SCHEME FOR SAFETY OF REALM "Safety" clamoured to you in blue. The third parchment was headed: SCHEME FOR ENCOURAGEMENT OF LITERATURE IN REALM "Encouragement of Literature" had got rather cramped in the small quarters available for it. A heading, Belvane felt, should be in one line; she had started in letters too big for it, and the fact that the green ink was giving out made it impossible to start afresh. There were ten parchments altogether. By the end of the third one, the Princess began to feel uncomfortable.