She did not come to this conclusion without much thought. She composed an Ode to Despair, an Elegy to an Unhappy Woman, and a Triolet to Interfering Dukes, before her mind was made up. She also considered very seriously what she would look like in a little cottage in the middle of the forest, dressed in a melancholy grey and holding communion only with the birds and trees; a life of retirement away from the vain world; a life into which no man came. It had its attractions, but she decided that grey did not suit her. She went down to her garden and sent for Prince Udo. At about the moment when the King was having the terrible news broken to him, Udo was protesting over the sundial that he loved Belvane and Belvane only, and that he was looking forward eagerly to the day when she would make him the happiest of men. So afraid was he of what might happen to him on the way back to Araby. "The Countess Belvane!" cried Merriwig. "Prince Udo marry the Countess Belvane! I never heard such a thing in my life." He glared at them one after the other as if it were their fault--as indeed it was. "Why didn't you tell me this before, Hyacinth?" "It was only just announced, Father." "Who announced it?" "Well--er--Udo did," said Coronel. "I never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life! I won't have it!" "But, Father, don't you think she'd make a very good Queen?" "She'd make a wonderful--that has nothing to do with it. What I feel so strongly about is this. For month after month I am fighting in a strange country. After extraordinary scenes of violence and--peril--I come back to my own home to enjoy the--er--fruits of victory. No sooner do I get inside my door than I have all this thrust upon me." "All what, Father?" said Hyacinth innocently. "All _this_," said the King, with a circular movement of his hand. "It's too bad; upon my word it is. I won't have it. Now mind, Hyacinth, I _won't_ have it. "But, Father, how can I help it?" Merriwig paid no attention to her. "I come home," he went on indignantly, "fresh from the--er--spoils of victory to what I thought was my own peaceful--er--home. And what do I find? Somebody here wants to marry somebody there, and somebody else over there wants to marry somebody else over here; it's impossible to mention any person's name, in even the most casual way, without being told they are going to get married, or some nonsense of that sort. I'm very much upset about it." "Oh, Father!" said Hyacinth penitently. "Won't you see the Countess yourself and talk to her?" "To think that for weeks I have been looking forward to my return home and that now I should be met with this! It has quite spoilt my day." "Father!" cried Hyacinth, coming towards him with outstretched hands. "Let me send for her ladyship," began Coronel; "perhaps she----" "No, no," said Merriwig, waving them away. "I am very much displeased with you both. What I have to do, I can do quite well by myself."