The jester was even more alarmed for Ethelinda than she was herself; he was quite certain that Winifred was being wickedly deceived, and that the pardon so cunningly suggested would never come. In another minute this dainty little lady, with the sweet blue eyes and disdainful smile, would be gone from him for ever; and there was no hope for her,--none! And the bitterest thing about it was, that, although he was a great deal confused, as he very well might be, as to how it had all come about, he knew that in some way, he himself had taken part (or rather several parts) in bringing her to this shameful end, and the poor jester, innocent as he was, fancied that her big eyes had a calm scorn and reproach in them as she looked up at him sideways from the block. 'What shall I do without her?' he thought; 'how can I bear it. Ah, I ought to be lying there--not she. I wish I could take her place!' All this time Archie had been lingering--he lingered so long that Winifred lost all patience. 'Do make haste, Archie,' she said, with a little shudder that shook the table. 'I can't bear it much longer; I shall _have_ to open my eyes!' 'It was only the mask got in my way,' he said. 'Now I'm ready. One, two, _three_!' And then there was a whistling swishing sound, followed by a heavy thud, and a flop. After that Archie very prudently made for the door. 'I--I couldn't help it, really, Winnie,' he stammered, as she put her hands down with relief and looked about, rather dazzled at first by the sudden light. 'I'll save up and buy you another twice as pretty. And you know you said Ethelinda didn't seem to care about you!' 'Stop, Archie, what do you mean? Did you think you'd cut her head off really!' 'Haven't I?' said Archie, stupidly. 'I cut _something's_ head off; I saw it go!' 'Then you did mean it! And, oh, it's the jester! I wouldn't have minded it so much, if you hadn't meant it for Ethelinda! And, Archie, you cruel, bad boy--you've cut--cut all her beautiful hair off, and I sat here and let you! She's not pretty at all now--it's a shame, it _is_ a shame!' Ethelinda had had a wonderful escape, and this is how it had happened: The jester had been so anxious about Ethelinda that he had forgotten all about the fairy, and how she had granted him his very next wish; but she, being a fairy, had to remember it. If he had only thought of it, it would have been just as easy to wish Ethelinda safe without any harm coming to himself, but he had wished 'to take her place,' and the fairy, whether she liked it or not, was obliged to keep her promise. So the little shake which Winifred had given the table was enough to make Ethelinda roll quietly over the edge of the platform, and the jester, who never was very firm on his legs, fall forward on his face the next moment, exactly where she had lain--and either the fairy or the handkerchief over his face prevented Archie from finding out the exchange in time.