While the Red Spirit stood gloating over the success of a venture in which he had played a modest part, the Demon Usher half skipped, half flew, to the throne, and with a display of much enthusiasm began dusting off the seat with a cloth. With swaggering stride Dragonfel went to the throne, and threw himself in it, while Queen Titania, Dame Drusilda, Violet, and Daffodil all came running toward him. "Oh, sir," cried Dame Drusilda, very much distressed, "why have you brought us poor, defenseless girls here?" "Us, my venerable fairy!" said Dragonfel, most insultingly. "Venerable!" repeated Dame Drusilda. "Oh, you nasty man!" "How do you keep your age?" he sneered. "Easy enough," she replied indignantly. "I never give it away." As she spoke she made for him as though she meant to scratch his eyes out, but Queen Titania pulled her back. "Don't touch him, Dame Drusilda!" she cried, and then turned pleadingly to Dragonfel. "Why have you made me a prisoner, and carried me away from home in this way?" "To prevent your marriage to the Brownie prince," he said coldly. "But we love each other, and would be so happy," she said, while tears filled her pretty eyes. "Why do you oppose the marriage?" "Because if this marriage were to take place," he said, with an ugly frown, "it would make you all so powerful as to result in my undoing." "You fear," she said reprovingly, "that we will frustrate all your wicked plans." "It must not, shall not be!" was his decided response. "The Brownies and fairies have long been my enemies." "If you did good," she reminded, gently, "we would be your friends. Tell me, must I stay here always?" "Yes, always!" he snapped out. "The sooner you forget your Brownie prince the better. You shall never see him again." Then Titania showed her spirit. "Oh, yes, I shall!" she contradicted. "The Brownies will rescue us!" "Bah!" he said contemptuously. "Those poor, weak creatures of the night? They could not do it." "The Brownies can do anything," she said, with perfect trust and confidence. "My pretty pet," said Dame Drusilda, "you waste words with him. Let us ask some of these other creatures to help us. Maybe they are not as bad as their master." So she coquettishly sidled up to Grouthead, Boundingbore, Mandrake, Wolfinger, and Snoutpimple who stood near by in a highly interested group. But before she could say even a word Grouthead gathered her up in his arms, and held her out in the air, while in her fright she kept kicking the turned-in toes of her tiny shoes together. "Don't be alarmed, my dear," he croaked, in tones that were meant to be reassuring. "There's a heart here that beats for you, and you alone!" "Where's the heart?" she gasped. "In this troubled breast," he roared. "I've half a mind to marry you." "Put me down!" she screamed. "I wouldn't marry anyone with half a mind!" [Illustration]