'Come,' said the Mussel King, 'we have no son. You shall be our son and reign after us.' 'Thank you,' said Sep, 'but _this_ is my father,' and he presented the old fisherman to His Majesty. 'Then let him come with us,' said the King royally, 'he can help me reign, or fish in the palace lake, whichever he prefers.' 'Thankee,' said Sep's father, 'I'll come and fish.' 'Your mother too,' said the Mussel Queen, kissing Sep's mother. 'Ah,' said Sep's mother, 'you're a lady, every inch. I'll go to the world's end with you.' So they all went back by way of the foreign country where Sep had found his Princess, and they called on the old lord. He had lost his hump, and they easily persuaded him to come with them. 'You can help me reign if you like, or we have a nice book or two in the palace library,' said the Mussel King. 'Thank you,' said the old lord, 'I'll come and be your librarian if I may. Reigning isn't at all in my line.' Then they went on to Sep's father-in-law, and when he saw how happy they all were together he said: 'Bless my beard but I've half a mind to come with you.' 'Come along,' said the Mussel King, 'you shall help me reign if you like ... or....' 'No, thank you,' said the other King very quickly, 'I've had enough of reigning. My kingdom can buy a President and be a republic if it likes. I'm going to catch butterflies.' And so he does, most happily, up to this very minute. And Sep and his dear Princess are as happy as they deserve to be. Some people say we are all as happy as we deserve to be--but I am not sure. VI THE WHITE CAT The White Cat lived at the back of a shelf at the darkest end of the inside attic which was nearly dark all over. It had lived there for years, because one of its white china ears was chipped, so that it was no longer a possible ornament for the spare bedroom.