``For there’s not one amongst them all ```That wears such corkscrew curls.= ``"Such lovely little corkscrew curls, ```Just six on either side, ``That woggle when you shake your head-- ```Oh, will you be my bride?"= “Isn’t the last line rather abrupteous?” inquired One-and-Nine when he had finished. “Why, that’s the best part about it,” replied the Public Rhymester. “You see you pop the question so suddenly that you quite take the lady by storm--and that line comparing her to ‘other girls’ is very wise, you know; she is sure to feel flattered at that.” “Do you think that I ought to sign my name at the bottom of it?” asked One-and-Nine, folding the paper up neatly. “I shouldn’t if I were you,” replied the Public Rhymester. “You can see what effect this has upon the lady, and if you think that she is pleased, I should follow it up with another, but I shouldn’t sign my name at first; it will make it a little mysterious, you know, and ladies like that sort of thing, I am told. But now I must be off. Good-night. You won’t forget to do the best you can for me to-morrow, will you?” and the Public Rhymester hurried away with his enormous handkerchief tucked under his arm, while One-and-Nine sealed up the Poem--after adding the following words, which he thought might improve it:= ```"The rose is red, the violet’s blue, ```Sardines are nice, and so are you”--= and handed it to Caesar Maximilian Augustus Claudius Smith (called Thomas for short), to deliver, and then, after saying good-night to Boy, retired to his own room, which was on the other side of the corridor. [Illustration: 8121] Boy sat up a little while longer, thinking of all the strange things which had been happening; and then he followed the Wooden Soldier’s example and went to rest too. CHAPTER VII.--A STRANGE PARLIAMENT. [Illustration: 9123] HEN Boy awoke the next morning he found the whole Palace in a commotion. Most of the Royal Household had been up all night making grand preparations for the Coronation of the young King. Out in the courtyard he could see the great gilded State Coach being dusted and brushed, while footmen and stewards were rushing about on all sorts of errands. Boy heard from One-and-Nine that a carriage had been provided for them to join in the procession, which was to be a very extensive one. Animals were coming in of their own accord from all parts of the country to take part in it, and in the Park Boy was very much amused to see a worried-looking goose trying to teach a number of cocks and hens to march properly. The cocks were getting on famously, and held their heads up and stepped out bravely, but the hens would stop to peck at every worm and insect that they passed. Several bands were practising in various parts of the grounds, and as they were all playing different tunes at the same time, the music was rather confusing.