For as history shows, it was the custom at the Court of King Jorum, by special decree of the Monarch, that every man, woman, and child should dress themselves in costumes of any distinctive style they liked--whatever suited their fancy best. (That was the origin, ages after, of the term--fancy-dress.) There was thus no slavish following of fashion, and consequently every one looked, or fancied they looked, their very, very best, and were thoroughly at ease in their quaint and, mostly, fascinating attire. "Here's Little Love!" exclaimed a bevy of fair dames, pressing forward as a handsome child stepped into their midst, dressed as Cupid, and looking the realest of little Loves from the tips of his tiny bare toes to the tips of his tiny bare wings. He was the King's godson and pet. "He's sure to know! Perhaps he can give us a hint of the news!" exclaimed Countess Spinx with eyes blazing eagerly as she placed herself in his path, with her crook firmly planted on the ground: she was dressed as a shepherdess, which showed to advantage the curls on her fair neck, and her small feet in their high-heeled shoes. "Whisper to me!" she coaxed; "or," with a pretty shake of the crook, "I'll not let you pass!" Little Love might have been deaf, looking neither to the right nor to the left, so unconcernedly did he continue his way stolidly on to meet the procession of the King. Countess Spinx bit her lip in vexation; the other ladies merely shrugged their shoulders and laughed; and the gentlemen stroked their mouths to hide their smiles. Then all conversation was smothered by the entry of the heralds with their raised silver trumpets and their-- _Par_--parraparpar--_pip_--ha! _Par_--parraparpar--_paar_--_r_! This was immediately followed by the entry of King Jorum holding Little Love by the hand. The whole company bowed and curtsied very low--and then stood at attention, breathless with expectation. King Jorum was a very big man, with a very big smile, and very big woollen boots. He always wore woollen boots because, being his own Commander-in-chief, he liked to stand at ease. So he said, naturally in a very big voice-- "According to my promise it is now my pleasure to announce to my Court here assembled my decision with regard to your future Queen. After prolonged thought and study of face and character I have come to the conclusion that there is not one lady of my Court but who is quite lovely enough and charming enough to become my royal consort. Therefore to choose is difficult--so difficult that it is impossible, and, being impossible, I shall never wed again. I have spoken." [Illustration: _Looking neither to the right nor to the left_]