“I’m sure of it,” answered Mother Goose. “You are no longer stupid little unbelieving children, with dull eyes and deaf ears,—you have learned to believe in the most wonderful things in any world—which are the Make Believe things,—and you will be thankful all your lives. And do you know whom you have to thank for all this?” “You,” said Dick. “Santa Claus!” suggested Bab. “The Fairy Queen?” questioned Meg. Mother Goose shook her head. “In Make Believe Land,” she said, “there are many kingdoms, and we are all rulers in our own way. But over us all is placed a great and wonderful Queen. She is the real ruler of Make Believe Land.” “Oh, who is she?” cried all three children. “Can’t we see her before we go?” “You have all seen her,” replied Mother Goose. “Guess, if you can, who she is!” They thought hard for a moment. “The Idle Princess!” exclaimed Bab. “Dreams-Come-True!” cried Meg. “The Fairy of Fancy!” guessed Dick. Mother Goose smiled approvingly at them. “Well guessed!” she said. “For you are every one of you right!” “Why—what—how—” gasped the three. “Is she—” “You must have guessed that she was the lady who appeared to all of you,” said Mother Goose. “You all saw her when you were in Santa Claus’s sleigh.” “We had forgotten!” they declared. “We were so excited! Oh, Mother Goose, was _she_ the—” “She takes a great many shapes, this great Queen of ours,” said Mother Goose. “Indeed, she says that no one knows, nor ever will know, her real name. Sometimes she wears a ragged dress, and often she forgets her crown and leaves it at home; but whether she is an Idle Princess, or a Lady of Dreams-Come-True, or a Fairy of Fancy,—she is always our beloved lady,—whom I hope you will know and love, too, all your lives long,—the dear, immortal, young, ancient girl-queen of Make Believe Land.” “Shall we see her again?” they asked in low voices. “That,” said Mother Goose, with a little smile, “depends upon yourselves. To those who love her she is always ready to come. But from those who forget her, or slight her, or try to live without her, she is careful to keep away. When you want her, she will be with you. Your eyes have been opened by your stay here, so that you will always be able to recognise her. Many people in the Real World meet her face to face, but do not know who she is. But in all times of great happiness or trouble, in all summer nights or snowstorms, and in all your dreams and hopes, and later in whatever romance life may have thrown your lots,—you will see her in her green gown smiling at you from under her little crown of stars.” “Mother,” interrupted Bizzybuzz, respectfully, “are the mortal children to go home, now that their work is done?” “Yes,” said Mother Goose, and looked just a wee bit sad,—“yes, yes! Of course they must go home! Come, my children, come and kiss me good-bye!”