“It’s not all _I_ want,” said Mavis, finishing the last of a fine bunch of sea-grapes, “what I want is to get the Mer King restored to his sorrowing relations.” The Mer Princess pressed her hand affectionately. “So do I,” said Francis, “but I want something more than that even. I want to stop this war. For always. So that there’ll never be any more of it.” “But how can you,” said the Mer Princess, leaning her elbows on the table, “there’s always been war; there always will be.” “Why?” asked Francis. “I don’t know; it’s Merman nature, I suppose.” “I don’t believe it,” said Francis earnestly, “not for a minute I don’t. Why, don’t you see, all these people you’re at war with are _nice_. Look how kind the Queen is to Cathay—look how kind Ulfin is to us—and the Librarian, and the Keeper of the Archives, and the soldiers who lent us the horses. They’re all as decent as they can stick, and all the Mer-people are nice too—and then they all go killing each other, and all those brave, jolly soldier fish too, just all about nothing. I call it simply _rot_.” “But there always has been war I tell you,” said the Mer-Princess. “People would get slack and silly and cowardly if there were no wars.” “If I were King,” said Francis, who was now thoroughly roused, “there should never be any more wars. There are plenty of things to be brave about without hurting other brave people—exploring and rescuing and saving your comrades in mines and in fires and floods and things and—” his eloquence suddenly gave way to a breathless shyness—“oh, well,” he ended, “it’s no use gassing; you know what I mean.” “Yes,” said Mavis, “and oh, France—I think you’re right. But what can we _do_?” “I shall ask to see the Queen of the Under Folk, and try to make her see sense. She didn’t look an absolute duffer.” They all gasped at the glorious and simple daring of the idea. But the Mer Princess said: “I know you’d do everything you could—but it’s very difficult to talk to kings unless you’ve been accustomed to it. There are books in the cave, _Straight Talks with Monarchs_, and _Kings I Have Spoken My Mind To_, which might help you. But, unfortunately, we can’t get them. You see, Kings start so much further than subjects do: they know such a lot more. Why, even I—” “Then why won’t _you_ try talking to the Queen?” “I shouldn’t dare,” said Freia. “I’m only a girl-Princess. Oh, if only my dear Father could talk to her. If he believed it possible that war could cease ... _he_ could persuade anybody of anything. And, of course, they would start on the same footing—both Monarchs, you know.” “I see: like belonging to the same club,” said Francis vaguely. “But, of course, as things are, my royal Father thinks of nothing but shells—if only we could restore his memory....” “I say,” said Bernard suddenly, “does that Keep-your-Memory charm work backward?” “Backward?”