The Queen could not but agree—though her heart was sore at losing the little Fido-Kathleen, of whom she had grown so fond. But she was hoping that Reuben would consent to let her adopt him, and be more to her than many Fidos. She administered the charm herself, and the moment Cathay had swallowed it the royal arms were loosened, and the Queen expected her pet to fly to her brothers and sister. But to Cathay it was as though only an instant had passed since she came into that hall, a prisoner. So that when suddenly she saw her brothers and sister honored guests at what was unmistakably a very grand and happy festival, and found herself in the place of honor on the very lap of the Queen, she only snuggled closer to that royal lady and called out very loud and clear, “Hullo, Mavis! Here’s a jolly transformation scene. That was a magic drink she gave us and it’s made everybody jolly and friends—I am glad. You dear Queen,” she added, “it is nice of you to nurse me.” So everybody was pleased: only Princess Freia looked sad and puzzled and her eyes followed Ulfin as he bowed and made to retire from the royal presence. He had almost reached the door when she spoke quickly in the royal ear that was next to her. “Oh, Father,” she said, “don’t let him go like that. He ought to be at the banquet. We couldn’t have done anything without him.” “True,” said the King, “but I thought he had been invited, and refused.” “Refused?” said the Princess, “oh, call him back!” “I’ll run if I may,” said Mavis, slipping out of her place and running down the great hall. “If you’ll sit a little nearer to me, Father,” said Maia obligingly, “the young man can sit between you and my sister.” So that is where Ulfin found himself, and that was where he had never dared to hope to be. The banquet was a strange as well as a magnificent scene—because, of course, the Mer-people were beautiful as the day, the five children were quite as pretty as any five children have any need to be, and the King and Queen of the Under Folk were as handsome as handsome. So that all this handsomeness was a very curious contrast to the strange heavy features of the Under Folk who now sat at table, so pleasant and friendly, toasting their late enemies. The contrast between the Princess Freia and Ulfin was particularly marked, for their heads bent near together as they talked. “Princess,” he was saying, “tomorrow you will go back to your kingdom, and I shall never see you again.” The Princess could not think of anything to say, because it seemed to her that what he said was true. “But,” he went on, “I shall be glad all my life to have known and loved so dear and beautiful a Princess.” And again the Princess could think of nothing to say. “Princess,” he said, “tell me one thing. Do you know what I should say to you if I were a Prince?”