asked the Queen, in the hope of cheering her downcast subject with the show of interest; and the attempt succeeded, the doll answering eagerly—

"Oh yes, please your majesty. Two sets of underclothing beautifully embroidered, lace pocket-handkerchiefs, stockings, dainty little shoes, high-heeled cachmire boots, gloves, parasol, umbrella, hats, fans, one of them direct from Paris, watch and chain, jewellery, and all the necessary articles for a young lady of fashion. Oh! it was a splendid outfit." "Fit for royalty itself," said the Queen almost enviously. "Truly so I thought," assented the doll with a little tone of triumph. "As for my new little owner, she was in ecstasies.

"It is lovely, mother,' she cried over and over again; but it will take days to examine properly-everything is so beautiful, and I hardly know what to put on first. Do decide for me, mother dear. What shall dolly wear this evening? for of course she must be dressed to meet papa.'

"In that case I should recommend the pink and white satin, dear,' answered her mother, then she will be in "full dress." Meantime, you may put on her out-of-door clothes if you like; and I will take you both, as well as your brothers, for a drive with me.'

"This suggestion was received with great favour by both

of us, and seating herself forthwith on a footstool, with me in her arms, my mistress quickly dressed me in my velvet costume and put my sealskin hat coquettishly on my little

head. The whole party were soon ready, and when we entered the carriage I sat on Ethel's knee, and was the admiration of all the children who saw us, with the exception, perhaps, of her two brothers.

"Percy and Bertie teased their sister very much by saying, I was a staring thing, and that I would make a capital shot for "Aunt Sally." They also asked her if my name was Betty or Peggy,' and all sorts of common names.'

I

Boys are not supposed to care for dolls, I believe," said the Queen, "in the children's world. But pray continue, I am much interested."

Thus encouraged little Pa-and-Ma brightened up and resumed

"Ethel was astonished on arriving home to find a fresh surprise for her, in the shape of a lovely bed with pink silk canopy covered with white lace, which was waiting for me. She placed it on a chair by the side of her own bed in readiness for me, and I was charmed with its appearance, it looked so luxurious. Her aunt had sent it as a present to us both.

"When my mistress was dressed that evening she came to me (ah! your majesty, she looked like a fairy!)—and put on my pink and white dress as had been arranged, brushed my hair, and wiped my face with the softest of handkerchiefs.

"On our way downstairs we met the boys, and I thought to myself that now they would be awed by my beauty, but not a bit of it. They only said, 'Good gracious! what a swell she is!'

"Vulgar boys,' I said to myself, although, of course, I did not very well understand what they meant; and I was

quite consoled for their want of appreciation by the admiration I received from the guests in the drawing-room. I said 'Pa-pa-Ma-ma' to each one, with my best grace, and when I was restored to my mistress my little heart beat with joy. She carried me upstairs, took off my finery and put me in the wardrobe-drawer, telling the nurse that I had better be kept there at night, out of harm's way. She also arranged with her nurse to have a dinner-party in the nursery the next day, so as to introduce me to all the other dolls; and I was so excited at the thoughts of it that I could scarcely sleep."

At this moment, a doll-kingdom postman rode up with important despatches for the Queen, and it was some time. before Pa-and-Ma was able to narrate the adventures to be found in the following chapter.

AVING received the Doll Queen's kind invitation at length to give some further particulars of her life's history, Miss Paand-Ma continued as follows:

"The momentous time arrived in due course, when I was to patronise the dinner party given in my honour. I was dressed in my white piqué, with a blue sash to match the bows; your majesty would have been amused had you seen the dolls' faces when I entered the room. They did not know of my arrival, and were not prepared for the 'vision of beauty' now brought before them.

"The table was on the floor, near the window, and ready laid for dinner. The guests were seated round it-five".

"Pardon me, your majesty, for interrupting the narra