roads during the day. They were requested, and I promise you
they did not like to refuse, to serve the troops liberally with

eatables and wine; besides, the army was enriched by the
immense quantity of plunder which was found in King Padella's

camp, and taken from his soldiers; who (after they had given up
everything) were allowed to fraternise with the conquerors; and

the united forces marched back by easy stages towards King
Giglio's capital, his royal banner and that of Queen Rosalba

being carried in front of the troops. Hedzoff was made a Duke
and a FieldMarshal. Smith and Jones were promoted to be Earls;

the Crim Tartar Order of the Pumpkin and the Paflagonian
decoration of the Cucumber were freely distributed by their

Majesties to the army. Queen Rosalba wore the Paflagonian
Ribbon of the Cucumber across her riding-habit, whilst King

Giglio never appeared without the grand Cordon of the Pumpkin.
How the people cheered them as they rode along side by side!

They were pronounced to be the handsomest couple ever seen:
that was a matter of course; but they really WERE very

handsome, and, had they been otherwise, would have looked so,
they were so happy! Their Majesties were never separated

during the whole day, but breakfasted, dined, and supped
together always, and rode side by side, interchanging elegant

compliments, and indulging in the most delightful conversation.
At night, Her Majesty's ladies of honour (who had all rallied

round her the day after King Padella's defeat) came and
conducted her to the apartments prepared for her; whilst King

Giglio, surrounded by his gentlemen, withdrew to his own Royal
quarters. It was agreed they should be married as soon as they

reached the capital, and orders were dispatched to the
Archbishop of Blombodinga, to hold himself in readiness to

perform the interesting ceremony. Duke Hedzoff carried the
message, and gave instructions to have the Royal Castle

splendidly refurnished and painted afresh. The Duke seized
Glumboso, the Ex-Prime Minister, and made him refund that

considerable sum of money which the old scoundrel had secreted
out of the late King's treasure. He also clapped Valoroso into

prison (who, by the way, had been dethroned for some
considerable period past), and when the Ex-Monarch weakly

remonstrated, Hedzoff said, 'A soldier, sir, knows but his
duty; my orders are to lock you up along with the Ex-King

Padella, whom I have brought hither a prisoner under guard.'
So these two Ex-Royal personages were sent for a year to the

House of Correction, and thereafter were obliged to become
monks of the severest Order of Flagellants, in which state, by

fasting, by vigils, by flogging (which they administered to one
another, humbly but resolutely), no doubt they exhibited a

repentance for their past misdeeds, usurpations, and private
and public crimes.

As for Glumboso, that rogue was sent to the galleys, and never
had an opportunity to steal any more.

XVIII. HOW THEY ALL JOURNEYED BACK TO THE CAPITAL
The Fairy Blackstick, by whose means this young King and Queen

had certainly won their respective crowns back, would come not
unfrequently, to pay them a little visit--as they were riding

in their triumphal progress towards Giglio's capital--change
her wand into a pony, and travel by their Majesties' side,

giving them the very best advice. I am not sure that King
Giglio did not think the Fairy and her advice rather a bore,

fancying it was his own velour and merits which had put him on
his throne, and conquered Padella: and, in fine, I fear he

rather gave himself airs towards his best friend and patroness.
She exhorted him to deal justly by his subjects, to draw mildly

on the taxes, never to break his promise when he had once given
it--and in all respects to be a good King.

'A good King, my dear Fairy!' cries Rosalba. 'Of course he
will. Break his promise! can you fancy my Giglio would ever do

anything so improper, so unlike him? No! never!' And she
looked fondly towards Giglio, whom she thought a pattern of

perfection.
'Why is Fairy Blackstick always advising me, and telling me how

to manage my government, and warning me to keep my word? Does
she suppose that I am not a man of sense, and a man of honour?'

asks Giglio testily. 'Methinks she rather presumes upon her
position.'

'Hush! dear Giglio,' says Rosalba. 'You know Blackstick has
been very kind to us, and we must not offend her.' But the

Fairy was not listening to Giglio's testy observations, she had
fallen back, and was trotting on her pony now, by Master

Bulbo's side, who rode a donkey, and made himself generally
beloved in the army by his cheerfulness, kindness, and

good-humour to everybody. He was eager to see his darling
Angelica. He thought there never was such a charming being.

Blackstick did not tell him it was the possession of the magic
rose that made Angelica so lovely in his eyes. She brought him

the very best accounts of his little wife, whose misfortunes
and humiliations had indeed very greatly improved her; and, you

see, she could whisk off on her wand a hundred miles in a
minute, and be back in no time, and so carry polite messages

from Bulbo to Angelica, and from Angelica to Bulbo, and comfort
that young man upon his journey.

When the Royal party arrived at the last stage before you reach
Blombodinga, who should be in waiting, in her carriage there

with her lady of honour by her side, but the Princess Angelica!
She rushed into her husband's arms, scarcely stopping to make a

passing curtsey to the King and Queen. She had no eyes but for
Bulbo, who appeared perfectly lovely to her on account of the

fairy ring which he wore; whilst she herself, wearing the magic
rose in her bonnet, seemed entirely beautiful to the enraptured

Bulbo.
A splendid luncheon was served to the Royal party, of which the

Archbishop, the Chancellor, Duke Hedzoff, Countess Gruffanuff,
and all our friends partook, the Fairy Blackstick being seated

on the left of King Giglio, with Bulbo and Angelica beside her.
You could hear the joy-bells ringing in the capital, and the

guns which the citizens were firing off in honour of their
Majesties.

'What can have induced that hideous old Gruffanuff to dress
herself up in such an absurd way? Did you ask her to be your

bridesmaid, my dear?' says Giglio to Rosalba. 'What a figure
of fun Gruffy is!'

Gruffy was seated opposite their Majesties, between the
Archbishop and the Lord Chancellor, and a figure of fun she

certainly was, for she was dressed in a low white silk dress,
with lace over, a wreath of white roses on her wig, a splendid

lace veil, and her yellow old neck was covered with diamonds.
She ogled the King in such a manner that His Majesty burst out

laughing.
'Eleven o'clock!' cries Giglio, as the great Cathedral bell of

Blombodinga tolled that hour. 'Gentlemen and ladies, we must
be starting. Archbishop, you must be at church, I think,

before twelve?'
'We must be at church before twelve,' sighs out Gruffanuff in a

languishing voice, hiding her old face behind her fan.
'And then I shall be the happiest man in my dominions,' cries

Giglio, with an elegant bow to the blushing Rosalba.
'Oh, my Giglio! Oh, my dear Majesty!' exclaims Gruffanuff; 'and