CHAPTER X
THE STRANGE WEDDING-GUESTS
Bright and fair dawned the wedding-day of Prince Florimel and QueenTitania.
Though all the days vied in beauty with each other, this one seemed tobe more radiant with grace and loveliness than usual, for every livingthing loved the happy little lovers and all Nature rejoiced with them.
The skies put on their tenderest blue, the sun scattered even more ofits golden treasure, the winds grew more balmy and caressing, while theflowers were prodigal with perfume, and the birds were tireless withtheir joyous serenades.
Though the ceremony was not to be performed till eve, still the fairieswere busy with their preparations at sun-up, and the palace fairlyhummed with their activities.
Long banquet-tables had been arranged in the throne-room, and onsnowy napery were dishes, cups, and saucers fashioned with quaintexquisiteness from flowers, and there were lily chalices of sparklingdew with which to pledge the health of the happy bride and groom.
In the kitchen a host of willing workers were being directed by littleDame Drusilda, and their conscientious efforts showed in ice cream withfruits of all flavors, charlotte russe, mince pies, plum puddings, allkinds of berry tarts, old-fashioned strawberry short-cake, peachcobblers, and apple dumplings. For the menu of the fairies was composedalmost entirely of the most delicious desserts imaginable, and they atewhat they wished, and as much as they liked, without ever getting theindigestion.
So the day wore on toward dusk, and, though to all the others, each hourseemed a minute, and each minute a second, Florimel and Titania in theirimpatience thought that it would never end, the very sun seemed tostand still, as upon Gibeon.
He had left the Brownies to their own devices to be with her, and whilethey talked of their union now so close at hand both were arrayed intheir fine wedding-garb.
"Are you happy, Florimel?" she asked him, for the thousandth time.
"Happier than words can say," was his fervent response.
"And you're sure you'll never regret it?"
"Yes, positive, Titania. I wonder what's keeping King Stanislaus and theband. They ought to be here by this time."
"Oh, Florimel, my happiness would be complete were it not for thethought of Dragonfel." At the mention of the wicked enchanter's name hegave an involuntary start.
"We mustn't borrow trouble on his account," he said, trying to speaklightly. "He's across the sea where he can't hurt us. Let us thinkinstead of our approaching happiness."
Then fairies came skipping and running from the palace, clapping theirhands in sheer delight, cheering, and waving tiny handkerchiefs at agreat rate. And windows gay with flags and bunting filled with flushed,eager, excited faces all looking out, while the Cupids were lifted up inarms so they could better see.
"The Brownies must be coming!" cried Florimel to Titania. "Let us go upon the palace-steps where we can get a view of them."
He gallantly offered her his arm, and escorted her to a position withthe rest, from which they could obtain a glimpse of the road as it woundcurving away, with the blue, dimpling sea beyond.
Down the road came the joyous band, with hearts attuned to merry-making,and never was a jollier procession.
Beasts and birds alike had freely offered their services toward makingthis grand entree as triumphantly imposing as possible, and in thelong frisking, frolicking, cavorting line of march were lions, tigers,elephants, camels, zebras, ostriches, emus, cassowaries, and many othercreatures of field, forest, and jungle, four-footed and two, whose backsbore willingly the burden of the gay, laughing sprites.
But Florimel could not see King Stanislaus among them,and was much puzzled thereat. When later they were gathered together,within the garden-walls, and the beasts and birds had gone away, aftereating all the charlotte russe they could, he inquired the cause of HisMajesty's absence.
"He'll be here later," the Student explained. "He had some pressingengagement with the Policeman, and they went away together."
Suddenly there came a banging on the portcullis so loud that it seemedto be made with big wooden mallets. Brownies and fairies looked at eachother in consternation and surprise, while many a tiny heart began avigorous thumping.
"What's that?" cried Queen Titania.
"There are strangers outside the portcullis, Your Majesty," said thefairy guard, as she squinted with one eye through the peek-hole.
The banging continued with greater insistence, and, advancing close tothe portcullis, Prince Florimel shouted:
"Who are you, and what do you want?"
"We are friends who have come to the wedding," said a mild, gentle voicefrom outside, "who have come to the wedding."
"Well, I like that!" exclaimed the Dude, in great disgust. "Whoever gavethem an invitation?"
"We have brought you some fine presents," the voice hastened to add.
Florimel seemed undecided.
"Shall we admit them?" he asked the rest.
"Avast, messmate!" growled the Sailor. "You'd better have a look at thepresents first!"
"There's nothing to fear," said Titania sweetly. "Bid the strangerswelcome."
The portcullis was straightway raised, and in trooped a queer, motleycrowd. They were attended by four grinning imps in red who varied theirwalk with somersaulting antics, and the arms of all but the leader werefull of presents.
These evidently had been selected with much care and thought for thewedding, and the same taste and judgment were shown that can be found innearly all weddings.
One of them had a gigantic pair of scissors which would have taken asmany as a half-dozen Brownies or fairies to cut with. Another held acradle big enough to hold the offspring of a giant.
A third in a cage carried a hen which was alleged to lay three strictlyguaranteed fresh eggs a day. From each hand of a fourth dangled animmense round clock, and the faces of them were lettered: FALSE ALARM.MADE IN DEMONLAND. A fifth had a pair of abnormal candle-snuffers.Others had gifts equally absurd and useless.
At the instigation of the leader all grouped themselves in a semi-circlehumbly before the bride and groom to-be, and Florimel, who was stillsomewhat suspicious, asked:
"What do you want?"
"We are friends," said the leader, in his gentle voice, "most anxious topay homage to you."
"If you are friends," said Florimel, "we shall be glad to have you joinin our festivities. Do you dance?"
All shook their heads in unison.
"Don't you tango or do the fox-trot?"
Again they shook their heads.
"Or sing?"
They still shook their heads.
"But just you wait till you see them at the supper-table!" said the Dudedecidedly.
"Nevertheless," said Florimel kindly, "I trust we shall find some meansfor your enjoyment. Have you come far?"
"Yes," said the leader, "many leagues to do you honor. We crave youracceptance of these few, simple, unpretentious gifts as a triflingevidence of the distinguished consideration and esteem in which we holdyour fair bride and yourself."
It was plain that he had first carefully prepared and then committed tomemory such a flowery speech.
In their curiosity to examine the presents the Brownies began tocirculate among the strangers.
When in doing so the Chinaman thoughtlessly put his head between theopen scissors-blades the big, hulking fellow who held them could notrepress an evil inclination, and snapped them together almost instantlyso that the head was held between them in a vise-like grip.
Taking note of this another who had the snuffers clapped the hoodforthwith over an ordinary Brownie so it looked as though he did nothave a head.
The leader angrily stamped his foot for them to desist from such rude,ill-mannered antics, whereupon the one reluctantly released thefrightened Chinaman, while the other removed the snuffers fromBrownie's head.
"You must be weary and travel-stained from your long journey," saidFlorimel, not knowing what to think.
"I
f you will come with me," said Titania hospitably, "I will see thatyour wants are provided for."
The new guests at a signal from their leader rose, and when he bowed hisacknowledgment of the proffered courtesy they clumsily followed hisexample, while the imps gloatingly patted their stomachs.
Titania motioned to Dame Drusilda, Violet, Daffodil, and some otherfairies to accompany her, and they led the strangers up the steps intothe palace.
Florimel was strongly tempted to follow, but just then King Stanislausand the Policeman arrived very much out of breath.
They had come singly, and from opposite directions. Just outside theportcullis the Policeman had overtaken His Majesty, and they entered thepalace-garden together.
"Officer," said King Stanislaus, "have you anything to report?"
"Yes, sire," said the Policeman, twirling his club. "The path I tookdidn't keep straight. My footsteps got so crooked that I had to arrestthem."
"What did you discover?"
"Nothing."
"What was it?"
"I said nothing, sire."
"But nothing's something."
"No, it's nothing."
"If it wasn't something then it wouldn't be in the dictionary. But it'sno use to argue with you. Did you find a clue?"
"Yes, a good one."
"What is it?"
"He wasn't in any of the places I gum-shoed to, so consequently they'reeliminated. The deduction I've arrived at is that he's in some otherplace. As he can only be in one place there's only one place to find.That's easy."
"Of whom are you both talking?" asked Florimel curiously.
"The Red Spirit," said King Stanislaus. "We'll catch him yet. But thelovely bride--where is she?"
"In the palace, Your Majesty, providing for some newly arrivedwedding-guests."
"Well, after you're married, Florimel," said King Stanislaus seriously,"you must be careful your wife doesn't lose her mind."
"Nonsense!"
"No nonsense about it. It often happens to a married woman."
"How so?"
"Sometimes she keeps on giving her husband a piece of her mind tillfinally she hasn't any mind left."
Suddenly Mignonette and Jassamine, ladies-in-waiting to the queen, ranshrieking from the palace.
"What's wrong?" cried Florimel.
"The queen!" gasped Mignonette.
"Yes, the poor queen!" said Jassamine, almost in hysterics.
"Speak!" urged Florimel. "Has anything happened to her?"
"Alas!" wailed Mignonette. "She is gone!"
"Gone!" echoed Florimel, distracted. "Gone where?"
"We know not," said Jassamine. "We have searched the palace over, andcannot find her."
"Where is Dame Drusilda?" asked Florimel quickly.
"She is gone too," said Mignonette.
"And Daffodil and Violet are missing," added Jassamine.
"Our strange wedding-guests--where are they?"
"They have flown!" cried Mignonette and Jassamine together.
"Then it is they who have taken them," said Florimel, as he ran towardthe palace-steps. "Quick--a search! They cannot have gone far."
But the Brownies had reached the steps before him, and were alreadypointing off at the distant sea-line.
"A sail! A sail!" they cried.
"Too late!" said Florimel. "I see it all now. This is the work ofDragonfel!"
"Dragonfel!" cried one and all together.
"Yes," said Florimel. "Our unknown guests were Dragonfel and his wickedfollowers. He has abducted them, and flown with them to his country."
He bowed his head in great despair. King Stanislaus came, and placed hishand upon his shoulder.
"Be brave, Florimel!" he said. "The Brownies will go at once to therescue of Queen Titania!"
"Yes!" shouted the Brownies. "To the rescue of Queen Titania!"
"But how?" asked the despondent Florimel. "We have no ship to take us."
Quick as a wink King Stanislaus improvised:
"We'll build a raft with magic sleight, And brave the sea ere morning's light!"