CHAPTER X
THE WALLYPUG GOES TO WINDSOR
While they were all busy in the preparation of _The Wallypug's Own_, Ithought it an excellent opportunity to run down to Folkestone in orderto make arrangements for hiring a house, as I intended taking myguests to the seaside for a few weeks.
I felt a little anxious about leaving them to themselves, but hopedthat they would be too busy and interested in the new magazine to getinto trouble.
It was most unfortunate that I should have gone just then though, fordirectly I had left the Wallypug received a polite letter from one ofthe Court officials to say that the Queen would be pleased to receivehis Majesty and suite at Windsor on the following day.
A ROYAL INVITATION]
Of course, as you may imagine, the Wallypug was in a great state ofexcitement at receiving this royal invitation, and wished to telegraphat once for me to return and advise them how to act and what to do, onthis important occasion; however, the Doctor-in-Law, so I have beengiven to understand, persuaded his Majesty not to do anything of thesort, and added that I "was always poking about and interfering, andwas better out of the way"; so his Majesty, who was very anxious to dothe right thing, consulted Mrs. Putchy as to the proper costume to beworn, and the etiquette to be observed.
"Well, your Majesty," remarked Mrs. Putchy in reply, "I scarcely knowwhat to advise. When in my younger days, I acted as lady's maid to theCountess of Wembley, I know her ladyship wore a Court train andcarried a bouquet when she was presented to the Queen."
"Where did the engine go?" asked his Majesty curiously.
"The engine!" exclaimed Mrs. Putchy.
"Yes; you said she wore a train, didn't you?" said the Wallypug.
"Oh! but I didn't mean that kind of train," laughed Mrs. Putchy; "Imeant a long sort of cloak fastened on to the shoulders and trailingalong the ground at the back--they are generally made of satin andvelvet, and are decorated with flowers and feathers and lace, and thatsort of thing. Your Majesty's cloak would do nicely if I trimmed itfor you."
"But are you sure that gentlemen wear these sort of things?" inquiredthe Wallypug.
"Well, I couldn't rightly say, your Majesty, but I'm sure I've seenpictures of kings and such like wearing trains which were borne bypages, so I feel sure your Majesty would be safe in wearing one."
So it was arranged that, after having been carefully brushed, hisMajesty's velvet cloak was to be gaily decorated with lace and largebunches of flowers, and, to make the thing complete, a large bouquetwas tied around his sceptre, and, at the Rhymester's suggestion,little knots of flowers were attached to the knobs of his Majesty'scrown.
The little man was highly delighted with his appearance when all thesearrangements were concluded, and could get but very little sleep thatnight for thinking of the great honour which was to be his the nextday.
The whole household was early astir in the morning, and at abouteleven o'clock the carriage came to take the royal guests to thestation.
Arrived at Waterloo, the Doctor-in-Law, after making various inquiriesas to the price of the tickets, etc., actually had the meanness,despite the remonstrance of the railway officials, to insist upon thewhole party travelling down third-class, remarking that he "found thethird-class carriages reached there quite as soon as the first, and apenny saved was a penny gained."
The station master at Windsor was particularly put out about it, as,in honour of his Majesty's visit, the station had been gaily decoratedand a carpet laid down to the carriage door. His Majesty, however,made a brave show as he walked up the platform preceded by theDoctor-in-Law, his gaily decorated train borne by the Rhymester, andfollowed by A. Fish, Esq., and One-and-Nine, the latter carrying amysterious bandbox, which contained a present from the Wallypug to herMajesty. (See frontispiece.)
Inside and out the station was crowded with curious spectators, alleager to catch a glimpse of his Majesty and his remarkable retinue,and cheer after cheer resounded as the station master, bare-headed andbowing, ushered the party to the royal carriage with the red andgold-liveried servants, which had been sent from the castle to meetthem.
The bells were ringing, and the streets were crowded as they drovethrough the old town, and his Majesty thoroughly enjoyed the drive,while the Doctor-in-Law was quite in his element amidst all this fussand excitement.
I did not care to inquire too fully into the details of his Majesty'sinterview with the Queen, but I was given to understand that the wholeparty was treated with the utmost kindness.
Her Majesty graciously accepted at the Wallypug's hands a gildedcrown, an exact copy of the one he wore himself, and which he had hadmade expressly for her Majesty, having been struck by the fact thather Majesty's real crown was always kept locked up in the Tower, andhoping that perhaps this one would do for second best.
I could not gather that her Majesty had actually promised to wear it,but I do know that the Wallypug was made exceedingly proud and happyby the gift of a portrait of her Majesty herself, with the royalautograph attached, and that he will always remember the occasion ofhis visit to Windsor, and the kindness with which he was treated byeveryone, particularly by the little Princes and Princesses, herMajesty's great grand-children, who led him about the Castle grounds,and showed him their pets, and the flowers, and conservatories, andall the wonderful sights of that wonderful place.
In the evening there was a dinner party, at which her Majesty did notappear, and early the next morning a royal carriage again drove themto the station _en route_ for London.
All this I learned on my return from Folkestone. I also heard of anextraordinary evening party which had been given at my house during myabsence. It appears that the invitations had been sent out by theDoctor-in-Law the very day upon which I left, and about thirty guests,including the Duchess of Mortlake, had been invited. Unfortunately,however, this visit to Windsor had entirely driven the matter from theWallypug's mind, and the others had forgotten about it too, and so apretty confusion was the result.
It appears that one evening about seven o'clock they were all in thekitchen making toffee, having persuaded Mrs. Putchy to let them havethe frying-pan and some sugar and butter, and it having been cookingfor some time the Doctor-in-Law had just told the Wallypug to stickhis finger in and see if it was done, when Mrs. Putchy came in to saythat some ladies and gentlemen had arrived, and were waiting in thedrawing-room.
TO SEE IF IT WAS DONE]
All of a sudden it flashed upon their minds that _this_ was theevening upon which they had invited their visitors to the party.Whatever was to be done? Not the slightest preparation had beenmade--and his Majesty and the others were all more or less in a stickycondition, and quite unfit to be seen by company.
A hurried consultation took place, during which they could hear moreand more guests arriving, and at last, by a brilliant inspiration, theDoctor-in-Law thought of making it a surprise party, similar to thosegiven in America.
"It won't cost us anything either," he remarked complacently.
"But what is a surprise party?" asked the others.
"Never mind, you'll see presently," remarked the little man. "Run andwash your hands now and make yourselves tidy."
A few minutes later the whole party filed into the drawing-room, theWallypug looking rather blank and nervous, and the Doctor-in-Law fullof profuse apologies for having kept the guests waiting so long.
"By the way," he remarked airily, "I suppose you all know that it's asurprise party."
"Dear me, no," said the Duchess of Mortlake, speaking for the others."Whatever is that; I don't think it was mentioned on the cards ofinvitation, was it?"
"Ah! a trifling oversight," remarked the Doctor-in-Law. "A surpriseparty," he continued in explanation, "is one at which each guest isexpected to contribute something towards the supper--some bring onething and some another. What have you brought, may I ask, your Grace?"
"Well, really," said the Duchess, "I've never heard of such a thing inmy life before. I've not brought any
thing at all, of course; I'msurprised at your asking me such a question."
"Ah, yes, just so," remarked the Doctor-in-Law triumphantly, "justwhat I told you--a _surprise_ party, don't you see! Now, what I wouldadvise is that you should all go out and order various things to besent in for supper; we, for our part, will provide some excellenttoffee, and then you can come back and help us to set the tables andall that sort of thing, you know--it's the greatest fun in the world,I assure you."
And really the little man carried it off with such gaiety, thatentering into the spirit of the thing the guests really did as hesuggested, and went out and ordered the things, and afterwards cameback, and, amidst great laughter and fun, the tables were laid, everyone doing some share of the work, with the exception of theDoctor-in-Law, who contented himself with directing the others andchatting to the ladies.
THE WALLYPUG HELPS]
The poor dear Wallypug amiably toiled backward and forward between thekitchen and dining-room with great piles of plates and other heavyarticles, and A. Fish, Esq., in his eagerness to help, was continuallytreading on his own tail, upsetting himself and the various dishesentrusted to his charge.
A. FISH, ESQ., UPSET]
At last, however, the supper was set, and the merriest evening you canpossibly imagine was spent by the guests. His Majesty was in capitalspirits, and after supper suggested a little dancing, which suggestionwas hailed with delight by the others, and, having moved some of thefurniture out of the drawing-room and pushed the rest away intocorners, the Wallypug led off with her Grace the Duchess of Mortlake,and quite distinguished himself in "Sir Roger de Coverley." Afterwardsthere was a little singing and music, several of the guestscontributing to the evening's entertainment. Amongst other items was asong by A. Fish, Esq., rendered as well as his bad cold would permit,of which the first lines ran:
I'b siddig here ad lookig at the bood, love, Ad thinkig ov the habby days of old, Wed you ad I had each a wooded spood, love, To eat our porridge wed we had a cold.
Altogether the evening was such a success that her Grace declared thatit should not be her fault if surprise parties were not the fashion inSociety during the coming winter.