ll paused to bow to the
Royalty present, and St. George; then they advanced to where Ridgwell
and Christine stood beside the Pleasant-Faced Lion.

They greeted the Lion as an old acquaintance and blew him kisses as
they passed.

As they moved along, glittering in costly silks and satins, winding in
and out with the changing colours of a rainbow, Ridgwell spoke to the
Lion--

"Lal, Christine and I have never seen so many lovely children before.
Surely these are not the stray ragged children of London? Why, their
faces are the colour of the new roses that are falling everywhere about
us, and look how bright their eyes are!"

The Lion smiled, then pointed to the scented golden spray being
showered from the two fountains.

"They look lovely as you see them," said the Lion, "because perpetual
health, and love, and happiness are being diffused upon them from the
fountains. Outside they were different," continued the Lion; "but here
the dark circles disappear from beneath their eyes, which become bright
and full of love, as they ought to be, the little puckers of care and
want are sponged out of their faces by the spray from the fountain.
The pallor of their faces changes to rosy health and beauty as it
should; the pinched look many of them wear, gives place to roundness
and the happy laughing curves of childhood that doesn't know or reckon
of any care."

"But, Lal, where do all these wonderful things come from?" questioned
Ridgwell; "the great canopy, the golden carpet, all the costumes and
the jewels?"

The Lion chuckled. "They all come out of the fountains, straight from
the warehouses of the merchants. The Dolphins bring them. Everything
comes from the fountains."

"You see," proceeded the Lion, "there is going to be plenty to eat and
drink and everything of the best." Once again the Lion pointed towards
the two fountains: "See the eight golden dolphins with their golden
trays, they hand up delicious cakes, the best fruit, ices, lemonade,
chocolates, sandwiches, anything you want."

"Shall we have some of those delightful things to eat too?" asked
Ridgwell.

"Oh, be reassured, my child," smiled the Lion, "the Dolphins won't
forget either you or Christine, they will dance up to you with their
trays filled with everything you want."

"If all those other children look so very beautiful, what do _we_ look
like?" Ridgwell asked the Lion in a whisper. "You see there are no
looking-glasses, are there?"

F