ter her wistfully; it hurt
her to think that Agnetta could behave so. "After all," she said to
herself, "I couldn't help them choosing me, and I did offer to give it
up."

Everyone else was glad that she was Queen, and ready with a smile and a
nod when they met her. If Agnetta had only been pleased too Lilac's
happiness would have been perfect, but that was just the one thing
wanting. However, even with this drawback there was a great deal of
pleasure to look forward to, and when she went to the Rectory to have
the white dress fitted on she was almost as excited as though it was
really a royal robe.

"It's a pity about the fringe, Lilac," said Miss Ellen as she pinned and
arranged the long train; "it's not nearly so becoming." Then seeing the
excited face suddenly downcast she added: "Never mind; I dare say the
crown will partly hide it."

Her arrangements finished, she called her sister, and they both surveyed
Lilac gravely, who, a little abashed by such business-like observation,
stood before them shyly in her straight white gown, with the train
fastened on her shoulders.

"I think she'll do very nicely," said Miss Alice, "when she gets the
flowers on. They make all the difference. What will she wear?"

Miss Ellen's opinion was decided on that point. "It ought to be white
lilac, and plenty of it," she said, "nothing would suit the Queen so
well." Then came a difficulty: there was none nearer than Cuddingham.
Could it be got in time?

Lilac was doubtful, for Cuddingham was a long way off, but she promised
to do her best, and Miss Ellen's last words to her were:

"Bring moon daisies if you can't get it, but remember I should like
white lilac much the best."

Lilac herself thought the moon daisies would be prettier, with their
bright yellow middles; but Miss Ellen's word was law, and as she had set
her heart on white lilac, some way of going to Cuddingham must be found
since it was too far to walk. There were only two days now to the great
event, and during them Lilac did her best to make her wants known
everywhere. In vain, however. No one was going to or coming from that
place; always the same disappointing answers:

"Cuddingham! No, thank goodness; I was there last week. I don't want
to see that hill again yet a while." Or, "Well now, if I'd known
yesterday I might a suited you." And so on.

Lilac began to despair. She thought of Orchards Farm, but she had not
courage to ask any favour the