into an animal so
ludicrous, the delight of a Prince of Araby at regaining his own form,
it is this that he chiefly dwells upon. Really, I think you or I
would have been equally delighted. I am sure we can guess how Udo
felt about it.

He strutted about the room, he gazed at himself in every glass, he
held out his hand to an imaginary Hyacinth with "Ah, dear Princess,
and how are we this morning?" Never had he felt so handsome and so
sure of himself. It was in the middle of one of his pirouettings,
that he caught sight of the unfortunate bran-mash, and uttered the
remarkable words which I have already recorded.

The actual meeting with Hyacinth was even better than he had expected.
Hardly able to believe that it was true, she seized his hands
impulsively and cried:

"Oh, Prince Udo! oh, my dear, I _am_ so glad!"

Udo twirled his moustache and felt a very gay dog indeed.

At breakfast (where Udo did himself extremely well) they discussed
plans. The first thing was to summon the Countess into their
presence. An attendant was sent to fetch her.

"If you would like me to conduct the interview," said Udo, "I've no
doubt that----"

"I think I shall be all right now that you are with me. I shan't feel
so afraid of her now."

The attendant came in again.

"Her ladyship is not yet down, your Royal Highness."

"Tell her that I wish to see her directly she _is_ down," said the
Princess.

The attendant withdrew.

"You were telling me about this army of hers," said Udo. "One of my
ideas--I had a good many while I was--er--in retirement--was that she
could establish the army properly at her own expense, and that she
herself should be perpetual orderly-sergeant."

"Isn't that a nice thing to be?" asked Hyacinth innocently.

"It's a _horrible_ thing to be. Another of my ideas was that----"

The attendant came in again.

"Her ladyship is a little indisposed, and is staying in bed for the
present."

"Oh! Did her ladyship say when she thought of getting up?"

"Her ladyship didn't seem to think of getting up at all to-day. Her
ladyship told me to say that she didn't seem to know _when_ she'd get
up again."

The attendant withdrew, and Hyacinth and Udo, standing together in a
corner, discussed the matter anxiously.

"I don't quite see what we can _do_," said Hyacinth. "We can't _pull_
her out of bed. Besides, she may really be ill. Supposing she stays
there for ever!"

"Of course," said Udo. "It