'and I've only just
finished my last course of Fairy History. So I know that if a fairy
stops more than half a second in a curse she can't go on, and some one
else may finish it for her. That is so, Your Majesty, isn't it?' she
said, appealing to Benevola. And the Queen of the Fairies said Yes, that
was the law, only it was such an old one most people had forgotten it.

'You think yourself very clever,' said Malevola, 'but as a matter of
fact you're simply silly. That's the very thing I've provided against.
She _can't_ have any one to stand by her in battle, so she'll lose her
kingdom and every one will be killed, and I shall come to the funeral.
It will be enormous,' she added rubbing her hands at the joyous thought.

'If you've quite finished,' said the King politely, 'and if you're sure
you won't take any refreshment, may I wish you a very good afternoon?'
He held the door open himself, and Malevola went out chuckling. The
whole of the party then burst into tears.

'Never mind,' said the King at last, wiping his eyes with the tails of
his ermine. 'It's a long way off and perhaps it won't happen after all.'

* * * * *

But of course it did.

The King did what he could to prepare his daughter for the fight in
which she was to stand alone against her enemies. He had her taught
fencing and riding and shooting, both with the cross bow and the long
bow, as well as with pistols, rifles, and artillery. She learned to dive
and to swim, to run and to jump, to box and to wrestle, so that she grew
up as strong and healthy as any young man, and could, indeed, have got
the best of a fight with any prince of her own age. But the few princes
who called at the palace did not come to fight the Princess, and when
they heard that the Princess had no dowry except the gifts of the
fairies, and also what Malevola's gift had been, they all said they had
just looked in as they were passing and that they must be going now,
thank you. And went.

And then the dreadful thing happened. The tradesmen, who had for years
been calling for the last time before, etc., really decided to place the
matter in other hands. They called in a neighbouring king who marched
his army into Ozymandias's country, conquered the army--the soldiers'
wages hadn't been paid for years--turned out the King and Queen, paid
the tradesmen's bills, had most of the palace walls papered with the
receipts, and set up housekeeping there himsel