d a nursery absolutely crammed with all the toys you ever had
or wanted to have: dolls' houses, dolls' china tea-sets, rocking-horses,
bricks, nine-pins, paint-boxes, conjuring tricks, pewter
dinner-services, and any number of dolls--all most agreeable and
distinguished. If you have, you may perhaps be able faintly to imagine
Elsie's happiness. And better than all the toys was the Princess
Perdona--so gentle and kind and jolly, full of ideas for games, and
surrounded by the means for playing them. Think of it, after that bare
attic, with not even a bit of string to play with, and no company but
the poor little dead mouse!

There is no room in this story to tell you of all the games they had. I
can only say that the time went by so quickly that they never noticed it
going, and were amazed when the Crown nursemaid brought in the royal
tea-tray. Tea was a beautiful meal--with pink iced cake in it.

Now, all the time that these glorious games had been going on, and this
magnificent tea, the wisest crows of Crownowland had been holding a
council. They had decided that there was no time like the present, and
that Elsie had better try to tame the dragon soon as late. 'But,' the
King said, 'she mustn't run any risks. A guard of fifty stalwart crows
must go with her, and if the dragon shows the least temper, fifty crows
must throw themselves between her and danger, even if it cost fifty-one
crow-lives. For I myself will lead that band. Who will volunteer?'

Volunteers, to the number of some thousands, instantly stepped forward,
and the Field Marshal selected fifty of the strongest crows.

And then, in the pleasant pinkness of the sunset, Elsie was led out on
to the palace steps, where the King made a speech and said what a
heroine she was, and how like Joan of Arc. And the crows who had
gathered from all parts of the town cheered madly. Did you ever hear
crows cheering? It is a wonderful sound.

Then Elsie got into a magnificent gilt coach, drawn by eight white
horses, with a crow at the head of each horse. The Princess sat with her
on the blue velvet cushions and held her hand.

'I _know_ you'll do it,' said she; 'you're so brave and clever, Elsie!'

And Elsie felt braver than before, although now it did not seem so like
a dream. But she thought of the martyrs, and held Perdona's hand very
tight.

At the gates of the green park the Princess kissed and hugged her new
friend--her state crown, which she had put on in honou