is Daucus Carota the First, King of the Vegetables. All the
vegetable princes are my vassals, save that the King of the Beans
reigns for one single day in every year, in conformity to an ancient
usage."

"Then I am to be a queen, am I?" cried Fraeulein Aennchen, overjoyed.
"And all this great splendid vegetable garden is to be mine?"

King Daucus assured her that of course it was to be so, and added that
he and she would jointly rule over all the vegetables in the world. She
had never dreamt of anything of the kind, and thought little
Cordovanspitz wasn't anything like so nasty-looking as he used to be
now that he was transformed into King Daucus Carota the First, and that
the crown and sceptre were very becoming to him, and the kingly mantle
as well. When she reckoned into the bargain his delightful manners, and
the property this marriage would bring her, she felt certain that there
wasn't a country lady in all the world who could have made a better
match than she, who found herself betrothed to a king before she knew
where she was. So she was delighted beyond measure, and asked her royal
_fiance_ whether she could not take up her abode in the palace then and
there, and be married next day. But King Daucus answered that eagerly
as he longed for the time when he might call her his own, certain
constellations compelled him to postpone that happiness a little
longer. And that Herr Dapsul von Zabelthau, moreover, must be kept in
ignorance of his son-in-law's royal station, because otherwise the
operations necessary for bringing about the desired union with the
sylphide Nehabilah might be unsuccessful. Besides, he said, he had
promised that both the weddings should take place on the same day. So
Fraeulein Aennchen had to take a solemn vow not to mention one syllable
to Herr Dapsul of what had been happening to her. She therefore left
the silken palace amid long and loud rejoicings of the people, who were
in raptures with her beauty as well as with her affability and gracious
condescension of manners and behaviour.

In her dreams she once more beheld the realms of the charming King
Daucus, and was lapped in Elysium.

The letter which she had sent to Herr Amandus von Nebelstern made a
frightful impression on him. Ere long, Fraeulein Aennchen received the
following answer--

'IDOL OF MY HEART, HEAVENLY ANNA,--

"Daggers--sharp, glowing, poisoned, death-dealing daggers were to me
the words of your letter, which pierced m