ust between Langwidere's sleeping-chamber and
the mirrored sitting-room. Each head was in a separate cupboard lined
with velvet. The cupboards ran all around the sides of the
dressing-room, and had elaborately carved doors with gold numbers on the
outside and jewelled-framed mirrors on the inside of them.

When the Princess got out of her crystal bed in the morning she went to
her cabinet, opened one of the velvet-lined cupboards, and took the head
it contained from its golden shelf. Then, by the aid of the mirror
inside the open door, she put on the head--as neat and straight as could
be--and afterward called her maids to robe her for the day. She always
wore a simple white costume, that suited all the heads. For, being able
to change her face whenever she liked, the Princess had no interest in
wearing a variety of gowns, as have other ladies who are compelled to
wear the same face constantly.

[Illustration: BY THE AID OF THE MIRROR SHE PUT ON THE HEAD]

Of course the thirty heads were in great variety, no two formed alike
but all being of exceeding loveliness. There were heads with golden
hair, brown hair, rich auburn hair and black hair; but none with gray
hair. The heads had eyes of blue, of gray, of hazel, of brown and of
black; but there were no red eyes among them, and all were bright and
handsome. The noses were Grecian, Roman, retrousse and Oriental,
representing all types of beauty; and the mouths were of assorted sizes
and shapes, displaying pearly teeth when the heads smiled. As for
dimples, they appeared in cheeks and chins, wherever they might be most
charming, and one or two heads had freckles upon the faces to contrast
the better with the brilliancy of their complexions.

One key unlocked all the velvet cupboards containing these treasures--a
curious key carved from a single blood-red ruby--and this was fastened
to a strong but slender chain which the Princess wore around her left
wrist.

When Nanda had supported Langwidere to a position in front of cupboard
No. 17, the Princess unlocked the door with her ruby key and after
handing head No. 9, which she had been wearing, to the maid, she took
No. 17 from its shelf and fitted it to her neck. It had black hair and
dark eyes and a lovely pearl-and-white complexion, and when Langwidere
wore it she knew she was remarkably beautiful in appearance.

There was only one trouble with No. 17; the temper that went with it
(and which was hidden somewhere under