of the Privy Council, Otto," returned
Pauline, with a laugh. "You put several questions, and a string of
commentary and suggestion in the same breath! Let me answer you in
detail, beginning with your last remark. Joe is a gentleman in the
highest sense of that word. He is gentle as a lamb by nature, and a
_man_ every inch of him. But, more than this, I have noticed that he is
a peculiarly wise man, with a calm, pool head on all occasions, and not
too ready to use his great physical power in the settlement of disputes.
I have observed, too, that when asked for his advice, he usually thinks
well before he gives it, and when his advice is followed things almost
always go well. Still further, Joe has the thorough confidence of the
people, and I am not so sure that Dom has. Besides, if I had appointed
Dom, some of the ungenerous among them might have said it was done from
mere favouritism. Then as to the people making up their minds that I
would appoint Dom," continued Pauline, "what have I to do with _that_?"

"Why, everything to do with it," returned Otto, with a surprised look.
"Were you not made queen for the purpose of carrying out their wishes?"

"Certainly not," answered Pauline; "I was made queen for the purpose of
ruling. They told me they had confidence in my judgment, not in my
readiness to carry out their wishes. If my judgment, coupled with that
of my advisers, does not suit them, it is open to them to unmake me as
they made me, and appoint a king or a president, but my judgment I
cannot alter."

Otto listened to these gravely stated opinions of the new queen with
increasing astonishment.

"Then, you awful despot," he said, "do you mean to tell me that you are
going to have no regard for the will of the people?"

"No, I don't mean to tell you that, you presumptuous little subject. I
intend always to have the utmost regard for the will of my people, and
to weigh it well, and consult with my advisers about it; and when our
united judgment says that their will is good, I will act in accordance
with it; when we think it bad, I will reject it. I have been made queen
to rule, and I _mean_ to rule! That's fair, isn't it? If they don't
like my ruling they can dethrone me. That's also fair, isn't it? You
wouldn't have me become a mere puppet--a jumping Jack or Jinnie--would
you, for the people to pull the string of?"

"Well, I never!" exclaimed Otto, gazing with distended eyes at the soft
fair face