finished and demanded that the
princess rise from the table with her. She did not mention the
strawberries. With a little sigh Suzanna obeyed. And now, instead of
returning to the garden, the old lady led the way into the parlor, which
lay to the right of the hall. She went straight to the picture that hung
above a marble mantel. Below the picture in the center of the mantel
rested a crystal vase containing sprays of lilies of the valley.

"This was my king," murmured the old lady, and Suzanna looked up into
the pictured face. "I like him," she said immediately; "has he gone far
away?"

At these words the old lady suddenly sank down into a chair and covered
her face with her hands. She began to cry softly, but in a way that
hurt Suzanna inexpressibly. She stood for a moment hesitant. The sobs
still continued and then Suzanna, deciding on her course, went to the
little shaking figure and put her hands softly on the drooping
shoulders.

"Can I help you," she asked. "Just tell me what to do for you."

"Nothing," came the muffled tones, "there is no one to do for me; no one
to do for me in love. I am alone, forgotten."

"Haven't you a brother or a sister?" in a moment she asked softly.

"No one," said the little lady.

"Oh, then," said Suzanna pityingly, as a dire thought came to her,
"there's no one to call you by your first name!"

And then the old lady lowered her hands and looked into Suzanna's face.
"No one," she said sadly, "and it's such a pretty name, Drusilla. It's
many long years since I was called that."

"I'd hate to come to a time when no one would call me Suzanna," Suzanna
said, and she leaned forward and touched the blue-veined hands. "May I
call you Drusilla?" she asked.

"That would be sweet of you," said the little old lady. She seemed less
of the queen now than before, just a fluttering, little creature to be
tenderly protected and cared for.

The maid came in at this moment. She went straight to the old lady.

"I think," she said gently, "that you must take your nap now. This is
the day for Mrs. Bartlett's call."

The queen rose quite obediently. Suzanna said at once: "Well, I must be
going. But I'll come again. Good-bye, Drusilla."

"Good-bye, dear," returned "Drusilla" sweetly. "I'd like to have you
kiss me."

Suzanna lifted her young face and kissed Drusilla's withered cheek.

* * * * *

Once out in the road and going swiftly toward home, Suzanna pon