s from home, never even had sat at the duke's table. She was
a simple-minded little girl who gave the chickens their dough and
gathered nosegays from her flower-garden. You can imagine, ladies,
that she hardly knew what to make of it when told that an ambassador
from England had arrived and wanted to see her. The duke told her to
put on her best gown, mind what Harcourt said, and not be a baby.
Suddenly the folding-doors leading to the ducal chamber opened, and
there stood the ambassador. 'You are to be married to him by proxy,
and be queen of England,' said the duke, which so surprised the poor
girl that she nearly fainted. The ceremony over, Harcourt presented
her with a necklace of diamonds. You see, ladies, it is almost the
story of Cinderella over again!"

"It is really romantic," responded Miss Milford.

"I would not be married to one whom I never had seen," exclaimed Ruth.

"A princess, Miss Newville, cannot always do as she would. She may be
compelled to marry against her will," said Lord Upperton.

"I would not," Ruth replied.

"Not if the country required it?" Lord Upperton asked.

"No, my lord; and I am glad I am not a princess."

"Bravely spoken. Ladies and gentlemen, let us drink to the maiden who,
though not of the blood royal, is yet a princess," said Mr. Dapper.

"Hear! hear!" exclaimed the admiral, thumping the table.

The company gazed admiringly at Ruth, peerless in her beauty, the warm
blood suffusing her cheeks.

"I understand that our queen assumed the position of royalty with much
grace," Mrs. Adams remarked.

"With charming simplicity, madam," responded Mr. Dapper. "She landed
at Harwich, and had an ovation all the way to London. People hurrahed,
bells rang, and cannon thundered. The poor girl was terribly
frightened. The thought of meeting a husband whom she had never seen
unstrung her nerves. The Duchess of Hamilton laughed at her, but it
was a hot shot the queen let fly; she said: 'You have been married
twice to husbands of your own choosing, but poor me must marry a man
whom I never have seen.'"

"Bravo! that raked the quarter-deck," exclaimed the admiral.

"How did the king receive her?" Ruth inquired.

"When she stepped from the coach she knelt at his feet; he gave her a
kiss, and led her into the palace."

"Very gallant on the part of the king; fitting and humble the action
of the queen," said the rector.

"I would not have got down on my knees to him," said Ruth.

"Ma