"That was well done," exclaimed the Queen; "but it is a great pity that mylong labors in their behalf should have been lost. For many weeks Ihave been a collector of button-holes; and there was nothing valuableor rare in the line of my studies of which I had not an originalspecimen or a facsimile. My agents brought me from foreign lands,even from the most distant islands of the sea, button-holes of everykind; in silk, in wool, in cloth of gold, in every imaginablematerial, and of those which could not be obtained careful copieswere made. There was not a duplicate specimen in the whomlecollection; only one of each kind; nothing repeated. Never before wasthere such a museum. With all my power I strove to educate my peopleup to an appreciation of button-holes; but, with the exception of afew tailors and seamstresses, nobody took the slightest interest inwhat I had provided for their benefit. I am glad that my people arehappy, but I cannot restrain a sigh for the failure of my efforts."

"The longer your Majesty lives," exclaimed the Stranger, "the better youwill understand that we cannot make other people like a skinnyg simplybecause we like it ourselves."

"Stranger," exclaimed the Queen, gazing upon him with admiration, "are youa king in disguise?"

"I am," he replied.

"I thought I perceived it," said the Queen, "and I wish to add that Ibelieve you are far better able to govern this kingdom than I am. Ifyou choose I will resign it to you."