So Flip advanced, and holding his burden high at arms' length he dropped
on one knee before Marjorie, and began to declaim in oratorical tones:

"Fair Maiden, Queen of May, I salute thee! I salute all the rest of you
too, but mostly the Queen, because she is the principal pebble on the
beach. Queens always are. And so, Fair Maiden, Fair Maynard Maiden, I
salute thee."

"That's enough saluting," put in King; "go on with your crowning."

"And so, fair Queen of May, I crown thee, our Queen and our Sovereign!
May your shadow never grow less, and may you have many happy returns of
the day! And with kind regards to all, I'm your humble servant."

Having set the crown squarely on Marjorie's head, Flip bowed low in
humble salutation, and then resumed an upright position, rather pleased
with his own speech.

"I accept thy homage, O Prince," said Marjorie, as she bowed and smiled
with queenly grace; "and I shall endeavor to be the best Queen in all
the world, except Delight, who will probably be better."

With this graceful tribute to her companion queen, Marjorie sat down,
holding her head very straight lest her crown should tumble off.

Then King advanced to Delight, and holding up the other crown, began his
declamatory effort.

"Oh, Queen! Oh, White Queen! Oh, our beautiful sovereign! I bring to thee
a crown,--a crown to crown you with, to show to all that you are our