"I'm glad," said Mary Alice, simply. "I felt afraid, at first--as
nearly everybody does, I suppose. And then I thought how dreadful that
must be--to have every one afraid of you, when you're really a very
nice, gentle person--I mean----! Well, I guess Your Majesty knows what
I mean. And then I remembered my Secret----"

"Secret?"

And so, of course, she had to tell. It was rather a long story, hurry
as she would, because the King interrupted with so many questions.
But she wouldn't tell what the Secret was until "the very last thing."

"Um," said the King, when she had finally divulged it. That was all he
said; but the way he said it made Mary Alice know that the Secret was
right.




XI

A MEETING AND A PARTING

The next day was full of activities which kept the house guests far
afield. But Mary Alice had an exciting day at home; for the King had
spoken to the Duchess about her and asked to have her presented to him
that evening.

The Duke and Duchess had spent a fortune on the entertainment of their