"Then you are a water-baby," he replied. "And what do you think
of the Princess, now you've found her?"

"I think she is lovely," I said (and doubtless I was right,
having never learned to flatter). "But she's wide-awake, so I
suppose somebody has kissed her!"

This very natural deduction moved the grown-up man to laughter;
but the Princess, turning red and jumping up, declared that it
was time for lunch.

"Come along, then," said the grown-up man; "and you too, Water-
baby; come and have something solid. You must want it."

I accompanied them, without any feeling of false delicacy. The
world, as known to me, was spread with food each several mid-day,
and the particular table one sat at seemed a matter of no
importance. The palace was very sumptuous and beautiful, just
what a palace ought to be; and we were met by a stately lady,
rather more grownup than the Princess--apparently her mother.

My friend the Man was very kind, and introduced me as the
Captain, saying I had just run down from Aldershot. I didn't
know where Aldershot was, but had no manner of doubt that he was
perfectly right. As a rule, indeed, grown-up people are fairly
correct on matters of fact; it is in the higher gift of
imagination that they are so sadly to seek.

The lunch was excellent and varied. Another gentleman in