"Here are three strange people, Tourmaline," was the reply, "who say
they have entered our country through the Fog Bank. They tell a
queer story of an escape from the Blueskins, so I decided to bring
them to you, that you may determine their fate."

The Queen gazed upon our friends with evident interest. She
smiled--a little sadly--at Trot, seemed to approve Button-Bright's
open, frank face, and was quite surprised because Cap'n Bill was so
much bigger than her own people. "Are you a giant?" she asked the
sailor in a soft, sweet voice.

"No, your Majesty," he replied, "I'm only--"

"Majesty!" she exclaimed, flushing a deeper pink. "Are you
addressing that word to me?"

"O' course, ma'am," answered Cap'n Bill. "I'm told that's the proper
way to speak to a Queen."

"Perhaps you are trying to ridicule me," she continued, regarding
the sailor's face closely. "There is nothing majestic about me, as
you know very well. Coralie, do you consider 'majesty' a proper word
to use when addressing a Queen?" she added, appealing to the Pinky
woman.

"By no means," was the prompt reply.

"What shall I call her, then?" inquired Cap'n Bill.