wealth, I might be tempted to be cruel and overbearing. In that case
my subjects would justly grow envious of my superior station. If I
lived as luxuriously as my people do and had servants and costly
gowns, the good Pinkies would say that their Queen had more than
they themselves, and it would be true. No, our way is best. The
Ruler, be it king or queen, has absolute power to rule, but no
riches, no high station, no false adulation. The people have the
wealth and honor, for it is their due. The Queen has nothing but the
power to execute the laws, to adjust grievances and to compel
order."

"What pays you, then, for all your bother?" asked Trot.

"I have one great privilege. After my death a pink marble statue of
me will be set up in the Grand Court, with the statues of the other
Kings and Queens who have ruled this land, and all the Pinkies in
ages to come will then honor me as having been a just and upright
queen. That is my reward."

"I'm sorry for you, ma'am," said Cap'n Bill. "Your pay for bein' a
queen is sort o' like a life-insurance. If don't come due till after
you're dead, an' then you can't get much fun out o' it."

"I did not choose to be the Queen," answered Tourmaline simply. "A
misfortune of birth placed me here, and I cannot escape my fate. It
is much more desirable to be a private citizen, happy and carefree.
But we have talked long enough of myself. Tell me who you are, and
why you have come here."

Between them they told the story of how the Magic Umbrella had taken