"Oh! I don't care if they are true dragons, Polly, I don't," she cried,
dreadfully excited. "Make 'em real big live ones, do; do make them big,
and let me ride on their backs."

"These will be just as real," said Polly comfortingly, "that is, they'll
act real, only there will be boys inside of them. Oh! we'll have them
nice, dear, don't you fear."

"But I'd really rather have true ones," sighed Phronsie.




III

THE REHEARSAL


"Now, Phronsie," said Polly, on her knees before the Princess, who was
slowly evolving into "a thing of beauty," "do hold still just a minute,
dear. There," as she thrust in another pin, then turned her head
critically to view her work, "I do hope that is right."

Phronsie sighed. "May I just stretch a wee little bit, Polly," she asked
timidly, "before you pin it up? Just a very little bit?"

"To be sure you may," said Polly, looking into the flushed little face;
"I'll tell you, you may walk over to the window and back, once; that'll
rest you and give me a chance to see what is the matter with that back
drapery."