56 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN 



ately, and as I thought circumspectly, set 

 about to plan for my wedding in accordance 

 with customs that obtain among solitary 

 Princesses unattached at the time of their 

 accession to Royal prerogatives. I had 

 heard my Master tell his wife that he won- 

 dered with whom I would mate, and I was 

 well aware of my privilege of selecting a 

 husband, it not being expected of such as 

 I was that I could first be approached on 

 the subject of marriage. So, when I saw 

 love beaming from the multitudinous eyes 

 of this elegant Prince, too polite to do other- 

 wise than to gallantly venture courtship 

 sophistries as we walked along on the combs, 

 I was not taken by surprise when he heart- 

 feltly said: "Your Majesty, yours is a 

 magnificent dominion. Honored and happy 

 will the Consort be who shares with you its 

 administration!" Made ready for what my 

 only reply could be by all that had agitated 

 my mind of late, and knowing well what my 

 subjects expected of me, I put on my bold- 

 est look, and although conscious that I was 



