WET MAGIC. 
233 
unconditional peace, while they believed 
themselves to be victorious. If victory has 
for to-day been with us, let us at least be 
the equals of our foes in generosity as in 
valour.” 
Another shout rang out. And the King of 
the Underfolk stepped forward. 
“ My people,” he said, and the Underfolk 
came quickly towards him at the sound of 
his voice. “ There shall be peace. Let 
these who were your foes be your guests this 
night and your friends and brothers for ever- 
more. Now,” he went on, “ cheer, Mer-folk 
and Underfolk, for the splendid compact of 
peace.” 
And they cheered. 
In the palace was a banquet of the Kings 
and the Queen and the Princesses, and the 
three children. Also Reuben was called from 
the command of his Sea-urchins to be a guest 
at the Royal table. Princess Maia asked 
that an invitation might be sent to Ulfin, 
but it was discovered that no Ulfin was to 
be found. 
It was a glorious banquet. Reuben sat 
at the Queen’s right hand, and the Com- 
mander-in- Chief of the forces of the Under- 
folk sat at the left hand of his King. The 
King of the Mer-folk sat between his happy 
daughters, and the children sat together 
between the Chief Astrologer and the Curator 
of the Museum of Foreign Curiosities. 
It was at about the middle of the feast 
that a serving fish whispered behind his fin 
to the Underfolk Queen. 
“ Certainly,” she said. “ Show him in.” 
And the person who was shown in was 
Ulfin, and he carried on his arm a pearly coat 
and a scaly tail. He sank on one knee and 
held them up to the Mer-King. 
The King took them and, feeling in the 
pocket of the coat, drew out three golden 
cases. 
“ It is the Royal prerogative to have three,” 
he said, smilingly, to the Queen. “ in case of 
accidents. May I ask your Majesty’s per- 
mission to administer one of them to your 
Majesty’s little pet ? I am sure you are 
longing to restore her to her brothers and 
her sister.” 
The Queen administered the charm her- 
self, and the moment she had swallowed it 
the Royal arms were loosened, and the 
Queen expected her pet to fly from her to 
her brothers and sister. But to Cathy it 
was as though only an instant had passed 
since she came into that hall, a prisoner. 
So that when suddenly she saw her brothers 
and sister honoured guests at what was 
unmistakably a very grand and happy 
festival, and found herself in the place of 
honour on the very lap of the Queen, she only 
snuggled closer to that Royal lady, and called 
out very loud and clear, “ Halloa, Mavis ! 
Here’s a jolly transformation scene ! That 
was a magic drink she gave us, and it’s made 
everybody jolly and friends. I am glad. 
You dear Queen,” she added. 44 It is nice 
of you to nurse me.” 
So everybody was pleased. Only Princess 
Freia looked sad and puzzled, and her eyes 
followed Ulfin as he bowed and made to retire 
from the Royal presence. He had almost 
reached the door, when she spoke quickly 
in the Royal ear. 
“ Oh, father,” she said, “ don’t let him go 
like that. He ought to be at the banquet. 
We couldn’t have done anything without 
him.” 
“ True,” said the King. “ But I thought 
he had been invited, and refused.” 
“ Refused ? ” said the Princess. “ Oh, call 
him back.” 
“ I’ll run, if T may,” said Mavis, slipping 
out of her place and running down the great 
hall. 
££ If you’ll sit a little nearer to me, father,” 
said Maia, obligingly, “ the young man can 
sit between you and my sister.” 
So that is where Ulfin found himself, 
and that was where he had never dared to 
hope to be. 
The banquet was a strange as well as 
a magnificent scene, because, of course, the 
Mer-people were beautiful as the day. The 
five children were quite as beautiful as any 
five children have any need to be, and the 
King and Queen of the Underfolk were as 
handsome as handsome. So that all this 
handsomeness was a very curious contrast 
to the strange, heavy features of the Under- 
folk who now sat at table so pleasant and 
friendly, toasting their late enemies. The 
contrast between the Princess Freia and Ulfin 
was particularly marked, as their heads bent 
near together as they talked. 
“ Princess,” he was saying, “ I shall be 
glad all my life to have known and loved so 
dear and beautiful a princess.” 
And the Princess could think of nothing to 
say. 
“ Princess,” he said, £i tell me one thing. 
Do you know what 1 should say to you if 
I were a prince ? ” 
<£ Yes,” said Freia, “ and I know what I 
should answer, dear Ulfin, if you were only 
a commoner of — I mean, you know, if your 
face were like ours. But since you are of the 
