He had pictured a distinct and perfectly rational and feasible improvement upon constitutional monarchy, but he was too feather-headed to know it, or care anything about it, either.

I was going to give him a scolding, but Sandy came flying in at that moment, wild with terror, and so choked with sobs that for a minute she could not get her voice.

I ran and took her in my arms, and lavished caresses upon her and said, beseechingly: "Speak, darling, speak! What is it ?" Her head fell limp upon my bosom, and she gasped, almost inaudibly: "HELLO-CENTRAL!" "Quick!" I shouted to Clarence; "telephone the king's homeopath to come!" In two minutes I was kneeling by the child's crib, and Sandy was dispatching servants here, there, and everywhere, all over the palace.

I took in the situation almost at a glance--membranous croup! I bent down and whispered: "Wake up, sweetheart! Hello-Central." She opened her soft eyes languidly, and made out to say: "Papa." That was a comfort.

She was far from dead yet.