"Meddlesome spirit that you are," she said sternly, addressing her words to the crestfallen enchanter, "you can no longer trouble the Brownies.
Your commission to do evil has expired."
"How so?" he demanded. "I made application for a renewal."
"Yes," she said, "but, through an error in the date, you were too late."
"Too late?" he repeated blankly.
"Yes, by thirteen seconds," she announced triumphantly, "and Beelzebub refuses to renew the policy."
"Great Scott!" ejaculated Dragonfel, with much chagrin. "This comes of trying to run business without an almanac!"
"Henceforth you will be compelled to be good," said Euphrosyne.
"Yes," said Dragonfel, in a rather shamefaced manner. "It may come rather hard at first, but I suppose I will get used to it in time. As a matter of fact, I'm growing rather tired of being bad. There's nothing to it, after all. The only thing one gets from being bad is a lack of respect in the community."
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"I see you're somewhat repentant," said Euphrosyne encouragingly. "It's a little late, of course, but still it's better late than never. You understand, don't you, that after this you're to let the Brownies alone?"
"I should say I will let them alone," coincided Dragonfel heartily. "The Brownies are too much for me. They have beaten me at every point. Even if I were disposed to do them further mischief I am placed in a rather delicate situation. I owe my life to the Brownies."
"There is one thing on which I insist," spoke up King Stanislaus. "You must do something for these poor mine-sprites."
"I will see that they are restored to their parents from whom they were stolen," asserted Dragonfel hastily. "Furthermore they shall all be given handsome dowries, with a beautiful solitaire diamond of a half-dozen karats more or less for each, so that when the right young man comes along the engagement-ring will be easy."
Here the mine-sprite who had expressed her preference for the Policeman gave him a coy glance, but he twirled his club, and looked the other way.
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"It's too bad about your palace," said the Dude to Dragonfel.
"Oh, don't trouble yourself about that," said the enchanter cheerfully.
"I never did like its style of architecture, anyhow.
I'll soon have it rebuilt, and give the Union scale for labor, with double pay for over-time. The palace was a rather tame affair anyway, I ran too much to the emerald, topaz, and turquoise in its composition.
I'll make more use of the sapphire, the ruby and cornelian, in the makeup of the new structure; and those columns, I always felt a little weak over them, as they were only imitation chalcedony, the real thing goes in the next one, if I have to import it from Palestine." The glances the Brownies exchanged showed they felt that they had struck a master in his line.
It is said, that some of the Brownies, to this day, annually celebrate their deliverance from the mine, and the reformation of Dragonfel, by proudly parading half the night, bearing the implements they had to use while in captivity.
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So delighted was King Stanislaus over the general outcome that his blithe spirits found expression in a jolly song that was a great favorite of his, and the Brownies all joined in the chorus. The words follow:
I'M RULER OF THE BROWNIE BAND!
KING STANISLAUS
I'm ruler of the Brownie band, Most favored of personages; I sway my sceptre o'er a land Not found upon hist'ry's pages; I take my nightly promenade By anarchists unmolested; On me no bomb or hand grenade Has ever by them been tested!
If you could only see me dine, You'd find me extremely placid; I never fear a dish of mine Is seasoned with prussic acid!
BROWNIES
Oh, you're all right!
KING STANISLAUS
Eh, I didn't catch it quite; Repeat it, please! I didn't understand.
BROWNIES
Why, you, you, you, you! You're all right!
KING STANISLAUS
And so is the Brownie band!
KING STANISLAUS
I need no sabre, lance, or spear To guard me whene'er I slumber; My people kneel, but not thro' fear; Love governs the entire number.
My slightest wish they all obey; I never use any axes; I always let them have their way; They don't have to pay high taxes; No undertaker need apply; I'm not for embalmment crazy; My subjects cry as I pass by, "The Brownie king is a daisy!"
BROWNIES
Oh, you're all right, etc.
The refrain was so rollicking and infectious that when it was repeated Dragonfel and his followers could not keep from joining in with the Brownies, and they lustily roared out the words with a right good will.
The delayed wedding of Prince Florimel and Queen Titania was celebrated very soon after in the fairy-palace with all the joy and happiness that can come to such a momentous occasion.
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Brownies and fairies vied with each other in having a good time, and the walls rang with their innocent merry-making. Everyone said that King Stanislaus was the life of the party.
Dragonfel and his followers participated in the festivities, this time unfeared, and to the strains of a Brownie orchestra they mingled with others in the dance. Dragonfel even tried to do the fox-trot with Dame Drusilda, which greatly delighted Euphrosyne who was among those present.
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In place of the useless, cumbersome presents he had first brought the enchanter gave the bride the more appropriate and useful gift of a dozen bushels of precious stones.
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So in this wonderful country King Florimel and his beautiful queen are still living and ruling wisely, and, to make their happiness complete, there are little children round them.
To these King Florimel will leave the heritage of the magic bow and arrows, for life has glided smoothly on, and the time has never been so grave or distressing, as to necessitate their use. But should that time ever come the king has full confidence in his ex-fairy godmother's gift.
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