The King was sitting on his throne when they came into the Hall, and standing by his side on the daïs was a lady doll. And this was Peggy’s second surprise. For the lady doll was no other than Rose, who had once been her own doll—the one she had given to Mabel in exchange for Wooden.
Now, as we know, Peggy had never really loved Rose; she had tried to, but had not succeeded. But she had not come to dislike her in any way, and had kissed her affectionately when she had given her up to Mabel, and told her that she would come to see her sometimes. And she had done this now and then, until Mabel’s father had left the village shortly afterwards, and taken Mabel and Rose with him.
But now, directly she set eyes on Rose again, and recognized her, Peggy felt that she did dislike her. She looked very proud, for one thing, and pride is not a quality that becomes anybody, least of all dolls, who are generally free from it. She also looked bad-tempered, and that again is a fault from which dolls are usually free. The only point to admire about her was her good looks, but as Peggy had never been able to love her because of them when she had been her own doll they did not recommend her now. Peggy felt once for all that she had been quite right in not liking Rose, and also felt that it would be impossible ever to like her.
But we must get on. Directly the party introduced by the Lord Chamberlain made its appearance at the door of the Hall of Audience, the King rose from his throne. As they advanced up the Hall, he stepped down from the daïs, and approaching Wooden, bowed to her in a stately but somewhat foreign fashion, and took her hand. Then he said with great respect, “Madame, our wedding will take place in half an hour, and our coronation half an hour after that. I wish to get both ceremonies over before tea-time.”
He spoke in an imperious way, and although there was a sort of smile on his face as he looked at Wooden, showing that she was dear to him, it was not altogether a pleasant smile; nor did King Selim seem to Peggy an agreeable person. He was tall and fat and ugly, and looked as if he ate and drank too much.
Wooden was taken aback by the suddenness of the proposal. And no wonder! It must be remembered that she hardly knew King Selim, and had had no idea until half an hour before of anything in the nature of a marriage with him. And, although he had smiled at her, he had not uttered a word of love, nor even asked if she wanted to marry him or not. No lady would like a gentleman simply to tell her that he was going to marry her in half an hour, even if the gentleman was a King.
“I don’t know, your Majesty,” she said hesitatingly. “Of course it’s a great honour you’re doing me. But I haven’t thought of such a thing, and—and——”
The Lord Chancellor stepped forward and bowed to the King. “Your Majesty,” he said. “I am empowered by this lady to make a suggestion to you. Would it be the same to your Majesty if you were to marry the lady’s aunt instead of her? She has the advantage of being wood, and of possessing considerable personal attractions. Wooden’s Aunt, kindly step forward, and display those attractions to his Majesty.”
Wooden’s aunt stepped forward, dropped a curtsy to the King, and smirked.
The King’s face darkened, and he was about to speak, when Rose, who was still standing by the throne on the daïs, interrupted. “Your Majesty,” she said, “this woman is not at all suitable for the purpose that has been suggested. She lives in the same part of the country over there as I used to, and I know all about her. She is quite a common woman—I believe she was once a sort of stewardess on a ship—and, if I may so express myself, it is like her impudence to think of marrying your Majesty.”