“I can’t understand it,” said the poor Queen, passing her hand wearily over her brow. “I have always been as nice as I could to everybody. And yet they told me that the people hate me, because I am Wax, and don’t want me to be their Queen any longer.”
“That isn’t true,” said Peggy. “That wicked Selim has told everybody that you are dead, and that you said that he was to be King after you.”
“Oh, I never said that,” said the Queen indignantly. “How can he have said such a thing? I never said anything like it.”
“That is what he has given out,” said Peggy. “It was Rose who made it up. She is as wicked as he is.”
The Queen thought for a little time, looking out of the window at the beautiful view of her own kingdom. Then she looked at Peggy searchingly and said, “Isn’t it true that my people hate me because I am Wax, and want to have a Wooden King and Queen in my place? Rose told me that Selim was going to marry Wooden, who brought you here. I was very sorry to hear that, because I have always liked Wooden, and I didn’t think she would want to take my place.”
“Oh, she doesn’t,” said Peggy, speaking as indignantly as the Queen had done. “Nobody will be more pleased to hear that you are really alive. And she doesn’t want to marry Selim. She hates him. Why, he has actually sent her to prison, because she said she didn’t want to marry him.”
The Queen looked out of the window and did not speak for some time. Then she said, “I was kind to Selim. When he was brought to me after he had been wrecked, and had lost everything that he had, I gave him apartments in my own royal palace, and money every month from my treasury.”
“He is bad and wicked,” said Peggy. “And Rose is bad, too. She used to be mine once, and I never liked her. Now I know why.”
“I didn’t like her either,” said the Queen. “She wanted to be my lady-in-waiting. She said that I ought to have one Composition at least, and not all Waxes round me. But I said no. Perhaps I would have a Wood, so as to please the Woods. I chose Wooden herself, and I was going to appoint her when I fell ill. You are sure that it is not true that the Woods hate me?”
Peggy assured her again that it was not true, and she seemed much relieved. “I will not say anything about Selim and Rose,” she said, in a stately kind of way that was more effective than if she had said how wicked she thought they were. “When I get back my throne, and put on my crown again, I shall know what to do. My people have always been good, and I will not have them taught to tell untruths and to deceive.” She smiled gently at Peggy. “Why, what would you think of us over there?” she asked, “if you could not trust us?”