Her anger was all gone, but she was so surprised that she looked down, and did not say a word.
"Well," thought Fred, "I knew she would act so. I suppose everybody is laughing at me."
"Jessie," said her Mother, "speak quickly. Whom will you have for King?"
Jessie blushed, and smiled, and whispered in a soft little voice, "Frederick."
Astonished and delighted by this kindness, Fred again knelt down, then rising, he took her little white hand, and led her in triumph, followed by all the company, to the next room, where a splendid throne had been erected. A beautiful crown of flowers was placed on Jessie's head, and gave new beauty to her soft and curling brown hair. Frederick also had a handsome crown. Sceptres were placed in their hands, and then they arranged their court. Kate was made a Duchess, at which she grew quite dignified; there were plenty of Earls and Countesses, and the sweet little maids of honour and the pages stood behind the throne.
They then formed a procession, to return to the parlour, and in an instant a march burst forth from a band of music which had been concealed for the purpose.
At this unexpected event, his Majesty jumped so high that his crown tumbled off, and the Queen was in such a delightful agitation that she could not confine her steps to a walk, and so the King and the Queen, and the Duchess, and all the maids of honour and pages, ran helter-skelter, as fast as they could, and took places for dancing.
Never were merrier hearts or brighter eyes than now leaped and shone in that little party. The Queen was the gayest of all, and the King was nearly out of his wits with joy, to find himself and Jessie once more friends. Little Kate got so tired of being a Duchess that she skipped about like a little fairy; and all the lords and ladies, and maids of honour and pages, were so merry and so full of innocent fun, that they looked a great deal more like little children. And so the happy evening concluded, to the satisfaction of all.
The next morning, Mrs. Stanley asked her children if they had had a pleasant party.
"Oh, yes!" they both answered; "it was perfectly delightful; and Jessie was as pleasant as she could be, and seemed to have forgotten all about the quarrel."