"What shocking mischief have you been doing?"
"I have been doing nothing, your Majesty."
"And who helped you to do it, you saucy goblin?"
"Only a little brown spider," said Slyboots, "and he didn't mean to."
"But between you two, the prime minis ter has had three heavy falls; and I am afraid not without intention on your part."
"Please your Majesty, if my lord, the prime minister, loads himself with such a heavy article as that sick humble-cum-tumble-bee memorial, and then puts his eyes in his pockets, no wonder he can't see straight before him, and falls down and cracks his crown. Why don't he be jolly, like the rest of us? Your Majesty had better order an unlimited quantity of dandelion feather-beds to be put around in spots for my lord, the prime minister, to turn head over heels in."
"Hush! sauce-box," cried the Queen; while the prime minister gave him a furious look. "Here, Trip (turning to a page), go bring me the little brown spider; I must get at the bottom of this business."
The little brown spider came and made her obeisance, all in a fuzz of fear, for she could not imagine why she was called into the presence of the Queen. She shook so violently, that her Majesty said, kindly:
"Don't be afraid, Brownie; but tell me, with perfect truth, what did Slyboots employ you about this evening?"
"Please your beautiful Majesty," began the spider, "Slyboots is my friend, and I would not like to get him into trouble."