Mr. Vergoe was tremendously excited by the prospect. At last between them they unrolled a gilded paper crown, which he placed round Jenny's curls.
"There you are," he observed proudly. "Fairy Queen as large as life and twice as natural. Now all you want is a wand with a gold star on the end of it, and there's nothing you couldn't do, in a manner of speaking. Now pop off to ma and show her your crown." He held her for a moment up to the glass, in which Jenny regarded herself with a new interest, and when he set her down again she went out of the room with the careful step of one who has imagined greatness.
Downstairs she was greeted by her mother with exclamations of astonishment.
"Whatever have you got on your head?"
"A crown."
"Who gave it you, for Heaven's sake?"
"The lodger."
"Mr. Vergoe?"
Jenny nodded.
"I may wear it, mayn't I, mother?"