'Oh, well, if you know better than I do, you can finish it for yourself. I'm going.'
'No, no; do stay. I like it. I'll be good after this!'
'Don't you interrupt again, then. Now the real truth is that she'd like to be queen instead of you; she's ambitious, you know—that's what's the matter with her. And so she's got it into her head that if you were only out of the way, I should ask her to be the next queen!'
Winifred could not say a word, she was so overcome by the idea of her doll's unkindness; and Archie took Ethelinda by the waist and brought her near her royal mistress as he said: 'Now you'll see how artful she is; she's coming to ask you if she may go out. Listen. "Please, Your Gracious Majesty, may I go out for a little while?"'
'This is even better than if I spoke myself,' Ethelinda thought; 'he can talk for me, and I do believe I'm going to be quite wicked presently.'
'Am I to speak to her, Archie?' Winifred asked, feeling a little nervous.
'Of course you are. Go on; don't be silly; give her leave.'
'Certainly, Ethelinda, if you wish it,' replied Winifred, with a happy recollection of her mother's manner on somewhat similar occasions, 'but I should like you to be in to prayers.'
'A maid of honour isn't the same as a housemaid, you know,' said Archie; 'but never mind—she's off. You don't see where she goes, of course.'
'Yes I do,' said Winifred.