"Why, she's worse than Mrs. Hexer," she said to herself. "But really this elixir is a great nuisance. It makes it impossible to have any peace. But I wonder what all the flags and decorations are about."
Just at that moment two people, who appeared to be a servant-girl and her mother, came out of a neighbouring house. They were very gay in holiday costume.
"What is to happen to-day?" the Queen asked.
And the mother answered, "Why, don't you know? The Queen is twenty-one to-day, and she's going to marry the Regent, Lord Blackjowl."
"Going to marry the Regent!" the Queen said. "Why, who told you so?"
"Everybody knows it," the mother answered.
"But how did everybody get to know it?" the Queen asked.
And the mother answered, "The Regent told them, I suppose."
And the girl said, "It's up among the Royal proclamations on the notice-board at the palace."
The Queen said, "Oh! Will you show me the way to the palace?" she continued.