"'It was a matter of compulsion, rather than of inclination, your Majesty,' said I. And I explained as well as I was able the curious affliction from which I suffer, of having to appear and disappear at the fairies' pleasure.
"'Most interesting—most!' said the Queen, smiling sweetly, 'and we should be most inhospitable if we did not make you welcome here for so long as the fairies will spare you to us.'
"This gracious speech, and the Queen's beauty, quite won my heart, and putting my hand on my heart, I bowed in the most graceful manner that I could command.
"The Lord Chief Butler, seeing that I was in favour with their Majesties, now brought me a plate, and some glasses, and waited upon me most obsequiously.
"'Tarts, my lord!' he announced, handing me a silver dish on which were piled some rather stodgy-looking jam affairs.
"'No thank you,' I replied.
"The man looked horrified, and the King and Queen greatly embarrassed by my refusal. 'Er—tarts—er—your Highness,—er—her Majesty's own make,' whispered the Lord Chief Butler.
"'Oh, then by all means I will change my mind,' said I gallantly, and I took two of the tarts on my plate, while the King and Queen looked on approvingly.
"I can safely say that in all my wanderings, through all these years, I have never before or since tasted such exceedingly unpleasant tarts.
"I hesitate to say more, out of respect to the most beautiful and gracious Queen who ever lived, but I could say a great deal.