“They met each other quite by chance While touring in the South of France. (Pray, why repeat such idle chatter?) She said she really wouldn’t wed; It drove the poor man off his head! (Oh! did it? Well, it doesn’t matter.)
“They met again, ’twas at a ball, And so got married after all. (Don’t bother! No one cares a jot!) She turned out cross and rather ‘snappy,’ So even now they are not happy! (Oh, aren’t they? Who cares if they’re not?)”
“Well, I’m sure I like the way mine ends much the best,” said Girlie, when he had finished.
“Hear, hear!” said the Royal Microscopist, “so do I, my dear. I like the old-fashioned stories best, too; those that end with a smile and leave you feeling all the better and happier for having read them, and not all this new-fangled rubbish that ends up with a sneer and makes you feel miserable. What do you say, Wallypug?”
“Oh,” said the Wallypug, who seemed to be anxious to please everybody, “I thought them both very pretty. But isn’t that Why that I can see over there?” he said, pointing down to where the tops of some large buildings were just visible amongst the trees a long way below them.
“I believe it is,” said the Royal Microscopist, turning a tap and letting some gas escape so that the balloon began to descend rapidly.
They could soon see that the Wallypug was right, for presently, they recognised the Royal Palace and the Public Hall.
“Ah! I shall be very glad to get back again,” said the Wallypug wistfully. “I am beginning to get very anxious about my people. How very quiet everything seems,” he went on as they floated over the town. And indeed the streets seemed to be quite deserted, and there was no one at all in sight, not even in the Market Place in front of the Public Hall.
“I hope nothing serious has happened,” thought Girlie; for this mysterious silence frightened her, and she was very glad when the balloon slowly settled down in the gardens of the Royal Palace and they all got out.
The Wallypug walked quickly towards the Palace, looking very serious, and the others followed him in silence. On nearing the building they could hear voices raised in angry dispute, and, hurrying to the Dining Hall, whence the sounds proceeded, they threw the door open and beheld an extraordinary sight.