“This is Queen Titania,” hastily explained Dame Drusilda, “who henceforth is to reign over us.”
Pink knelt low before Titania and kissed her royal robe.
“Your Majesty,” she said, “I am the bearer of bad news. Dragonfel the wicked enchanter across the sea has declared his intention of making trouble for the fairies.”
“Who told you this?” asked Queen Titania.
“A little bird,” was Pink’s reply.
“This is very serious,” said Queen Titania gravely, “for little birds never tell fibs.” There was a clamor of dismayed, excited voices, but the queen raised her wand for silence, and continued:
“Though it may only be an idle threat, I will still appeal to Euphrosyne. Should we ever need her help right gladly she will give it.” Her hearers all looked puzzled, and Dame Drusilda made bold to ask: “Who is Euphrosyne of whom you speak?” “Have you not heard of her?” Queen Titania asked, with much surprise. “She is the Goddess of Mirth, who tries to make the whole world happy—a most gigantic task. Come with me, and I will send her an invisible summons.” With the Cupids bearing her train she passed with the fairies out to the palace courtyard where fountains played and flowers bloomed. There she raised her wand, and told them to look up. And doing so they beheld a most marvelous sight—a radiant, smiling-faced, gloriously beautiful young woman in classical white robes, with her sandalled feet resting ever so lightly upon one of the pearl-tinged clouds.
Around her circled snowy doves, cooing, fluttering, and settling on her head, bare shoulders and arms.