"I have resumed my property," said Shon, "because you have no further use for them, with the exception of the cap of intellect, which I leave behind for your use. So long as you have that it will give you what additional strength and endurance you require. I now leave you. My term of banishment will end in a week. If my monarch knew what service I had rendered you I should be banished again; but, fortunately, there is no stray Phooka here to tattle, and I shall keep my own counsel. Rely upon the cap of intellect, and your future, though it may be checkered by losses and crosses, will be a glorious one."
"In what way can I show my gratitude to you?" said Gofaster. "How can I let you know what I feel?"
"Best," replied the goblin, "by forgetting me in course of time. As days and years go by all sense of obligation in human creatures grows less, and I doubt if you will be the sole exception to the rule." Then, with a hollow laugh, he disappeared.
The Princess Amber succeeded to the throne. How long and how wisely they ruled the kingdom, and how, when the King died, he was succeeded by his oldest son—this is all written in the chronicles of Huperborea. I should be glad to tell all about it, but I have not been able to obtain a copy of those chronicles. The Phooka has never shown himself to me, and I have not been able to get him to convey me midway beyond the barrier of ice and snow which separates Huperborea and its surrounding kingdoms from the rest of the world; and the reader must be content with what I have given him and ask for no more.
AN EXTRAVAGANT COSTUME.
There have been dandies and dudes in all ages. A hundred years ago these were known humorously as "Macaronis," and their dress was wonderful. A journal published at that time says:
"A few days ago a Macaroni made his appearance in the Assembly Rooms at Whitehaven in the following dress: A mixed silk coat, pink sattin waistcoat and breeches, covered with an elegant silver nett; white silk stockings, with pink clocks; pink sattin shoes and large pearl buckles; a mushroom-coloured stock, covered with a fine point-lace; his hair dressed remarkably high, and stuck full of pearl pins."