"Very much, ma'am," said Selma.
"Capital! capital!" said Her Majesty. "That will do. I see no need of asking her any other questions. Do you?" said she, turning to the housekeeper.
"None whatever," said the other. "She answered all but one, and that one she didn't really miss."
"There is no necessity for any further bother," said the Queen Dowager. "She is engaged."
And then she arose from the throne and left the room.
"Now, my dear girl," said the housekeeper, "I will induct you into your duties. They are simple."
"But I should like to know," said Selma, "if I'm to stay here all the time. I can't leave my father and mother——"
"Oh! you wont have to do that," interrupted the housekeeper. "You will take the Prince home with you."
"Home with me?" exclaimed Selma.
"Yes. It would be impossible for you to teach him properly here. We want him taught Emergencies—that is, what to do in case of the various emergencies which may arise. Nothing of the kind ever arises down here. Everything goes on always in the usual way. But on the surface of the earth, where he will often go, when he grows up, they are very common, and you have been selected as a proper person to teach him what to do when any of them occur to him. By the way, what are your terms?"