Instead of a silken gown furbelowed like all the others
they had seen women wear in this land, Tourmaline was dressed in a
severely plain robe of coarse pink cloth much resembling bedticking.
Across her brow, however, was a band of rose gold, in the center of
which was set a luminous pink jewel which gleamed more brilliantly
than a diamond. It was her badge of office and seemed very
incongruous when compared with her poor rainment and simple
surroundings.
As they entered, the girl sighed and laid down her work. Her
expression was patient and resigned as she faced her audience. "What
is it, Coralie?" she asked the woman.
"Here are three strange people, Tourmaline," was the reply, "who say
they have entered our country through the Fog Bank. They tell a
queer story of an escape from the Blueskins, so I decided to bring
them to you, that you may determine their fate."
The Queen gazed upon our friends with evident interest. She
smiled--a little sadly--at Trot, seemed to approve Button-Bright's
open, frank face, and was quite surprised because Cap'n Bill was so
much bigger than her own people. "Are you a giant?" she asked the
sailor in a soft, sweet voice.
"No, your Majesty," he replied, "I'm only--"
"Majesty!" she exclaimed, flushing a deeper pink. "Are you
addressing that word to me?"
"O' course, ma'am," answered Cap'n Bill.
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