There was a little stir among the fairies.  The lady-in-waiting laid her hand on the Queen’s arm.

“I’m afraid Your Majesty has forgotten,” she said; “this is a Royal Baby.”

“Well,” said the Queen, “what of that?”

“You know we rather make it a rule not to interfere in these matters in the case of Royalty,” said the lady-in-waiting.  “We generally leave it to the family.  You see they usually prefer to make their own arrangements.  There are reasons.  We can give a great deal, but we can’t do everything.  Besides, it would hardly be fair.  They have so many advantages—­”

The Fairy Queen looked round at all the people who were assembled in the church; she had indeed forgotten for the moment what a very important occasion this was.  Then she looked at the baby.

“I don’t care,” she said, “I don’t care.  She’s a darling, and she shall marry the man of her heart.  I’m sure it will be someone nice.  You’ll see, it’ll be all right.”

She kissed the baby’s forehead, and the little Princess opened wide her blue eyes and smiled.  Several people; noticed it.

“Did you see the baby smile at the Bishop?” they said to one another afterwards.  But then, you see, nobody but the baby could see the Fairy Queen.

The other fairies were still a little perturbed.  They shook their heads doubtfully and whispered to one another as they floated out of the church.  It wasn’t done.

“If only she had made it a King’s son,” the chief lady-in-waiting muttered to herself.  “That would have made it so much better.  But ’the man of her choice’—­so very vague.”

The Fairy Queen, however, was quite happy.  She laughed at the solemn faces of her retinue.

“You’ll see,” she repeated, “it will be quite all right.”  And she flew gaily off to Fairyland.

* * * * *

This isn’t a fairy story at all.  That’s the nicest part about it.  It all really happened.  And the real name of the Princess—­Oh, but I needn’t tell you that. Everybody knows who Princess Charming is.  R.F.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  Lieut.  X. (in Paris for the Peace Conference).  “VOUS FEREZ LE POLISSON AVEC UN PEU DE LINGERIE.”]

* * * * *

Letter received at a Demobilisation office:—­

“I have Certified that I Pte. ——­ as got Urgent on the LNWR Curzan St goods as also taken a Weeks Notice from Feburary 2nd to 9th to Leave Colours on His Magesties forces and allso beg to Resign.  Signed Pte. ——.”

Private ——­ was evidently taking no chances.

* * * * *

THE 1930 FLYING SCANDAL.

To the Editor of “The Wireless News.” 1st June, 1930.

Dear Sir,—­I wish to protest through your columns against the outrageous behaviour of the drivers of public air conveyances on the Brighton Front.