“‘We’re all worried, more or less,’ chimed in the King. ’You remember that blackbird pie, don’t you?’

“‘Yes, your Majesty, of course I do,’ said I, smiling at the recollection.

“’Well, those birds, the ones which were put into it, have become very spiteful and dangerous.  They have taken to haunting the precincts of the Castle, and attack the servants when they go into the garden, particularly the laundry maids; for, when they go into the garden to hang out the clothes, they have to use both hands to do so, and then these wretched birds fly down and peck at their noses.  One poor creature lost hers altogether, with the result that all of the maids have given notice, and we can’t get laundry maids for love or money.’

“‘It’s very trying,’ said the Queen; ’the poor King has to wear his things much longer than he should, and I have a difficulty in even getting a clean pocket-handkerchief.’

“It was a curious difficulty to be in, certainly, and I felt very anxious to help them if I could, so I asked permission to be allowed to visit the servants’ hall, and talk to the maids on the subject.

“This was readily given, and I spoke to them as earnestly as I could about their good Queen and mistress, and how willing and eager they ought to be to do everything they could for her.

“I could see that they felt this keenly themselves, for some of them were in tears when I spoke of the Queen’s goodness to everybody about her.

“‘B—­but our precious noses, sir!’ sobbed one good-natured girl; ’we can’t afford to lose them, can we now?’

“‘No,’ I said, ’but I have thought of a way by which it will be quite safe for you to go into the garden.

“’Now, like good creatures, the first thing in the morning, set to and get some laundry work done, and I’ll go out and hang up some of the clothes, and you’ll see that the birds won’t hurt me.’

“They all agreed to this, and the good-natured girl who had been crying said, ’I’ll come with you, if you like, and show you how to hang the things up.’

“‘So you shall,’ said I, and went up to my room to make preparations for the morning.

“It was quite simple.  I sent for some coloured wax, and having made a wooden model of a nose, I made on it some little waxen cases which could be worn over one’s own nose, and then, if the birds pecked at it, it wouldn’t matter in the least.

“In the morning, the wax cases were quite set and hard, and when the maid and I went out to hang up the clothes, it was great fun to see the bewilderment of a large blackbird when he flew away with the maid’s false nose, and she calmly stuck on another.

“The birds soon gave up their evil ways after that, but for some months, as a precaution, the maids never ventured out without a nose protector.

“It was for this useful invention that the King of Hearts bestowed on me the title of ‘Doctor to His Majesty’s Household.’”