At this, the Pinkies looked downcast and ashamed, while only Rosalie the Witch laughed and seemed to enjoy the rebuke.  “But,” protested Tourmaline, “the Great Book of Laws says our country shall harbor none but the Pinkies.”

“Does it indeed?” asked the Rainbow’s Daughter.  “Come, let us return at once to your City and examine your Book of Laws.  I am quite sure I can find in them absolute protection for these poor wanderers.”

They dared not disobey Polychrome’s request, so at once they all turned and walked back to the City.  As it was still muddy underfoot, the Rainbow’s Daughter took a cloak from one of the women, partly rolled it, and threw it upon the ground.  Then she stepped upon it and began walking forward.  The cloak unrolled as she advanced, affording a constant carpet for her feet and for those of the others who followed her.  So, being protected from the mud and wet, they speedily gained the City and in a short time were all gathered in the low room of Tourmaline’s palace, where the Great Book of Laws lay upon a table.

Polychrome began turning over the leaves, while the others all watched her anxiously and in silence.  “Here,” she said presently, “is a Law which reads as follows:  ’Everyone in the Pink Country is entitled to the protection of the Ruler and to a house and a good living, except only the Blueskins.  If any of the natives of the Blue Country should ever break through the Fog Bank, they must be driven back with sharp sticks.’  Have you read this Law, Tourmaline?”

“Yes,” said the Queen, “but how does that apply to these strangers?”

“Why, being in the Pink Country, as they surely are, and not being Blueskins, they are by this Law entitled to protection, to a home and good living.  The Law does not say ‘Pinkies,’ it says any who are in the Pink Country.”

“True,” agreed Coralie, greatly pleased, and all the other Pinkies nodded their heads and repeated, “True, true!”

“The rose is red, the violet’s blue,
The law’s the thing, because it’s true!”

cried the parrot.

“I am indeed relieved to have you interpret the Law in this way,” declared Tourmaline.  “I knew it was cruel to throw these poor people over the edge, but that seemed to us the only thing to be done.”

“It was cruel and unjust,” answered Polychrome as sternly as her sweet voice could speak.  “But here,” she added, for she had still continued to turn the leaves of the Great Book, “is another Law which you have also overlooked.  It says, ’The person, whether man or woman, boy or girl, living in the Pink Country who has the lightest skin shall be the Ruler—­King or Queen—­as long as he or she lives, unless someone of a lighter skin is found, and this Ruler’s commands all the people must obey.’  Do you know this Law?”

“Oh yes,” replied Tourmaline.  “That is why I am the Queen.  You will notice my complexion is of a lighter pink than that of any other of my people.”