with the blue ribbon of St. John Nepomuc, was the handsomest boy she had
ever seen. "Besides," he added, "my Chancellor says you are hereditary
High Admiral of the Ocean--it's in the marriage settlement; and that
would make up for a lot. Where is it?"

"The Ocean?" She felt very shy still. "I have never seen it, but I
believe it's somewhere at the bottom of the garden."

"Suppose we go and have a look at it?" She was about to say that she
must ask leave of her governess, but he looked so masterful and
independent that she hadn't the courage. It gave her quite a thrill as
he took her hand and led her out through the low window to the great
stone terrace. They passed down the terrace steps into a garden ablaze
with tulip beds in geometrical patterns; at the foot ran a yew hedge,
and beyond it, in a side-walk, they came upon a scullion boy chasing a
sulphur-yellow butterfly. The Grand Duke forgot his fine manners, and
dropped his bride's hand to join in the chase; but the boy no sooner
caught sight of him than he fled with a cry of dismay and popped into an
arbour. There, a minute later, the bride and bridegroom found him
stooping over a churn and stirring with might and main.

"What are you stirring, boy?" asked Ferdinand.

"Praised be the Virgin!" said the boy, "I _believe_ it's an ice-pudding
for the banquet. But they shouldn't have put the ice-puddings in the
same arbour as the fireworks; for, if your Highness will
allow me to say so, you can't expect old heads on young shoulders."

"Are the fireworks in our honour too?"