her. And what do you think? He listened quite attentively and politely--oh,
Max has nice manners--and then he looked me straight in the eyes and 'Thank
you very much,' he said; 'it's most awfully kind of you. I hope you won't
think me ungrateful, but I'm afraid I can't help you at all. There's
nothing--nothing. Margery--well, you see, Margery's perfect.' I was so
annoyed with him that I came away without saying another word. And now I'm
no further than I was before as regards Margery. Mortals really are very
stupid. It's most vexing."

She paused a minute, then suddenly she looked up and flashed a smile at me.
"All the same it was rather darling of him, wasn't it?" she said.

I nodded. "I wonder ...," I began.

"Yes?" interjected the Queen eagerly.

"... I wonder whether you could give her that, just that for always?"

"What do you mean?" said the Queen.

"I mean," I said slowly, "the gift of remaining perfect for ever in his
eyes."

The Queen looked at me thoughtfully. "He'll think I'm not giving her
anything," she objected.

"Never mind," I said, "she'll know."

The Queen nodded. "Yes," she said meditatively, "rather nice--rather nice.
Thank you very much. I'll think about it. Good-bye." She was gone.