Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/558

404 The Princess Yolanda is a small democrat in her way. One evening, not long ago, she was waiting for her father and mother to come to dinner. Her nurse asked her; “Whom would you like to have at dinner with you?”

She hesitated for a moment, and then said: “I should like to have papa sit there, and mama youder, Brusati [the King’s aide-de-camp] may sit by me, and on the other side I want Giovanni.”

Now, Giovanni is the man who leads the donkey on which the Princess Yolanda takes occasional rides. She is extremely fond of him, and counts him one of her dearest friends. In her childish mind there was not the slightest reason why he should not sit at the King’s table as well as any titled visitor.

Although the King and Queen are very simple in their tastes, they can be very stately. The King, in general’s uniform, and the Queen, in satin and diamonds, are most imposing when they enter the gorgeous ball-room or preside at elaborate dinners.

But it is pleasant to know that, while they thus fulfil the official and social duties of their position, a manly, noble heart beats under the uniform of blue and gold; and that beneath the royal diadem of costly gems beams the clear eye of a faithful, affectionate wife and mother.