Part 8 (1/2)

”We could make neither head nor tail of it.”

The Doctor-in-Law was silent, and it was only by very careful inquiry that I found out that, after pocketing their money, he had taken them to an immense h.o.a.rding covered with advertis.e.m.e.nt posters, and had gammoned them into believing that _that_ was the Academy, while it was no wonder that the poor Wallypug could not understand the 'catalogue,'

for it was nothing more nor less than an old ill.u.s.trated stores price list.

It was really too bad of the Doctor-in-Law.

CHAPTER VI

THE JUBILEE

The few days which elapsed before the memorable 22nd of June pa.s.sed very quickly, and we were all more or less busy making preparations for the festival. His Majesty would insist upon polis.h.i.+ng up his regalia himself in order to do honour to the occasion, and spent hours over his crown with a piece of chamois leather and some whitening till, though somewhat battered by the rough usage it had sustained, it shone quite brilliantly. Mrs. Putchy herself suggested making his Majesty some new red silk rosettes for his shoes, which he very graciously consented to accept. The Doctor-in-Law was always so spick and span that we scarcely noticed any change in his appearance, but the Rhymester had made arrangements with General Mary Jane to wash, starch, and iron his lace collar, and he remained in his room one entire day while it was being done up. A. Fish, Esq., purchased a necktie of most brilliant colouring, and One-and-Nine touched himself up here and there with some red enamel where his tunic had become shabby in places, so that altogether our party looked very smart as we drove at a very early hour to our seats in Piccadilly. To avoid the crowd we went by way of Bayswater Road, and then pa.s.sed down Park Lane and through Berkeley Square, in order to reach the back entrance to the house in Piccadilly where I had booked seats. Our gorgeous carriage was everywhere hailed with great delight, being of course mistaken for a portion of the Jubilee procession, and many were the conjectures heard on all sides as to who the Wallypug could possibly be.

[Ill.u.s.tration: WITH SOME RED ENAMEL]

Our window was in the centre of the building on the first floor, and we had it all to ourselves. A table at the back of the room was tastefully set out with an excellent cold collation, and in front of the window, which was most elaborately decorated with velvet curtains, flags, and trophies, and which was surmounted by a device which was understood to be the Wallypug's coat-of-arms, a gorgeous, gilded, high-backed chair was placed as a throne for his Majesty, and comfortable seats were also provided for the rest of the party.

The crowd outside greeted our appearance with quite a demonstration, as by the enormous placard outside announcing the name of the decorators, and stating that they were by appointment to his Majesty the Wallypug of Why, of course everybody knew who we were. Indeed, one learned-looking person in the crowd was holding forth to an eager audience, and explaining exactly where Why was situated, and pretending that he had been there, and had seen the Wallypug before, ever so many times.

As the time approached for the procession to pa.s.s, the Wallypug became very excited and nervous. ”Shall I really see the Queen of England?”

he kept asking over and over again. ”Do you think she will see me?

Will she bow to me? What must I say? Must I keep my crown on or take it off?” and innumerable other questions of the same nature.

Presently the excitement and enthusiasm reached their height, as amid a confused shouting of ”Here they are,” the Guards in advance came in sight. Slowly the mighty procession, with its innumerable squadrons and bands pa.s.sed, and at last, after the English and Foreign princes and Eastern potentates, the eight cream-coloured Hanoverian horses, drawing the Jubilee landau, made their appearance, and the Queen was seen, smiling and bowing graciously to the cheering populace. The Doctor-in-Law, in his excitement, scrambled on to the window ledge in order to obtain a better view; the Wallypug loyally waved his crown; while the Rhymester, hurriedly unrolling a lengthy ode which he had written especially for the occasion, began reading it in a loud voice, and, though n.o.body paid the slightest attention to him, did not desist until long after the procession had pa.s.sed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE WALLYPUG LOYALLY WAVED HIS CROWN]

The Wallypug was very thoughtful for some time after the Queen had gone by, and, during the drive home, expressed his great surprise that her Majesty had not worn a crown, and apparently could not understand why it should not be worn on all occasions.

”I suppose her Majesty has a crown of her own, hasn't she?” he asked anxiously.

”Oh yes, of course!” I replied.

”Where is it then?” persisted his Majesty.

”I believe all of the regalia is kept carefully locked up and guarded in the Tower of London,” I said.

”Well, I think it's very unkind of them not to let her Majesty have them out on an occasion like this. I shall see what I can do about it.”

The dear Wallypug's intentions were evidently so good that I did not say anything in reply to this, though I wondered to myself whatever his Majesty thought that _he_ could do in the matter.

There were so many people about that we considered it best to spend the rest of the day quietly at home, though we did venture out in the evening to see the illuminations, which delighted his Majesty exceedingly.

The next afternoon the whole party, with the exception of One-and-Nine, drove over the route taken by the procession, in order to see the street decorations. I remained at home, and late in the afternoon there was a knock at my door, and General Mary Jane entered.

She was nervously wringing a handkerchief wet with tears, and her eyes were quite red with weeping.