The Peacemaker
don't. Why, don't you see, all these people you're at war with are nice. Look how kind the Queen is to Cathay—look how kind Ulfin is to us—and the Librarian, and the Keeper of the Archives, and the soldiers who lent us the horses. They're all as decent as they can stick, and all the Mer-people are nice too—and then they all go killing each other, and all those brave, jolly soldier fish too, just all about nothing. I call it simply rot."
"But there always has been war I tell you," said the Mer-Princess. "People would get slack and silly and cowardly if there were no wars."
"If I were King," said Francis, who was now thoroughly roused, "there should never be any more wars. There are plenty of things to be brave about without hurting other brave people—exploring and rescuing and saving your comrades in mines and in fires and floods and things and—" his eloquence suddenly gave way to a breathless shyness—"oh, well," he ended, "it's no use gassing; you know what I mean."
"Yes," said Mavis, "and oh, France—I think you're right. But what can we do?"
"I shall ask to see the Queen of the Under Folk, and try to make her see sense. She didn't look an absolute duffer."
They all gasped at the glorious and simple daring of the idea. But the Mer Princess said:
"I know you'd do everything you could—but it's very difficult to talk to kings unless you've been accustomed to it. There are books in the cave, Straight Talks with Monarchs, and Kings I Have Spoken My Mind To, which might help you. But, unfortunately, we can't get them. You see, Kings start so much further than subjects do: they know such a lot more. Why, even I—"
"Then why won't you try talking to the Queen?"
"I shouldn't dare," said Freia. "I'm only a girl-Princess. Oh, if only my dear Father could talk to her. If he believed it possible
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