The palace of the Queen of Light stood on a littleeminence and was a mass of crystal windows,surmounted by a vast crystal dome. When theyentered the portals Erma was greeted by six lovelymaidens, evidently of high degree, who at oncearoused Betsy's admiration. Each bore a wand inher hand, tipped with an emblem of light, andtheir costumes were also emblematic of the lightsthey represented. Erma introduced them to herguests and each made a graceful and courteousacknowledgment.

First was Sunlight, radiantly beautiful and veryfair; the second was Moonlight, a soft, dreamydamsel with nut-brown hair; next came Starlight,equally lovely but inclined to be retiring andshy. These three were dressed in shimmering robesof silvery white. The fourth was Daylight, abrilliant damsel with laughing eyes and frankmanners, who wore a variety of colors. Then cameFirelight, clothed in a fleecy flame-colored robethat wavered around her shapely form in a veryattractive manner. The sixth maiden, Electra, wasthe most beautiful of all, and Betsy thought fromthe first that both Sunlight and Daylight regardedElectra with envy and were a little jealous ofher.

But all were cordial in their greetings to thestrangers and seemed to regard the Queen of Lightwith much affection, for they fluttered around herin a flashing, radiant group as she led the way toher regal drawing-room.

This apartment was richly and cosily furnished,the upholstery being of many tints, and both Betsyand Polychrome enjoyed resting themselves upon thedowny divans after their strenuous adventures ofthe day.

The Queen sat down to chat with her guests, whonoticed that Daylight was the only maiden nowseated beside Erma. The others had retired toanother part of the room, where they sat modestlywith entwined arms and did not intrude themselvesat all.

The Queen told the strangers all about thisbeautiful land, which is one of the chiefresidences of fairies who minister to the needs ofmankind. So many important fairies lived therethat, to avoid rivalry, they had elected as theirRuler the only important personage in the countrywho had no duties to mankind to perform and was,in effect, a Private Citizen. This Ruler, orJinjin, as was his title, bore the name of Tititi-Hoochoo, and the most singular thing about him wasthat he had no heart. But instead of this hepossessed a high degree of Reason and Justice andwhile he showed no mercy in his judgments he neverpunished unjustly or without reason. To wrong-doers Tititi-Hoochoo was as terrible as he washeartless, but those who were innocent of evil hadnothing to fear from him.

All the Kings and Queens of this fairyland paidreverence to Jinjin, for as they expected to beobeyed by others they were willing to obey the onein authority over them.

The inhabitants of the Land of Oz had heard manytales of this fearfully just Jinjin, whosepunishments were always equal to the faultscommitted. Polychrome also knew of him, althoughthis was the first time she had ever seen him faceto face. But to Betsy the story was all new, andshe was greatly interested in Tititi-Hoochoo, whomshe no longer feared.

Time sped swiftly during their talk and suddenlyBetsy noticed that Moonlight was sitting besidethe Queen of Light, instead of Daylight.

"But tell me, please," she pleaded, "why do youall wear a dragon's head embroidered on yourgowns?"

Erma's pleasant face became grave as sheanswered:

"The Dragon, as you must know, was the firstliving creature ever made; therefore the Dragon isthe oldest and wisest of living things. By goodfortune the Original Dragon, who still lives, is aresident of this land and supplies us with wisdomwhenever we are in need of it. He is old as theworld and remembers everything that has happenedsince the world was created."

"Did he ever have any children?" inquired thegirl.

"Yes, many of them. Some wandered into otherlands, where men, not understanding them, made warupon them; but many still reside in this country.None, however, is as wise as the Original Dragon,for whom we have great respect. As he was thefirst resident here, we wear the emblem of thedragon's head to show that we are the favoredpeople who alone have the right to inhabit thisfairyland, which in beauty almost equals theFairyland of Oz, and in power quite surpasses it.

"I understand about the dragon, now," saidPolychrome, nodding her lovely head. Betsy did notquite understand, but she was at presentinterested in observing the changing lights. AsDaylight had given way to Moonlight, so nowStarlight sat at the right hand of Erma the Queen,and with her coming a spirit of peace and contentseemed to fill the room. Polychrome, beingherself a fairy, had many questions to ask aboutthe various Kings and Queens who lived in thisfar-away, secluded place, and before Erma hadfinished answering them a rosy glow filled theroom and Firelight took her place beside theQueen.

Betsy liked Firelight, but to gaze upon her warmand glowing features made the little girl sleepy,and presently she began to nod. There-upon Ermarose and took Betsy's hand gently in her own.

"Come," said she, "the feast time has arrivedand the feast is spread."

"That's nice," exclaimed the small mortal."Now that I think of it, I'm awful hungry. Butp'raps I can't eat your fairy food."

The Queen smiled and led her to a doorway. Asshe pushed aside a heavy drapery a flood ofsilvery light greeted them, and Betsy saw beforeher a splendid banquet hall, with a table spreadwith snowy linen and crystal and silver. At oneside was a broad, throne-like seat for Erma andbeside her now sat the brilliant maid Electra.Polychrome was placed on the Queen's right handand Betsy upon her left. The other five messengersof light now waited upon them, and each person wassupplied with just the food she liked best.Polychrome found her dish of dewdrops, all freshand sparkling, while Betsy was so lavishly servedthat she decided she had never in her life eaten adinner half so good.

"I s'pose," she said to the Queen, "that MissElectra is the youngest of all these girls."

"Why do you suppose that?" inquired Erma, with asmile.

"'Cause electric'ty is the newest light weknow of. Didn't Mr. Edison discover it?"

"Perhaps he was the first mortal to discoverit," replied the Queen. "But electricity was apart of the world from its creation, and thereforemy Electra is as old as Daylight or Moonlight,and equally beneficent to mortals and fairiesalike."

Betsy was thoughtful for a time. Then sheremarked, as she looked at the six messengers oflight:

"We couldn't very well do without any of'em; could we?"

Erma laughed softly. "I couldn't, I'm sure, shereplied, "and I think mortals would miss any oneof my maidens, as well. Daylight cannot take theplace of Sunlight, which gives us strength andenergy. Moonlight is of value when Daylight, wornout with her long watch, retires to rest. If themoon in its course is hidden behind the earth'srim, and my sweet Moonlight cannot cheer us,Starlight takes her place, for the skies alwayslend her power. Without Firelight we should missmuch of our warmth and comfort, as well as muchcheer when the walls of houses encompass us. Butalways, when other lights forsake us, our gloriousElectra is ready to flood us with bright rays. AsQueen of Light, I love all my maidens, for I knowthem to be faithful and true."

"I love 'em too!" declared Betsy. "Butsometimes, when I'm real sleepy, I can get alongwithout any light at all."

"Are you sleepy now?" inquired Erma, for thefeast had ended.

"A little," admitted the girl.

So Electra showed her to a pretty chamber wherethere was a soft, white bed, and waited patientlyuntil Betsy had undressed and put on a shimmerysilken nightrobe that lay beside her pillow. Thenthe light-maid bade her good night and opened thedoor.

When she closed it after her Betsy was indarkness. In six winks the little girl was fastasleep.