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If I marry the Countess----"

ɪf aɪ ˈmæɹi ðə ˈkaʊntəs

"You'll be a very lucky man," put in Coronel.

juːl biː ə ˈvɛri ˈlʌki mæn pʊt ɪn ˌkɔrəˈnɛl

Personally, I can't make out what she sees in you.

pərˈsənəli, aɪ kænt meɪk aʊt wɑt ʃi siːz ɪn juː.

What is it?"

wʌt ɪz ɪt

"I should have thought it was quite obvious," said Udo with dignity. "Well, Coronel, I think perhaps you are right and that it's my duty to marry her."

"aɪ ʃʊd hæv θɔt ɪt wəz kwaɪt ˈɑbviəs," sɛd ˈjudəʊ wɪð ˈdɪɡnəti. "wɛl, ˌkɔrəˈnɛl, aɪ θɪŋk pərˈhæps ju ɑr raɪt ænd ðæt ɪts maɪ ˈdjuːti tu ˈmæri hər."

Coronel shook him solemnly by the hand.

kəˌrɒnəl ʃʊk ˈɪm ˈsɒləmli baɪ ðə hænd.

"I congratulate your Royal Highness.

aɪ ˈkɒŋɡræʧʊˌleɪt jɔːr ˈrɔɪəl ˈhaɪnəs.

I will announce your decision to the Princess.

aɪ wɪl əˈnaʊns jɔr dɪˈsɪʒən tu ðə ˈprɪnsəs.

Pity him, you lovers.

ˈpɪti hɪm, ju ˈlʌvərz.

CHAPTER twenty

ˈtʃæptər ˈtwɛnti

So far as is known, this was her only work, but she built up some reputation on it, and Belvane, who was a good judge, had a high opinion of her genius.

səʊ fɑːr æz ɪz nəʊn, ðɪs wɑz hər ˈəʊnli wɜːrk, bət ʃiː bɪlt ʌp sʌm ˌrɛpjʊˈteɪʃən ɒn ɪt, ænd bɛlˈveɪn, huː wɑz ə gʊd ʤʌʤ, həd ə haɪ əˈpɪnjən ɒv hər ˈʤiːniəs.

Henry Smallnose, a bowman of considerable promise, had been left behind in the enemy's country, the one casualty of war.

ˈhɛnri ˈsmɔːlnoʊz, ə ˈboʊmən əv kənˈsɪdərəbl ˈprɑmɪs, hæd bɪn lɛft bɪˈhaɪnd ɪn ði ˈɛnəˌmiz ˈkʌntɹi, ðə wʌn ˈkæʒəlti ʌv wɔr.

While spying out the land in the early days of the invasion, he had been discovered by the Chief Armourer of Barodia at full length on the wet grass searching for tracks.

waɪl ˈspaɪɪŋ aʊt ðə lænd ɪn ðə ˈɜrli deɪz ʌv ðə ɪnˈveɪʒən, hi hæd bɪn dɪsˈkʌvərd baɪ ðə ʧiːf ˈɑrmərər ʌv bəˈroʊdiə ʌt fʌl lɛŋθ ɑn ðə wɛt ɡræs ˈsɜrʧɪŋ fɔr træks.

Henry, having caught a glimpse of the Chief Armourer's daughter, had accepted without any false pride, and had frequently dropped in to supper thereafter.

ˈhɛnri, ˈhævɪŋ kɔt ə ɡlɪmps əv ðə ʧif ˈɑrmərərz ˈdɔtər, hæd əkˈsɛptɪd wɪˈðaʊt ˈɛni fɔls praɪd, ənd hæd ˈfriːkwəntli drɑpt ɪn tu ˈsʌpər ˈðɛrˌæftər.

Now that the war was over, he found that he could not tear himself away. With King Merriwig's permission he was settling in Barodia, and with the Chief Armourer's permission he was starting on his new life as a married man.

naʊ ðæt ðə wɔr wəz ˈoʊvər, hi fɑʊnd ðæt hi kʊd nɑt tɛr hɪmˈsɛlf əˈweɪ. wɪθ kɪŋ ˈmɛrɪwɪɡz pərˈmɪʃən hi wəz ˈsɛtəlɪŋ ɪn bəˈroʊdiə, ænd wɪθ ðə ʧiːf ɑrˈmɔrərz pərˈmɪʃən hi wəz ˈstɑrtɪŋ ɑn hɪz nju laɪf əz ə ˈmɛrid ˈmæn."

Home again!

hoʊm əˈɡɛn

Poor little Hyacinth left all alone; but there! she had had the Countess Belvane, a woman of great experience, to help her.

pʊr ˈlɪtəl ˈhaɪəsɪnθ lɛft ˈɔl əˈloʊn; bʌt ðɛr ʃi hæd hæd ðə ˈkaʊntəs bɛlˈveɪn, ə ˈwʊmən əv ˈɡreɪt ɪkˈspɪəriəns, tu hɛlp hɜr.

Life would be lonely in Euralia then, unless---- Should he risk it?

laɪf wʊd bi ˈloʊnli ɪn jʊˈreɪliə ðɛn, ənˈlɛs ʃʊd hi rɪsk ɪt

She was waiting for him at the gates of the castle.

ʃi wəz ˈweɪtɪŋ fɔr ɪm ət ðə ˈɡeɪts əv ðə ˈkæsəl.

She had wanted Coronel to wait with her, but he had refused.

ʃiː hæd ˈwɑntɪd kɔrəˈnɛl tuː weɪt wɪð hər, bʌt hiː hæd rɪˈfjuːzd.

"We must offer the good news to him gradually," he said.

"wi mʌst ˈɔfər ðə ɡʊd njuz tu ˈhɪm ˈɡræʤuəli," hi sɛd.

"When a man has just come back from a successful campaign, he doesn't want to find a surprise like this waiting for him.

wɛn ə mæn hæz ˈʤʌst kʌm bæk frɒm ə səkˈsɛsfəl kæmˈpeɪn, hi ˈdəzənt wɑnt tu faɪnd ə səˈpraɪz laɪk ðɪs ˈweɪtɪŋ fɔr ɪm.

Nothing much, I suppose?' then you can say----"

ˈnʌθɪŋ mʌʧ, aɪ səˈpoʊz ðɛn ju kæn seɪ

"Then I shall say, 'Nothing much; only Coronel.' And such a clever!"

ðɛn aɪ ʃæl seɪ, 'nʌθɪŋ mʌʧ; ˈoʊnli kɔrəˈnɛl. ænd sʌʧ ə ˈklɛvər!

"Oh, I have my ideas," said Coronel.

oʊ, aɪ hæv maɪ aɪˈdiəz, sɛd ˌkɔrəˈnɛl.

"Well, I'll be out of the way somewhere.

wɛl, aɪl bi aʊt əv ðə weɪ ˈsʌmweər.

I think I'll go for a walk in the forest.

aɪ θɪŋk aɪl ɡoʊ fɔr ə wɔk ɪn ðə ˈfɔrəst.

Or shall I stay here, in the Countess's garden, and amuse myself with Udo?

ɔr ʃæl aɪ steɪ hɪr, ɪn ðə ˈkaʊntəsɪz ˈɡɑrdn, ænd əˈmjuz maɪˈsɛlf wɪð ˈjuːdoʊ

Anyhow, I'll give you an hour alone together first."

ˈɛnihaʊ, aɪl ɡɪv ju ən ˈaʊɚ əˈloʊn təˈɡɛðɚ fɜrst."

The cavalcade drew up in front of the castle.

ðə ˈkævəlˌkeɪd dru ʌp ɪn frʌnt əv ðə ˈkæsəl

Handkerchiefs fluttered to them from the walls; trumpets were blown; hounds bayed.

hæŋkərtʃifs ˈflʌtərd tu ðəm frəm ðə wɔlz; ˈtrʌmpəts wər ˈbloʊn; haʊndz beɪd.

Down the steps came Hyacinth, all blue and gold, and flung herself into her father's arms.

daʊn ðə stɛps keɪm haɪəsɪnθ, ɔl blu ænd ɡoʊld, ænd flʌŋ hɜrˈsɛlf ˈɪntu hɜr ˈfɑðərz ɑrmz.

"My dear child," said Merriwig as he patted her soothingly.

maɪ dɪr ʧaɪld, sɛd ˈmɛrɪwɪg æz hi ˈpætəd hər ˈsuðɪŋli

"There, there!

ðɛɹ, ðɛɹ!

My own little girl!"

maɪ əʊn ˈlɪtəl ɡɜrl"

Hyacinth and Merriwig went into the Palace.

ˈhaɪəsɪnθ ənd ˈmɛrɪwɪɡ wɛnt ˈɪntuː ðə ˈpælɪs

"Now, Father," said Hyacinth later on, when Merriwig had changed his clothes and refreshed himself, "you've got to tell me all about it.

"naʊ, ˈfɑðər," sɛd ˈhaɪəsɪnθ ˈleɪtər ɑn, wɛn ˈmɛrɪwɪɡ hæd ʧeɪnʤd hɪz ˈkloʊðz ænd rɪˈfrɛʃt hɪmˈsɛlf, "juv ˈɡɑt tu tɛl mi ɔl əˈbaʊt ɪt."

I can hardly believe it's really over."

aɪ kæn ˈhɑrdli bɪˈliːv ɪts ˈrɪli ˈoʊvər

It's all over," said Merriwig heartily.

ɪts ɔl ˈoʊvər, sɛd ˈmɛrɪˌwɪɡ ˈhɑrtəli.

"Do tell me, did the King of Barodia apologise?"

du tɛl mi, dɪd ðə kɪŋ ʌv bəˈroʊdiə əˈpɑləˌdʒaɪz?

"Why?"

waɪ

See, I have brought these home for you."

si, aɪ hæv brɔt ðiz hoʊm fɔr juː."

He produced from his pocket a small packet in tissue paper.

hi prəˈdusd frəm ɪz ˈpɑkɪt ə smɔːl ˈpækɪt ɪn ˈtɪʃu ˈpeɪpər.

Whatever can it be?"

wʌtˈɛvər kæn ɪt bi"

Merriwig unwrapped the paper, and disclosed a couple of ginger whiskers, neatly tied up with blue ribbon.

ˈmɛriwɪɡ ˌʌnˈræpt ðə ˈpeɪpər, ənd dɪsˈkloʊzd ə ˈkʌpəl əv ˈʤɪndʒər ˈwɪskərz, ˈnitli taɪd ʌp wɪð ˈblu ˈrɪbən.

"Father!"

ˈfɑðər!

I can't plant them in the garden."

aɪ kænt plænt ðɛm ɪn ðə ˈɡɑɹdn"

"I thought we might run them up the flagstaff, as we did in Barodia."

aɪ θɔt wiː maɪt rʌn ðɛm ʌp ðə ˈflæɡˌstæf, æz wiː dɪd ɪn bəˈroʊdiə.

"Isn't that a little unkind now that the poor man's dead?"

"ˈɪznt ðæt ə ˈlɪtəl ənˈkaɪnd naʊ ðæt ðə pʊər mænz dɛd?"

Merriwig looked round him to see that there were no eavesdroppers.

mɛriwɪɡ lʊkt raʊnd hɪm tu si ðæt ðɛr wər noʊ ivzˌdrɑpərz

"Can you keep a secret?" he asked mysteriously.

"kæn ju ˈkip ə ˈsiːkrət?" hi ˈæskt mɪsˈtɪriəsli.

"Well, then, listen."

wɛl, ðɛn, ˈlɪsən.

And by and by the moment came of which Coronel had spoken.

ænd baɪ ænd baɪ ði ˈmoʊmənt keɪm ʌv ˈwɪʧ kɔrəˈnɛl hæd ˈspoʊkən.

Nothing much, I suppose?"

ˈnʌθɪŋ mʌʧ, aɪ səˈpoʊz

He waited nervously, wondering if Hyacinth would realise that "all" was meant to include more particularly Belvane.

hi ˈweɪtɪd ˈnɜrvəsli, ˈwʌndərɪŋ ɪf ˈhaɪəsɪnθ wʊd ˈriːəˌlaɪz ðæt ɔːl wəz mɛnt tu ɪnˈkluːd mɔːr pərˈtɪkjələrli bɛlˈveɪn.

Hyacinth drew a stool up to her father's chair and sat down very close to him.

haɪəsɪnθ dru ə stul ʌp tu ər ˈfɑðərz ʧɛr ænd sæt daʊn ˈvɛri kloʊs tu hɪm.

Let me see, there were six or seven Princes who came about it only the other day. I sent them off on adventures of some kind, but-dear me, yes, they ought to have been back by now.

ˈlɛt mi si, ðɛr wər sɪks ɔr ˈsɛvən ˈprɪnsəz hu kɛm əˈbaʊt ɪt ˈoʊnli ði ˈʌðər ˈdeɪ. aɪ sɛnt ðɛm ɔf ɒn ədˈvɛnʧərz əv səm ˈkaɪnd, bət-ˈdɪr mi, jɛs, ðe ɔt tu həv bɪn bæk baɪ naʊ.

I suppose you haven't heard anything of them?"

aɪ səˈpoʊz ju ˈhævənt hɜrd ˈɛniˌθɪŋ əv ðɛm"

"No, Father," said Hyacinth, with a little smile.

"nəʊ, ˈfɑːðər," sɛd ˈhaɪəsɪnθ, wɪð ə ˈlɪtəl smaɪl.

We'll arrange a little competition, and let them know in the neighbouring countries; there'll be no lack of candidates.

wɪl əˈreɪndʒ ə ˈlɪtəl ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃən, ənd lɛt ðɛm noʊ ɪn ðə ˈneɪbərɪŋ ˈkʌntriz; ðəl bi noʊ læk əv ˈkændɪdəts.

We might----"

wiː maɪt

"I don't want a suitor," said Hyacinth softly.

aɪ doʊnt wɑnt ə ˈsutər, sɛd ˈhaɪəsɪnθ ˈsɔftli.

"I have one."

aɪ hæv wʌn.

Merriwig leant forward with eagerness.

mɛriwɪg lɛnt ˈfɔrwərd wɪθ ˈiɡərˌnəs.

"My dear, this is indeed news.

maɪ dɪr, ðɪs ɪz ɪnˈdid nuz.

Tell me all about it.

tɛl mi ɔl əˈbaʊt ɪt

Upon what quest did you send him?"

əˈpɒn wɒt kwɛst dɪd juː sɛnd ˈhɪm

Hyacinth had felt this coming.

hʌɪəsɪnθ hæd fɛlt ðɪs ˈkʌmɪŋ.

Had she lived in modern times she would have expected the question, "What is his income?" A man must prove his worth in some way.

hæd ʃi lɪvd ɪn ˈmɑdərn taɪmz ʃi wʊd hæv ɪksˈpɛktɪd ðə ˈkwɛsʧən, "wʌt ɪz hɪz ˈɪnkʌm?" ə mæn mʌst pruv hɪz wɜrð ɪn sʌm weɪ.

Perhaps that bull I was speaking of---- By the way, who is he?"

pɚˈhæps ðæt bʊl aɪ wəz ˈspikɪŋ ʌv baɪ ðə weɪ, hu ɪz hi"

"Udo, of course.

ˈjuːdoʊ, əv ˈkɔɹs.

Why didn't I think of him?

waɪ ˈdɪdənt aɪ θɪŋk ʌv ˈhɪm

An excellent arrangement, my dear."

ən ˈɛksələnt əˈreɪnʤmənt, maɪ dɪr.

"It isn't Udo, I'm afraid, Father.

ɪt ˈɪz.ɪnt ˈjuː.doʊ, aɪm əˈfreɪd, ˈfɑː.ðər.

It's Coronel."

ɪts kɔrəˈnɛl

"And who might Coronel be?" said the King, rather sternly.

"ænd huː maɪt kɔrəˈnɛl bi?" sɛd ðə kɪŋ, ˈræðər ˈstɜrnli.

"He's-he's-well, he's---- Here he is, Father." She ran up to him impulsively as he came in at the door.

"hiːz-hiːz-wɛl, hiːz---- hɪr hiː ɪz, ˈfɑðər." ʃiː ræn ʌp tuː hɪm ɪmˈpʌlsɪvli æz hiː keɪm ɪn æt ðə dɔr.

"Oh, Coronel, you're just in time; do tell Father who you are."

oʊ, kɔrəˈnɛl, jʊr jʌst ɪn taɪm; du tɛl ˈfɑðər hu jʊ ɑr.

From the little I have gathered outside, it is the most remarkable victory that has ever occurred.

frɒm ðə ˈlɪtəl aɪ hæv ˈɡæðərd ˈaʊtsaɪd, ɪt ɪz ðə məʊst rɪˈmɑːkəbl̩ ˈvɪktəri ðæt hæz ˈɛvər əˈkɜːd.

But of course I am longing to hear the full story from your Majesty's own lips.

bʌt əv kɔrs aɪ æm ˈlɔŋɪŋ tu hɪr ðə fʊl ˈstɔri frəm jɔr ˈmæʤəsti z oʊn lɪps.

Merriwig was in an awkward position.

ˈmɛriˌwɪɡ wɑz ɪn ən ˈɔkwərd pəˈzɪʃən.

He wondered for a moment whether to order his daughter out of the room.

hi ˈwʌndərd fɔr ə ˈmoʊmənt ˈwɛðər tu ˈɔrdər ɪz ˈdɔtər aʊt əv ðə ˈrum.

"Leave us, my child," he would say.

"li:v ʌs, maɪ ʧaɪld," hiː wʊd seɪ.

"But as you know so much, you may as well know all.

bʌt æz ju nəʊ soʊ mʌʧ, ju meɪ æz wɛl noʊ ɔːl.

It happened like this." Once more he told the story of his midnight visit, and of the King's letter to him.

ɪt ˈhæpənd laɪk ðɪs. wʌns mɔr hi toʊld ðə ˈstɔri əv hɪz ˈmɪdnaɪt ˈvɪzɪt, ænd əv ðə kɪŋz ˈlɛtər tu ɪm.

"So you like it," said Merriwig, trying to look modest.

"soʊ juː laɪk ɪt," sɛd ˈmɛɹiˌwɪɡ, ˈtɹaɪɪŋ tuː lʊk ˈmɑdɪst.

"I knew he'd love it," put in Hyacinth.

aɪ nju hiːd lʌv ɪt pʊt ɪn haɪəsɪnθ.

"Well, well," said the King at the end of it, when he had received their tribute of admiration.

wɛl wɛl sɛd ðə kɪŋ æt ðə ɛnd əv ɪt wɛn hi hæd rɪˈsivd ðɛr ˈtrɪbjʊt əv ˌædməˈreɪʃən

"Those are just a few of the little adventures that happen in war time." He turned to Coronel.

"ðoʊz ɑr ʤʌst ə fju əv ðə ˈlɪtəl ədˈvɛnʧərz ðæt ˈhæpən ɪn wɔr taɪm." hi tɜrnd tu kɔrəˈnɛl.

"Well, no, it doesn't.

wɛl, noʊ, ɪt ˈdəzənt

And she, I understand, wishes to marry you."

ənd ʃi, aɪ ˌʌndərˈstænd, ˈwɪʃɪz tu ˈmæri ju."

"Yes, please, Father."

"jɛs, pliz, ˈfɑðər."

"That," said Coronel simply, "is much more surprising."

"θæt," sɛd ˈkɔrəˌnɛl ˈsɪmpəli, "ɪz mʌʧ mɔr səˈpraɪzɪŋ."

Merriwig, however, was not so sure of that.

mɛriwɪɡ, haʊˈɛvər, wəz nɑt soʊ ˈʃʊɹ ʌv ðæt.

He liked the look of Coronel, he liked his manner, and he saw at once that he knew a good story-when he heard one.

hi laɪkt ðə lʊk ʌv kɔrəˈnɛl, hi laɪkt hɪz ˈmænər, ænd hi sɔː æt wʌns ðæt hi nuː ə ɡʊd ˈstɔːri-wɛn hi hɜrd wʌn.

"Of course," he said, "you'll have to win her."

ˈəv ˈkɔrs, hi sɛd, "juːl hæv tuː wɪn hɜr."

"Anything your Majesty sets me to do.

"ˈɛniθɪŋ jɔr ˈmæʤəsti sɛts mi tu du."

It's as well," he added with a disarming smile, "that you cannot ask for the whiskers of the King of Barodia.

ɪts əz wɛl," hi ˈædəd wɪð ə dɪsˈɑrmɪŋ smaɪl, "ðæt ju kəˈnɑt ˈæsk fɔr ðə ˈwɪskərz əv ðə ˈkɪŋ əv bəˈroʊdiə.

Truly an excellent young man.

ˈtruːli ən ˈɛksələnt jʌŋ mæn.

"Well, we'll arrange something," said Merriwig, looking pleased. "Perhaps your Prince Udo would care to be a competitor too."

wɛl, wɛl əˈreɪndʒ ˈsʌmθɪŋ, sɛd ˈmɛrɪwɪg, ˈlʊkɪŋ plizd. pərˈhæps jʊr prɪns ˈjuːdoʊ wʊd kɛr tuː biː ə kəmˈpɛtɪtər tuː.