easksmetotellyouthatyourtouchisasadroitasever.

    Earlyiobiography(asyousee;weenterthewords:"MymothertheQueenmadeamirrorpie,asplendidthingthesizeofapokertable..."TheKingwishestoknowifpokertablesareinuseinfarawaylands,aherthereaderinsuchplaceswouldprehendthedimensionsofthepie.Hetinues:"...inwhichreflesfromthekitdelierexplodedwhenthecrewrolleditfromtheoven.Wewerekneelingside-by-side,peeringintothedepthsofanew-mademirrorpie,whenmymothersaidtome,orratherhercelestialimagesaidtomydark,heavy-hairedo.Iotbeartolookuponyourdonkeyfaceagain."

    TheKingwishestoknow,Hannahbella,whetherthispassageseemstoyoutaintedbyself-pity,oris,rather,suitablydispassionate.

    Hewalksupanddownthesmallroomohisbedchamber,singingyourpraises.Thedecreehavingtodowithyourbanishmentwillberesded,hesays,themomentyouagreetogethephrase"twodisiedandimpartialarbiters"to"maligs,"etc.ThisIurgeyoutodoeed.

    TheKinghashisbest.Peace,hesays,isanunnaturaldition.Thetryisprosperous,yes,andheuandsthatthepeoplevaluepeace,thattheyprefertospinouttheirdestiniesinplacid,undisturbedfashion.Buthisdestiny,hesays,istoalterthemapoftheworld.Heissideringseveralnewwars,smallones,hesays,smallbutiing,plex,dicey,even.Hewouldverymuchliketosultwithyouaboutthem.Heasksyoutoge,oy-fourofyourarticle,thephrase"egregioususurpations"to"symbolsofbenigntransformation."Pleaseinitialthegeontheproofs,sothathistorianswillnotaccuseusofbowdlerization.

    Yourattentioniscalledtothep