in　the　next　week；　and　talked　to　Merrick　for　half　an　hour。　The　week　after　that；　she　came　again　with　a　friend。　They　gave　him　some　books；　and　had　a　cup　of　tea　with　him。　It　was　wonderful　for　him。　For　the　first　time　in　his　life；　he　had　some　friends。　He　was　a　very　happy　man。　He　sat　in　his　room；　and　read　his　books；　and　said　no　more　about　living　on　a　lighthouse。

People　began　to　read　about　Merrick　in　the　newspapers；　sohe　had　a　lot　of　visitors。　Everybody　wanted　to　see　him。　A　lot　of　important　ladies　and　gentlemen　visited　him。　They　smiled　at　him；　shook　his　hand；　and　gave　him　books。　Merrick　liked　talk…ing　to　these　people；　and　he　began　to　forget　about　his　uglybody。　His　visitors　never　laughed　at　him。　He　began　to　feel　like　a　man；　not　a　creature。

One　wonderful　day；　a　very　important　lady　came　to　the　hospital　to　visit　him。　I　met　the　lady；　and　took　her　to　his　room。　Then　I　opened　the　door；　and　smiled　at　him。

‘Good　morning；　Joseph；　’I　said。　‘There　is　a　new　visitor　to　see　you　today。　A　very　famous　lady。　’

Merrick　stood　up　beside　his　table。　He　did　not　smile；　because　his　face　could　not　smile；　but　his　eyes　looked　happy。

‘That's　good；　’he　said。　‘Who　is　it？’

I　moved　away　from　the　door；　and　the　visitor　walked　in。　‘Your　Majesty；　this　is　Joseph　Merrick；　’I　said。　‘Joseph；　this　is　Her　Majesty；　Queen　Alexandra；　the　Queen　of　England。　’

Queen　Alexandra　smiled　at　him。　‘How　do　you　do；　Mr　Merrick；　’She　said。　‘I'm　very　pleased　to　meet　you。　’Then　she　shook　his　hand。