Merrick　did　not　move。　For　nearly　half　a　minute　he　stood　and　looked　at　her　with　his　mouth　open。　Then　he　spoke；　in　his　strange；　slow　voice。

‘How…　how　do　you　do；　Your　Majesty；　’he　said。　But　I　don't　think　the　Queen　understood　him；　because　he　tried　to　get　down　on　his　knees　at　the　same　time。　It　was　very　difficult　for　him；　because　of　his　enormous　legs。

‘No；　please；　Mr　Merrick；　do　get　up；　’said　the　Queen。　‘I　would　like　to　talk　to　you。　Can　we　sit　at　your　table？’

‘Yes…yes；　of　course；　’he　said。　They　sat　at　the　table。　She　took　his　left　hand；　the　good　hand；　in　hers。　She　looked　at　the　hand　carefully；　and　then　smiled　at　Merrick　again。

‘I　often　read　about　you　in　the　newspapers；　’she　said。　‘You　are　a　very　interesting　man；　Mr　Merrick。　You　have　a　very　difficult　life；　but　people　say　you're　happy。　Is　it　true？　Are　you　happy　now？’

‘Oh；　yes；　Your　Majesty；　yes！　’said　Merrick。　‘I'm　a　very　happy　man！　I　have　a　home　here　now；　and　friends；　and　my　books。　I'm　happy　every　hour　of　the　day！　’

‘What　a　wonderful　story！　’she　said。　‘I'm　very　pleasedto　hear　it　Now；　tell　me　about　your　reading。　I　see　you　have　a　lot　of　books　here。　’

‘Oh；　yes；　Your　Majesty。　I　love　my　books；　’said　Merrick。　And　for　nearly　half　an　hour　they　sat　and　talked　about　books。　The　Queen　gave　him　a　little　book；　and　some　red　flowers；　before　she　left。

After　her　visit；　Merrick　began　to　sing。　He　could　not　sing　easily；　of　course；　because　of　his　mouth；　but　all　that　day　there　was　a　strange；　happ