CHAPTER XXV 

It chanced that a brilliant autumn brought a season of great prosperity to the Thetian wine-growers and farmers, and the year of Ughtred's accession to the throne seemed likely to be marked with a white stone in their annals. Never had a ruler been more popular with all classes. His military system, while it made no undue demands upon the people, provoked the admiration of Europe, and several important and successful industrial undertakings were due entirely to his instigation. Mr. Van Decht, fascinated by the climate, the primitive but delightful life, and a firm believer in the possibilities of the country, still lingered in the capital, and already the results of his large investments were beginning to be felt. Only a few people knew of the hidden danger which was ever brooding over the land--a danger which Ughtred had realized from the first, and which from the first he had set himself steadfastly to avert. A soldier himself, he knew something of the horrors of war. Nothing seemed to him more awful than the vision of this beautiful country blackened and devastated, her corn-fields soaked with blood, her pleasant pastoral life swept away in the grim struggle against an only partially-civilized enemy. He set himself passionately to work to strive for peace. 

Reist came to him one evening straight from the House of Laws with a suggestion. 

"Your Majesty," he said, "the people are asking for a queen." 

Ughtred laughed. 

"I'm sorry I can't oblige them off-hand," he answered.  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What was the king's name?
2. What was the king called?
3. 
Q2:
1. What did the people want the king to do?
2. The people wanted the king to do what?
3. 
Q3:
1. Did Ughtred agree with the people that he should find a queen?
2. Was Ughtred in agreemen with the people regarding finding a queen?
3. 
Q4:
1. What did Ughtred say regarding the people's will of finding a queen?
2. What did Ughtred say after being told that the people wanted him to find a queen?
3. 
Q5:
1. What happened in the autumn that Ughtred ascended to the throne?
2. What did autumn bring in the year Ughtred became king?
3. 
Q6:
1. For which people did autumn bring a season of prosperity?
2. Autumn brought a season of prosperity for which people?
3. 
Q7:
1. Did the people like king Ughtred?
2. Was king Ughtred liked by the people?
3. 
Q8:
1. What feeling was provoked in Europe regarding Ughtred's military system?
2. What did Ughtred's military system provoke in Europe?
3. 
Q9:
1. What did Europe admire Ughtred for?
2. What was Ughtred admired for in Europe?
3. 
Q10:
1. Was the land ruled by Ughtred completely safe?
2. Was Ughtred's land safe from danger?
3. 
Q11:
1. What is the name of the person that sensed danger in the land?
2. Potential danger was sensed by which person?
3. 
Q12:
1. Being a soldier himself, what did Ughtred know of?
2. What did Ughtred know of, considering his background as a soldier?
3. 
